Sharp back pain from deadlifts/rack-pulls

I was doing rack-pulls today and during the 5th set of 5 I felt a very mild discomfort/pain in my lower back. Thinking I probably lightly pulled something I started sumo deadlifts and after the 4th set (8th rep) I couldn't continue.

Now, I am in constant pain. If I stand up it creates a SHARP pain and if I try to bend over, more sharp pain right in the center-lower of my back.

I'm probably going to see a doctor if it doesn't feel better in the next few days, but any idea what may have happened?

I can induce the pain sitting down by lowering my head down and to the right or left, like I'm stretching. But it doesn't hurt as bad as trying to bend over or stand up straight.

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Originally Posted by twobadfish

I was doing rack-pulls today and during the 5th set of 5 I felt a very mild discomfort/pain in my lower back. Thinking I probably lightly pulled something I started sumo deadlifts and after the 4th set (8th rep) I couldn't continue.

Now, I am in constant pain. If I stand up it creates a SHARP pain and if I try to bend over, more sharp pain right in the center-lower of my back.

I'm probably going to see a doctor if it doesn't feel better in the next few days, but any idea what may have happened?

I can induce the pain sitting down by lowering my head down and to the right or left, like I'm stretching. But it doesn't hurt as bad as trying to bend over or stand up straight.

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Hi,

It is likely, but I can't say for sure without assessment, you have strained the musculature around your Trapezius and perhaps the Scapular musculature.

The high overload from the exercise you were doing probably combined with a moment of decreased tension in the primary movers perhaps overloaded the scapular stabilizers.

It would be prudent to have this assessed, as if not, then stiffness and problems on the joints and spinal column may not be discovered.

Regards

Thanks for the quick reply. That's probably the best-case scenario I could think of...

Question: can a strained/pulled muscle cause the type of pain I'm feeling? It sometimes feels like it is burning (at rest) and if I bend over sometimes it feels like a very sharp pain.

http://img31.imageshack.us/img31/725...0617210040.png

The yellow square is approximately where I feel the pain.

http://img188.imageshack.us/img188/5...0618113123.png

Had an x-ray. Doctor thinks it is a compressed disc and a previously herniated vertebrate. I don't ever recall a back injury though.

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Originally Posted by twobadfish

Had an x-ray. Doctor thinks it is a compressed disc and a previously herniated vertebrate. I don't ever recall a back injury though.

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Wow, thanks for the image. Although I can hardly make anything out with the clarity of that picture.

If the pain is discogenic (ie. originating from the disc) then certain standard assessments must be completed.

These are imperative hands on tests that must be done to determine the problem

I would suggest, even just getting a singular assessment from a Physiotherapist. At least that way you would be sure.

The area circled on the graph corresponds to the Xray, and my initial assumption about scapular strain is perhaps incorrect. I assumed your upperback was the source of symptoms, not the higher Lumbar Vertebrae.

Keep us updated, thanks for the clear info!

were you going too heavy or was it more of an angle/movement issue?