Stuffed Olive
01-07-2010, 04:47 PM
Hello Mr Rippetoe,
It looks like you get a fair few threads about back problems in particular herniated discs. I've read through most of them and there was a recent one that I was going to post in (as it's probably one of the only things I profess to knowing anything about, through experience).
Basically I have had a herniated disc for about a year now, (went undeteced for 3 months, til discovered in March 09 - came about through high impact sport and poor weight lifting technique) and I'm still recovering. Generally feel anywhere between 95-98% (no leg pain, just generally have an achy back), been through chiropractic and now doing physio.
I read you have never had a lumbar herniation yourself but do you often advocate your program for those who have, and have minimal weight training experience? From a thread a while back you stated that (not exact, but I remember it) 'discs are actually quite hard to fracture through improper deadlifting technique, the result generally being inefficiency, but are easy to reinjury this way'. You won't remember but my original thread last year was unsurity in this lift with what I thought was a back strain. Again I'm unsure about the deadlifts and powercleans and I have been told to avoid these exercises like the plague.
For the record I have L5/S1 'moderate' herniation from MRI which also showed I have an extra vertebra underneath. I have quite a long back. I'm also 6'1, with quite long arms/legs (20rs old).
I'm pretty sure I can squat as well as bench and press. It seems that squats can be dangerous to discs only if you round your back at the bottom (let your pelvis rotate inwards). It now makes perfect sense to me how to avoid this after having a horrid back for a year. I sure am learning the hard way. As long as keep more core tight, keep my pelvis out, and lower back locked, can I squat safely?
Deadlifts seem an entirely different matter, though.
Thank you
It looks like you get a fair few threads about back problems in particular herniated discs. I've read through most of them and there was a recent one that I was going to post in (as it's probably one of the only things I profess to knowing anything about, through experience).
Basically I have had a herniated disc for about a year now, (went undeteced for 3 months, til discovered in March 09 - came about through high impact sport and poor weight lifting technique) and I'm still recovering. Generally feel anywhere between 95-98% (no leg pain, just generally have an achy back), been through chiropractic and now doing physio.
I read you have never had a lumbar herniation yourself but do you often advocate your program for those who have, and have minimal weight training experience? From a thread a while back you stated that (not exact, but I remember it) 'discs are actually quite hard to fracture through improper deadlifting technique, the result generally being inefficiency, but are easy to reinjury this way'. You won't remember but my original thread last year was unsurity in this lift with what I thought was a back strain. Again I'm unsure about the deadlifts and powercleans and I have been told to avoid these exercises like the plague.
For the record I have L5/S1 'moderate' herniation from MRI which also showed I have an extra vertebra underneath. I have quite a long back. I'm also 6'1, with quite long arms/legs (20rs old).
I'm pretty sure I can squat as well as bench and press. It seems that squats can be dangerous to discs only if you round your back at the bottom (let your pelvis rotate inwards). It now makes perfect sense to me how to avoid this after having a horrid back for a year. I sure am learning the hard way. As long as keep more core tight, keep my pelvis out, and lower back locked, can I squat safely?
Deadlifts seem an entirely different matter, though.
Thank you