Facet Joint Strain?

[Duke309]

Well about 6 weeks ago I was fresh off of a couple week break and was doing the same routine with a decrease in weight. Well on my deadlifts I was barely doing 70% of my 5RM which felt ridiculously heavy for some reason, well anyway my form slipped and I definitely didn't keep the arch in my lower back for one rep. I stopped after that of course.
Hours after that my back felt sore. It was till the next week when I started getting symptoms. Whenever I would arch my back, it would feel different, not exactly pain, but a different sensation. This of course is killing my squats and deadlifts. I've been continuing to do standing press and bench press pretty heavy, which I see now was a bad idea.

Last monday I finally went to a sports medicine doc and he did xrays. Well he said that there was some stress on the joints on the back of the spine. I can't remember what he called them, but a quick googling seems to label them as facet joints. I have been putting heat on it before headin to the gym and just doing body weight squats and back extensions, but it still isn't better. Should I schedule an appointment with a chiropractor (if so any recommendations in the orlando area?). Oh and twisting to the left seems to make it feel worse than twisting my back to the right for some reason.

I haven't lifted heavy in weeks now and its killing me, anyway to speed up recovery?

[IliekFude]

nope.
try reverse hypers with light weight if ya have one.
ive had steroid shots up n down my facets (procedure is called block shots) and that didnt do shit. all that works is percs vics or ultram for me.
the problem is it becomes arthritic faster than usual which means its a downward spiral.
the other solution brought up to me is disc fusion and im all set.. fuck that.
if i can handle the pain they say i wont make it worse but sometimes i cant even walk straight let alone lift.
who knows maybe theres more out there for it but i tried for 2 years.
gluk.

[Duke309]

Took a little over two weeks off, went back to the gym today. Did some squats starting with the bar up to 135, didn't feel it till the last squat. It was the left side of my back and I felt it at the very bottom of my squat. It has been a couple hours since the gym and I don't feel it so maybe it will be alright. I'll probably get an appointment fora chiro for next week though.

[Beverly McD.]

My husband Mike hurt his on squats several years back. The pain was bad enought he couldn't stand erect. He went to a chiro that specialized in sports medicine. He helped immediately. Ice it every day, particularly after a workout. That's key.