Efiing bleedin' lower back ligaments!!!

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At least, that's what I have been told I damaged about 8 years ago when I was pulling up some glued-down carpet underlay. Ever since, my back has been 'weak', going into spasm occasionally, stiffening up and generally being a pain in the wotsits.
Yes, I realise I should still be grateful as it still works OK and I can walk, but it doesn't stop me getting frustrated at the fact that I just get myself to a decent level of physical fitness and then BAM, it goes again.
I did see a chiropractor regularly and ssaw her today, and she told me I hadn't been for two years so I think that will have to change. I also saw their sports therapist who gave me all sorts of exercises to do last time my back 'went', which I did and it was OK. I can scull OK now and as I am concentrating like hell on getting my technique right I don't suffer when I do that any more.
I'm going to go and see my GP to see if there's anything more conventional medicine can do and I will have to restart the exercises I was given.
Rant over, just feeling peeved and sorry for myself, that's all.
Anyone else suffer froma similar complaint?

 

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Sorry mods, can someone move this to the Health And Fitness section please?

 

[rh100]

I know how you feel - hope it get's better soon.

I have had sciatica for a couple of years now - and a generally bad back before that - has only eased up since I started cycling at the physiotherapists advice.

I went to my GP - who just said take paracetomol and rest - no use. Went to a private chiropractor - who was good at fixing the general/occasional back problem I had before the sciatica - but it would return - and I suspect that treatment itself helped bring on the sciatica.

I changed GP's and got referred to the hospital where I had an MRI, and could see the damage to the disc, I was then offered surgery or the physio, who has given me excersises to do as my hamstrings are also tight, also advice about seat positioning at work etc, I've also gone from a manual/teccy type job to an office job. All of it combined has made a load of difference, hardly touched the medication for a few weeks now.

Get well soon

 

[ChrisKH]

Yes, got hit in the lower back by a fat prop 15 years ago and now I'm more susceptible to muscle tear and strain on my RHS lower back. I make sure I lift with a straight back and always wear an elasticated back support when in a back strain position (lifting, gardening, etc.) and it's generally ok. Provided the area is kept warm I can use it to a good degree still. Can be much worse in winter than summer for that reason alone.

 

[Dayvo]

Yeah, I've had back problems on and off for the lst 25 years (mostly off, to be honest).

Having worked as a hod-carrier for a number of years, and being an opening fast bowler and tight-head prop (but not the fat one Chris was hit by ), I've had my fair share off pulling up in sharp pain..

I'm no expert, but I'm not sure if rowing is the right activity for you. I think it's better to have flexibility in your back, rather than strength. Something like yoga might be better for you.

If relevant, you could try and lose some weight, particularly round the waist, which will stop pulling your back forward (if you know what I mean) and try and strengthen your core muscles in you abdomen area, which in turn will aid your back.

Good luck.

 

[Cranky]

Yeah, I've had back problems on and off for the lst 25 years (mostly off, to be honest).

Having worked as a hod-carrier for a number of years, and being an opening fast bowler and tight-head prop (but not the fat one Chris was hit by ), I've had my fair share off pulling up in sharp pain..

I'm no expert, but I'm not sure if rowing is the right activity for you. I think it's better to have flexibility in your back, rather than strength. Something like yoga might be better for you.

If relevant, you could try and lose some weight, particularly round the waist, which will stop pulling your back forward (if you know what I mean) and try and strengthen your core muscles in you abdomen area, which in turn will aid your back.
Good luck.

+1. I've had very few back problems in the last few years since doing core muscle exercises while at the gym (could easily be done at home with the right advice).

 

[Browser]

I'm no expert, but I'm not sure if rowing is the right activity for you. I think it's better to have flexibility in your back, rather than strength. Something like yoga might be better for you.

It's more about leg strength and, if done properly like wot I is tryin', helps with core strength.

If relevant, you could try and lose some weight, particularly round the waist, which will stop pulling your back forward (if you know what I mean) and try and strengthen your core muscles in you abdomen area, which in turn will aid your back.

Good luck.

