Numbness in Leg, Pinched Nerve

Off Topic
1

So recently I was told to stop squatting or pulling loads on my back. I have a small area on my leg just above the knee cap that is numb. It feels like the dentists freezing is coming out and the skin is all numb.

Now I have flirted with some light front squats 135. This seemed to make the issue worst. Its now gone away after 3 weeks. This is a problem that had gotten worst over 10 years or so.

Now I am not sure how to keep training. I have upped my bench press. And my arms are starting to show some good work on them. But I am feeling like I am forgetting the wheels. I also can’t do overhead presses or anything that loads the spine.

I love my squats. What do I do? My Dr always says well if it hurts don’t do it. He is against heavy lifting. Please help me out or give some medical insight.

2

What happens when you do unilateral leg stuff or leg press? Not the same but it doesn’t load the spine.

3

This is probably not helpful, but I had the same problem a while back. I probably can’t squat as much as you (110kg 1RM), but I have been squatting through it and it has got better despite the squatting.
I guess I just learned to ignore it. It was weird though, I hated touching the skin above my knee because it felt weird and hated when my pants touched it.
Could you do leg exercises like the leg press or GHR’s? Try to find something where you’re not loading the spine so much, use the search box - I’m sure there will be something. Maybe try some light squats again and see how your body copes.

oh, and, I don’t know if they have this anywhere else than the UK (I probably sound really retarded saying this), but we have specialists who work on freeing pinched nerves in the back etc. But we have the NHS too.

4

I have long legs so the work out is not the same. Also I was kinda proud of my squat. It was not a huge thing but 365lbs for squats for me was like a dream achievement. I have been doing leg presses, extensions and calf raises. I just wanna figure out what is next for me. Am I going to need surgery or can I squat again if I do? There has to be others that get a pinched nerve out there.

5

I have long legs so the work out is not the same. Also I was kinda proud of my squat. It was not a huge thing but 365lbs for squats for me was like a dream achievement. I have been doing leg presses, extensions and calf raises. I just wanna figure out what is next for me. Am I going to need surgery or can I squat again if I do? There has to be others that get a pinched nerve out there.

6

highly unlikely you’d need surgery for a mere pinched nerve. doctors are usually pretty in the dark about this kind of stuff. the book ‘pain free’ by pete egoscue contains exercises to fix your musculoskeletal system and fix the pinched nerve. also, lay off the weights for awhile, no sense in making it worse. you can get the book from amazon.

7

Okay,

  1. Has your Dr. done a MRI?
  2. Have you tried seeing a “good” chiro?
  3. Do you deload?

Just FYI I have not only the medical back ground but also the same injury to my back. I had three disk herniations in 2001 and received epidural spinal injections. Recently I rounded my back on dead and was unable to load any weight for the past three months. I don’t know how old you are but you have to do the little things, foam roll, warm up, warm up, warm up. You have to have perfect form on every rep. Actually just this week I was able to put 315 on squat and dead for reps. So yes you can but it will take just as much work to heal yourself.

8

[quote]DJHT wrote:
Okay,

  1. Has your Dr. done a MRI?
  2. Have you tried seeing a “good” chiro?
  3. Do you deload?

Just FYI I have not only the medical back ground but also the same injury to my back. I had three disk herniations in 2001 and received epidural spinal injections. Recently I rounded my back on dead and was unable to load any weight for the past three months. I don’t know how old you are but you have to do the little things, foam roll, warm up, warm up, warm up. You have to have perfect form on every rep. Actually just this week I was able to put 315 on squat and dead for reps. So yes you can but it will take just as much work to heal yourself. [/quote]

Last time I had an MRI was a couple years ago. It showed nothing of interest. At the time I was getting shooting pain down my leg and numbness in my toes. But it seemed to go away.

Shit foam roll huh? And extensive warm ups? The only warm ups I do is some stretches and some DB movements to help shoulders. Guess I have some learning about foam rolling.

