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Getbig Main Boards => Gossip & Opinions => Topic started by: Waller on April 06, 2016, 02:24:46 AM

Title: Shoulder update.
Post by: Waller on April 06, 2016, 02:24:46 AM
Some of you may remember in a thread not so long ago me discussing shoulder problems. Well I saw a surgeon yesterday. I went in hoping to be told I just need some physio or something, worst case some surgery on the muscles.

Turns out I need a full shoulder replacement. At 32.... I apparently have arthritis in my shoulder. But am way too young for a replacement. He offered to go in and clean out debris but said it may help, it may do nothing and there's a slim chance it'll make it worse. So basically I'm going to spend 40 odd years in pain with a gradually deteriorating shoulder.

A year ago I was seated Smith machine pressing 3 plates aside, now? I'm lucky to manage to do a shoulder session per month. I wanted to step in the ring within a year, keep training and compete. So I'm gutted to say the least.

Anyone who has any experience and advice on this is welcome to share, along with the usual getbig responses.
Title: Re: Shoulder update.
Post by: Coffeed on April 06, 2016, 02:28:02 AM
Of course you need the full works. That's like a used car salesman telling you he's got just the car for you!

Get another opinion.
Title: Re: Shoulder update.
Post by: Yamcha on April 06, 2016, 02:28:57 AM
(http://www.wikihow.com/images/a/aa/Put-Down-a-Horse-Step-4.jpg)

(http://pad3.whstatic.com/images/thumb/d/d3/Put-Down-a-Horse-Step-2.jpg/670px-Put-Down-a-Horse-Step-2.jpg)

(http://pad3.whstatic.com/images/thumb/3/3f/Put-Down-a-Horse-Step-1.jpg/aid1196539-728px-Put-Down-a-Horse-Step-1.jpg)

(http://pad1.whstatic.com/images/thumb/e/e9/Put-Down-a-Horse-Step-3.jpg/aid1196539-728px-Put-Down-a-Horse-Step-3.jpg)
Title: Re: Shoulder update.
Post by: Waller on April 06, 2016, 02:30:49 AM
(http://www.wikihow.com/images/a/aa/Put-Down-a-Horse-Step-4.jpg)

(http://pad3.whstatic.com/images/thumb/d/d3/Put-Down-a-Horse-Step-2.jpg/670px-Put-Down-a-Horse-Step-2.jpg)

(http://pad3.whstatic.com/images/thumb/3/3f/Put-Down-a-Horse-Step-1.jpg/aid1196539-728px-Put-Down-a-Horse-Step-1.jpg)

(http://pad1.whstatic.com/images/thumb/e/e9/Put-Down-a-Horse-Step-3.jpg/aid1196539-728px-Put-Down-a-Horse-Step-3.jpg)

I guess shooting a horse in the face will get some frustration out... cheers dude.
Title: Re: Shoulder update.
Post by: _aj_ on April 06, 2016, 03:10:00 AM
1.) Get multiple opinions.
2.) you goal should be to train again, and to be better than you are today. Managed decline is for lesser men.
3.) prepare to care less about "strength" and more about how you look
4.) choose the path with the best long-term prognosis, not the easy path.
Title: Re: Shoulder update.
Post by: Waller on April 06, 2016, 03:24:55 AM
I stopped doing shoulder presses a long time ago.

It never felt right in the shoulders lifting heavy weights straight up. I felt if I kept doing them that one day I will injure something there and regret it. The shoulder is a pretty complex joint where lots of things can break.

Now I just do lateral raises for direct shoulder work. Benches hit the front delts and rows hit the rear delts.

I haven't done anything overhead in a long time now. I do just stick to laterals, fronts and rears but even they aren't possible on a really bad day.
1.) Get multiple opinions.
2.) you goal should be to train again, and to be better than you are today. Managed decline is for lesser men.
3.) prepare to care less about "strength" and more about how you look
4.) choose the path with the best long-term prognosis, not the easy path.

