Question
I was training in jiu jitsu two days ago and at one point i was sitting straight up. My training partner tried to get me in a guillotine but when he did he put all his weight on my shoulder driving it down towards my hips. My back arched a little and my shoulders came forward a tad and downward with quite a bit of force. I felt my back stretch and then i heard a weird noise like a popping of my back but kind of sounded like what i would assume a ligament or muscle over-stretching would sound like. It shot pain at the same time and i froze because it hurts so bad and my muscles around it tightened. I took a deep breath relaxed and stretched. It seemed to be ok but sore if i lean farther back or towards my feet. Today my muscles are still sore and my back still is sore. What did i do to my back can it be just inflamed muscles around my back? Did i hurt it very badly?

Answer
Too soon to say.

The popping may have been the rib-heads or facet joints of the vertebrae changing position; the pain was almost certainly reflexive -- protective muscular contractions.  Ligamentous strain is a possibility.

Persistence of pain isn't necessarily a sign of a ligamentous injury; muscular contractions of this type sometimes persist for years, unless retrained.

You may read my article, Completing Your Recovery from an Injury at somatics.com/page4b.htm for a greater understanding of the trauma reflex.

The article will be helpful.

Lawrence Gold