Hi Guys…I’m in a bit of pain and I would be interested in some feedback.
I’m a regular IM long course type…M55-60. Couple of good results last year. But today I could not
imagine zipping on my wet suit…so much pain in the lower back.
I started the new year with some intensive business travel London to Doha every week for 6 weeks
to complete some contract negotiations. I should have pre-planned this (mistake 1) and had a programme
of core work in place. The 6 weeks were training zero but meetings and entertaining to the max…late nights
and jet lag…
Now I am having trouble tying my shoe laces…I’m settled into a better routine now. I’m back in the pool,
doing some stretch’s, core work and have just started jogging on the treadmill and some light weights.
During a swim or gym session I start to loosen up and get moving…but an hour later I’m all jammed up again…
sleeping is uncomfortable…
it is really frustration and does not seem to be going away…
Has anyone had this happen to them and what did you do to relieve the pain…? thanks Vince
There’s a ton of reasons, none of which I am qualified to diagnose.
But I can tell you my experience and I am in the same age range (older but no wiser).
After ITU AG Worlds, I experienced a lot of pain on the flight back. Went back into the gym and did yoga, stretched. Worked it out. Did a Fall 1/2 Marathon, went fine. Just before Christmas started serious training again (including the 100 Days 100 runs challenge). Back came the pain (scuse the pun). Returned to serious stretching, yoga and so on. Lost sensation in one leg, finally went to a doctor. Got an MRI done in January (then a 2nd a month or so later, long boring story).
Actual diagnosis. Herniated discs all over the place, with scar tissue that has done all kinds of nerve damage. This could take a while.
These were not new injuries but older injuries that I had “recovered” from. It’s the cummalitive effects are what I am dealing with.
If you have access to MRI, get it done. Otherwise your good intentions and current training could do more damage than you care to think.
Good luck.
in addition to lack of core and stretching, i would guess too much sitting which usually tightens hip flexors and pulls pelvis forward and puts load on back muscles and facets for instance. i find the tips on mobility wod website very good at addressing these issues. they charge small price for a vast inventory of daily tips. i like the ones with bands working on my hip flexors. also, google pelvic tilt and see the problems it causes with prescription for treatment (ie which muscles shortened and which ones too stretched-muscle imbalances).
this might help if anterior pelvic tilt: http://www.swolept.com/posts/fixing-anterior-pelvic-tilt-posture-tricks-to-make-your-butt-and-gut-smaller#.UywyOPm-2dk
.
Go see a physician. I had/have similar issues-comes with age and over use in prior years. Just bending over to tie shoes or getting off that tri bike etc etc was taking its toll. I started feeling those lower backs “spasms” during one of my 2013 HIMs. Raised the aero bar further and re calibrated the bike fit. Got a great new bed and randomly slept with a narrow pillow under the knees with most times sleeping on the side. Pain went away for a while. Really did not have any real issues until late this last fall. Swims and runs did not really bother the back. Indoor cycling got to be too much at 45:00 into the training. Then outdoor bike training got to be too much. Used mild pain meds and did core work. Hard headed me then went to get the MRI. It showed degenerative disc L4-L5 etc. Both my doctors, one a neuro, went through the prognosis i.e injection, the usual core and back exercises. Then suggested that they have seen some get better in time maybe a year. Well that sucks BUT I decided to take some time off and just work out and concentrate on relieving the pain and hopefully getting better. Im not giving up just allowing the body to potentially heal to get stronger.
Thanks Texmex…useful advice…I am out of triathlon for the next 12 months while I complete this assignment in Doha…shame
but I will try and put this time to good use and work harder on learning some new skills…dare I say it Yoga and Pilates…I need
to maintain a better level of flexibility to keep going into old age…60 next year but up till this back thing I was doing 12 hour IM’s and feeling pretty good…your note about a good bed is spot on…in and out of hotels has been a pain…I need to get into an apartment and buy a good mattress…anyway…thanks again for you message… cheers mate
Thanks…for the link…I’ve had a look and they have some exercises that will be great for me…hope this thing isn’t too serious…
and I can shake it off…getting out of bed every morning is becoming quite a challenge until I can start stretching out. It take about
10mins of mat work before I can get into the shower…
I badly pulled a muscle in my lumbar and had horrible issues over the last 2-3 months. It’s getting better now but whenever I started feeling really pissed off about it I would watch this video to remind me that most back injuries get better in time: www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSCZ1yJtges