I'm awaiting a call from my doctor to request an MRI. See just how much bone is floating about in the joint. And I'm sure there is a soft tissue problem too, it feels like it.

I'm still training,  just really struggling to adapt and not be in agony.
Title: Re: Shoulder update.
Post by: Stephano on April 06, 2016, 03:25:35 AM
I stopped doing shoulder presses a long time ago.

It never felt right in the shoulders lifting heavy weights straight up. I felt if I kept doing them that one day I will injure something there and regret it. The shoulder is a pretty complex joint where lots of things can break.

Now I just do lateral raises for direct shoulder work. Benches hit the front delts and rows hit the rear delts.

X2.  Stopped doing heavy overhead presses years ago.  Too much potential downside.
Title: Re: Shoulder update.
Post by: _aj_ on April 06, 2016, 03:31:08 AM
X2.  Stopped doing heavy overhead presses years ago.  Too much potential downside.

I still like the military press, but I am real careful with it. I start very light 45 & 95 and only work up to a weight that I can still do 8-10 reps (only about 175 these days). Pairing 5-6 sets of those with some compound DB work seems to hit my shoulders well.
Title: Re: Shoulder update.
Post by: Sokolsky on April 06, 2016, 03:32:10 AM
Some of you may remember in a thread not so long ago me discussing shoulder problems. Well I saw a surgeon yesterday. I went in hoping to be told I just need some physio or something, worst case some surgery on the muscles.

Clearly this mexican doc of yours is out to take your kidneys.
I would suggest visiting a real surgeon, and not the one you go to for your pets.
Title: Re: Shoulder update.
Post by: falco on April 06, 2016, 05:44:28 AM
Transfer your passion to something else, that will not tax your shoulders so much.
Keep training if you will, but in a soft pump fashion, just for the sake of feeling and looking good about your body image.
If you have shoulder arthritis at 32, soon you have it in your other shoulder, hips, knees, and so and so.
It's very unfortunate, but you need to use your brains and not your heart on this. This problems, in the long run, only get worse. See what happened to our beloved Ronnie Coleman. He can't have a functional life due to his stubbornness in pushing the big weights.
Title: Re: Shoulder update.
Post by: Grape Ape on April 06, 2016, 05:46:27 AM
I haven't done anything overhead in a long time now. I do just stick to laterals, fronts and rears but even they aren't possible on a really bad day.
I'm awaiting a call from my doctor to request an MRI. See just how much bone is floating about in the joint. And I'm sure there is a soft tissue problem too, it feels like it.

I'm still training,  just really struggling to adapt and not be in agony.

I had arthritis and all they did was cut off a CM of my collar bone (both shoulders).  Results have been great.  Sucks you need a full replacement - must be more than just arthritis.
Title: Re: Shoulder update.
Post by: Griffith on April 06, 2016, 06:03:13 AM
Did you have a specific injury before or is it just wear and tear...?

It seems strange to get arthritis at such a young age, even with a lot of heavy weights.

About 5 years ago I injured my shoulder badly on a bench press machine, I could barely lift my arm for almost a month. I went for acupuncture at a traditional Chinese doctor and after 5 sessions my shoulder was fixed.

I don't trust surgeons, they only look at the joint itself and not the surrounding muscles, knots and the possibility of referred pain from other areas, muscle imbalances etc.

My Dad according to the doctors and scans has bad arthritis in his back but is pain free unless he does a movement which specially aggravates it. But if you look at the scan, it looks bad.
Title: Re: Shoulder update.
Post by: funk51 on April 06, 2016, 06:13:38 AM
the hardest part is realizing , that you are not the same guy... you should back off training for a month or so and than start back light and try to workout with moderate weights and see how the shoulder responds... if that fails there's always fishing... you gotta be a realist, spoken from a guy who had 6 hip replacements. i don't even think about what i used to squat and deadlift with.. :-[ :-[ :-[ good luck
Title: Re: Shoulder update.
Post by: Hulkotron on April 06, 2016, 06:42:20 AM
Could start going for the health look

Sorry to hear, good luck man.
Title: Re: Shoulder update.
Post by: SF1900 on April 06, 2016, 06:56:50 AM
Sorry to hear.  :-\ :-\

I guess you will need to keep making adjustments until you figure out what works best.
Title: Re: Shoulder update.
Post by: Grape Ape on April 06, 2016, 07:00:58 AM

A year ago I was seated Smith machine pressing 3 plates aside, now?