9

Yea it sucks getting old. I went to a chiro spent about $200 including a foam roller. All it did was remind me to do the things I know to do. Just doing the things I learned on the site about warming up and foam rolling has helped tremendously. I get up at 4:30 to work out, so I really have to warm up, but man I tell you has made a tremendous difference.

10

[quote]DJHT wrote:
Yea it sucks getting old. I went to a chiro spent about $200 including a foam roller. All it did was remind me to do the things I know to do. Just doing the things I learned on the site about warming up and foam rolling has helped tremendously. I get up at 4:30 to work out, so I really have to warm up, but man I tell you has made a tremendous difference. [/quote]

Yeah I will be pushing 35 next year. But I am starting to really feel it lately. I should hit the chiro. See what that does. I am just paranoid about spending money on some asshat that thinks nobody should be lifting. And his opinion is the be all to end all on the subject. My family Dr is the same way.

11

Yea I live in Houston and I found the Chiro that does ART for the Houston Texans. So I was guaranteed he wasn’t going to give me shit for lifting. Actually had a great discussion about what is good for my age (just turned 36 this month). Used to do traditional grip for dead and I switched to sumo per his advice. I just went on google and searched for Chiro’s that do ART and look up there credentials. Alot of them do things for strong men etc. Thats what I would advise.

12

[quote]DJHT wrote:
Okay,

  1. Has your Dr. done a MRI?
  2. Have you tried seeing a “good” chiro?
  3. Do you deload?

Just FYI I have not only the medical back ground but also the same injury to my back. I had three disk herniations in 2001 and received epidural spinal injections. Recently I rounded my back on dead and was unable to load any weight for the past three months. I don’t know how old you are but you have to do the little things, foam roll, warm up, warm up, warm up. You have to have perfect form on every rep. Actually just this week I was able to put 315 on squat and dead for reps. So yes you can but it will take just as much work to heal yourself. [/quote]

I was deployed from January 2008 to March of 2009. Toward the end of the deployment I started to develop low back pain in the lower left side of my back. Once I redeployed it seem to get worse, with the pain shooting down my left butt cheek and stopping in my upper hamstring. It felt like a tendon or nerve was being tugged on. The pain increased if I was on my feet for long periods of time or if I was running.

In May, right before I was discharged, I had an x-ray and MRI done. I had two bulge disks between my L4 and L5 vertebrae (moderate degenerative disks). Two days ago, I too had an epidural spinal injection.

I’m giving you this background to ask a couple questions.

  1. Although I have been able to maintain some strength in my squat (squatting doesn’t bother my back for some reason), my deadlift is in the toilet and I feel as though I have little, if any, core strength. Do suggest any particular movements or programs that you have done to increase core strength? I have tried to focus on increasing core strength but I’m wondering if I’m just spinning my wheels until the swelling in the disks of my back goes down?

  2. Is it possible to increase core strength with my back in its current state? Or do I need to try to rest it as much as possible and allow the epidural to work? My current workouts are pretty “back safe”, for a lack of a better term.

13

[quote]Dustin wrote:
DJHT wrote:
Okay,

  1. Has your Dr. done a MRI?
  2. Have you tried seeing a “good” chiro?
  3. Do you deload?

Just FYI I have not only the medical back ground but also the same injury to my back. I had three disk herniations in 2001 and received epidural spinal injections. Recently I rounded my back on dead and was unable to load any weight for the past three months. I don’t know how old you are but you have to do the little things, foam roll, warm up, warm up, warm up. You have to have perfect form on every rep. Actually just this week I was able to put 315 on squat and dead for reps. So yes you can but it will take just as much work to heal yourself.

I was deployed from January 2008 to March of 2009. Toward the end of the deployment I started to develop low back pain in the lower left side of my back. Once I redeployed it seem to get worse, with the pain shooting down my left butt cheek and stopping in my upper hamstring. It felt like a tendon or nerve was being tugged on. The pain increased if I was on my feet for long periods of time or if I was running.

