When I created this website a little over a year ago I envisioned myself being a lot further along in my progress.
At the beginning everything was going my way. I was relatively injury free, full of motivation, and excited at the challenge of getting to 205lbs.
Then the setbacks started to happen. One after the other something impeded my progression and hindered my goals. Each time beating my motivation levels down to a new low.
To give you an idea of what kind of struggles I’ve been thought I’ll list a few of the complications in my life:
- I have a herniated L4-L5 disc (I guess that back injury I had months ago was a lot more serious)
- Tendonitis in both both shoulders which has led to some impingement
- Tendonitis in my right elbow
- And to top things off I just recovered from the flu which effectively has knocked off over 10lbs officially setting me back to where I first started
Fun times right?
I don’t know what my next move is. I’ve obviously started physiotherapy for the herination but have been told that exersises such as heavy squating and deadlifting to elimited from my routine permantley.
What am I to do now?
There is a possbility that I will make a 100% reovery but only if I put in the work.
At this point I’m so worn out from all the set backs that finding the motivation to countinue seem impossble.
Do I quit? Should I continue? Is this the end?
Don’t quit! And once you’re healed, be sure to see a doctor or therapist who specializes in sports injuries to confirm whether or not you can squat or deadlift. Regular doctors are great at diagnosing disease & fixing you up after an accident, but don’t necessarily know about proper lifting form & how it affects the body. How could they, if they don’t lift? Maybe you should explore other sports for a while as you heal, maybe even something like swimming or yoga which is easy on the joints, but will keep you moving & challenge you in new ways.
hi, I too am experiencing some back problems right now. I’m going to see a chiropractor today for consultation and treatment. I have dextroscoliosis of thoracic spine whatever that is but, I know it’s not good. Anyway, I know getting some expert advise would be the best thing. I suggest you do that too.
be well,
Wow, I hope all goes well at the chiro and thanks for the support. These types of injuries can be very troublesome but we need to continue to move forward and aim for full recovery.
Thanks for the support Parker. I’m definitely going to do my best to recover. My major concern is the fact that I don’t think I can mentally take another setback. These injuries are destroying my motivation levels.
Nonetheless, I’m going to seek professional advice hopefully everything works out for the best.
Hey Brian,
It’s been a long time since we last talked. Shoot me an email and I’ll point you to a great back pain resource.
Brian, I’m sorry to hear about your setbacks. I too had many of my own over these past years of intense lifting. The human body body is absolutely amazing in what it is capable of. It can heal itself if you facilitate the healing process.
Take at least 3 weeks off from all excercise that effect the areas that are injured during which time you should take a multipack for joints (I like animal flex). also eat an abundance of vegetables in addition to your other foods, there’s not a lot of calories, but there’s magic in the green stuff.
After your rest period when you come back to the gym follow two principals, slow and light. I can’t emphasize this enough. Never go above 70% of your maximum effort, and Gradually that’s with a capital G! Increase the weight until you can take the training wheels off.
I hope this helps, and may your recovery be quick and smooth however you go about it.
Nice site!
Hey Brian, sorry to hear about this. Injuries suck, I know first hand.
Man you need to take some time to regroup and create a rehabilitation plan. Go to http://www.tmuscle.com and read the articles by Mike Robertson and Eric Cressey. These guys are phenomenal at rehabbing injuries and their articles have helped me a lot. Eric is the shoulder man. Read his article series “Shoulder Savers”
Get a foam roller, learn about dynamic mobility exercises, corrective exercises… the whole nine yards. You’ve dug yourself into a hole (like I did in the past)… now you’ve gotta dig your way out bro.
Also check out Keith Scott, The Unbreakable Body. Do a google search.
You don’t have to give up your dream… you just gotta to keep educating yourself and training smarter. I thought I knew a lot about training before I started hurting myself. Now I realize I didn’t know shit…. I was just scratching the surface.
You MUST look at your injuries as a gift… as a lesson and opportunity to take you to the next level. You can heal your body if you put in the time and effort to learn and apply. Any surgery should be your last option.
Also investigate the power of the mind to heal. The mind is your greatest tool…. USE IT!
From one hardgainer to another… you can do it man!
Brandon