I seriously think I'm dying...

[Guest Snake McClain]

Monday...during my big mid winter muscle madness challenge i seriously pulled a muscle or something in my lower back. it is the muscle but it's killing me. i took all week off of working out until yesterday. i was feeling better so i went to the gym just to get my heart rate up. didn't do any heavy lifting at all. now my back is killing me again. It doesn't hurt when i get up and walk around. or when i do jumping jacks or any of that stuff but laying down in bed? HORRIBLE. sitting in a chair 90% of the time. AWFUL!

No clue what to do. anyone have some experience because i start training for wrestling in a week and i'll be damned if I won't be able to do it. EFF That.

[SuperVitali]

Go to a doctor, you probably threw your back out/pulled a muscle.

[Guest Snake McClain]

I herniated some discs a long time ago. Way up top though. in between my choulder blades. It doesn't feel like that at all. Pretty sure it's just a muscle. Not too excited about it.

[positivelyrob]

I would also suggest a doctor as long as you can afford it. It's probably nothing serious and you just need to chill out for a week and play videogames but you'll feel less bad about it if that's a prescription.

[Guest Snake McClain]

true that. i'm actually looking at valerin root and chamomile as they are natural muscle relaxers and pain relievers. may try that.

[m00se]

As unofficial resident medic I though I'd chime in on this thread.

Back pain worse when lying flat is unusual - and seems as you say unlikely to represent disc or nerve root related pain. Presumably the pain isn't going into your buttocks or your legs (you didn't say). Is it worse with lateral stretching (http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQXRLMesdNl2Rnh9snODuHfMAtDybYHhIJk3RbCljX84FGoR1qw), or sideways twisting motions (http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSicoF0QD2nUBQ6BRk6ikwScB98A2Gdnq2JlTGLtyo8V1ozl2TVVQ) or neither? Did going to the gym actually make it worse or was it getting worse anyway?

The only alarm bell faintly going off in the back of my head is that you say it's worse on lying flat which is a typical problem with ankylosing spondylitis. You look to be the right age and you're the right sex. It's extremely unlikely, but there is literature saying it can flare up after trauma or exercise. Worth getting checked out for though, for sure.

It's probably a muscle sprain or tear, in which case, take it easy, lift light if at all, stay mobile, and stretch gently. You will not get better by wrestling

If you were in the UK I'd say come book into our A&E and I'll take a look at you but I'm thinking it's a bit of a trek for you

[scott82962]

Take two naproxen, twice a day. No lifting for a week. Do get up, walk and move around. Flexing, bending, controlled twisting all good. Get back into lifting gradually - in two weeks you should be good. If not, then see a doctor.

(Based on my personal experience and pretty darn far from being expert advice!)

[Guest Snake McClain]

As unofficial resident medic I though I'd chime in on this thread.

Back pain worse when lying flat is unusual - and seems as you say unlikely to represent disc or nerve root related pain. Presumably the pain isn't going into your buttocks or your legs (you didn't say). Is it worse with lateral stretching (http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQXRLMesdNl2Rnh9snODuHfMAtDybYHhIJk3RbCljX84FGoR1qw), or sideways twisting motions (http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSicoF0QD2nUBQ6BRk6ikwScB98A2Gdnq2JlTGLtyo8V1ozl2TVVQ) or neither? Did going to the gym actually make it worse or was it getting worse anyway?

The only alarm bell faintly going off in the back of my head is that you say it's worse on lying flat which is a typical problem with ankylosing spondylitis. You look to be the right age and you're the right sex. It's extremely unlikely, but there is literature saying it can flare up after trauma or exercise. Worth getting checked out for though, for sure.

It's probably a muscle sprain or tear, in which case, take it easy, lift light if at all, stay mobile, and stretch gently. You will not get better by wrestling

If you were in the UK I'd say come book into our A&E and I'll take a look at you but I'm thinking it's a bit of a trek for you

it is worse when laying down yes. It does not go into my buttocks or legs at all. It does not get worse with twisting or any stretching whatsoever. Yesterday pull ups didn't hurt it. squats didn't hurt it (weighted or otherwise), overhead press did not either. nor did the barbell rows. The pain came back when i did back bridges ( http://cdn-upimages.exercise.com/video-library/thumbnail/back-bridge_-_step_1.max.v1.png ) . Then when i lay down it hurts and i get stiff. like i can't quite lift my legs off because it's so stiff. also when sitting it sort of throbs but when i first stand up im stiff until i walk a bit. I guess i should go to the doctor huh?

thing is I have to wrestle. like..i just have to. there is no getting around it. so i have....8 1/2 days to recover. lol

although i've always wanted to see the UK it just isn't in the budget today my friend.

[Guest Snake McClain]

okay i seriously think i have ankylosing spondylitis. I have all the symptoms. the hip pain in the buttock area i've had for years. the eye inflmation. holy crap. Seriously i have every one of these symptoms and have for a couple years.

[Ryan Sannar]

Go get it taken care of bro.

[andygates]

Yikes! We're not supposed to break anyone. Here's hoping it's just a deep sprain and clears up in the coming few days.