Lower Back shit - Again!

[solo47]

Guess our upright posture is just not the easiest to maintain, very rare in the rest of Nature. Worse when you have that swayback "question mark" posture like I have, at least on the lower back.

I'm old(er), okay? Strange thing is that when I do a good ab, lower-back workout — backlift machine to the max, forward body bends toward the floor while horizontally braced, not to mention the stairmaster — back feels good the next day & it seems to me my posture is improved (belly held in more, lower back straighter). But if I miss two days, the pain really sets in & my posture falls back to "normal". After a long drive (like the 8 hours each way I just went through) I have daydreams of percocet the stiffness & pain is so severe. I sleep on a hard mattress but with a 2" foamy atop it.

No one knows this as I make a point of moving "nimbly" about in public.

What's the general strategy with lower back pain — more weights more often, or less weight less often?

FYI, I do intense workouts, & am currently on-AAS cycle & on an GH run.

Solo

[z06vettepilot]

What's the cause of your back pain? Is it disc, vertebrate, or muscle related? I have two herniated discs in my lower back (L4/5, L5/S1)that were endoscopically repaired in 2002. Took care of all my pain but I still have some parasthesia from the damage caused to the nerve roots. If I were you I would focus on keeping my core muscles strong and avoid exercises that may aggravate the problem. There are certain things that I avoid, like bent over barbell rows and olympic bar squats. I squat in a smith machine, after I shoulder the bar I take a half a step forward. Doing this keeps my back perfectly straight when I'm at the bottom of the movement. I just started deadlifting, but I am sure to go real light and focus on my form more than anything else. Whatever you do, be careful.

[solo47]

Originally Posted by z06vettepilot

What's the cause of your back pain? Is it disc, vertebrate, or muscle related? I have two herniated discs in my lower back (L4/5, L5/S1)that were endoscopically repaired in 2002. Took care of all my pain but I still have some parasthesia from the damage caused to the nerve roots. If I were you I would focus on keeping my core muscles strong and avoid exercises that may aggravate the problem. There are certain things that I avoid, like bent over barbell rows and olympic bar squats. I squat in a smith machine, after I shoulder the bar I take a half a step forward. Doing this keeps my back perfectly straight when I'm at the bottom of the movement. I just started deadlifting, but I am sure to go real light and focus on my form more than anything else. Whatever you do, be careful.

Thanks z06vettepilot. In my case, it seems to be strained lower back muscles. So, of course, I want to make them stronger. But, again, if I push too hard it makes'em worse. I've never believed in chiropractors but maybe...

Solo

[Ramstein II]

I screwed my back--herniated disc and a sprained back. I had one year of extreme radiating nerve pain. How did it start? With the general "sore back" or "stiff back" symptoms you're describing. Those are the warning signs. Now, the pain is gone and my workout is so different on leg day.

I've had great success using high reps of back extensions on the swiss ball with limited range of motion. A lot of lower back extensions can cause damage and can cause major internal disc pressure. My ab work is in the 15 rep range (cable crunches). My back extension workout is simple--one set of 40 on my leg day (at the end). Works well for me.

Oh yeah, no squating, deadlifts, unsupported rows, straight leg deadlifts or anything else heavy on the lower back. That's what I had to do. I've also had to lighten up on all leg work. I do sets of 15 with little rest between sets. I'm happy with the results--more endurance and vascularity. I haven't lost any leg size after almost 2 years of no squats.

[solo47]

Much appreciated, Ramstein. Thanks.

Solo

Originally Posted by Ramstein II

I screwed my back--herniated disc and a sprained back. I had one year of extreme radiating nerve pain. How did it start? With the general "sore back" or "stiff back" symptoms you're describing. Those are the warning signs. Now, the pain is gone and my workout is so different on leg day.

I've had great success using high reps of back extensions on the swiss ball with limited range of motion. A lot of lower back extensions can cause damage and can cause major internal disc pressure. My ab work is in the 15 rep range (cable crunches). My back extension workout is simple--one set of 40 on my leg day (at the end). Works well for me.

Oh yeah, no squating, deadlifts, unsupported rows, straight leg deadlifts or anything else heavy on the lower back. That's what I had to do. I've also had to lighten up on all leg work. I do sets of 15 with little rest between sets. I'm happy with the results--more endurance and vascularity. I haven't lost any leg size after almost 2 years of no squats.

[Thickneck]

Are you falling forward on your heavy squat days ? I do about 2-3 cycles of deadlifts a year. About a month a piece. With heavy squats and deads my back would get so tight I would have to lay down on the gym floor for up to half hour it gets so tight. I have not done mt dead cycle in a while now. I guess I can get by with heavy bent-rows and squats. I don't know about hypers they look wrong to me.Thunk of the 2-3 discs where it bends them. Just rambling.