I know this is no substitute for seeing a doc - thought I would start here given how helpful the ST collective has been in the past.
I am a male, former competitive runner with no history of injuries - now in my late 20s. I started a desk job 2 years ago (80+ hrs / week) and did not really have any time to train.
About 6 weeks ago, I decided I would train for and run a late 2012/early 2013 marathon. The past 6 weeks have been a conservative build up to about 45 miles of very easy jogging to build base (one run every day).
Almost exactly one week ago, I helped with a move and did some moderate lifting/shuffling of furniture, etc. (this may or may not be related to my injury). On my run the next morning, I noticed a dull ache in my back about 2 inches to the right of my spine at the waist. The pain was probably a 5 on a 1-10 scale (but I admit I have a high pain tolerance). I did not think much of it and finished the run. Same pain the next day. On the third day, the pain felt like it had shifted - felt like a slightly sharper pain deep in my glute. With some trepidation, I went to a chiro who adjusted me, suggesting that my hips could have been misaligned which may have irritated my SI joint. He has done two adjustments for me, which seem to help a little. As of yesterday, the pain has returned to the ache in my back near the spine at waist level.
Both of the pains I am describing FEEL like bone pain but I have been told that a strained/torn muscle could produce the same feeling. I am still running an easy hour a day without the pain getting worse but feel nervous about doing so (and increasing mileage or doing a long run is it out the question). The pain is usually only present when I am running (on impact). Advil helps a TON. For the most part, I do not notice the pain when walking or sitting.
What kind of treatment would a compressed disc/impingement issue require? I am concerned it could be something like that or a stress fracture (no history of stress fractures or anything though).
Sitting is the absolute worst for what we do. I try to get up and walk around at work as much as I can. I like your symptoms for piriformis or perhaps psoas issues. Those things wrap around the glute, lower back and hip areas and cause all sorts of issues. I suggest a good ART chiropractor because they have a much better grasp of muscloskeletal issues than ordinary chiropractors. Another option is a good sports-medicine orthopedist or sports medicine specialist who will likely refer you to Physical Therapy. Despite your background as a runner you probably have weakness in the small muscles that support you, including the two I mentioned above. Good luck.
I’ve had issues with the discs for the nerve that causes sciatica and had symptoms similar to yours. Went to ortho, then got sent to PT, got lots of exercises for trying to balance the effort between right and left leg, one leg was twice as strong as the other, I was favoring it so much causing some of the problems, also some things for better posture/seating position so that sitting in chairs/long commute in car/train wouldn’t be as bad.
I used to have back pain. I went to the chiro, physio and massage therapist and nothing improved. I consult a sports therapist and she told me right away that my pain was cause by the stiffness in my hip flexors. She stretched them out a few time and the pain went away. Your problem doesnt look like mine, but its worth a shot.
I used to have back pain. I went to the chiro, physio and massage therapist and nothing improved. I consult a sports therapist and she told me right away that my pain was cause by the stiffness in my hip flexors. She stretched them out a few time and the pain went away. Your problem doesnt look like mine, but its worth a shot.
good luck.
x2, Massage Therapist FWIW. Sounds like a strained hip flexor, possibly Psoas. There is always a possibility of an existing bulging disc issue, but it’s probably the hip flexor. You need soft tissue work and hip flexor stretch, and some glute work also wouldn’t hurt. Hopefully you have a MT who focuses on these things b/c a spa therapist most likely won’t key in on the problem.
Sciatica yes, but the issue is where is it coming from. It may be a facet joint injury, which would describe the dull ache where you described, but also the pain into the glute. First things first, seek a physiotherapist and get them to manipulate the lumbar facet joints, then needling into the erector spinae and multifidus, and also glute trigger points. get them to show you some core exercises, and stretches to do daily.
Same thing happened to me a year and a half ago. Was just ramping up my training for IM Arizona and helped my girlfriend move from LA to San Diego. Had pain in my glutes the next day and eventually down my leg. Spent 3 months working with PT tring to stretch what I thought was a tight piriformis. Eventually got an MRI and it showed a lateral hernia tigon of the L5 disk. Another year of Exploring all my options and I finally got a microdiskectomy 2 months ago. Just started to become pain free this last week!!! Get a f$cking MRI ASAP just to rule it out. The longer you wait, the more damaged the pinched nerve gets.
Same thing happened to me a year and a half ago. Was just ramping up my training for IM Arizona and helped my girlfriend move from LA to San Diego. Had pain in my glutes the next day and eventually down my leg. Spent 3 months working with PT tring to stretch what I thought was a tight piriformis. Eventually got an MRI and it showed a lateral hernia tigon of the L5 disk. Another year of Exploring all my options and I finally got a microdiskectomy 2 months ago. Just started to become pain free this last week!!! Get a f$cking MRI ASAP just to rule it out. The longer you wait, the more damaged the pinched nerve gets.
Most folks will not image acute back pain due to cost constraints, unless he has tingling down his leg, loss of sensation or issues with bowel/bladder control.
You might seriously consider seeing a neuro/orthoneuro or sports med specialist to rule out. They have maneuvers that will help you figure out what is going on.
My husband had surgery for his 1st herniation, approximately 6 months from the onset of pain. He rehabbed and rode his bike throughout the 2nd herniation and has been successful at no recurrences.
sitting tightens hip flexors, tighten facet joints as more arch in back. also, when bending and lifting it can cause disk issues but research the quadratus lumborum as it shortens too as you sit and can cause quite a bit of pain exacerbated by bending and lifting. there are plenty of hip flexor utubes and a few for ql. good luck.