In May, right before I was discharged, I had an x-ray and MRI done. I had two bulge disks between my L4 and L5 vertebrae (moderate degenerative disks). Two days ago, I too had an epidural spinal injection.

I’m giving you this background to ask a couple questions.

  1. Although I have been able to maintain some strength in my squat (squatting doesn’t bother my back for some reason), my deadlift is in the toilet and I feel as though I have little, if any, core strength. Do suggest any particular movements or programs that you have done to increase core strength? I have tried to focus on increasing core strength but I’m wondering if I’m just spinning my wheels until the swelling in the disks of my back goes down?

  2. Is it possible to increase core strength with my back in its current state? Or do I need to try to rest it as much as possible and allow the epidural to work? My current workouts are pretty “back safe”, for a lack of a better term.

[/quote]

Honestly this is a big one to do and a very good question. Planks are what I do front and side. I also started the old wheel roll. I just use my CAP dumbell with 25lbs on each side. After I got my shots I was able to get back to working out pretty quick. You only need to wait about a week to be on the safe side for the epidural. If it worked you should have symptom relief pretty quickly.
What type of stance and grip do you use for dead?

14

[quote]DJHT wrote:
Dustin wrote:
DJHT wrote:
Okay,

  1. Has your Dr. done a MRI?
  2. Have you tried seeing a “good” chiro?
  3. Do you deload?

Just FYI I have not only the medical back ground but also the same injury to my back. I had three disk herniations in 2001 and received epidural spinal injections. Recently I rounded my back on dead and was unable to load any weight for the past three months. I don’t know how old you are but you have to do the little things, foam roll, warm up, warm up, warm up. You have to have perfect form on every rep. Actually just this week I was able to put 315 on squat and dead for reps. So yes you can but it will take just as much work to heal yourself.

I was deployed from January 2008 to March of 2009. Toward the end of the deployment I started to develop low back pain in the lower left side of my back. Once I redeployed it seem to get worse, with the pain shooting down my left butt cheek and stopping in my upper hamstring. It felt like a tendon or nerve was being tugged on. The pain increased if I was on my feet for long periods of time or if I was running.

In May, right before I was discharged, I had an x-ray and MRI done. I had two bulge disks between my L4 and L5 vertebrae (moderate degenerative disks). Two days ago, I too had an epidural spinal injection.

I’m giving you this background to ask a couple questions.

  1. Although I have been able to maintain some strength in my squat (squatting doesn’t bother my back for some reason), my deadlift is in the toilet and I feel as though I have little, if any, core strength. Do suggest any particular movements or programs that you have done to increase core strength? I have tried to focus on increasing core strength but I’m wondering if I’m just spinning my wheels until the swelling in the disks of my back goes down?

  2. Is it possible to increase core strength with my back in its current state? Or do I need to try to rest it as much as possible and allow the epidural to work? My current workouts are pretty “back safe”, for a lack of a better term.

Honestly this is a big one to do and a very good question. Planks are what I do front and side. I also started the old wheel roll. I just use my CAP dumbell with 25lbs on each side. After I got my shots I was able to get back to working out pretty quick. You only need to wait about a week to be on the safe side for the epidural. If it worked you should have symptom relief pretty quickly.
What type of stance and grip do you use for dead?
[/quote]

How often do you perform planks and wheel roll?

I have a had two light workouts since the shots.

The doctor that gave me the injections said that I should notice a difference within 5 to 7 days.

My dead stance is conventional (feet shoulder width), and my grip is just a touch wider than shoulder width.

15

[quote]xylitol wrote:
highly unlikely you’d need surgery for a mere pinched nerve. doctors are usually pretty in the dark about this kind of stuff. the book ‘pain free’ by pete egoscue contains exercises to fix your musculoskeletal system and fix the pinched nerve. also, lay off the weights for awhile, no sense in making it worse. you can get the book from amazon.[/quote]

I somewhat agree. I say it’s the piriformis, especially if you’re getting pain outside the knee.

