I've been lifting and running nearly every day (not always both on the same day -- and biking/swimming/cross training on off days) for the past ~8 months.

During this time I seem to have developed a really really annoying and frequently very painful injury in my lower back. When it first started I just attributed it to deadlifts or squats and thought it would go away with time. It's a feeling like my lower back muscles just shrink to about half the size they should be. Uber tightness.

Well recently on a few of my runs it's been getting wayyyyy worse. I have this mental thing where I can't stop running until I'm done my run, so one day I just kept going until I had to stop for about the first time in my life... I was seriously close to tears. Ever since then I haven't had a single run that didn't end with me in some pretty horrible pain.

Last night I did the standard heat-ice rotation which usually seems to work for a little while. But now today I'm sitting in my computer chair and it's starting to hurt a lot more... even getting a numb feeling.

I don't know what to do so I asked my brother (elite runner) and he suggested looking at sports massage/rehab places, although he's never had this same problem so it's just a guess. Good idea? What should I be looking for? Anyone have any experience with this sort of thing?

 

Originally Posted by brianyut

I've been lifting and running nearly every day (not always both on the same day -- and biking/swimming/cross training on off days) for the past ~8 months.

During this time I seem to have developed a really really annoying and frequently very painful injury in my lower back. When it first started I just attributed it to deadlifts or squats and thought it would go away with time. It's a feeling like my lower back muscles just shrink to about half the size they should be. Uber tightness.

Well recently on a few of my runs it's been getting wayyyyy worse. I have this mental thing where I can't stop running until I'm done my run, so one day I just kept going until I had to stop for about the first time in my life... I was seriously close to tears. Ever since then I haven't had a single run that didn't end with me in some pretty horrible pain.

Last night I did the standard heat-ice rotation which usually seems to work for a little while. But now today I'm sitting in my computer chair and it's starting to hurt a lot more... even getting a numb feeling.

I don't know what to do so I asked my brother (elite runner) and he suggested looking at sports massage/rehab places, although he's never had this same problem so it's just a guess. Good idea? What should I be looking for? Anyone have any experience with this sort of thing?

Yes.

Just like if your left side is weak, and the right overcompensates, so is the relationship between your back and your abs.

A good way to take some of the pressure off your back is to strengthen your abs - it sounds a little counterintuitive, but when your back is mangled and you can't work it out to strengthen it, this is a good partial measure.

In the meantime, avoid any strain on your back, let it heal, and maybe go see the doc. Depending how bad it is, massages might help, but you may want to go see your doc or a physiotherapist. Worst case scenario: you need surgery.

Lol you are likely lacking proper core strength and may be using incorrect form when doing certain lifts etc. I can't comment on what is likely causing the problem unless I saw how you train and what amounts of weight you attempt to lift when training.

Too much roadwork will usually always cause some lower back discomfort and foot pain. The back and knees have to absorb a lot of shock and it takes a toll on your body after a while. It's important to occasionally see a sports massage therapist if you are involved in a lot of athletic activities.

i got a massage a few times and i came out feeling better/worse...its all the bad and stressful toxins bein let out of ur bod... so if u dont mind the headache u get after...or just have them focus on that particular area of ur back

Well I lift with a guy who coaches technique so I'm pretty good in that area. And I never overload myself trying to impress people at the gym, so I didn't injure it that way lol.

Core work is actually the first thing I thought of when this all started, ccmdsn, so I've been working on it. I've been doing a ton of core work after lifting and running. I know I did have a pretty weak core for sure a few months ago when I started to get subtle pain, but at this point i can get on hammer pullup bars and almost hold myself horizontal (im 6'), so my core strength is up an it hurts more than ever.

Maybe I do just need a break and to do some low impact light cardio. That's just a brutal thought considering how nice the weather is and how fired up I am to finally enjoy running outside. hmmppfffff. Maybe a few days off to start and see how it goes. Or I could just drop the $100 and get a massage + advice.

Really? Why is that Willywoo?

I actually have 0 idea so I'm generally curious. I just assumed that since it's definitely a muscle pain that I'd be better off at a sports massage place than a chiropractor.

check your health benefits too, you're probably covered for a few visits

i've had lower back problems since i was 12 (had a pretty major fall, but didn't get it checked out at the time) - when it flared up on me a few years ago, i saw an orthopedist who referred me to physical therapy - my physical therapist was a Feldenkrais practitioner (google it, it's pretty cool - it's basically a method of reconditioning your body to move in the most efficient manner, reducing various strains and stresses you place on your body unconsciously) - he taught me several exercises to do that really helped alleviate my back pain - had i continued to do them, i'm sure i'd be in better shape than i am now :)
i get massages fairly frequently - a good massage therapist can work wonders - last weekend i got a massage with a new therapist - she told me i should see a chiropractor, as my back/neck was misaligned, which was causing added shoulder and jaw tension
went to the chiropractor yesterday and today - apparently i have mild scoliosis and my injury at a young age accelerated the process of inflammation, etc. - i'll be going back 3x a week for the next couple of months to undergo chiropractic adjustment and acupuncture - the 2 visits already have me feeling better, though
i can only speak from my own experience, but massage, chiropractic adjustment and physical therapy have all worked to varying degrees - though, i feel physical therapy is the most effective (at least in my case) - i'd def start taking an NSAID to treat your current flare-up (Ibuprofen/Advil or Naproxen/Aleve) and see someone - ortho or chiro (to make sure something skeletal isn't causing your muscular pain); massage therapist to relieve acute symptoms; physical therapist if you have ongoing issues
gl - back pain sux :(

I always get my massages off craiglist...they all end with happy endings.

 

Originally Posted by brianyut

Really? Why is that Willywoo?

I actually have 0 idea so I'm generally curious. I just assumed that since it's definitely a muscle pain that I'd be better off at a sports massage place than a chiropractor.

If it really just a muscle then a massage would probably do the trick, but it sounded like this has been going on a while. I would expect muscle soreness or tightness to go away unless it was caused by some structural problem, misalignment, disc issue, nerve impingement or something like that. Massage treats symptoms not causes (palliative care). Chiros and orthos may treat causes and/or symptoms.

Sometime if you can get the symptoms to go away, like a spasm, it will allow the spine to adjust itself, but not always.

It probably won't hurt to get a massage, but if the problem persists you need to find out what the cause is and get that addressed.