How to tell the difference between DOMS and an injury?

Vamoose Killers

Worked my back a bit yesterday and am feeling it today (lower back) but I'm not sure whether it's DOMS or if I've actually hurt it a bit. I know if it's still at me in a few days it's most likely an injury but how can one tell now?

cowzerp

if its an injury it will be more localised, if its doms it should be more spread throughout your whole back, if you had doms before then you should know anyway, the pain is different.

Vamoose Killers

Haven't worked my back all that much before, only recently, so I can't really tell. It's all the lower back by the way.

cowzerp

Im pretty sure you have doms, take it a bit easier next time!
you will feel like you cant move for a few days..

kevpants

Vamoose Killers wrote: »

Haven't worked my back all that much before, only recently, so I can't really tell. It's all the lower back by the way.

Lower back pump and DOM's are far worse than any other area so it probably is just stiffness. The difference between an injury and discomfort for me is an injury stops you in your tracks, discomfort means you can still do it but it hurts.

Not exactly spoken like Hypocrates himself but it works for me.

I've recently had both a lower back injury and some lower back discomfort due to glue issues. With the injury I'd be in the car or in work and could feel the little niggle in my lower back but I couldn't deadlift 75% of my 1RM for even one rep, it sat there looking at me while someone drove hot nails into my back. More recently I could still feel the niggle in my back as I went about my day but I could deadlift fine.....while someone drive said nails into my back .

Vamoose Killers

Cheers.

I'm supposed to be working my back again tomorrow

cowzerp

Vamoose Killers wrote: »

Cheers.

I'm supposed to be working my back again tomorrow

Dont, its not ready for it.

Vamoose Killers

Well it's part of the total body workout plan that I'm trying to keep to at the moment - http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055525578

Tomorrow is meant to be:

Incline bench press (c)
Barbell bent over row (c)

Tricep dips (c)
Barbell curl (i)

Front raises (i)
Seated Dumbell Powercleans (c)

Vamoose Killers

So you wouldn't recommend going with that tomorrow? The pain isn't terribly bad, just I can feel it from time to time. Would like to keep to this programme however.

cowzerp

Im going to spell it out for you- N O.

dioltas

An injury often happens while you are working out as well. Like you will feel a twinge as your doing a set. Then if you keep going you fcuk yourself up!

DOMS is usually the next day or two. And it feels different imo. I kinda like it
Still though you can't be too careful with your back. See how it's feeling tomorrow and if it's not too bad you could try a few light sets. Otherwise maybe just push your workout back to saturday.

Vamoose Killers

Okay, okay. But I've worked out with DOMS in other areas before with no problems. I genuinely curious about this.

What would you replace the above exercises with so?

rubadub

I would give it a miss too, I figure it is your body telling you that you are not fully recovered, so you probably would not lift to your best anyway. Did you go to failure? If so next time try a rep less than failure and you might be recovered and can stick to the program in future. I am at a stage where I can predict my recover times from DOMs depending on how much work I do. I had it "timed" from monday so my workout would be this morning. And should be OK by sunday again when it next suits me, if saturday suited more I would have done less this morning.

I would expect a real injury to be apparent a lot sooner than DOMs, when doing squats it can be 2 days before I get full DOMs.

Patto

I think there are a few classifications of DOMS.

Low back Doms is one of the longest lasting. Sometimes your back also goes into spasm, this can happen espiceally if you don't warm up propperly. I did this a few weeks back doing 50 rep deadlifts with about 40% 1rm without a warmup.

You can also get doms in your white muscle, or facia, as it is also called. This can last upto 3 weeks. I got this in my abs doing dragon flags a few months ago. Its like having a stitch all over your abs, not nice.

CoachBoone

As has been said, an injury is generally more localised. You can probably pinpoint the exact area of the injury by massaging the area but with Doms its a more "all over" feeling.

You will also feel the injury much sooner than Doms.

kevpants

Vamoose Killers wrote: »

Well it's part of the total body workout plan that I'm trying to keep to at the moment - http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055525578

Tomorrow is meant to be:

Incline bench press (c)
Barbell bent over row (c)

Tricep dips (c)
Barbell curl (i)

Front raises (i)
Seated Dumbell Powercleans (c)

Lower back isn't going to get hit with that anyway. I don't really see the problem.

Constant rest isn't a solution for back pain in any case.

In fact even if it is an injury, after a few days a big part of recovery is light lower back exercise.

I don't see the point in skipping the gym every time somethings sore, I'm rarely not whinging about some kind of pain. Ask Hanley, Malteaser, Degsy, random strangers at the water fountain...

Vamoose Killers

Cheers.

Did the above workout this morning and it was all fine. Lower back isn't at me any more so it was obviously DOMS. I'm just a cry baby obviously.

billyhead

I have often worked the same muscle when it has not fully recovered from it last workout i.e I stick to my training plan and split and I have had no ill effects from it. As they say No Pain no Gain