Injured my lower back-now what?

[jarhead]

I was doing squats last night and injured my lower back. The injury occured not while squating down, but when I was backing up. Two days before that, I did the SLDL for the first time and wonder if that contributed to the injury. I lived with this pain on and off for about 10 years. A year or so ago, the pain stopped, and I started lifting again last April.
Should I stay away from the gym completely until I am pain free?

[Paul Stagg]

It depends on the injury.

do you know what is causing the pain?

Is it muscular? A disk? Something else?

For what it is worth, I've been going to a chiro for almost 2 years. I sprained my back in March of 2000, and my chiro had me pain free in a couple of months.

I now go once every 6 weeks or so for an adjustment... I don't know if I still need to go, but it feels good.

[jarhead]

Paul,
I don't know if it's muscular or a disk related pain. Based on the sharp pain that I experienced when the injury occured, I would guess that it's not muscular. When I am standing I don't feel the pain-when I turn or bend in a certain way is when I experience the pain. I was actually thinking of making an appointment with the chiro. Should I stay away from the gym for now?

[Paul Stagg]

Yep.

See a doc.

[jarhead]

Should I modify my diet in any way until I start lifting again?

[Paul Stagg]

You might want to cut back the cals a little to make up for the lack of activity.

Don't make drastic changes untill you know how long you will be out of the gym.

[jarhead]

Paul,
Thanks for the advise. I hope I won't be out of commission for too long :cry:.

[Paul Stagg]

A couple of weeks of rest rarely hurts anyone, anyway.

Quick Q - Does your leg hurt or feel numb at all?

[jarhead]

No, the pain doesn't shoot down my leg and there is no feeling of numbness.

[Paul Stagg]

Good.