Training with lower back problems

I see quite a few guys seem to suffer from lower back problems of various sorts. I slipped a disk in May, and have been off gym for two months, I started again this week, initially with what I thought was light, but it now seems heavy - guess two months takes a lot out of you.

I was wondering if we could start a thread listing "safe" exercises that don't put to much stress on your lower back?

Legs and back training particularly - I'm struggling to come up with a workable program.

Did you have X-rays? I've got a degenerative disc that I'm busy getting sorted.
It's just that there is no such thing as a slipped disc. You may have a herniated disc or even worse as in my case wich ends up with a disc replacment.
It's just hard to give you advice on how to train especially with lower back issues if you don't no what your problem is as you may just make it far worse and end up like me but worse as mines a neck issue wich you can easily train around but with lower back there are very few excersizes that won't put pressure in your lower back as that's wher all upper body excersizes place the load.

Just read your thread... ouch.

I do have xrays - probably a herniated disc - it looks collapsed on one side. I think the last one in my spine.

I tried not trying for two months, just doing light cardio - but its exceptionally frustrating, and you loose so much strength.

I tore 2 discs about 10 years ago and talking from experience, the only thing you really need to watch out for when you get better will be squats and dead lifts if not done correctly

Watch the pros on youtube, how they squat and deadlift and follow them, start light and build, if done correctly you should be fine

Other than that, best advice would be lots and lots of core work, plank and crunches etc and take it easy. best of luck

Your going to need to see a specialist Bud and catch it before it's to late and you end up under the knife.
Just call any neurosurgeon and take your X-rays with you, you want to no exacataly what your dealing with and what to do.
I left mine for to long thinking it'd just get better on its own and it would to a degrea but every time it comes back and it will!!! it's worse as your just going to make the herniated disc worse and if it starts dehidrating it degenerate

You don't want to play with back injuries

Ron are you Fucking mad..?

Your advising someone with a possible herniated lower disc to do crunches.

Don't know where my previous post went.

I did see a neurosurgeon, his advice is to not lift anything more than 5kg for 3 years minimum. Which is a bit drastic?

It will also be physically impossible - I do a lot of work on my house/cars myself - and this involves working and carrying heavy objects. Its also not something I can get someone else to do - I have found the industry in SA to be of a very low standard.

Get a second oppinion Bud.

Even in a worst case senario if you have to have sugery you'll be fully recovered In at most 6 months. It's not the type of thing that just heals itself and I don't no what Alexron is talking about a torn disc.. :blink: he must be a medical prodigy because there is no such condition! Basically it herniated or worse degenerative disc or the very worst is a ruptured disc.
Another specialist will send you straight for an MRI and let you no the prognosis. Being told not to lift anything for 3 years and then vwala your healed is a load of BS if you end up trapping a nerve like I have by just leaving it you'll have things like numbness and muscle atrophy to look forward to.

I've researched the hell out of this and had my Doctor,Chiro and Doctari helping me out and if you don't fix the one disc others will follow trying to compensate.
an MRI may show something simple that just needs tweeking but until you have someone who really knows there shit in your corner your just shooting in the dark and might just cause more damage.

Good luck Bud

Even with just the two days of weight training earlier this week with light weights, and exercises that I couldn't feel any strain - my back is sore again today.

I'm guess I'm out for awhile - going to start swimming and walking next week, new goal will be dropping down to 90kg @ just below 10% body fat.

In the meantime - I'll try find a nerosurgeon and get a second opinion, and MRI done.

Ye it's similar with me Bud, every time it starts getting better I stop trying to sort the problem out and then when it comes back it's worse. The problem is if you do permanent nerve damage your screwed as you loose partial function.

You definatly want to see another Neuro and find out what your up against. I remember when I didn't no what the problem was and if or if not I was doing more damage! It's a horrible place to be.

There is nothing worse than being able to do nothing. Hate the feeling of weakness.

And there is NOTHING worse than training handicapped! When you walk out of the gym and no you haven't been able to give it horns but rather just went through the motions.

okey now I'm a little stressed as well.
My lower back is starting to give problems,mainly on leg day and back day.It's nothing serious yet but I'm scared it might get worse.
I've bought a belt but doesn't help that much.
So are u guys saying it will only get worse or are there any preventative measures I can take to combat it?

Bud if you've just got a lower back strain avoiding squats and dead lifts for a couple of weeks should sort you out. Just avoid excercizes that put strain on your lower back for a while and see how it goes.

thanks rhino that helps alot.Good luck on your side,bud...I hope all goes well.

How is your squat/deadlift form? You generally won't hurt your lower back if your form is good. It's often the last forced rep in a set where form goes to shit and injuries happen. Get a mate to take a video clip of you from a side angle when squatting/deadlifting and see when your back rounds.