Missed this when I responded originally.

Another example of why the smith machine sucks
Title: Re: Shoulder update.
Post by: oldschoolfan on April 06, 2016, 07:12:01 AM
i injured my shoulder very badly years ago doing heavy icarian incline 

my advice to you dont train super heavy like the others on here said.  leave your ego at home.
Title: Re: Shoulder update.
Post by: Waller on April 06, 2016, 07:17:27 AM
Transfer your passion to something else, that will not tax your shoulders so much.
Keep training if you will, but in a soft pump fashion, just for the sake of feeling and looking good about your body image.
If you have shoulder arthritis at 32, soon you have it in your other shoulder, hips, knees, and so and so.
It's very unfortunate, but you need to use your brains and not your heart on this. This problems, in the long run, only get worse. See what happened to our beloved Ronnie Coleman. He can't have a functional life due to his stubbornness in pushing the big weights.

If I could find something else I enjoy that'd be great. With any luck I will do. I had already been tapering off heavy weights before this, guess I'll have to keep doing the same.


I had arthritis and all they did was cut off a CM of my collar bone (both shoulders).  Results have been great.  Sucks you need a full replacement - must be more than just arthritis.

I'll read into this and ask some more. I have a follow up with the surgeon in two months to discuss minor surgeries. Thanks.


Did you have a specific injury before or is it just wear and tear...?

It seems strange to get arthritis at such a young age, even with a lot of heavy weights.

About 5 years ago I injured my shoulder badly on a bench press machine, I could barely lift my arm for almost a month. I went for acupuncture at a traditional Chinese doctor and after 5 sessions my shoulder was fixed.

I don't trust surgeons, they only look at the joint itself and not the surrounding muscles, knots and the possibility of referred pain from other areas, muscle imbalances etc.

My Dad according to the doctors and scans has bad arthritis in his back but is pain free unless he does a movement which specially aggravates it. But if you look at the scan, it looks bad.

I felt the surgeon focused on the joint a little too much, but I was reeling from hearing shoulder replacement so I didn't press as much as I should have. So I'll push for an MRI, hopefully the bulk of the mobility issue is soft tissue and I can get some help.

I do think I have a torn rotator cuff, and problems with my front delt area/bicep.

the hardest part is realizing , that you are not the same guy... you should back off training for a month or so and than start back light and try to workout with moderate weights and see how the shoulder responds... if that fails there's always fishing... you gotta be a realist, spoken from a guy who had 6 hip replacements. i don't even think about what i used to squat and deadlift with.. :-[ :-[ :-[ good luck

But I just started a new course! Hahaha. 6? Jesus. I can't even imagine that. And yeah that is going to take a long while to sink in.


Thanks everyone.
Title: Re: Shoulder update.
Post by: El Diablo Blanco on April 06, 2016, 07:17:34 AM
Check Ebay for new shoulders.
Title: Re: Shoulder update.
Post by: njflex on April 06, 2016, 07:19:13 AM
Missed this when I responded originally.

