Been into tris a few years now. Did IMAZ last November w/no issues at all during all the long training days, etc. After IMAZ, I took a few weeks off (this is last December) and started training very very slowly again. All was well. Was running 3-4 times/week, cycling 3/week and swimming when I felt guilty. Fast forward to may 2012. I had constant lower back pain. Realized my aero bars were out of adjustment, got my bike re-fit and it helped a *little*. Went to chiropractor and like magic the pain was all but gone w/in a week. Saw the chiro often until right before 70.3 boulder. By that time training was at 70.3 levels for me and back pain was almost non-existent. Taper week for 70.3...back pain returns and is so painful I'm not sure I'll be able to race. I go to the race and I'm fine...all_day. I even did it almost 30 minutes faster than last year. Great race. I take the next week completely off. The following Tuesday I start training again with a 3 mile run...slow. I have to stop three times because my back. It didn't hurt. I'll be running along and all of a sudden it's like my back just stops working...it's all I can do to not topple to the ground. I'll stop for a minute and it's fine again for 8-9 minutes then bam...stops working. Sorry, that's the best way I can think of to describe it. Obviously, I'll be returning to the chiropractor (which I was scheduled for on Wednesday anyway), but now I'm beginning to think I actually hurt something. Has anyone experienced something similar? I can't find anything anywhere and quite frankly I'm worried that once a back doctor get a hold of me I'll never run again I have another race in two weeks and at this point I can't run a mile w/out stopping (so I've stopped trying) and will likely not even try.
hmm...so, when you say you deal w/it the rest of your life...what effects have you had? Pain I can deal with...not being able to be active...that's another story. Yah, I'm all worried over the unknown at the moment : /
I've had two surgeries on my lower back for bulging discs.....I have had no back pain/issues in well over 5 years. Everyone is different.
By the way.....I get your description...the last time I hurt mine I was pitching batting practice to my kid....threw a pitch and ended up on the ground unable to get up....quit working indeed.
syscrash - 2012-08-20 4:53 PM hmm...so, when you say you deal w/it the rest of your life...what effects have you had? Pain I can deal with...not being able to be active...that's another story. Yah, I'm all worried over the unknown at the moment : /
You just have to keep your back in shape. I do a LOT of stretching and core exercise. I did an Ironman after I was diagnosed so it doesn't have to hold you back (no pun intended). You just will have to always keep it in mind when exercising.
syscrash - 2012-08-20 4:53 PM hmm...so, when you say you deal w/it the rest of your life...what effects have you had? Pain I can deal with...not being able to be active...that's another story. Yah, I'm all worried over the unknown at the moment : /
You just have to keep your back in shape. I do a LOT of stretching and core exercise. I did an Ironman after I was diagnosed so it doesn't have to hold you back (no pun intended). You just will have to always keep it in mind when exercising.