[3Beans]

Hi all,

I don't usually post in this part of the forum because I've managed to keep my exercise routine effective and fun for the last five years or so without issue - except for last year when I strained a rotator cuff muscle, and now again.

I began a new weight loss 'push' in September and recently hit a plateau. So two weeks ago I started a new Body Sculpt class that I found extremely challenging. Last week (my second class) it was really hard, and the next day I felt very sore, but not injured. So I headed to step class to work through it.

In the middle of class, I was doing a squat and suddenly felt like I'd been punched in the lower back. I finished class anyway. The following day, it felt much worse and it was hard work just getting out of a chair. I looked at the sore spot in a mirror, and there was a faint gray bruise just below my sacrum, above the left buttock near my hip. This was really weird to me - how could I have a bruise when there was no impact at all? I didn't bump into any equipment or anything, I was just doing a squat.

It's officially been a week today since it happened. I haven't been back to the gym except for one pilates class because I needed the stretching. I can get out of a chair now no problem, and I can function normally all around although lifting heavy things is hard on my low back. So it has improved, but that spot is still painful all the time, the bruise is still there, and I don't feel like I can do strength and cardio work. What a time of year to not be able to exercise!

Has anyone had an experience like this or know what it could be or what could help? Rest or stretching? Massage - or would that be bad for a bruise? Heat or cold?

Thank you!