Am losing weight at the mo, hence cycling to work. Trying to get below 15 stone in weight, about 5lbs to go but they're being stubborn! I can actually see that my body fat is going and at 6ft 5in tall I'm not doing too bad. Another half-stone would really help the back, though.
What I'd really like would be an MRI scan so I could definitively say "that part there is the duff bit".

 

[purplepolly]

Rant over, just feeling peeved and sorry for myself, that's all.
Anyone else suffer froma similar complaint?

A rant's definately justified for that.

I used to (touch wood) - fell down stairs on my backside some years ago and kept getting this for years. My back's not 'gone' for a couple of years now though. I think doing a lot more daily walking helped a lot so nowadays I just have to be careful when I feel it stiffening up.

If you're having trouble getting up after sleeping or sitting down, try using a couple of walking sticks, or better still hikers walking poles which are height adjustable, as you'll be able to take the weight off the lower back.

 

[swee'pea99]

Did my back in really badly a few years back, got into swimming. The back got better, very slowly, over the course of two years or so. Was there a connection? Don't know. But I have the feeling it did...just gentle muscle-toning, nothing jarring or sudden. No idea if that's helpful, but good luck. It's a pain, literally and metaphorically.

 

[Kestevan]

I'm in much the same boat. Did my back in years ago playing rugby (no 8, so I'm not the fat prop either).

Pain comes and goes, usually for no apparent reason. Earlier this year I'd knocked hell out of it cycling, at Tang Soo do, and moving heavy kit with no problems; then bent down to pick up a newspaper, and bang! agony for 2 weeks...

Core strength and flexibility (yoga/Tai Chi/Pilates) does help, but even then..... when it decides to go, it bloody hurts.

 

[nosherduke996]

And me,54 years old and had back problems for over 20 years.Useually goes doing something stupid like tying shoes ect. What has really made it better is road cycling beleive it or not.
For seven months now i have been doing anything from 100 to 300 miles a month and i have never felt fitter. Just keep putting the time in, it will be worth it

 

[zimzum42]

It really is worth getting an MRI done, you may have a prolapsed disc, and knowing where the issue is can do nothing but good.

it may well be the ligaments, but it could well be something else too.

I thought I had ligament issues, but this wasn't the case in the end, and I am now still recovering from 3 prolapsed discs 10 months later.....

 

[ASC1951]

I also saw their sports therapist who gave me all sorts of exercises to do last time my back 'went', which I did and it was OK.

If you're anything like me - assuming you don't have some underlying injury or structural weakness, which is relatively unusual - that may well be your problem.

All my exercise injuries are from posture or muscle imbalance, which is common in people who get most of their exercise from cycling. Every now and then, something starts hurting.
"Still doing the stretches I gave you last time?", says the physio?
"Er, no. I was ok after a month, so I stopped them."

You can get away with it in your teens and twenties, but after that most of us need maintenance exercises.

 

[arallsopp]

+1 to that. Am 35, and threw my back out in a 3 month session of sitting badly, lifting my newborn son, and cycling everywhere.

Doc said painkillers. MRI showed discs prolapsed, then popped leaving bone rubbing bone.

By the time surgeons got to it, there were bone fragments floating around near spinal cord. Not good at all.
Wish I'd been pushier for the MRI as this would have stopped it degenerating further.

Learning to walk again was NOT fun. Never riding an upright bicycle again is a pain.

YMMV, and not intended as a horror story, but always worth treating your back with care.

 

[soulful dog]

[quote name='swee'pea99']swimming....... just gentle muscle-toning, nothing jarring or sudden.......[/QUOTE]
I had a back op a number of years ago after suffering a prolapsed disc and it's something that will always give me problems. Doing anything for extended periods, whether it's sitting, standing, walking, cycling or swimming, makes it stiff and sore, but apart from doing exercises recommended by a doctor for your particular back complaint, I agree fully with what swee'pea99 said. Though I do sometimes find that if my back is particularly sore, a gentle cycle minus any hills so I'm putting no strain on my back, can help to ease it.