MY BACK IS KILLING ME | Episode 4 | My Last Gymnastics Season | Whitney Bjerken

My back had started bothering me more than normal on the week leading up to this meet. I had a show the night before, performing with my heavy guitar and I noticed it getting worse. During bar warmup is when it completely gave out on me. I almost had to scratch but decided to push through. It looks a lot better then it felt in the moment, but definitely didn't feel like myself out there. My back continued to bother me for the next few weeks. I completely stopped all gymnastics for the next two weeks to try and heal it before state!
This is Episode 4 of my mini-series "My Last Gymnastics Season"
So excited to show you all my journey through my last few competitions in the sport!
New Episodes EVERY WEDNESDAY
One in a Million (documentary) is now streaming on APPLE TV , PRIME VIDEO, GOOGLE PLAY , and HOOPLA in select countries all over the world!
⇩ Links to everything ⇩
linktr.ee/whit...

[@kosamui]

I’ve watched you for years, through the toes, elbows, pyramids, all of it. I’ve throughly enjoyed your journey and I want to thank you for giving me hours and hours of entertainment, with a few life lessons thrown in! Thank you, thank you, thank you! ❤🙏🌹

[@VinnyS9143101982]

the injury ruined her. The three surgeries & recoveries put her YEARS behind her contemporaries

[@RitaBaumann]

It's really easy to feel defeated. It's easy to think your time in gymnastics was wasted. However, as your life continues, you will see that the perseverance, discipline, and toughness you have learned through this journey will parlay itself into whatever endeavors you will work toward in the future. I wish you blessings and joy in your new chapter.

[@markreeves2491]

Second place AA is a great accomplishment, especially considering how much back pain you were experiencing ! The bars warmup was scary ! 😨 While I will certainly miss watching you compete in gymnastics , I am also excited to see how far your musical career will take you ! I think you realize that gymnastics was soon coming to an end and that you will have music for the rest of your life ! I hope you will find great fulfillment and success in your future musical endeavors ! 🙂

[@lyellequezada2707]

i’ve watched you for YEARSSSSSS, i remember when u fall from a bar when u we’re like 8-9 years old, u inspired me to do gymnastics, thank u for everything❤️

[@dag067]

Wow Whitney! Considering the obvious pain you were in you performed extremely well. I don't think I saw your usual smiling face at all, just pain in your eyes. As always, a true professional. Regardless of pain and falls you just keep on going.👏🙌 Your body must be loving life now (apart from your ankle issues), unless you're doing too much dancing.💃So proud of you in this meet, as always Whitney. Hope you're well at the moment. So sorry your bestie Cilla has now moved onto her next chapter. Hated seeing you like that on TikTok. Made me cry too. I'm sure you have plenty of videos and photos, and certainly have many many wonderful memories. I'm pretty sure you'll be on the phone regularly anyway, and in no time she'll be back for a catchup (or will you be going out to see her?). Cheer up Whitney and stay happy. God bless you! 🙏💙😁

[@stopitnow362]

I’ve watched you since I was a little kid, now I’m 13. I compete at gymnastics and got 1st at regionals! I have a back issue as well. I have extreme scoliosis and might be getting surgery. I am heart broken 💔 I love gymnastics and I might never get to do it again. Sad to hear you are quitting you’ve made it so far but I get it 😊

[@stopitnow362]

Also your friend Gabby is very funny

[@ashslifestyle.]

I hope you’re able to continue doing gymnastics even in you get surgery and that all goes well for you! never give up on your dreams bc u sound like an extremely talented gymnast :)🫶🏻

[@just_caitlin]

Well done Whitney! It was obvious how much pain you were in and you still did amazingly! And well done Gabby!!! Even if we're not talking about beam, you competed your double back and landed it! Whoooo!