Another example of why the smith machine sucks
I think the smith for some things is good,some stuff no,the plane of motion only allows the primary muscle to get worked directly as opposed to shoulder/chest press free bar gets other muscle involved to help.also for wear and tear going heavy on them could weaken those areas that do not come in to play to assist leaving an injury down the road possibly a likely scenario.same with hammer strength and stacked pin machines.combo of all things for bbing purposes like free.machines and cable are all good in the total picture.
Title: Re: Shoulder update.
Post by: njflex on April 06, 2016, 07:19:59 AM
Check Ebay for new shoulders.
I saw a set on craigs list recently.
Title: Re: Shoulder update.
Post by: Grape Ape on April 06, 2016, 07:45:25 AM
I think the smith for some things is good,some stuff no,the plane of motion only allows the primary muscle to get worked directly as opposed to shoulder/chest press free bar gets other muscle involved to help.also for wear and tear going heavy on them could weaken those areas that do not come in to play to assist leaving an injury down the road possibly a likely scenario.same with hammer strength and stacked pin machines.combo of all things for bbing purposes like free.machines and cable are all good in the total picture.

I hear you, especially on your point about variety,  but I feel the smith locks the ROM into an unnatural plane - straight up and down.

I separated a shoulder benching on it when I was younger and dumb.
Title: Re: Shoulder update.
Post by: El Diablo Blanco on April 06, 2016, 08:45:31 AM
blaming shoulder presses for sore shoulders is amateur hour.  I can workout my shoulders for 2 hours and they'll feel great the next day, but If I throw a football around for a while or baseball, my shoulders can hurt for ages.  I've hurt my shoulders more playing basketball than any other way.
Title: Re: Shoulder update.
Post by: calfzilla on April 06, 2016, 03:43:04 PM
I have contacted Basile and he is working on a special machine that will allow you to train your shoulders.
Title: Re: Shoulder update.
Post by: judochoke on April 06, 2016, 03:55:56 PM
i just had a cortisone shot, after 4 months of shoulder pain, no benching, pain at night trying to sleep. 1 week later after the shot, i was back benching, very lightly, but i was back. now, after one month, things are getting stronger.
today i did about 8 sets with 225 for 6 reps, no pain.

so for me, the cortisone shot worked big time.
Title: Re: Shoulder update.
Post by: Mr Anabolic on April 06, 2016, 04:28:18 PM
32 years old and you need full replacement?  ??? :o

Do yourself a huge favor... get a SECOND and THIRD opinion.
Title: Re: Shoulder update.
Post by: El Diablo Blanco on April 06, 2016, 06:18:07 PM
I have contacted Basile and he is working on a special machine that will allow you to train your shoulders.

Dude. Get with the program. He's already patented it.

(http://i.giftrunk.com/1x44ty.gif)
Title: Re: Shoulder update.
Post by: Marty Champions on April 06, 2016, 06:47:41 PM
arthritis from too much meat consumption
Title: Re: Shoulder update.
Post by: Griffith on April 06, 2016, 10:32:49 PM
arthritis from too much meat consumption

Meat contains very high acidity and acidity in the joints is one of the causes of arthritis.

Drinking apple cider vinegar helps reduce acidity in the body.

Muhammad Ali in training for his fight with George Foreman had arthritis in his, they then stopped red meat in his diet and replaced it with fish, the pain went away and he could continue training but apparently his strength was less.

So acidity really can affect arthritis.

Maybe also try take a break from acidic foods and see if it helps?
Title: Re: Shoulder update.
Post by: The Abdominal Snoman on April 07, 2016, 12:39:35 AM
The guy in this video is a little runt but the exercise he's talking about has helped my shoulder problems. Never use anything more than 5 to 8 pounds when doing these. Do more sets and higher reps. It's such a tiny muscle we're talking about here. I'm not saying it will fix your problem but almost nobody does these and almost everybody has weak supraspinatus muscles/tendon.



And this fruity schmoe also gives some good advice on how to train Supraspinatus. We as lifters are so use to trying to builder shoulder muscle that seeing runts do these exercises would get a laugh or smirk out of most gym rats. That is of course until you get legit shoulder issues/pain. People with no shoulder pain will laugh at the guy below doing this shit. But it works. Also do both shoulders equally. Not just the hurt shoulder.

