Running + Lower Back Question

[Big_Chris]

Hello all, I'm one of those that lurks in the shadows and observes your guys banter

Plenty of great advice on this forum, especially people who want help on hwo to get fit and train etc. About 10 months ago I was fit and strong. Yippee for me. Cue 6 weeks in hospital, thus 6 weeks in bed on hospital food (oh the nightmares still endure in my memory ) cue getting fat and decidedly unfit. Anyhow, I thought Id put an end to it.

Im not one of those natural Mr Motivator types, I generally dislike the exercise but force myself too, working on the theory that I dont have to like it, I just have to do it. Anyway, my regime revolves around swimming, cycling and circuit training (Tue, Thurs, Sat) and weight training - not for muscle mass, I just actually enjoy it and like the strength it has brought - (Mon, Wed, Fri) and on Sundays generally I eat McDonalds breakfast, Sunday roast and anything else that looks unhealthy, like a reward day. My problem is this...

I don't do any running. The reason for this is whenever I run, I quickly (withing a half mile-mile) develop a pain in my lower back. Not agonising, but enough to ensure I pull up and worry about it. Its beginning to really p*ss me off, as I never run through it, having been advised many moons ago to not push through and pain in the back. I really could do with any advice anyone has on the subject. I think it may be lack of strength, should I do some work on my lower back muscles and try again. Could it be possible that its poor quality footwear?

Also, tied in with that, is that I get a strange 'click' in my lower back when doing full sit-ups (as opposed to crunches). Could the two be related?

My cycle rides I do indoors twice a week on a dyno thing - apparently they are called 'turbo' sessions - and a 15 mile road ride every Saturday morning. I think Im in pretty good physical shape, although not being able to run any distance stops me from comparing my times with others that are stated on here, so I don't really have a benchmark.

Any help or suggestions anyone can offer would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Chris.

[Doc]

See your Doc mate, sounds like further investigation is needed there before you end up doing yourself in permanently!

Dont do anything like new footbeds or trainers until you have pin pointed the problem. Lower back pain is a bugger I wont kid you, and you should also see a physio or a chiropractor to see if you pronate or supranate when running etc, then new trainers may help. A small problem at the feet multiples as it travels up the body, so a heel out of line by a cm can be ten times that as soon as it hits the hips and your whole body could be twisted and out of line.

But as you click when you do situps (I fart by the way ) I would think something is up with a disc somehwere! So please see a doc and get it investiagted.

Let us know how things develop

Doc

[Cliodna]

Sounds like a shortening off of the tendons in your back...and they then go off down your legs (can't remember the name of them)

I know, cos I've been there.
All its going to take is...wait for it..... EXERCISE.

I still get the pain now, particularly if I've sat on my backside for too long without doing fizz.
First couple of days back running is really bad, but after that the pain eases and it comes good.

If you are really worried about it, get to the doc and explain to him, but its nowt that diet and exercise can't cure...the doc will only give you a couple of brufen and tell you to go back and see him in a few days

[Big_Chris]

Hey thanks for the help guys and so quickly too

Yes Cliodna I flirted with the idea of just pushing through it, but feared doing myself some good damage! Anywhere else other than my back I would have just grinned and beared it.

Doc thanks for the advice, although I got lost around the pronate or supranate part. But meh, google is my friend

Do I need to see my GP and ask him to refer me to a physio or chiropractor?

[Cliodna]

I wouldn't bother the doc if you wanted to go the chiropractic route...it'll take forever to get a referral, assuming you get one at all.
Best Chiropractors in the land are McTimoney ones....McT to them wot knows

It'll probably take a few sessions (about £30 a pop) to sort you out, and you'll feel a shed load better for it....No Pills, No endless waiting lists, No faffing around with a physio who doesn't have a clue about sports injuries and only knows how to switch a heat lamp on.
You know it makes sense.

Heres a link to a few websites.
See if theres one reasonably close to you
http://www.mctimoney-college.ac.uk/

http://www.mctimoney-chiropractic.org/
This one has a search function on it to find a practitioner

[Big_Chris]

Excellent thank you very much.

What would you know, theres one ten miles from me

Really want to get to the bottom of this, it guts me that I can't jog. I can play football just fine, no pain, but as soon as I just go for a jog down the road, there it is. Hopefully this will help and I can truly get into running; a sport that ironically I loathe more than any bar curling

Thanks again for the help and advice!!!

