Thumb pain

[tonymctones]

Ok so I was benching today and as I do I generally bench thumbless today I got this shooting pain that seemed to start in between my thumb and index finger and shoot across the palm of my hand and radiate at the base of my thumb(basically right between my thumb and my wrist)

I do have a pretty good case of tendonitis(tennis elbow) in that arm but Im not sure if that has anything to do with it. It seemed to be ok with just a little pain after I unracked the weight but unracking was pretty painful. It even hurt during flys, driving home, picking up a t shirt when I squeezed the t shirt I could feel it.

it seems to have subsided now its been a couple hours since the gym but you guys have any ideas as to what this could be? I thought it might be a small fracture or something but since its subsided Im guessing its just a muscle or nerve thing...

oh ya I generally do place the bar a little high in my hands not so much that it bends my hands all the way back but Im always afraid of the bar rolling out of my hands so just above the meaty part of your palm...if that makes a difference

any tips or suggestions are appreciated...

[benchmstr]

remove the thumb from your anus....

bench

[tonymctones]

remove the thumb from your anus....

bench

i did that a week ago and it still fuking hurts 

[benchmstr]

i did that a week ago and it still fuking hurts 

then put it back in!!!

bench

[ronbrgundy]

Whats the appeal of thumbless.. so you can end up in a youtube video lol? 

I am going off memory and opinion but I remember this video of a doctor showing our forearms and hands.  We have all these little long band looking things.  I think he called them flexors or extensors I dunno Im sure theres a ton of crap in google.  My point is though lets say I take 315 lbs pick it up dump it on the rack and let go real quick.  I can feel whatever this extensor thing is jump in my hand / wrist area.  My bodys way of saying "don't do that!".  I'm a big believer in controlling the weight from start to finish.  Not saying thats what happened here, but I know I have been guilty of getting in a hurry and letting the weight go too quick or grabbing it and lifting without getting my hand perfectly tight and positioned. 

What you are describing I call a tweak.  My left knee is clicky but rarely gives pain.  My left elbow is prone to tendonitis occasionally.  My right shoulder is clicky and coming back from a rotator cuff tear.  You have to change the hand position if the thumb is messing up.  Find a way.  Try some different things. 

I have a buddy who decided to "work through the pain" on barbell curls.  His barbell curl is pretty wicked.  I told him knock that s off.  He first complained about a right bicep tenderness/pain in the tendon a month ago.  Keeps doing them - its getting worse.  Finally I told him you've got to stop man I know you are sick on this exercise but do something else.  Do dumbbell curls or dumbbell hammer curls and get beast on them. 

I had to give up T bar rows because they trigger my tendonitis.  Lately been doing dumbbell rows and bent over barbell rows no problems. 

[_bruce_]

then put it back in!!!

bench

 

[tonymctones]

Whats the appeal of thumbless.. so you can end up in a youtube video lol? 

I am going off memory and opinion but I remember this video of a doctor showing our forearms and hands.  We have all these little long band looking things.  I think he called them flexors or extensors I dunno Im sure theres a ton of crap in google.  My point is though lets say I take 315 lbs pick it up dump it on the rack and let go real quick.  I can feel whatever this extensor thing is jump in my hand / wrist area.  My bodys way of saying "don't do that!".  I'm a big believer in controlling the weight from start to finish.  Not saying thats what happened here, but I know I have been guilty of getting in a hurry and letting the weight go too quick or grabbing it and lifting without getting my hand perfectly tight and positioned. 

What you are describing I call a tweak.  My left knee is clicky but rarely gives pain.  My left elbow is prone to tendonitis occasionally.  My right shoulder is clicky and coming back from a rotator cuff tear.  You have to change the hand position if the thumb is messing up.  Find a way.  Try some different things. 

I have a buddy who decided to "work through the pain" on barbell curls.  His barbell curl is pretty wicked.  I told him knock that s off.  He first complained about a right bicep tenderness/pain in the tendon a month ago.  Keeps doing them - its getting worse.  Finally I told him you've got to stop man I know you are sick on this exercise but do something else.  Do dumbbell curls or dumbbell hammer curls and get beast on them. 

I had to give up T bar rows because they trigger my tendonitis.  Lately been doing dumbbell rows and bent over barbell rows no problems. 

It allows you to place the bar in the meat of your hand, it also lets you rotate your wrists a little and puts your elbows in a different position the grabbing the bar with your entire hand. It takes some getting used to and I still dont let ppl help with the lift off if they are spotting b/c they may push the weight out which might cause me to lose my grip.

Im always very careful about being set before lift off not just in my hand positions but also in my entire body placement, back position on the bench, slight back arch, good foot position it really makes a difference in the amount of weight you can move.

still a tad sore today so maybe ill give pressing a rest for a couple of days...

[jpm101]

Sounds like you may have slight nerve damage (inflamed). Probably related to the position of the wrist during the exercise. Also possible that it could be linked to the tendonitis problem overall, including the forearms. Will require a little rest for getting back to normal (no pain). Though some of this type injury may take a longer length of time. Try not using wrist wraps/straps right away, letting rest and recovery do their thing.   If not getting much better, than wraps/straps could be required. Good Luck.

[benchmstr]

i always go thumbless.......sometime s i will go through phases of using my thumbs though...

bench

[tonymctones]

Sounds like you may have slight nerve damage (inflamed). Probably related to the position of the wrist during the exercise. Also possible that it could be linked to the tendonitis problem overall, including the forearms. Will require a little rest for getting back to normal (no pain). Though some of this type injury may take a longer length of time. Try not using wrist wraps/straps right away, letting rest and recovery do their thing.   If not getting much better, than wraps/straps could be required. Good Luck.

Thanks jpm i dont use wrist wraps but I use straps when doing back and shrugs, I was thinking about going to get an elbow sleeve to help with my elbow so maybe that will help if its related to the tendonitis.

After thinking about what it might be for a little while I did standing military presses this week and did it thumbless too and the bar comes down pretty far after each rep which puts my hands and wrists in a not so favorable position so maybe that is the reason.

[tonymctones]

i always go thumbless.......sometime s i will go through phases of using my thumbs though...

bench

I do too on just about any pressing motion with a BB if I dont go thumbless I put my thumb straight out I dont wrap my thumb anymore...actually I go thumbless on most of my back exercises too.

[benchmstr]

when i say i go thumbless i am not just talking on bench either......i mean deads..laterals...my hands are meaty as hell at this point...i dont use straps for shit!!!

my hands will one day take the shape of a gorillas!!!

bench