Foam roll it and ignore it.

As long as you’re not forgetting about keeping your low back stiff and straight, you shouldn’t have to worry about that stuff when lifting.

16

[quote]Dustin wrote:
DJHT wrote:
Dustin wrote:
DJHT wrote:
Okay,

  1. Has your Dr. done a MRI?
  2. Have you tried seeing a “good” chiro?
  3. Do you deload?

Just FYI I have not only the medical back ground but also the same injury to my back. I had three disk herniations in 2001 and received epidural spinal injections. Recently I rounded my back on dead and was unable to load any weight for the past three months. I don’t know how old you are but you have to do the little things, foam roll, warm up, warm up, warm up. You have to have perfect form on every rep. Actually just this week I was able to put 315 on squat and dead for reps. So yes you can but it will take just as much work to heal yourself.

I was deployed from January 2008 to March of 2009. Toward the end of the deployment I started to develop low back pain in the lower left side of my back. Once I redeployed it seem to get worse, with the pain shooting down my left butt cheek and stopping in my upper hamstring. It felt like a tendon or nerve was being tugged on. The pain increased if I was on my feet for long periods of time or if I was running.

In May, right before I was discharged, I had an x-ray and MRI done. I had two bulge disks between my L4 and L5 vertebrae (moderate degenerative disks). Two days ago, I too had an epidural spinal injection.

I’m giving you this background to ask a couple questions.

  1. Although I have been able to maintain some strength in my squat (squatting doesn’t bother my back for some reason), my deadlift is in the toilet and I feel as though I have little, if any, core strength. Do suggest any particular movements or programs that you have done to increase core strength? I have tried to focus on increasing core strength but I’m wondering if I’m just spinning my wheels until the swelling in the disks of my back goes down?

  2. Is it possible to increase core strength with my back in its current state? Or do I need to try to rest it as much as possible and allow the epidural to work? My current workouts are pretty “back safe”, for a lack of a better term.

Honestly this is a big one to do and a very good question. Planks are what I do front and side. I also started the old wheel roll. I just use my CAP dumbell with 25lbs on each side. After I got my shots I was able to get back to working out pretty quick. You only need to wait about a week to be on the safe side for the epidural. If it worked you should have symptom relief pretty quickly.
What type of stance and grip do you use for dead?

How often do you perform planks and wheel roll?

I have a had two light workouts since the shots.

The doctor that gave me the injections said that I should notice a difference within 5 to 7 days.

My dead stance is conventional (feet shoulder width), and my grip is just a touch wider than shoulder width.[/quote]

Honestly I hate abs always have. I do them once a week. I am doing 5 3 1 workout on a 4 day split. Mon, Tues, Thurs and Frid so I get up on Wed and do more stretching, foam roll and abs. In the spring will add cardio on top of this. Right now I am trying to get my base strength back up to snuff.
I switched to sumo because I will roll my back easier with conventional stance. I had to drop back down to get the sumo stance down but I feel better doing it this way. Maybe something to think about. Also seem to activate more of my GM doing it this way also.

17

[quote]Dustin wrote:
DJHT wrote:
Dustin wrote:
DJHT wrote:
Okay,

  1. Has your Dr. done a MRI?
  2. Have you tried seeing a “good” chiro?
  3. Do you deload?

Just FYI I have not only the medical back ground but also the same injury to my back. I had three disk herniations in 2001 and received epidural spinal injections. Recently I rounded my back on dead and was unable to load any weight for the past three months. I don’t know how old you are but you have to do the little things, foam roll, warm up, warm up, warm up. You have to have perfect form on every rep. Actually just this week I was able to put 315 on squat and dead for reps. So yes you can but it will take just as much work to heal yourself.