[Gazza85]

When i first started running i used to get pains in my lower back, i realised though that it was because of the way i ran, putting the whole foot down instead of heal to toe, and leaning forward. I started doing the heal to toe method and i increased my situps to streanthen my stomache to run upright.

It's all gravy now

[Cliodna]

Gazza,
Good point about the sit-ups.

If your body(or set of muscles/tendons) is stronger on one side than on the other, then the stronger ones will always pull the weaker ones out of place.

It could be that you will have to stretch off the muscle that runs down the front of your thigh a lot more.
Laugh all you want, but yoga stretches are particularly good for sorting that sort of stuff out

[Hostage_Negotiator]

Laugh all you want, but yoga stretches are particularly good for sorting that sort of stuff out

That Yoga shit really hurts! suggest any males complete AACC, P Coy and Selection before moving onto something this extreme! Although being able to lick your ow........... Sorry ! off on a tangent again Must stop talking to Doc ( Bad Influence!!!)

[Big_Chris]

Thanks guys, Cliodna I got an appointment with my local McT ( ) chiropractor Friday lunchtime.

Interesting point you brought up Gazza, I have a horrible tendency to run on the front part of my foot (ball???), probably because of sprinting in games of football and rugby.

Well, I feel much more enlightened than I did a few hours ago, thanks to everyones help.

...and Hostage Negotitor...

Although being able to lick your ow

How'd you think I hurt my back originally?

[Wholley]

Big Chris,
If you don't mind me being bold,How old are you?
Iv'e been through all this back pain shyte and it's not funny.
Chiro says that eventually I'll have to get surgeoned.
Right now it's fine as I see him twice a week and I wear a shoulder harness to help with the weight of my gun belt.
Wholley.

[Big_Chris]

If you don't mind me being bold,How old are you?

Of course I dont mind. I'm only 25 which is a little early to be having problems with it I thought, but it seems back pain is open to applicants of all ages

Mine is nothing like I imagine yours to be, and I've not come on here just to whine; as it really does only play up when I run or jog, no other time

So for day-to-day life Im fine, I just needed some advice (which I got thank you everyone) on the running side, as not being able to at least jog is (I feel) holding me back.

My father had serious back pain in day-to-day life and ended up on the table like you were saying you might/will Wholley. I've seen the discomfort it can bring to life, which is why I am something akin to paranoid about really doing some serious damage to my own.

[Gazza85]

Another thing you could do after your next run is the cat stretch for your lower back.

Get on your hands and knees (if you pardon the expression) breath in, and arch your back like a cat, that does your lower back

[Wholley]

If you don't mind me being bold,How old are you?

Of course I dont mind. I'm only 25 which is a little early to be having problems with it I thought, but it seems back pain is open to applicants of all ages

Got that right bud.
If I were you I would quit any kind of running,heavy lifting ect.Until you get your spine sorted by a GOOD Chiropractor.When I lived in the UK they were few and far between and the NHS would not go further than"Heat Treatment" Or"Ultra Sound"And could not diagnose acute Sciatica if it hit them in the X-Ray(That's the big word Loz was groping for)
Take it slowly mate,Get your back sorted before you fark it up for good.
I'm 52,Still a serving Deputy but it gets worse as you get older, some days seem to last 24 hours
Best to you and yours,
Wholley,

[Wholley]

Get on your hands and knees (if you pardon the expression) breath in, and arch your back like a cat,

So youv'e read"How Not To Become The Pope"
By Lozhop ISBN0014Pointy
I know i'm going to reget that.Ah well the boss is blind shiters swtf,may as well be insulted by someone else's
SOMEONE ELSE CAN RESIZE IT ALRIGHT?TWAS AN ACCIDENT
Ya'll believe me,Right?
Oh,Izzzthaat ther time?Night all.
Whatever..
Welcome back El...whatever your name is.
I'm jusht gonna have one more.....
Oh ,Honey ,you woke up.What a delight to shee you just as I am raiding the bottle.Yesh Shweetie I'm shober,Jesht delighted to shee you sho con....sherned"bout me welfare(hic)
I'm wittering on ain't I.
Wholley(ish)