[@anovemberstar]

You're so awesome Whitney..you got SECOND, with a back injury..AND at the end of your gymnastics career! For most people, winding down from such a massive high of an amazing gymnastics career, they'd be REALLY struggling to just turn up in the gym each day. So take pride on your achievements. Cos I have a feeling you're a tad hard on yourself, when you really shouldn't ❤️

[@valerie6854]

omg me I wanted to quit gymnastics so bad and I would never go to practices I hated it so much and I just came back from nationals in Florida and I quit I’m so happy 😊

[@thatotherguy7596]

As a former gymnast, i always thought the women were nuts to try to do that stuff on a four inch wide beam even if it was sitting on the floor. That takes incredible courage and skill. ❤️

[@j.nx._269]

second aa is awesome especially while being in pain and with that scary fall on bars. awesome job as always whit

[@no_kangaroos_in_Austria]

You will never again have to take pain killers to be able to compete - ever! This is a relief. I'm already looking forward to next Wednesday! 😊

[@sigridlindstrom7320]

I am so proud of all your hard work and you were one of the gymnasts that kept me going with gymnastics but now I am in cheerleading and still watching you. I will miss your gymnastics videos but I am even more excited to see what you do next❤❤

[@chriss7826]

Hi Whitney. I've been watching you progress over the years and it makes me happy to see how far you've come! I did gymnastics for about 10 years during the 90's. I used to have back pain that would come and go during gymnastics and years later. It was only until about 8 years ago when I hit 30, that I was diagnosed, through x-rays, with spondylolisthesis (an anterior slippage of the spine). My doctor said "you were a gymnast weren't you?" This is very common with gymnasts/dancers from the constant extension of the spine. I don't want to worry you OR diagnose the cause of your pain. There are many reasons for backpain. I ended up needing a spinal fusion a few years ago. I know my personal back pain story is extreme, but I guess my point is, listen to your body! Doing gymnastics until I was about 15 was the best time of my life but it also was havock on my body. Congratulations on your accomplishments and best of luck with your new chapter!!!

[@misss3480]

You are such a trooper, Whitney! So much respect and admiration for carrying on despite the pain. And especially after that scary fall during your bars warm up! You and your team did so well. Please be careful with the Ibuprofen though - it can damage your stomach if you take more than the recommended dose.

[@MrJking065]

Never forget no one can ever take away all your accomplishments! As you grow into adult hood you will find that your hard work and decation to your sport will pay off. When thing get tough you have learned the tough get going!

[@maureencallanan7439]

Congratulations on the team all-around score! Hope your back is feeling better!🎉🎉😊

[@doppelxchromosom1]

You have a lot of respect from me for taking part despite the severe back pain, which shows your strong will and the strength that lies within you. You are awesome! I found your portable record player and some vinyl on the shelf. That's great. I have been collecting records for many years, own a DJ turntable and used to be a DJ. When your album comes out I hope it comes out on vinyl, you know what I mean. I wish you a speedy recovery and all the best. (sorry if my english is not that good) ☮️&❤️ from the Swiss-Lady 👋🌞🌟🫶

[@SecretPlacePsalm91]

That girl talking at 1:49 is ADORABLE!!!! 💕💜💕and of course you too Whitney :-) and all your teammates!

[@SecretPlacePsalm91]

And I love you share your “stardom” (or whatever you call it) with others! Your so sweet! Lol, “the monster!” Girl I get them too!! Your good!!!

[@ella_the_frogg]

currently binging ur last gymnastics season series a year later! love ya Whit ❤

[@gymnasticswithalexis1463]

Very good! Nicely done whitney! I loved the routines. You've always been a great inspiration! Bc I'm also a gymnast and you've always inspired me to never give up!

[@dgrock2484]

Always a pleasure watching your videos, I really like how your always very honest about your performances and how you feel , hopefully when this chapter is over , your body will finally heal , finishing strong 👏

[@chickensaladandfries5830]

I said this in the premier chat. I have seen comments saying Whitney didn't try this season. I have to say those comments are clueless and false. The truth is as I see it watching this videos . I've seen all the episodes to this point. Whitney tried harder this season yes I'll repeat that she tried harder. She had many chances legit chances to scratch on some of the events in this meet and she didn't she toughed it out. A bad result doesn't mean by any stretch that she wasn't giving her best effort.