I was deployed from January 2008 to March of 2009. Toward the end of the deployment I started to develop low back pain in the lower left side of my back. Once I redeployed it seem to get worse, with the pain shooting down my left butt cheek and stopping in my upper hamstring. It felt like a tendon or nerve was being tugged on. The pain increased if I was on my feet for long periods of time or if I was running.

In May, right before I was discharged, I had an x-ray and MRI done. I had two bulge disks between my L4 and L5 vertebrae (moderate degenerative disks). Two days ago, I too had an epidural spinal injection.

I’m giving you this background to ask a couple questions.

  1. Although I have been able to maintain some strength in my squat (squatting doesn’t bother my back for some reason), my deadlift is in the toilet and I feel as though I have little, if any, core strength. Do suggest any particular movements or programs that you have done to increase core strength? I have tried to focus on increasing core strength but I’m wondering if I’m just spinning my wheels until the swelling in the disks of my back goes down?

  2. Is it possible to increase core strength with my back in its current state? Or do I need to try to rest it as much as possible and allow the epidural to work? My current workouts are pretty “back safe”, for a lack of a better term.

Honestly this is a big one to do and a very good question. Planks are what I do front and side. I also started the old wheel roll. I just use my CAP dumbell with 25lbs on each side. After I got my shots I was able to get back to working out pretty quick. You only need to wait about a week to be on the safe side for the epidural. If it worked you should have symptom relief pretty quickly.
What type of stance and grip do you use for dead?

How often do you perform planks and wheel roll?

I have a had two light workouts since the shots.

The doctor that gave me the injections said that I should notice a difference within 5 to 7 days.

My dead stance is conventional (feet shoulder width), and my grip is just a touch wider than shoulder width.[/quote]

I’m doing the 5 3 1 workout with a 4 day split. So on Wed I do my planks, wheel roll and strecthing/foam roll.
I switched to the sumo stance so I could activate more of my ass in doing dead. The conventional stance I would roll my back and muscle things up. I always used straps also, now since doing crocs and sumo do not have to use any more.

18

[quote]DJHT wrote:
Dustin wrote:
DJHT wrote:
Dustin wrote:
DJHT wrote:
Okay,

  1. Has your Dr. done a MRI?
  2. Have you tried seeing a “good” chiro?
  3. Do you deload?

Just FYI I have not only the medical back ground but also the same injury to my back. I had three disk herniations in 2001 and received epidural spinal injections. Recently I rounded my back on dead and was unable to load any weight for the past three months. I don’t know how old you are but you have to do the little things, foam roll, warm up, warm up, warm up. You have to have perfect form on every rep. Actually just this week I was able to put 315 on squat and dead for reps. So yes you can but it will take just as much work to heal yourself.

I was deployed from January 2008 to March of 2009. Toward the end of the deployment I started to develop low back pain in the lower left side of my back. Once I redeployed it seem to get worse, with the pain shooting down my left butt cheek and stopping in my upper hamstring. It felt like a tendon or nerve was being tugged on. The pain increased if I was on my feet for long periods of time or if I was running.

In May, right before I was discharged, I had an x-ray and MRI done. I had two bulge disks between my L4 and L5 vertebrae (moderate degenerative disks). Two days ago, I too had an epidural spinal injection.

I’m giving you this background to ask a couple questions.

  1. Although I have been able to maintain some strength in my squat (squatting doesn’t bother my back for some reason), my deadlift is in the toilet and I feel as though I have little, if any, core strength. Do suggest any particular movements or programs that you have done to increase core strength? I have tried to focus on increasing core strength but I’m wondering if I’m just spinning my wheels until the swelling in the disks of my back goes down?

  2. Is it possible to increase core strength with my back in its current state? Or do I need to try to rest it as much as possible and allow the epidural to work? My current workouts are pretty “back safe”, for a lack of a better term.

Honestly this is a big one to do and a very good question. Planks are what I do front and side. I also started the old wheel roll. I just use my CAP dumbell with 25lbs on each side. After I got my shots I was able to get back to working out pretty quick. You only need to wait about a week to be on the safe side for the epidural. If it worked you should have symptom relief pretty quickly.
What type of stance and grip do you use for dead?

