important- back pain question

[mxim]

for some reason i have lower back pain the emanates from my hip area. i've has x-rays done and they have come back negative. i have not been squatting or dead lifting,or anything that is too strenuous on my back. could it be arthritis? it does feel like a pull but c'mon,every time i bend over or get up too quickly. any ideas?
thanks

[mxim]

i do have a very stressful job, could stress cause it? i know thats a stretch but is it possible?

[HeadDoc]

could be tension. Get a Pt or chiro to help evaluate it and stretch it out.

[DavidZ]

Originally Posted by mxim

i do have a very stressful job, could stress cause it? i know thats a stretch but is it possible?

Yes. You might want to check out a book by Dr. Sarno. Some people swear by it.

[Matt Muscle]

Alot of muscular lower back problems are the result of tight Hammys, Glutes and other leg muscles including the TFL band, combined with weak deep layer lower back muscles and weak outer layer muscle(erector spinae)... meaning a weak core section.... flat feet can cause many problems as well.
A good Osteo will give you exercises to stretch these muscles and strengthen your core.

[mxim]

thanks guys

[DavidZ]

Originally Posted by Matt Muscle

Alot of muscular lower back problems are the result of tight Hammys, Glutes and other leg muscles including the TFL band, combined with weak deep layer lower back muscles and weak outer layer muscle(erector spinae)... meaning a weak core section.... flat feet can cause many problems as well.
A good Osteo will give you exercises to stretch these muscles and strengthen your core.

Good point.

A good friend of mine had back problems for years. He was considering surgery at one point.

He has since been able to "cure" his back problems with a series of exercises. I don't know all the details, but I know he's done a lot of reading and has become quite an expert on the various muscles in the lower back area and which exercises help.

[BDATI2D]

Mxim,

This might sound stupid, but i've been told worse. Just out of curiosity do you spend a lot of time at a desk or even driving. And if you do do you keep your wallet in your back pocket. I and several other people I have known through the years have had the same kind of pain coming from the hip area. Come to find out it was because their wallet was causing the problem. When I was told that might be my problem I had that "dear in the headlights" look I'm sure, but I couldn't believe it actually stopped my pain when I started taking my wallet out. Just a thought.

Dave

[pmgamer18]

My back was killing me had an MRI on it and it showed 2 little herniated disks but it should not have caused that much pain. I was on the gels for 3 yrs. and it was being on them that caused me the pain. In time all my joints and muscles hurt. I posted this problem at the H2 group and a guy got back to me saying he was on Androgel and had the same problem. So he went on shots every week and the pain went away. So I tried the same thing and in a little time on the shots my pain was much better. I got so bad I though I needed a walker to walk. I started on the shots every week the first of this yr. Now I can power walk for an hour a day and go to the gym and work out for 2 hrs 3 days a week. Doing the gels did not get the T to my joints and muscles so they were breaking down. I have sense heard from a lot of men that had the same problem.

[mranak]

Originally Posted by mxim

for some reason i have lower back pain the emanates from my hip area. i've has x-rays done and they have come back negative. i have not been squatting or dead lifting,or anything that is too strenuous on my back.

I don't suppose your gym has a glute ham raise, does it?

I say do heavy deads and squats with proper form, even though I know most disagree.

[Matt Muscle]

Originally Posted by mranak

I don't suppose your gym has a glute ham raise, does it?

I say do heavy deads and squats with proper form, even though I know most disagree.

Heavy deadlifts and squats are absolutly NOT recomended for anyone with lower back problems. The muscles of the CORE must be trained and developed first so as to ensure spinal stability. That is the inner and outer abdominals, obliques, and the deep and outer layer lower back muscles.... The safest way to train this stuff in the beggining is with isometric excercises and fit ball work. learning how to do FRONT squats with a VERY light weight once basic lower back stability is aquired, can help to develop strength in the core and develop possible weak glutes.
The glute ham raise is a good movement to develop this area, but it will further tighten already tight hamstrings and place alot of stress on the lower back if it is weak... through spinal flexion. I would not recommend using this apparatus intially either.
If the hammys are too tight(most likely with lower back problems).. hip flexion may cause the lower lumber spine to flex more than usual.. injury is likely if this area is weak or has previous cumulative damage.
As I said above... stretching cannot be emphasised enough.
Xrays etc should be done to enusure disk problems are not also part of the problem.... if so, certain exercises cannot be performed.

[mormass]

I have suffered from lower back pain for years, L5 fused naturally, to L6, and L6 - L7 is herniated. I finally got relief from my pain when I incorporated yoga into my lifting regiman, along with deep tissue massage.

[mranak]

Originally Posted by Matt Muscle

Heavy deadlifts and squats are absolutly NOT recomended for anyone with lower back problems. The muscles of the CORE must be trained and developed first so as to ensure spinal stability.

That's why the weight must be dropped down low enough so that proper form is maintained. Yes, I did say heavy, but I should have clarified that form must be maintained.

And auxiliary exercises should be done as well, IMHO, such as:
45° hypers, GHR, reverse hypers, abs, ab/aductors.

The whole point of all of this is to strenghten the core.

But also as I said, many (most) disagree with me. Frankly, I am no expert whatsoever and I should have kept my mouth shut. But I didn't.

[Matt Muscle]

Originally Posted by mranak

That's why the weight must be dropped down low enough so that proper form is maintained. Yes, I did say heavy, but I should have clarified that form must be maintained.

And auxiliary exercises should be done as well, IMHO, such as:
45° hypers, GHR, reverse hypers, abs, ab/aductors.

The whole point of all of this is to strenghten the core.

But also as I said, many (most) disagree with me. Frankly, I am no expert whatsoever and I should have kept my mouth shut. But I didn't.

Proper form with the exercises you have mentioned will not save you from further injury to your lower back IMPO, when the lower back is already compromised.

You may indeed be able to manage a specific weight and also maintain correct form... but that does not mean its doing you any good in these situations.... and quite often the lower back will just go into spasm.

I would only give those movements to someone with no lower back history and who had already developed some core strength with other less agressive methods. It is important to target the the deep layer muscle the supports each vertebra... full flexion/extension movements mostly target the more powerfull muscles such as the glutes, erector spinae and the hamstrings....

Isometric core work with the fit ball is an excellent way to improve lower back stability and basic strength.