[quote]LevelHeaded wrote:
[quote]Jaynick77 wrote:
Crap, I did forget the Ab’s. I use Kneeling Cable pulldowns, seated (on a lat pulldown machine) crunches, swiss ball crunches, and knee-ins.
I would really hate to stop deadlifting but if I have to for the health of my back I guess I will have to. I will try the Sumo Deadlift first and see how it goes. [/quote]
Just take a quick glace at all of the “abs” work you do - it is all flexion based. It isn’t surprising that you ended up with a disc bulge. Lumbar flexion shouldn’t be completely avoided, as you need a proper balance, but it shouldn’t be a focus and, IMO, there are a lot of better options for targetting your “abs”/lumbar stabilizers. I would look at your abdominals as a part of your lumbar stabilizers, rather than a separate entity, and work them in that sense. Plank variations, Pallof Press variations, etc. would be great for you to start to perform for physique and injury correction/prevention.
Also, don’t think of it as you will NEVER be able to squat/deadlift again. Just avoid excessive loading that can place you into a loaded position of spinal flexion for the time being. Once the disc issue settles/resolves and you strengthen the proper stabilizers and address mobility deficits, you should be able to return to deadlifts/squats.
I had a 5mm disc bulge that occurred around Aug 2010, didn’t get it addressed until Oct 2010, had 2 shots in the series of epidural injections in Oct-Nov, and progressed through rehab/strengthening and now am back to squatting and light deadlifts (progressing slowly, probably could be progressing quicker, but would rather be smart about it for now).[/quote]
Did your leg go numb and stuff too? The initial pain was something I’ve never felt before; I can only classify the pain as amazing. LOL!
Thanks for the feedback. I’ve never lifted with a belt before but I’m thinking that I probably should now.