About five years ago I messed up my L-5 during a paintball game when I leaned too far over to the left while trying to get an angle on someone and I popped something loose. The nerve was getting pinched and I started to lose feeling/strength in my left leg, so my doc sent me to PT for three months to strengthen my back and pop the disk back in place; feeling came back after that.
I've always been careful with my back since then. I got into crossfit for a while and the trainer I had was a real Nazi for form (also had a messed up back) but it was too high impact after a while and I fell out of that. I got into starting strength last year and was getting good results after a while (DL went from 3x6 with 114lbs to 210lbs after four months).
I recently made a move to Austin and after taking few months off at the gym I decided to get a Personal Trainer since I wanted to add some new things to my routine and always played around with the idea of having one. She didn't like my deadlift form so we dropped weight and started tweaking it. One of the things she didn't like about my form was that I always arched my back while setting up. We got my back flatter, but one day during the last set of 3x15 with 145lbs I failed and rounded my back as I put down the weights. She externalized my back screaming as she scorned me for letting my back round. I didn't think it was that bad until we moved on to reverse sit ups and after just one rep I felt a pop in my mid back and the WORST pain shoot up my upper back between my shoulder blades. I stretched out my back and was able to finish out my set but then said we should call it a night. I went home and tried taking some anti-inflammatorys and rested. The next day I felt ok so I figured I just had a bad day and decided to go back to the gym to do some upper body (pull-ups, dips, rows) but could tell something was off so I cut things short and went home.
Here's the short version of what happened next:
*Left leg went partially numb
*Fingertips started going numb (That only lasted half a day, but freaked me out enough I thought about going to emergycare)
*Spent whole weekend in bed taking painkillers and laying on a heat pad
*Went to Orthopedic later that week to find out I herniated a disk
*Need to go back to PT to fix my nerve (L-5) and loosen my upper back (fingers)
*Told me to forget doing another deadlift, clean and jerk, squat ever again
So, I'm taking a break from the gym and I start PT next week. Pain is mostly gone and feeling has gotten better but I'm super pissed at myself.
C'est la Vie...
***Update 12/13/2014***
I figured I'd leave an update about how I've been coming along. I've gotten a lot better, but still have a ways to go before I can call myself fully recovered. I'm still unclear on if I had a minor herniation, or a bad bulge in my L-4/5. The Doc said herniation, but wasn't very worried after he got the results from the MRI. The therapist I ended up going to said that the MRI results only indicated bulges. I'd likely take the word of the doctor over the PT, but I never got to see the scan myself.
I was in PT for about four months before they let me go, and I've been trying to keep up with what they taught me. I think I left the PT with better abs than when I walked in. I converted to a standing desk at work, and was surprised with how much it helped relieve back pain. I still stand at work, even though sitting no longer causes pain, and I even built a decent standing desk for home (that my laptop is sitting on as I type this). I’m now able to go through my day with little to no pain, and only a *slight* bit of numbness that comes and goes in the big toe/heel of my left foot. I can walk around all day and feel fine, casually ride a bike around town, and do some minor lifting of stuff around the home without much ill effect. I’m hoping to sloooowly start adding things to my daily workout, but nothing that has me lifting, bending, or twisting. I tried asking for ideas from the therapist I was working with, but she told me she can’t give any guidance on working out once I've “graduated” from their program. I know most of the cable machines at the gym are pretty safe for me, but even then I need to be mindful of how I use them.
Besides recovering physically, I’m also finally recovering financially. The total cost of all this was not insignificant because I had just moved cross country to start with a new company, could not get under their insurance until 90 days after my official hire date, then wait for the enrollment window. The PT alone cost me a total $1,056.07, and the grand total after having to sign up for insurance on my own (knee-jerk reaction to the risk of surgery) came out to $3361.05 for all medical bills related to this injury.
I was very annoyed when I realized Gold’s Gym was still charging me my membership fees even after I had told my trainer at the gym that I was down and out for a while. She was trying really hard to get me to come back in, texting me every week to see if I would be ready soon. I had to go in and tell her face-to-face just how bad it had gotten, even mentioning my groin going numb to drive home the point. She left me alone after that, but I made the mistake of not checking to see if they had put my account on hold.
When I asked the gym manger to refund me the money they had charged me, and the $200+ left in trainer credits, he would only credit me back the monthly fees I was charged while injured; then put my account on hold for three months to let me recover a bit more. I’m still trying to figure out if I have a rock to stand on to get a full refund. I know as well as anyone else that getting hurt while training at the gym is something that can happen to anyone, at any time. It’s just a little crappy that my injury happened under the supervision of a trainer, after I told her I had a previous back injury, then she was surprised I didn't just bounce back from it. It’d be one thing for me to try and do something silly like sue for all my medical bills, but all I want is to cash out my credits and move on from this a little wiser. My gym membership became active this past week, so I went in to do some PT and look at what else I may be able to start adding in. I won't lie, it's a bit awkward to be that guy in the corner working with resistance bands and light weights while everyone else is powering away. I just remind myself that they either don't care about what I'm doing, or know/figure I'm doing that stuff for a good reason.
I have noticed that some other people on here were going through similar injuries as me, so I figure I’d wrap up by saying this:
It WILL get better.