Title: Re: Shoulder update.
Post by: rocket on April 07, 2016, 02:52:54 AM
blaming shoulder presses for sore shoulders is amateur hour.  I can workout my shoulders for 2 hours and they'll feel great the next day, but If I throw a football around for a while or baseball, my shoulders can hurt for ages.  I've hurt my shoulders more playing basketball than any other way.

Sure that's just not you?

I don't have many shoulder problems either, but I see and hear enough about people with them to think that I'm just kind of lucky

The worst I've ever had shoulder problems, I have just backed off bar bench and done dumbbell presses until the increased freedom cured whatever was wrong. 

I look around the gym at people strapping up wrists and elbows at even 100kg bench and initially think that maybe it is psychosomatic but that's just because I have no issues (and I am certainly not blessed with any outward sign that I have strong joints).

I think people who are lucky just kind of assume that everybody else is doing something wrong.
Title: Re: Shoulder update.
Post by: MAXX on April 07, 2016, 01:09:01 PM
joints seems highly genetic. some are blessed with strong joints that can take a beating some not

for me knees are a weak joint and I have artheritis in one since young age

shoulder joints are strong on me and has taken heavy presses for years and years without problems and still no problems
Title: Re: Shoulder update.
Post by: El Diablo Blanco on April 07, 2016, 04:19:54 PM
Meat contains very high acidity and acidity in the joints is one of the causes of arthritis.

Drinking apple cider vinegar helps reduce acidity in the body.

Muhammad Ali in training for his fight with George Foreman had arthritis in his, they then stopped red meat in his diet and replaced it with fish, the pain went away and he could continue training but apparently his strength was less.

So acidity really can affect arthritis.

Maybe also try take a break from acidic foods and see if it helps?

Don't eat acid but drink vinegar?  Hmmmm.
Title: Re: Shoulder update.
Post by: The Abdominal Snoman on April 07, 2016, 04:26:48 PM
Don't eat acid but drink vinegar?  Hmmmm.

Apple cider vinegar is suppose to help the body become Alkaline. Some people swear by it when they have acid reflux. One would think putting more acid into the stomach would make it worse. But it does the opposite. Has to be Apple Cider Vinegar not strained with real apples.
Title: Re: Shoulder update.
Post by: _aj_ on April 07, 2016, 05:09:23 PM
Apple cider vinegar is suppose to help the body become Alkaline. Some people swear by it when they have acid reflux. One would think putting more acid into the stomach would make it worse. But it does the opposite. Has to be Apple Cider Vinegar not strained with real apples.

In the absence of a buffering agent or a preponderance of a corresponding amount of basic agent, this makes no sense whatsoever.
Title: Re: Shoulder update.
Post by: Griffith on April 07, 2016, 09:45:01 PM
Apple cider vinegar is suppose to help the body become Alkaline. Some people swear by it when they have acid reflux. One would think putting more acid into the stomach would make it worse. But it does the opposite. Has to be Apple Cider Vinegar not strained with real apples.

Yes, it helps the body become more alkaline.
Title: Re: Shoulder update.
Post by: The Abdominal Snoman on April 07, 2016, 10:11:22 PM
In the absence of a buffering agent or a preponderance of a corresponding amount of basic agent, this makes no sense whatsoever.

I may have bought into the pseudoscience masquerading as science when it comes to this. It may be snake oil after all...
Title: Re: Shoulder update.
Post by: Griffith on April 07, 2016, 10:16:54 PM
I may have bought into the pseudoscience masquerading as science when it comes to this. It may be snake oil after all...

Anyway, that's not so important, the main thing is that red meat does increase acidity. And acidity does affect arthritis.

The main way to reduce acidity in the body would be to reduce acidic foods and drinks, if one is perhaps suffering from effects of too much acidity.

Apple cider vinegar is also a good anti-oxidant and has other benefits too. Personally, I believe it works for me and have seen great results with it.