# Low Back Trouble **URL:** \ **Category:** Pain & Rehab Forum \[Moderated\]\ **Created:** [June 16, 2023, 7:10pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/low-back-trouble/13600 "2023-06-16T19:10:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ngrbbmed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a183cd/32.png) [@ngrbbmed](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/ngrbbmed)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2023, 7:10pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/low-back-trouble/13600/1 "2023-06-16T19:10:48Z")
Hey guys, 39 year old male here. Long time template buyer and user. I’ve been dealing with a low back injury since January. I started to notice pain during squats. Just a slight tinge of pain at the initial part of the descent. No pain throughout the rest of the rep. In response, I backed off loading to a level where the pain was no longer there. That was effective for a bit but after a short time the pain would return. I continued a cycle of reduced intensity for a couple of months. I then turned to the Low Back Rehab template. I was only able to tolerate the first week. Adding volume resulted in more pain. I restarted the template at a lower load, only to be met with the same pain upon increasing volume. I continued this process for about 6 weeks, trying different loads and exercises, with no improvement. I decided to go to PT. This served to only increase the sensitivity - same pain but with even lower loading. The PT discharged me, recommending I see a doctor. I saw my GP. An X-ray revealed minor decreased disc height, with mild to moderate endplate irregularity and osteophytes at L4-L5, along with 2mm of L4 on L5 retrolisthesis. He didn’t seem convinced this was causing my pain, but couldn’t rule it out. My doctor also prescribed a muscle relaxant, in case it was a seized up muscle. This had no noticeable effect. He also sent me to a different PT, but I’m having the same experience - increased sensitivity to extremely minor loading - Body weight squats now trigger pain. Throughout all of this, the pain only comes on when nearly upright. I’m not sure where to take this next. I appreciate any guidance you can offer. ---
**Author:** ![RVR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f0a364/32.png) [@RVR](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/RVR)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2023, 4:12am UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/low-back-trouble/13600/2 "2023-06-18T04:12:10Z")
Not able to give any advice here, but out of curiosity, did you try variations with any success? Hack squat, belt squat, split squat, etc? ---
**Author:** ![ngrbbmed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a183cd/32.png) [@ngrbbmed](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/ngrbbmed)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2023, 5:55pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/low-back-trouble/13600/3 "2023-06-19T17:55:15Z")
I did try different variations with no success. At this point it’s unclear if this is because they weren’t the right path, or if I just chose the wrong weight/volume. High bar and front squats felt quite a bit worse than low bar. I think this is due to the nature of the injury - my pain happens more when I’m upright. Goblet squats and Split squats felt better for some reason, but like low bar, I wasn’t able to make any progress in load or volume without aggravating the injury. Limiting the range of motion wasn’t viable, since it hurts in the upright position.