[@masonlovesroblox]

I know! so rude! (I was at a camp so I wasnt in the premiere) I feel like shes really tried especially if her back was killing her. These people are obviously haters and mad shes quitting. I feel like she really tried this season more than any other.

[@Mojohjohjoh]

I know for myself, when I'd decided it was my last year, I never tried so hard to beat my pb's but also it was so relaxing not having all this pressure anymore. It's like doing it for the fun of it for one final year just like when you start doing gymnastics and I can see this in Whitney

[@Melaniee_Roseyyy]

U did so good!! especially with that back pain ❤

[@buff_0292]

The fact you out performed almost everyone while exhausted and with insane back pain. DAMN ur a star

[@derrickgraham6402]

I wish you all the best of the best. Keep us posted.

[@flipper8256]

Love that you lift up and praise the other girls.

[@quinoarat2528]

I'm so glad you posted that TikTok video about healing first so we know your back is better now!

[@lisfawcett]

Good job Whitney! You can be really proud of yourself :)

[@hitchmille]

Great job Whitney, especially considering your back was causing so much pain. It must have been pretty bad to cause you to struggle with Wolf Turns, because no one does them better. I was happy to hear in a recent IG post that your body was feeling much better.

[@Ruzeth]

Wow Whitney! You still did amazingly well! Could you please do a video on what your future plans are? Are you going to college?

[@soimsha.]

You could tell how bad your back was hurting I could feel your pain!

[@paige.malynn]

gabi is so real with the rafe edit 😭

[@tilly405]

Dang girl! Your vaults have gotten so powerful!!!

[@rayventhegymnast3263]

Back pain. Relatable. My back started bothering me a bit more than usual this year (not super bad but like I'm getting older so..) at the first meet of this year I pulled a back muscle on bars, second last event, then I had to go to BEAM. Let's just say I really wiped out during my acro LMAO

[@alifmyzz]

Whitney, you are great! 💗💗

[@rach_slayy]

You’re inspirational! ☺️

[@abigaildegenaar5537]

Hi whitney bjerken it's AbbyD so sorry to hear that your back is sore but I'm sure it will get better soon before your last state meet you are the best gymnast in your team and I'm so proud of you for doing gymnastics 🤸‍♀️ good luck for your meet hope it goes well and I've just finished watching your meet it was so amazing well done ❤🎉😊

[@Karolg_YoungMiko]

Eres increíble, te admiro mucho por desempeñarte excelente en la gimnasia❤

[@iamcIancy]

oh my gosh, I wasn't at this meet but I see my coach in this video. that's so funny omg

[@dkasper3267]

I was wondering why you decided to get rid of the double front bar dismount? I wasn't sure if it had to do with injury.

[@josephblough7509]

ouch..... I can relate, I have moderate osteoarthritis... I'm also on dialysis.. so the only pain meds i can take are extra strength Acetaminophen. hope you feel better soon.

[@MAliofficiallife]

OMG you did amazing Hope you’re good now

[@Yourgwirlywholovestortoises]

the fall on bars help😭😭

[@edwardleecaliforniausa]

Hi Whitney good morning happy Wednesday morning and I loved your vlogs and this was amazing video I enjoy your channel

[@kristinen7611]

Sorry you had so much pain in your last invitational. When my back pain gets really bad, and I've taking the regular dose of Aleve (like Advil), I then take two Tylenol. Remember, Advil helps with swelling, Tylenol helps with pain.

[@xyz-by2yv]

There are always a few nasty/stupid comments... please don't take that to heart. It has nothing to do with you. Those people don't deserve your attention...

[@no_kangaroos_in_Austria]

... and they are probably just jealous!

[@ItsMarissa]

You should do a video on how to write music. I have been wanting to write music so bad but I have no experience and no equipment. It’s so hard and it’s killing me.

