What kind of injury when you hear lower back pop?

[CoyoteSpeaks0715]

2 years ago I hurt my back while working out. I was lowering the weights to the floor and was way too careless, basically just bent over without bending my legs at all and I heard my lower back pop. For the next 3 days I really couldn't stand straight and my lower back hurt really bad. I didnt lay properly during the healing process (instead of laying flat and just taking it easily I kept sitting in a chair playing videogames) and  I also hopped on one of those decompress machines (where you lay upside down) which caused INTENSE back spasms and twitching.

Within a week I felt fine again and didn't really have any problems, but about a month later my lower back would kind of flare up like that again.   I went to a doctor and asked to have it checked out but they told me I was fine.  My lower back still gets really stiff / swollen once a month and I have to take a day off and lay flat to reset it.  Aside from that my legs ocassionally feel weak, nothing major I can always stand up no problem but I do get a lot of knee giveouts. Again they're not major, I've never fallen to the floor or anything but once and awhile I'll be walking and one of my legs just gives out for a second. (usually the left knee, but sometimes the right)

What kind of injury do you think happened here? I'd like to get a Neck and Spine MRI because my neck also hurts every morning when I wake up, what kind of doctor should  I see / ask for that?

[CoyoteSpeaks0715]

I started seeing a chiropractor and it has helped a little but this sounds like a much better and more afforable way to go about this. Thanks for the reply!

[philnoir]

I'm no doctor, but it sounds like you pulled a muscle, and now have a little scar tissue in the muscle fibers. It can also be pain from ligament or even disc damage, but these injuries are less likely.

Many people push to far into pain during exercise -- no pain, no gain, right?

Wrong. It's a dumb concept. Pain is a warning sign that we're hurting ourselves.


The MRI seems superfluous at this point. A simple xray may be more appropriate (and easier on your purse).

Lower back injuries can affect the cervical spine, too. Why?

Because the spine must balance the heavy weight of the head (like a bowling ball) over the pelvis. An offset in the lower spine causes the upper spine to compensate.

I would suggest you ask your PCP to order a course of physical therapy, with a knowledgeable cervical and lumbar PT, who can help you reduce inflammation and learn to properly stretch your neck and lower back before and after exercise, and at other times of the day. Good stretching will help bring those muscle back to normal.

If this doesn't help, try the MRI. But always, with back problems, be wary of surgeons. They have but one means of treatment -- surgery. There are many options between here and there. The human body does not "fix" like some machine. It actually attempts to fix itself given the proper treatment.

Best wishes.