UKC

Hi all. I've been having some very severe upper/middle back pain which I think may be connected to bouldering. I'm wondering if anyone else has experienced something similar?

It's like a dull pain in the middle/upper part of the back - incredibly painful and lasts for a few hours. I used to be an experienced boulder, but haven't done much of it for 2 years or so. I recently got back into it and have been bouldering a lot the past 2 weeks. It is usually 'triggered' but arching my upper back in some way, either slumping.

Anyone else experienced something similar or comments on whether it's a strain/inflammation? Just looking to see if this is bouldering related or something else : )

I have a bad back. I did a lot of running last year then got sciatic pain. The physio didn’t explain the implications of what happens if it properly “goes”. Mine “Went” and a year on it still recurs, but I know (after 5 Physios and a lot of trying) how to release it within 48 hours. 

So I’d recommend STOP!!!! But keep exercising another way, NOTHING vigorous, but don’t stop entirely, find a good physio, then another, then another (they’re all good but take something from each, and they specialise - inc neuro!!).

Find releases for the problem and get better before you start again or risk a v.long term injury. 

Bill

I had that. Went to physio maybe 10 times didn't do any good. Studied physiology on Wikipedia and decided it was tight lats. A couple of aggressive lat stretches later, it was fixed, never to return.

Yours could be different but lat stretches are always a good place to start.