Back advice would be nice...geez I sound like Dr. Suess

[Griz]

While I'm already doing the dumbell rows (bent over while supported by an arm and knee), and WGPUs (will reversing the grip really hit the upper mid back that much?), I don't think I can attempt even light good mornings.

As well, arent rev. hypers targeting the spinus erectus muscle rather than the upper mid back (traps/rhoms/etc.)? My S.E. muscle is rather well developed, as are my lats. Hence my focus on the upper mid.

I'm thinking the only way to actually build this group is to take a very long time (1-2 years) and work towards eventually being able to do bent over (unsupported) work, and deads. My worry is, of course that in the meantime, other work that I am able to do will outsrip any very long terms gains to my upper mid.

I dont' mean to sound critical. I appreciate the advice from all! You guys know your shit thats fer sure, and I'm very thankful. I definately have some stuff to mull over in my tiny cranium.

Just worried. I don't want to be out of commission again due to my back (did me in for up to a year once already-just call me fat boy back then-before that I was carved outta wood.).

Thank you once again.

Anything anyone wants to add to feel free to add. More is ALWAYS better!!

 

[bigstve12]

what is your low back problem??

 

[Griz]

It's a congenital thing that progressively gets worse through life. Short of having serious, and incredibly expensive surgery, I have to live with it. It starts at my sacrum and ends at L5 (the last vertebrae and the sacrum itself). The two are not aligned properly, and never will be. As a result there has not been the proper movement of the sacrum in my life that there should have been which after 36 years has created other problems in that area as well. Without going into a bunch of medical mumbo-jumbo, let's just say it's "quite fucked for good."

I have to manage the problem as opposed to try to fix it.

I can lift all day in the gym doing my usual routine (and being careful of course), then, on another uneventful day, I can reach for the phone on my desk, or close the door on my truck, or something equally innocuous, and it will suddenly feel like I've just been stabbed with a fillet knife. Go figure.

I had 5, yes 5 different doctors, give me 5 different diagnoses as to what my problem was. I have concluded that GPs are about as useful in diagnosing back problems as I am at figuring out what happened to the Space shuttle over Texas. Funny how Dr.s can spend 5 minutes with you, bend you in two different directions, and decide what's wrong with you. My chiro spent over an hour with me AFTER she got X-rays figuring out what was wrong. I talked to a retired GP who is a family friend and they said that, really, GPs have such little training, and hence understanding, of the spine that they are likely NOT the best person for back problems. That same GP admitted that they also are likely loath to admit this to anyone. Ever notice that no matter what your back problem they ALWAYS tell you to treat it the same way?

Anyway, I babble...sorry.