[@Wrinkley_Grandma]

8:48 did anybody see the girl biff it in the back😭😭😭

[@Justgannahdance]

Yeah 😂😂😂

[@maceasestefania1410]

Hi Whitney Bjerken!I'm a new subscriber and i watched you since i was 10 or 11.

[@laylajordan3992]

I had to leave gymnastics because of my mystery back injury, 3 years later we found out it was herniated discs. A lot of what u said sounded like my injury, if you start getting shooting pains down your legs go to the doctor and get an mri 🙏🥺

[@keti.rg.editzzz]

So proud of you Whitney! You did amazing ❤🙌🏻

[@mya_monet]

im sorry but the bar fail edit was so funny😭😭

[@WhitneyBjerken]

i’ve been laughing so hard at that. Was the stupidest fail ever

[@Persassy_sister12]

OMG that is the day i really badly injured my back! and my birthday!

[@joesalgado7380]

I hope you're okay with your back be praying for you

[@potteryjoe]

Do you use a TENS unit for your back pain? That helped me a lot, but idk what causing your pain, so maybe it wouldn't work for you

[@eastofeden13]

I knew it wasnt your day from the start of the video

[@iblamebraylee7508]

WHITNEY YOUR BARS WARMUP😭

[@angelafisher5726]

I have been watching this for years.... I thought fpr sure she was going to be in the Olympics

[@lianne8003]

On beam did you bail out of your series

[@WhitneyBjerken]

yes 🙃 i was dying

[@claudiagargurevich9760]

wait i competed there for state this year

[@bruce5684]

Please don't over do the pain killers xxx

[@Constantin9va]

Hahah! “I only take two ibuprofens, 4 max.” If you’re going to lie, at least you are lying responsibly. 😂 glad you’re free.

[@haize-ew3hr]

Welcome to the tall world. Back pain sucks!! (I'm 6'1")

[@davidmayes5624]

Dear WHITNEY , my beautiful magical Angel 👼friend your a reall trooper ever when you are in paine you still go on your absolutely fantastic I really do hope all your pains get better you and your team mates are absolutely beautiful star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟s your all great 👍👍👍👍👍 , WHITNEY your a beautiful star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟your brilliant please stay safe and well from David ps your really great 👍👍👍👍👍your brilliant you and all your team mates please stay safe and well to your all absolutely brilliant

[@lily.chamberlain]

I thought you were going to university of Alabama for college to continue your gymnastics career, is that not happening anymore?

[@danielleforder]

After this season, she's not doing gymnastics at all anymore

[@keti.rg.editzzz]

She takes a gap year and then she will go to college but she won't do Gymnastics there

[@futbollinz4]

how tall are you, Whitney? I’m tall too and you’re so inspiring!

[@NeoP-jh7gl]

Hope your back will be better soon :(

[@g405t]

You got be carful with those pain killers they will damage your kidneys in the long run. Get well soon!

[@meiraloraduncan8953]

