Lower Back Pain, Should I Quit Training?

[soulforge]

Guys need some advice here..

The last 3 months now, I am suffering with lower back sprain.. This is something I have had in the past too, but it usually went away after a month or so.

This time round its not getting any better.. This could be because I am still training.. And possibly irritating the lower back, and slowing down the healing process!

Just to be clear, I am NOT lifting heavy currently.. Very light weights, and always wearing a belt, to protect my back.. Even with me taking precoutions, my back may still be getting irritated..

I have made some great gains recently, and seriously do not feel like quitting!

So my question is this..

01.Should I quit for a month, and let my back fully heal, and sacrifice my hard earned gains?

02. Continue training below my usual standard, keep it light, and risk prolonging the injury?

I hate the idea of dropping out of training, but continuing may mess my back up, for much longer.

I am daily doing back stretching and strengthening exercises.. Also using heat patches on it...

 

[Billtx49]

If alcohol intake is an issue keep it in check…
It effects the kidneys causing lower back pain. Usually effects one side more than the other at first though.

 

[wifehunter]

Try upping your water intake to flush out toxins. If that doesn't do it...maybe breaktime.

 

[Macaframalama]

Guys need some advice here..

The last 3 months now, I am suffering with lower back sprain.. This is something I have had in the past too, but it usually went away after a month or so.

This time round its not getting any better.. This could be because I am still training.. And possibly irritating the lower back, and slowing down the healing process!

Just to be clear, I am NOT lifting heavy currently.. Very light weights, and always wearing a belt, to protect my back.. Even with me taking precoutions, my back may still be getting irritated..

I have made some great gains recently, and seriously do not feel like quitting!

So my question is this..

01.Should I quit for a month, and let my back fully heal, and sacrifice my hard earned gains?

02. Continue training below my usual standard, keep it light, and risk prolonging the injury?

I hate the idea of dropping out of training, but continuing may mess my back up, for much longer.

I am daily doing back stretching and strengthening exercises.. Also using heat patches on it...

Find out if your hip flexors are tight. I can't squat and deadlift in the same week, no matter the intensity. Same with bench pressing and ohp just about, so I alternate squats one week and Deads the next. With me working a blue collar job and being so tall my lower back fatigues pretty easy and slow to recover. I would try alternating and doing a bunch of bodybuilding type work, after your main movement. Leg extensions, leg curls, ham raises, etc in the 15-20 rep range. I can handle lighter Oly lifts throughout the week as well. Snatch Grip high pulls and cleans from the hang position. You might try that.

 

[soulforge]

Firstly guys I am constantly drinking water, so doubt anything will change there..

I guess what I want to know is, if I quit training for a month, will that give my back a better chance to recover?

Or should I soldier on in the gym, keep the weights light? And hope for the best?

My worry is by irritating it more in the gym, it could take forever to recover, where as a month out may be the solution..

I have already taken 2 weeks off, yet the back strain is still there..Maybe 2 weeks was not enough and a month is the better option

 

[wifehunter]

Firstly guys I am constantly drinking water, so doubt anything will change there..

I guess what I want to know is, if I quit training for a month, will that give my back a better chance to recover?

Or should I soldier on in the gym, keep the weights light? And hope for the best?

My worry is by irritating it more in the gym, it could take forever to recover, where as a month out may be the solution..

I have already taken 2 weeks off, yet the back strain is still there..Maybe 2 weeks was not enough and a month is the better option

Maybe... talk to a doctor or physical therapist.

 

[speed dawg]

Firstly guys I am constantly drinking water, so doubt anything will change there..

I guess what I want to know is, if I quit training for a month, will that give my back a better chance to recover?

Or should I soldier on in the gym, keep the weights light? And hope for the best?

My worry is by irritating it more in the gym, it could take forever to recover, where as a month out may be the solution..

I have already taken 2 weeks off, yet the back strain is still there..Maybe 2 weeks was not enough and a month is the better option

Take a month off of heavy weights, and do only core work. Look in to some yoga as well, that incorporates planks and things of that nature.

I've been doing DDP Yoga and my back pain has disappeared, posture is better and I've lost 5 lbs on the eating plan. Back story on that - been chronic since I had a microdiscectomy in 2008.

 

[Macaframalama]

Firstly guys I am constantly drinking water, so doubt anything will change there..

I guess what I want to know is, if I quit training for a month, will that give my back a better chance to recover?

Or should I soldier on in the gym, keep the weights light? And hope for the best?

My worry is by irritating it more in the gym, it could take forever to recover, where as a month out may be the solution..

I have already taken 2 weeks off, yet the back strain is still there..Maybe 2 weeks was not enough and a month is the better option

Like wifehunter said, your best bet is seeing a professional if you can. You can take time off, but you're still not getting to the cause of the problem, unless it is a problem with under-recovering, too much volume, etc. I wouldn't stop training completely. At the very least, follow a "prehab/rehab" protocol. If you can get access to a reverse hyper they can do wonders with rehabbing lower back issues. Yoga, stretching, rolling, etc. Have you considered tight abdominals and hip flexors? It's a pretty common cause of lower back pain and a quick, easy fix if that's the case.

 

[Krueg]

Does it have anything to do with your form or certain exercises?

If not the above; I'd take some time off and let your body heal / recover.

 

[user43770]

Experiencing lower back pain is just a normal part of aging for most men. Having said that, it wouldn't hurt to take a couple of weeks off from heavy lower back exercises and squats.

Like Espi said, minor pains can be a good thing in the long run. It may be your body telling you to change some things up. I recently lowered the weight on my deadlift to work on my form.