In the span of seven months I went from half my lower body felling numb with staggering pain in my back that had me in lying in bed most days, to only having some mild numbness in my left foot. It does get better, if you take care of yourself. Do your therapy, listen to your doc, take it easy for as long as you need to.
And watch your damn form.
I've always been careful with my back since then. I got into crossfit for a while and the trainer I had was a real Nazi for form (also had a messed up back) but it was too high impact after a while and I fell out of that. I got into starting strength last year and was getting good results after a while (DL went from 3x6 with 114lbs to 210lbs after four months).
I recently made a move to Austin and after taking few months off at the gym I decided to get a Personal Trainer since I wanted to add some new things to my routine and always played around with the idea of having one. She didn't like my deadlift form so we dropped weight and started tweaking it. One of the things she didn't like about my form was that I always arched my back while setting up. We got my back flatter, but one day during the last set of 3x15 with 145lbs I failed and rounded my back as I put down the weights. She externalized my back screaming as she scorned me for letting my back round. I didn't think it was that bad until we moved on to reverse sit ups and after just one rep I felt a pop in my mid back and the WORST pain shoot up my upper back between my shoulder blades. I stretched out my back and was able to finish out my set but then said we should call it a night. I went home and tried taking some anti-inflammatorys and rested. The next day I felt ok so I figured I just had a bad day and decided to go back to the gym to do some upper body (pull-ups, dips, rows) but could tell something was off so I cut things short and went home.
Here's the short version of what happened next:
*Left leg went partially numb
*Fingertips started going numb (That only lasted half a day, but freaked me out enough I thought about going to emergycare)
*Spent whole weekend in bed taking painkillers and laying on a heat pad
*Went to Orthopedic later that week to find out I herniated a disk
*Need to go back to PT to fix my nerve (L-5) and loosen my upper back (fingers)
*Told me to forget doing another deadlift, clean and jerk, squat ever again
So, I'm taking a break from the gym and I start PT next week. Pain is mostly gone and feeling has gotten better but I'm super pissed at myself.
C'est la Vie...
***Update 12/13/2014***
I figured I'd leave an update about how I've been coming along. I've gotten a lot better, but still have a ways to go before I can call myself fully recovered. I'm still unclear on if I had a minor herniation, or a bad bulge in my L-4/5. The Doc said herniation, but wasn't very worried after he got the results from the MRI. The therapist I ended up going to said that the MRI results only indicated bulges. I'd likely take the word of the doctor over the PT, but I never got to see the scan myself.
I was in PT for about four months before they let me go, and I've been trying to keep up with what they taught me. I think I left the PT with better abs than when I walked in. I converted to a standing desk at work, and was surprised with how much it helped relieve back pain. I still stand at work, even though sitting no longer causes pain, and I even built a decent standing desk for home (that my laptop is sitting on as I type this). I’m now able to go through my day with little to no pain, and only a *slight* bit of numbness that comes and goes in the big toe/heel of my left foot. I can walk around all day and feel fine, casually ride a bike around town, and do some minor lifting of stuff around the home without much ill effect. I’m hoping to sloooowly start adding things to my daily workout, but nothing that has me lifting, bending, or twisting. I tried asking for ideas from the therapist I was working with, but she told me she can’t give any guidance on working out once I've “graduated” from their program. I know most of the cable machines at the gym are pretty safe for me, but even then I need to be mindful of how I use them.
Besides recovering physically, I’m also finally recovering financially. The total cost of all this was not insignificant because I had just moved cross country to start with a new company, could not get under their insurance until 90 days after my official hire date, then wait for the enrollment window. The PT alone cost me a total $1,056.07, and the grand total after having to sign up for insurance on my own (knee-jerk reaction to the risk of surgery) came out to $3361.05 for all medical bills related to this injury.
I was very annoyed when I realized Gold’s Gym was still charging me my membership fees even after I had told my trainer at the gym that I was down and out for a while. She was trying really hard to get me to come back in, texting me every week to see if I would be ready soon. I had to go in and tell her face-to-face just how bad it had gotten, even mentioning my groin going numb to drive home the point. She left me alone after that, but I made the mistake of not checking to see if they had put my account on hold.
When I asked the gym manger to refund me the money they had charged me, and the $200+ left in trainer credits, he would only credit me back the monthly fees I was charged while injured; then put my account on hold for three months to let me recover a bit more. I’m still trying to figure out if I have a rock to stand on to get a full refund. I know as well as anyone else that getting hurt while training at the gym is something that can happen to anyone, at any time. It’s just a little crappy that my injury happened under the supervision of a trainer, after I told her I had a previous back injury, then she was surprised I didn't just bounce back from it. It’d be one thing for me to try and do something silly like sue for all my medical bills, but all I want is to cash out my credits and move on from this a little wiser. My gym membership became active this past week, so I went in to do some PT and look at what else I may be able to start adding in. I won't lie, it's a bit awkward to be that guy in the corner working with resistance bands and light weights while everyone else is powering away. I just remind myself that they either don't care about what I'm doing, or know/figure I'm doing that stuff for a good reason.
I have noticed that some other people on here were going through similar injuries as me, so I figure I’d wrap up by saying this:
It WILL get better.
In the span of seven months I went from half my lower body felling numb with staggering pain in my back that had me in lying in bed most days, to only having some mild numbness in my left foot. It does get better, if you take care of yourself. Do your therapy, listen to your doc, take it easy for as long as you need to.
And watch your damn form.
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