back/rib strain

[MarkEg]

Anyone else experienced mid back muscle spasm that, on occasions, refers around to the mid-rib area? Painful when breathing/coughing etc. I can train solidly for two months at a time doing 75K per week but then gradually this pain returns on my right side and I have to take 5-6 days off. Anyone else experienced this kind of irritating pain and/or found a way to manage or combat it? I've been to a chiropractor for an adjustment on the off-chance that a rib had been moved slightly but it seems not. Any input very welcome!

[Tim K.]

~2 months ago I started rowing 4-5 HM/wk. About a month ago I was an hour in and started to get what felt like a small cramp 40 minutes later I was in agony. Gave it a week and started up again, had to abort 60 minutes in, ended up at walk in clinic with difficulty breathing. 3 wks later Im thinking Im almost good to start up again. Never had any back pain, probably a soft tissue injury between ribs.

I was really disappointed to get an injury like this on such a dawdle when I have never had a hint of injury doing any of the sprints. I think I am possibly pushing the handle down on the drive as I can easily irritate the area the few minutes I have rowed the last month and noticed I was kind of doing a "crunch".

[MarkEg]

~2 months ago I started rowing 4-5 HM/wk. About a month ago I was an hour in and started to get what felt like a small cramp 40 minutes later I was in agony. Gave it a week and started up again, had to abort 60 minutes in, ended up at walk in clinic with difficulty breathing. 3 wks later Im thinking Im almost good to start up again. Never had any back pain, probably a soft tissue injury between ribs.

I was really disappointed to get an injury like this on such a dawdle when I have never had a hint of injury doing any of the sprints. I think I am possibly pushing the handle down on the drive as I can easily irritate the area the few minutes I have rowed the last month and noticed I was kind of doing a "crunch".

So it sounds like this is a repetitive strain type of injury? Given the volume you're talking about and given the mileage I'm trying to do -- that seems to be the common ground. So did you take 3 weeks off entirely? That's a concept that does not appeal to me at all!

[Nick]

Don't know how relevant this is - but, I'm just coming off a 6 day enforced rest after pulling a rhomboid muscle. It was agony, could hardly walk. I believe it might be rowing related; however, since I also lift weights about 5 days a week that might also be it. At any rate, my doc and my private nurse (wife) counselled total rest for at least 5-6 days with daily applications of heat and very easy stretching moves once or twice a day. Seems to have worked. This morning did 20 very sloooow, very easy minutes with the tension dial set at about 3.5. No problems - yet. I don't know how old you are and what your overall condition is but if the situation persists or recurs I'd give the chiropractor a pass in favor of a visit to your GP. Hope this helps. PS - remember the sage's medical advice "If it hurts when you do that - don't do that!"

[MarkEg]

Don't know how relevant this is - but, I'm just coming off a 6 day enforced rest after pulling a rhomboid muscle. It was agony, could hardly walk. I believe it might be rowing related; however, since I also lift weights about 5 days a week that might also be it. At any rate, my doc and my private nurse (wife) counselled total rest for at least 5-6 days with daily applications of heat and very easy stretching moves once or twice a day. Seems to have worked. This morning did 20 very sloooow, very easy minutes with the tension dial set at about 3.5. No problems - yet. I don't know how old you are and what your overall condition is but if the situation persists or recurs I'd give the chiropractor a pass in favor of a visit to your GP. Hope this helps. PS - remember the sage's medical advice "If it hurts when you do that - don't do that!"

Thanks for this -- sounds similar although my pain was a bit lower than rhomboid --possible too that I was feeling referred pain. It's hard to know in the back with so many muscles and trigger points. Anyway, 5-6 days is usually how long it takes me to get over this kind of pain. I'm 45, in good shape rowing 75K ++ per week so I'm figuring this is just an overuse injury. We'll see -- no pain right at the moment. Until...

[Tim K.]

So it sounds like this is a repetitive strain type of injury? Given the volume you're talking about and given the mileage I'm trying to do -- that seems to be the common ground. So did you take 3 weeks off entirely? That's a concept that does not appeal to me at all!

Repetitive strain is the assumption, no imaging done. Ya, 3 wks of nothing. It hurt to sit still and breathe for the first 2 wks. Slowly getting back into it. Have to be really careful when taking it easy. I want to do this goofy crunch thing and as soon as I do, I get a good stab in the ribs. When working hard I dont get the pain. Just a dumb form thing I need to straighten out.