I hope that you went and got your back checked out because it could be as simple as a pulled muscle or it could be something more serious like a slipped disk, a bulging disk, or a herniated disk along with a pulled muscle. If you feel any pain or tingling in your arms, hands,legs or feet go to the ER or whatever sports doctor you see so that they can do an MRI or a CT scan because it actually sounds like more than a pulled or tweaked muscle. I recommend icing your back to help reduce the pain and any inflammation you might have. Because you said that it got worse and caused you more pain when you stood up, bent over and twisted I think it's more than just a muscle and really needs to be checked out because if left untreated it could get worse and I don't want you to have to experience a 1/1000 of what I went through with my back. I went undiagnosed for the first few months and then I was repeatedly misdiagnosed for the next 10years and when my symptoms started getting worse the new doctor I was seeing didn't listen to me, thought I was faking it and I was just being lazy. His answer was eat less, exercise more and then he decided that it was all in my head and said it to my face and he went behind my back and questioned my husband to see if I was really having the symptoms I said I had and if I was actually in pain. I never asked for any kind of pain medication during the ten years he was my doctor. I have always been a very active person and regularly exercised, in fact I walked an additional6 miles each day either outside or inside on a track or a treadmill. I rode my bicycle, roller skated,played tennis, among other things. I was an elementary school teacher and on my feet for hours. I happen to suffer from a severe form of PCOS which causes a hormone imbalance and causes me to gain weight no matter how active I am and how little I ate. I have never over ate, binged or anything else that people think someone who is overweight does. In fact I have always eaten less than my skinny siblings and college roommates which was very frustrating. I wasn't diagnosed with PCOS until I was 28years old. My symptoms suddenly got much worse when I was 5.5 months pregnant with my daughter and I was told it was normal and would go away after giving birth. It didn't and it got progressively worse each year. It didn't help that we had moved to a different state and unfortunately the doctors and hospital locally are very bad. It got to the point that I couldn't stand up or walk for more than 10 minutes before the pain became excruciating or my legs would give out and I would fall to the ground. I had to buy a rolling walker so that I could safely get around the school. I tried seeing a chiropractor, but he made it worse after the first few visits. After a while every step I took sent what felt like electrical jolts shooting down my arms and legs and the pain was beyond anything I had ever experienced and it would bring tears to my eyes until they were pouring down my face and still I couldn't get my doctor to do anything. I started having muscle spasms that could be quite painful and debilitating while they lasted and could trigger more. Finally I couldn't take it any more and I demanded that he order an MRI which he didn't want to do. Because I had stood up to him and forced him to do it he made the process much harder than it should have been and he sent me to the local hospital even though he knew that I needed the open MRI machine because I am claustrophobic and my weight was just over the limit for the regular machine. He took great pleasure in trying to embarrassing me and put me in my place because he is the doctor and I was the stupid female patient. He was shocked to get a phone call from the head radiologist who read my MRI because guess what it wasn't all in my head and I wasn't faking it. But instead of calling me himself he had a staff member set up my appointment with the Neurosurgeon and I had to ask her what the MRI had shown. My spinal cord was being crushed in between my vertebrae in 4 different places and the nerves were being crushed and cut off which was causing a lot of the pain that I was experiencing. According to my Neurosurgeon I shouldn't have been able to stand up, walk or function at the level I was given the location and amount of damage shown in the MRI. Following the surgery he said that the damage had been far worse than what the MRI had shown (because my idiot doctor hadn't warned me not to do various activities and I had a field trip scheduled for the day after I was told that I needed surgery, so I spent 4 hours in a school bus and another4-5 hours at a Wildlife ranch with my 24 first graders.) He told us that I had literally been one wrong move away from death or becoming a quadriplegic on a respirator for the rest of my life. All of this started because I was a passenger in a car stopped at a red light that was rear ended by a car going 45mph in a 15 mph zone. I had symptoms immediately that were ignored and it was before the MRI and CT scanners were invented. I had suffered severe whiplash from side to side and front to back because I had turned slightly towards my friend who was driving. The force of the impact had turned my body so that I was facing forward again, but it had also injured my spinal cord in the cervical spine region and my left hip also took the full force and my lower thoracic and lumbar regions were violently twisted to the right which caused more spinal cord injuries to that area. Which is why my left side has been more affected than the right. I have had 4 surgeries so far and need more at some point. I am very blessed to be alive and still functional to a degree, but complications during and after one surgery left me with severe nerve damage, a brain injury and severe chronic pain. I also developed a life threatening infection that spread to my brain, blood, spinal/brain fluid and bones after bacteria entered my body during the surgery to remove a breast cancer tumor and 3 lymph nodes that were removed and tested to make sure the cancer hadn't spread. That infection severely damaged my Central Nervous System and caused me to suffer multiple blackouts that caused me to suddenly go unconscious and fall to the ground which caused multiple injuries including breaking my neck in 2 places and destroyed the titanium hardware holding my spine together. My story is pretty unique and strange given the sheer number of life threatening health issues and the fact that I was walking around for 20 years though the last 10 were extremely painful and I wouldn't call how I was walking normal all things considered. Be proactive and seek answers if you are still experiencing pain and any other symptoms. You are an amazing young lady and I wish you well in everything you set your sights on.

