Learn from me...stay focused

[why]

Originally Posted by william

Interesting. I've actually been at SS for about five weeks.

How would you approach SS? I see your recommendation above but would you use the five week then break protocol with any program you used?

Not always. It depends on feel and it's something only experience really teaches. Just don't get stuck in your ways; adjust according to what's necessary and not what you feel like doing. If you lift 3x5 and legitimately keep adding weight, keep on going. If you stall at some point and miss a set, come back after a little rest and try again. If you miss again, reduce volume (cut reps but keep the sets is usually best) and then try again. It's not exact and you'll learn -- just be honest and forthright with yourself.

Also...how long might a herniated disc take to heal?

Greatly varies from one week to never.

Originally Posted by william

Actually it's a muscle on the right side of my back so I doubt it has anything to do with my spine.

If it's a pulled spinal erector this won't take long to heal usually. Herniated discs, however, often radiate pain since the entire area is extremely innervated and this makes pinpointing an origin difficult (think of getting kicked in the nuts and feeling it in the stomach -- it's a nervous system thing).

A pulled spinal erector is pretty easy to diagnose since they're uncommon and the pain is clearly felt as if the muscle misfired. If the pain isn't felt until after the set it's usually a herniated disc because of the lag time involved with fluid leakage and inflammation buildup and such.

Best of luck.

 

[ZackyBoy]

Don't fret. I've caused myself sciatica, pulled muscles by the dozens and numerous other back injuries. Just learn from it.

 

[jcool20010]

I severely doubt that it is a herniated disk.

 

[bbaquiran]

Originally Posted by william

That's exactly what I was thinking of doing until I found the fractionals at Iron Woody (ridiculous name I know). That way I can keep adding weight, even if it's just a pound at a time. They sell them in kilos too.

I too ordered a set of fractional plates from Iron Woody a couple of days ago. They should arrive in a week or so. In the meantime I'm using short lengths of chain clipped to the barbell collars for microloading.

 

[bbaquiran]

Originally Posted by william

I've never hurt myself lifting weights...until today. I was squatting 225 using the Starting Strength program, and was concentrating on keeping my knees out and achieving proper depth. Too bad I forgot to keep my chest up and lower back tight. The end result was a muscle pull in my back that makes it hard to even walk or sit up that well.

Originally Posted by turbozed

That sucks man. I thought I tore something in my shoulder while doing my OHP's a couple of days ago. I was seriously pissed. Turns out it was fully healed within 10 minutes and I was able to do the power cleans afterwards. I was pretty happy about that. Look up some rehab exercises and get a lot of food and rest.

Originally Posted by LS7

Funny, suffered the same injury myself last Sunday, albeit at a lighter weight. I was back squatting by Wednesday and lifted again today at 10lbs below my highweight. Your strain sounds a little more serious so my advice would be to wait until you're fully healed.

Rippetoe has some rehab advice here. I don't know if it's good or not, but might be worth a shot.

 

[RedLantern]

Originally Posted by william

Actually it's a muscle on the right side of my back so I doubt it has anything to do with my spine.


Well thats good to hear!

 

[user-name]

Originally Posted by bbaquiran

Rippetoe has some rehab advice here. I don't know if it's good or not, but might be worth a shot.


Interesting. I've always known that you should mobilize an injury as soon as possible to get the blood flowing, but never heard anyone say that you should specifically do the excercise that most directly hits it. Thanks for the link.

 

[william]

Some great advice and posts here. Thanks for everyone's contributions.