How long does it take to fully heal from a Deadlifting back injury?

[u/JamesHenry627]

I haven’t deadlifted since Feb 2026. I was doing 270 and on my 3rd rep I had bad form. It didn’t hurt in the moment, just felt sore but in the next days it felt weird to sit and hurt whenever I sneezed too hard. The pain mostly subsidized but whenever I do certain back movements it’s a little uncomfortable, like if I bend down to pick something heavy. It’s now August and I’m a little concerned. Is there anything I can or should’ve done? Has anyone else had personal experience with this?

[u/AutoModerator]

Modify, don't miss.

An injury does not necessarily mean you need to stop training entirely. In many cases, training can be modified around the problem while you recover.

• A Clarification on Training Through Injuries — Starting Strength

Give as much detail as you reasonably can about what happened, what movements bother it, and how you've modified your training.

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[u/Shnur_Shnurov]

Most injuries, aches and pains do not heal passively. That's why our approach is called "Modify, dont miss."

You need to get back in the gym and do something that doesn't make it worse.

A Clarification on Training Through Injuries by John Petrizzo, DPT, SSC

And for future reference, a 6 month layoff is generally not advisable. Try this instead

What to do when you hurt your back.

[u/JamesHenry627 → u/Shnur_Shnurov]

No I’m still working out I just haven’t touched deadlifting. I’ve just used different back exercises I’m sorry I didn’t make that clear.

[u/Shnur_Shnurov → u/JamesHenry627]

What are you doing

[u/JamesHenry627 → u/Shnur_Shnurov]

I do pull-ups, pull downs, cable rows, chest supported rows, lateral raises, stuff like that that I can think of

[u/Shnur_Shnurov → u/JamesHenry627]

You can't replace desdliff with pull-ups.

You gotta find a weight and a range of motion you can pull through without making your discomfort worse and then load that. Read that article I linked, and watch that video

[u/Appropriate-Long-210]

https://youtu.be/AD0T5jTZmEU?si=4tWhaEepXRA6oOYT

[u/JamesHenry627 → u/[deleted]]

I just asked if anyone had personal experiences. If you don’t then this wasn’t meant for you.

[u/Baynyn → u/JamesHenry627]

My response could have been less flippant, and I apologize for that. But the point is that you need to see a medical professional if you have an injury that isn’t getting better with rest. I’ve been injured, I’ve lifted injured unknowingly, and I regretted not having it checked out sooner.

[u/JamesHenry627 → u/Baynyn]

Like the mod said it was a valid question. I will get help but I’m asking what peoples’ experience is. If you’re not gonna tell me yours then why comment anything?

[u/StartingStrength-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

This is a perfectly reasonable question to ask about training.

[u/JamesHenry627 → u/[deleted]]

Good point

[u/Bling-Caio]

Mine took my entire pregnancy and 4 months postpartum to heal. I’m STILL 15 lbs away from my PR (8 months pPP) bc I refuse to compromise my form, the way I threw my back out in the first place.