How often do you perform planks and wheel roll?

I have a had two light workouts since the shots.

The doctor that gave me the injections said that I should notice a difference within 5 to 7 days.

My dead stance is conventional (feet shoulder width), and my grip is just a touch wider than shoulder width.

I’m doing the 5 3 1 workout with a 4 day split. So on Wed I do my planks, wheel roll and strecthing/foam roll.
I switched to the sumo stance so I could activate more of my ass in doing dead. The conventional stance I would roll my back and muscle things up. I always used straps also, now since doing crocs and sumo do not have to use any more. [/quote]

I actually played around with sumo deads when I got back from deployment, as it didn’t seem to bother my back as much.

Although I’m more comfortable with conventional, I might switch over to sumos. I think it would make more sense with my back in its current condition.

Thanks for the input.

19

[quote]Dustin wrote:
DJHT wrote:
Dustin wrote:
DJHT wrote:
Dustin wrote:
DJHT wrote:
Okay,

  1. Has your Dr. done a MRI?
  2. Have you tried seeing a “good” chiro?
  3. Do you deload?

Just FYI I have not only the medical back ground but also the same injury to my back. I had three disk herniations in 2001 and received epidural spinal injections. Recently I rounded my back on dead and was unable to load any weight for the past three months. I don’t know how old you are but you have to do the little things, foam roll, warm up, warm up, warm up. You have to have perfect form on every rep. Actually just this week I was able to put 315 on squat and dead for reps. So yes you can but it will take just as much work to heal yourself.

I was deployed from January 2008 to March of 2009. Toward the end of the deployment I started to develop low back pain in the lower left side of my back. Once I redeployed it seem to get worse, with the pain shooting down my left butt cheek and stopping in my upper hamstring. It felt like a tendon or nerve was being tugged on. The pain increased if I was on my feet for long periods of time or if I was running.

In May, right before I was discharged, I had an x-ray and MRI done. I had two bulge disks between my L4 and L5 vertebrae (moderate degenerative disks). Two days ago, I too had an epidural spinal injection.

I’m giving you this background to ask a couple questions.

  1. Although I have been able to maintain some strength in my squat (squatting doesn’t bother my back for some reason), my deadlift is in the toilet and I feel as though I have little, if any, core strength. Do suggest any particular movements or programs that you have done to increase core strength? I have tried to focus on increasing core strength but I’m wondering if I’m just spinning my wheels until the swelling in the disks of my back goes down?

  2. Is it possible to increase core strength with my back in its current state? Or do I need to try to rest it as much as possible and allow the epidural to work? My current workouts are pretty “back safe”, for a lack of a better term.

Honestly this is a big one to do and a very good question. Planks are what I do front and side. I also started the old wheel roll. I just use my CAP dumbell with 25lbs on each side. After I got my shots I was able to get back to working out pretty quick. You only need to wait about a week to be on the safe side for the epidural. If it worked you should have symptom relief pretty quickly.
What type of stance and grip do you use for dead?

How often do you perform planks and wheel roll?

I have a had two light workouts since the shots.

The doctor that gave me the injections said that I should notice a difference within 5 to 7 days.

My dead stance is conventional (feet shoulder width), and my grip is just a touch wider than shoulder width.

I’m doing the 5 3 1 workout with a 4 day split. So on Wed I do my planks, wheel roll and strecthing/foam roll.
I switched to the sumo stance so I could activate more of my ass in doing dead. The conventional stance I would roll my back and muscle things up. I always used straps also, now since doing crocs and sumo do not have to use any more.

I actually played around with sumo deads when I got back from deployment, as it didn’t seem to bother my back as much.

Although I’m more comfortable with conventional, I might switch over to sumos. I think it would make more sense with my back in its current condition.

Thanks for the input.[/quote]

No problem. Glad to help. Sorry for the double post.