Back pain from a Judoka

[ETinCYQX]

Doing Judo last night I landed on my back a few times and it began to hurt, no big deal. This morning/today, I can barely walk. I NEVER cancel classes due to my own injuries, always tough it out, but it wasn't possible tonight. I can't even drive my manual transmission car. Of course, being a masochistic idiot, I didn't do a thing about it last night.

Pain is concentrated near the base of my lats radiating out from the base of the spine. It is "back pain" so to speak rather than a muscle ache which worries me somewhat. Anyone have any ideas? I'm more wondering if I should do something about it or if it will pass. I'm absolutely obsessive about taking care of myself (despite being dumb enough to ignore it immediately) so if it's anything I should do to make sure this doesn't become a permanent problem (like my knee) please let me know.

Thank you!

 

[oaktree]

Barely able to walk and having a hard time driving sounds
Like you should see a doctor just to make sure on the safe side.
when in doubt get it checked out.

 

[Dirty Dog]

Truthfully, it's most likely muscle pain. But that's because MOST injuries are muscular.
You need imaging (xrays, CT or MRI, depending on the physical exam) if:
The pain is midline, especially if you have point tenderness over the spine.
The pain would be described as "burning" rather than an ache.
If lying on your back and doing a straight leg lift causes pain.
You cannot control your bowels or bladder.
There is any change in strength or sensation.
In the ER, we'd probably xray or CT your back, but there have been a number of studies which say we image too much, and we'd do just as well to treat you medically for 4-8 weeks before imaging. That you were apaprently able to finish the workout, and that the pain has increased gradually since argues against a bone injury.

As always, it's obviously impossible to exam anybody over the internet (yet...) so consider this just general information, not a specific attempt to diagnose...

 

[ETinCYQX]

Truthfully, it's most likely muscle pain. But that's because MOST injuries are muscular.
You need imaging (xrays, CT or MRI, depending on the physical exam) if:
The pain is midline, especially if you have point tenderness over the spine.

No tenderness on the spine

The pain would be described as "burning" rather than an ache.

Nah it's an ache

If lying on your back and doing a straight leg lift causes pain.

No more than usual

You cannot control your bowels or bladder.

Oh God no. I'd have gone to the ER already if that was the case

There is any change in strength or sensation.
In the ER, we'd probably xray or CT your back, but there have been a number of studies which say we image too much, and we'd do just as well to treat you medically for 4-8 weeks before imaging. That you were apaprently able to finish the workout, and that the pain has increased gradually since argues against a bone injury.

As always, it's obviously impossible to exam anybody over the internet (yet...) so consider this just general information, not a specific attempt to diagnose...

Thanks DD. It doesn't feel like a pulled muscle and I did it on impact, so not sure what it is. I'm on a pretty heavy painkiller right now and it seems to help a little bit.

 

[Cyriacus]

Thanks DD. It doesn't feel like a pulled muscle and I did it on impact, so not sure what it is. I'm on a pretty heavy painkiller right now and it seems to help a little bit.

Im no Expert, but it doesnt need to be a Pull. Muscles can be injured by blunt forced trauma. I cant remember what that kind of Injury is called, but I did it to My Right Pectoral nearly a year ago. It wasnt as bad as youre describing, but the bone was uninjured. Twas the Muscle. Caused by an Impact.

 

[Dirty Dog]

Im no Expert, but it doesnt need to be a Pull. Muscles can be injured by blunt forced trauma. I cant remember what that kind of Injury is called, but I did it to My Right Pectoral nearly a year ago. It wasnt as bad as youre describing, but the bone was uninjured. Twas the Muscle. Caused by an Impact.

That's called a contusion. AKA a bruise.

Or, in technical terminology, a booboo.

 

[Cyriacus]

That's called a contusion. AKA a bruise.

Or, in technical terminology, a booboo.

Aha - That sounds like what it was called, I think.