Possible rotator cuff injury?

[badlad]

Hi all,
I am posting here basically for some advice from those who have been through a similar situation. I see there is plenty of posts regarding this type of injury but I thought I'd just share my experience thus far and maybe I will get some help from you guys and maybe my experience might help someone else out in the same situation along the way.
I was finishing off a shoulder workout about two weeks ago with some dumbell shoulder presses. I had been experiencing a little discomfort in my right shoulder but I was persevering and trained through. Anyways - was 'curling' 90 pounder dbells up to a starting shoulder press position when I felt this quite substantial pain in my right shoulder - best way to describe it was like something seperating in my shoulder. It happened when the db was roughly half way through the seated db curl position. I dropped it immediately and decided to head for home after that. Pain was bad enough to make me reconsider any further training for a few days.
I have now resumed training after 5 days off - can still do most everything but shoulder press (any type), bicep dumbell curls, barbell curls (but ok as long as I don't take the bar beyond about mid chest height at the top of the movement), lateral raises out of the question, can still squat heavy and can support and 'push' the bar up off my shoulders as long as I keep a reasonably wide grip, bench press hurt pretty bad on even light weights but I found I could do dumbell presses pretty much without pain, incline dumbells not so good but I think the pain was being exacerbated by having to again lift the dumbells into that starting position - but once there it was pretty much ok.
The weirdest thing is that driving the car hurts my shoulder like a bitch.
I have just started taking glucosamine and checked out google and for the last three days have been doing a range of rotator cuff exercises with just the weight of my arms and today with no more than 5 pound dumbells (which was almost too much). They feel ok ish but I am aware there is some discomfort however this does seem to dissipate as I pump up. The rotator cuff exercises I am doing - 4 of them and about 30 reps each give me a wicked shoulder pump too even with just the weight of my arms.
Guys - based on what I have said - any sage advice from ones that have been through similar?
I do have access to deca if necessary - but from everything I have read they say that this will not actually heal the injury but mask the symptoms. Any take on this also?
I'm pretty strong in the shoulder department - but my frame is extremely wide and I have what I would call underdeveloped traps which I was hoping to bring up and maybe this might help stabilise the whole shoulder girdle (but right now I suspect that shrugs etc may be out of the question due to right shoulder injury).
Anyways - any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Montague]

Is the pain located more in your frontal delt head?
And to make sure I understand correctly, you experience discomfort when shoulder pressing and bicep curling beyond the mid range of the rep?

I’m only taking a stab in the dark here…
But if the pain started during the get ready/“curl” portion of the exercise, and the sensation is in the front delt head, there’s a chance you may have bicipital tendonitis – or at least some type of bicipital tendon problem.
Again, this is only my guess.

If you have insurance, a trip to the physical therapist or an orthopedic specialist may be in order.
They can conduct a series of strength and mobility tests – or even prescribe other diagnostic testing like an MRI to determine what you’ve got and how to fix it.

In the mean time, here’s something you can read:
http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/b/bicipital_tendonitis/symptoms.htm#symptom_list

Good luck.

[BigNothing]

Hi, I just wanted to say that I think I had something similar happen to my shoulder.  I'm fairly new to lifting (@three decades old) and I was trying out the power clean; in the racked position for some reason just my right shoulder was really uncomfortable.  After that in a 24 hour period I did overhead press, dips, pullups, and finally my shoulder gave out on deadlifts.  (I didn't know that when a joint complains it should be given it a break!... now I know!!) 

My injury was a bit more severe than yours by the sound of it but I didn't have a dislocation I think.  Just doing daily movements was a chore -- no lifting for about 8 months.  Finally after 8 months the "award winning" Canadian health care system got me an ultrasound.  "Everything looks normal", was all they could tell me.  My symptoms are that I can't do weighted chins heavier than 25lbs and it feels irritated after training, pulling motions seem to be the worst.  I only recently learned about the labrum. Should I lobby my doc for a arithroscope treatment?

[Montague]

My injury was a bit more severe than yours by the sound of it but I didn't have a dislocation I think.  Just doing daily movements was a chore -- no lifting for about 8 months.  Finally after 8 months the "award winning" Canadian health care system got me an ultrasound.  "Everything looks normal", was all they could tell me.  My symptoms are that I can't do weighted chins heavier than 25lbs and it feels irritated after training, pulling motions seem to be the worst.  I only recently learned about the labrum. Should I lobby my doc for a arithroscope treatment?

There are much better tests than ultrasound for something like what is troubling you. My ex had a shoulder problem and was prescribed MRI's with and without a contrast agent. The dye revealed a tiny tear.

They won't scope anything until you are diagnosed with a specific condition. If your medical record indicates, as you say, that "everything looks normal," there's little chance they'll prescribe any treatment beyond recommending some OTC NSAID's.

[gracie bjj]

i got the same thing going on in my right delt also, at first the pain was bad but i was able to keep training n then it got to the point where i had to stop training upper body altogether afew weeks ago. it hurts just to sleep on my right side now, im gonna have to get it checked out this week

[Donny]

trouble is the shoulder is very hard to work around with an injury and to be honest i would get an MRI scan. Then you will know.. could it be Bursitis? ...or Tendinitis as mentioned...only a Doctor will find out. If you are in pain please do not train further until you get treatment !!