Is it Overtraining Syndrome or something else?

[samee100]

I would really like your opinion. I have been weight lifting for 4 plus years and have been really consistent. My splits are what I’ve been told by my general practitioner who is a sports medicine doctor as being normal and not too much to cause my symptoms. I am nasm certified and a stickler for form and creating well balanced workouts. Currently I am in a four day split (M/W-lower, T/TH-upper) with cardio one or two days. Before that I was in a 6 day split (upper push/lower/upper pull) 2x/wk. I started getting sore slowly about two years ago. I figured I had DOMS and continued to workout through it. When I’m working out I feel just fine, but sore the rest of the day really noticing it when initially when I stand or walk from sitting. It has now progressed with the same issues (fine when working out, major hard to get up and walk and bend down. Mostly in lower back and lower body). I feel like my muscles get ample rest and I sleep like a pro and eat really healthy with a bit too much candy added in. I try to keep my protein to at least 80% of my weight.

This is what we have done (my doctor and I): I do general labs every time I have an appointment. Testosterone was low and we fixed that - everything else was perfect. I went to a rheumatologist and ruled everything with her out (arthritis, etc.). Then he thought since I do have some stress that when I sleep my body could be tight and not repairing at night so he wrote me a low dose of amitriptyline before I go to bed. I take glutamine, creatine and multivitamins but still need to work on my water intake. I try and keep my protein at least 80% of my body weight. And at his request I have made an appointment at a neurologist to rule anything out there.

I think I have ruled out rhabdo because it's been going on so long I really don’t have the major symptoms of that except for muscle pain. But I’m thinking that it may be overtraining syndrome. There really isn’t a huge amount of information on this except some real general info. If that is what it is then I know that I have to take a break. I really don’t have anyone to ask about it and my husband doesn’t understand because he has his own health issues and would think this is silly. “It’s just muscle soreness...take another rest day.”

I am 50 years old mom with 3 young kids and luckily don’t look it and I’m proud where I have gotham my physique. I’m at 21% BMI and my composition looks pretty buff. No one would know or even guess that I have this issue. I am afraid to lose this and that is why I have pushed through and not stopped keeping very consistent with my workout schedule. I’m sure that I am doing my body wrong by pushing through it. I am just afraid that I won’t be as consistent if I stop when I start back up and that I will lose my gains. Also since I don’t know what's causing it I wonder if it's just going to happen again since the general consensus is that I’m going about my workouts in a way that is reasonable.

I would like to hear you opinion on what you think it may be. If you think it is Overtraining Syndrom and your thoughts on a break. I really can’t imagine just living with this pain and I don’t want to chalk it up to “this is just what working out does to me.”

Any help you can give me would be helpful. Thank you. Sam

[the_alcatraz]

Hi Sam,

I read your concern. My girl has this similar problem too, she overtrains and doesnt feel it, women easier to overtrain then men.

I would suggest you try this. Take 2 weeks off training, just rest. Then get back to the gym and train only 2 days per week for 2 weeks then switch to 3 days/week next 2 weeks, max out at 3 days training 4 days rest for 1 month. See how you feel then.
Also add hot baths and try to massage the painful areas out.

Let us know how it goes for you.

[stevesmi]

soreness is your body releasing inflammation to fix the micro tears from stressing out your muscles

you are supposed to get sore from a workout to some degree. obviously as your body gets conditioned it will ease up on the soreness since it knows what to expect and becomes used to it.

you say you are in pain, mild soreness is okay. pain is NOT okay. they are hard to decipher. i got so used to little nagging soreness that i didn't even realize i tore my rotator cuff years ago. if you are at that stage then it is time to take a break from weight training. go do yoga for a couple months

[BodyMonster34]

sister i would not worry, take a month off weights. do something else to stay active

[samee100]

Thank you! Yoga is probably a great idea for me! I appreciate your help!

[samee100]

Thank you for this reply!

[samee100]

Thank you moderator! That sounds like a great plan!

[SteveMobsterG]

Just to be clear - have you ever actually had a break or tried a break?

[samee100]

Embarrassed to say no just 2-3 days between body parts!

[ballin2504]

I think yoga would be very beneficial and I have tried hot yoga before and it’s a game changer. May be something you would want to look into.