Why no pain, no gain is not always a good motto

We like to push our bodies to the limit, see just how far they can go and are constantly amazed by all they are capable of. But sometimes, there is a limit, and it shouldn't be crossed. Some pain is good when working out or performing daily activities, sometimes it means we are activating and using muscles we don't typically use, which is a good thing. Or our muscles start to fatigue and burn out because we have hit a rep maximum and our body is screaming to stop and rest. But sometimes, there are pains that we should not fight through and ignore; anything sharp, uncomfortable or unusual should make us stop what we are doing immediately. After a few weeks off, I was feeling well and healed so decided to go to the gym yesterday for a very light first workout back. I followed the advice I would have given to my patients. If you are feeling good after three weeks, have gotten treated and done the recommended stretches and exercises you were supposed to, easing into a short, low impact workout should be fine. Just listen to your body and if there is ever discomfort or pain, stop immediately. To my surprise, after a brief 10 minute warm up on the elliptical, I was not even through my first set of body-weight squats before I felt a resurgence of pain in my low back. I stopped immediately and headed back downstairs to my apartment. Within an hour, I was barely able to move, having re-aggravated a disc and bursitis issue. Not only is this extremely frustrating, seeing how excited I have been to get back in the gym, but it is also discouraging. I want to share this with everyone just so they understand how the body works, and that this can still happen even when you are doing everything right and have access to the best treatment possible. Healing takes time and effort. That's one of the biggest pet peeves I see in practice, patients come in with acute pain and expect to jog out of the office or run a marathon the next day! It takes time and patience, even for us that do the treating! Just so everyone understands exactly what's going on when you hear 'bulging,' 'herniated' or 'slipped disc:' there are discs located between each of the vertebra in the spine that act as a cushion/shock absorber to help with impact and spinal movements. When a compromising motion or movement imparts too much pressure on an area of the disc, it is susceptible to bulge or herniate. When one of these discs bulges or herniates, it can put pressure on nerve roots travelling through the intervertebral foramina (the tunnel where the nerve exits the spine and enters the body). When there is pressure on a nerve, that pain can be felt as a radiating pain felt along the route the nerve travels. This is typically into the glutes, down the back of the leg, or wrapping around the hip region to the front of the thigh/groin. This can cause a great deal of pain and discomfort. This picture shows the disc bulging and putting pressure on a nerve root. Undesirable, painful and uncomfortable. But with the right treatment, effort and patience, it can be fixed!