Sciatica and Weight Lifting

Sciatica and weight lifting are commonly associated topics for 2 main reasons. Some patients feel that they hurt their backs while lifting weights and therefore are now suffering with chronic sciatica. Other patients feel that weight training might just be a potential cure for their pain, since it is often advised as part of a physical therapy program.

Sciatica and Weight Lifting / Injury

I receive many letters from patients who feel that they permanently injured their backs while lifting heavy (or even light) weights. While this is possible, it is very unlikely that any of these typical events caused lasting injury. Sure, short term pain is certainly a possibility, but most back injuries will heal on their own or with appropriate medical care. Pain which exists months or even years later is highly unlikely to come from lifting any reasonably sensible amount of weight. Far more likely is the possibility that an ischemic sciatica pain syndrome set in after an injury healed or that the syndrome became active immediately, using a perceived (not actual) injury as a trigger for psychosomatic sciatica to begin. These circumstances are extremely common in patients with long term pain…

Sciatica and Weight Lifting / Treatment

Many sciatica patients are prescribed weight training as part of a rehabilitation program, with the goal of permanently ending their suffering. While exercise is great for the mind and body, it is unlikely to create a lasting cure for any form of back pain. Typically, patients enjoy short term relief during and after exercise, but the pain returns a while later. This fact reinforces the typical ischemic nature of most sciatica pain conditions, since exercise will not do anything at all to resolve symptoms due to a spinal abnormality, such as a herniated disc or osteoarthritis process. Exercise will, however, increase regional circulation and temporarily fight the effects of oxygen deprivation in the lower back and legs.

Sciatica and Weight Lifting Advice

Generally, I advise patients that most perceived chronic back injuries are just that… PERCEIVED. This is not to say that there was no injury originally, since hurting the back is very possible when lifting weights or doing any athletic activity. It is simply explaining that injuries heal and their pain is not likely to last for years from what amounts to a strained back muscle they suffered at the gym 3 years ago. Many patients are subsequently diagnosed with degenerated discs or even a herniation after a perceived injury, but there is no sure way to tell if the trauma was indeed the cause of said disc condition. Many patients have these disc abnormalities for a long time and simply do not know it, since they cause no pain. Once discovered, however, these scapegoat conditions take the full blame for chronic symptoms and usually set the stage for a protracted time of continued suffering. To counteract this possible nightmarish reality, I highly recommend learning more about knowledge therapy. This basic and logical approach explains why back pain occurs and why it DOES NOT. Following these guidelines, you can get back into the gym in no time… for enjoyment, not rehabilitation!

Sciatica and Weight Lifting to Sciatica Home
10/28/09 Revised 12/16/09