[@Taureanfitness]

I'm surprised to see this you made such a big deal about how you were quitting gymnastics so I'm not even sure why this video is even out

[@no_kangaroos_in_Austria]

Those people who really listened to her when she announced that she was quitting, know why these episodes are out. She said that she would finish the season and that she would post her last meets.

[@JaclynnsRebornNursery]

HI WHITNEY❤🎉

[@danielpadeirinho3171]

Parabéns 😊

[@melissanuckles7778]

And I hope you are okay Because that sound like a hurt on bars

[@iblamebraylee7508]

im gonna miss your gym video so much. i grew up with you and im glad your moving on

[@vlogsbypatrick]

3:48 LMAOO

[@jadedixon3641]

Ugh, please be careful with all of that ibuprofen. While it's safer than Tylenol prolonged use can cause problems. I had a friend who took it as prescribed by his doctor but he always did it on an empty stomach and ended up in the hospital with a bleeding stomach ulcer. Another family member used it long term for chronic pain and ended up with kidney failure, as ibuprofen does slow blood flow to the kidneys.

[@jadesea562]

Ah, ok... I can see where you type pain how such drastic forces of gravity would cause it. It never occurred to me that that would be the case when watching gymnasts, even though I am a chronic pain sufferer myself from military service injury. Please beware of the ibuprofen, it does cause damage to vital organs with regular use like a pain-vitamin lol, I am navigating that myself also. Make sure you are catering to your digestive tract, with a well formed microbiome by using micronutrient principles then you can cut down your bodies ongoing inflammation from the inside out. This helps across the board when it comes to managing chronic pain conditions. If ever you reach out, I have a full perspective on the matter as an intellectual that is 10 years into the chronic pain reality. Best wishes on your journey!

[@kingswing3348]

鉄棒の場面、怪我は大丈夫ですか？いつまでも日本から応援してます😊

[@chrisritter9640]

SUPER Beautiful! ❤😍👍

[@quedotelancine1685]

I am an adult male so I never watched your journey, nothing personal but only ncaa and elite internet me. I was so said to learn that you are quitting gymnastics as I was so excited to see you perform in college! But I am so happy that you are doing what is best for you! I hope you at least will consider doing gymnastic commentary and reviews. There are so many ways to “do” gymnastics while not actually doing gymnastics and maintaining your audience. ❤

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

You should consider getting back into Gymnastics again one day.

[@strqxx]

what happened to the other video

[@emma.grace..]

There’s girls that go to my gym in the backround 😂😂

[@robertrincon3590]

Ouchhhh

[@AnywhereChrista]

Did someone check you for a concussion???? You hit your head!

[@johnburgess5468]

Don't cover up your back pain with Ibuprofen. Go to a orthopedic doctor to make sure you aren't damaging your back.

[@laraschmitt6360]

Whathe 😮😊❤

[@sarahdestito1914]

You did a really good job but I can definitely tell your back is really hurting you I can definitely see it in your face

[@fishingwithfilitsa]

Hello, Very beautiful 👍👍👍👍🧡🧡🧡🧡

[@cottoncandycloudsart]

Hi!!

[@kathy7107]

How about college gymnastics?

[@imeanifeel3827]

Damn whit

[@marinalaska9074]

Hi❤❤

[@kyleisekublo5035]

At 8.45 does a girl belly flop off the bar?!?!

[@RUBENPEREZ-c6d]

Hi, beautiful baby Whitney, only you, always you ❤.

[@azizosous3566]

⭐💪😍I LOVE YOU 🌟🌟🌟🌟👍🇺🇲⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐💯👌

[@azizosous3566]

🌳🙋‍♀️🙋‍♂️✌️😍 KRS🙋‍♂️🙋‍♀️🌳🙏

[@johnmbuvi4938]

Still so cute

[@wowdogcentrocinofilo4367]

Hiii

[@johnmbuvi4938]

So cute