Shoulder pain question

[Tapeworm]

Gettin' old.  

It hurts to raise my left arm to the front or across my body, but I can raise it to the side and rear no problem.  If I raise to the side, I can bring the arm around to the front and there's no pain.    It's only when coming up to the front starting from the arm at my side.

Also hurts to just let it dangle straight down if I bend forward (can't bend down and pick up a shoe, for example), so the problem seems more position related than load related.

Didn't even hurt it during a lift.  I was moving a pin in the power rack when it went ping (Thursday, about 42 hours ago).  I had done db bench presses and tbar rows beforehand.

What's the Getbig diagnosis?  (in b4 terminal faggotry)

[marcie999]

Sorry to hear that.

Not going to diagnose, but it's best you don't muck around and get it looked at by a professional. 

I wrecked my left shoulder pushing through a bench press lift because I let some idiots shit talking me get in my head. Felt a tearing, but no pain and finished my workout in a bad mood and went home. Woke in agony during the night. Had to rest it and let it heal which took about 3 months.

Go buy one of those tennis ball sized, silicon ball things, keep it around and squeeze on it during the day. It keeps your arm strong as a whole while you figure out what's happened. I found it cut the pain over a few days and a couple of folks I recommended it to said it helped.

You're a smart guy, you'll figure it out.

[benchmstr]

Gettin' old.  

It hurts to raise my left arm to the front or across my body, but I can raise it to the side and rear no problem.  If I raise to the side, I can bring the arm around to the front and there's no pain.    It's only when coming up to the front starting from the arm at my side.

Also hurts to just let it dangle straight down if I bend forward (can't bend down and pick up a shoe, for example), so the problem seems more position related than load related.

Didn't even hurt it during a lift.  I was moving a pin in the power rack when it went ping (Thursday, about 42 hours ago).  I had done db bench presses and tbar rows beforehand.

What's the Getbig diagnosis?  (in b4 terminal faggotry)

inject 4cc's of synthol into the problem are daily to "push out" the pain...

bench

[Coach is Back!]

1. Go back and figure out when you first felt the pain.

2. Get a diagnosis and an MRI. If the doc says to wait and see if it gets better....insist on on one and go from there.

3. In the mean time, nothing overhead and IF IT HURTS, DON'T DO IT! (referring to training)

[benchmstr]

1. Go back and figure out when you first felt the pain.

2. Get a diagnosis and an MRI. If the doc says to wait and see if it gets better....insist on on one and go from there.

3. In the mean time, nothing overhead and IF IT HURTS, DON'T DO IT! (referring to training)

i have had severe pain in my left shoulder for a few years now....i just work through it.....i couldnt handle the down time of surgery....it would bother me to much to be that useless for that long....i just couldnt do it..

bench

[dyslexic]

You said you were 'benching'.. well, that was EZ.

[Coach is Back!]

i have had severe pain in my left shoulder for a few years now....i just work through it.....i couldnt handle the down time of surgery....it would bother me to much to be that useless for that long....i just couldnt do it..

bench

Can you tell if there has been any atrophy in that left side? (physical and visual)

[benchmstr]

Can you tell if there has been any atrophy in that left side? (physical and visual)

their still growing......i have a really high tolerance for pain...i just grit my teeth and go....honestly as long as there is pressure on it its fine....when the pressure is gone the pain starts...

bench

[Tapeworm]

Sorry to hear that.

Not going to diagnose, but it's best you don't muck around and get it looked at by a professional. 

I wrecked my left shoulder pushing through a bench press lift because I let some idiots shit talking me get in my head. Felt a tearing, but no pain and finished my workout in a bad mood and went home. Woke in agony during the night. Had to rest it and let it heal which took about 3 months.

Go buy one of those tennis ball sized, silicon ball things, keep it around and squeeze on it during the day. It keeps your arm strong as a whole while you figure out what's happened. I found it cut the pain over a few days and a couple of folks I recommended it to said it helped.

You're a smart guy, you'll figure it out.

Yep, I'm calling around for appointments now.  Figured I'd give it a couple days to see which way it went, but it will screw up my income as long as it's a problem. 

inject 4cc's of synthol into the problem are daily to "push out" the pain...

bench

Hi Klaus!

1. Go back and figure out when you first felt the pain.

2. Get a diagnosis and an MRI. If the doc says to wait and see if it gets better....insist on on one and go from there.

3. In the mean time, nothing overhead and IF IT HURTS, DON'T DO IT! (referring to training)

MRI, eh?  Thanks Coach.  I was wondering what test to ask for that would show up tissue/tendon/cartilage injury.

I was putting a pin into the rack in preparation for overhead pressing and felt a ping.  Put the unloaded barbell in place and pressed it overhead to see what was up.  Knew then that I had done something. 

Definitely resting it.  Healing for work is more important than getting another workout in.  Besides, it's probably a blessing for my skinny legs.   

i have had severe pain in my left shoulder for a few years now....i just work through it.....i couldnt handle the down time of surgery....it would bother me to much to be that useless for that long....i just couldnt do it..

bench

I'll work through it if I have to come Monday (at work, not gym), but the 2 things I'd like to find out are:

- How long can I expect to be in recovery, and
- What I should do differently in the future to prevent a recurrence.

You said you were 'benching'.. well, that was EZ.

Didn't happen during the bench tho and I did tbar rows with no problem after benching (I couldn't do rows now because don't want to extend the arm to the front) .

Also, I don't get why it only hurts raising my arm but I can get the arm to the front without pain by going up on the side and bringing it around to the front.  From there, I can lower it and raise it no problem, but if I drop below about 30 degrees off vertical, it hurts to bring it back up.  Something in there is getting into a bad position for some reason.

[Big N]

Here's my 2 cents...
I've had a shoulder injury myself and it's been about 3 years now. Within the first 72hrs of the injury 'you have to get it checked out by a Dr.' Stop thinking it'll cost you a buck or two extra. Because in the long run it could be worse for not acting on it faster than you could've. As some mentioned earlier, yes an MRI is very critical, and X-Ray as well to be on the safe side. You can't just go by 'feeling' and 'pain' to evaluate the severity of the injury. It requires an inside diagnosis. Like you said, you can't tell if it's tissue/tendon/cartilage etc. type of injury.

2nd find a good professional physical therapist. Because now your main focus should be on recovery & rehabilitation. Don't worry about going to the gym and staying 'fit' for the moment, losing muscle mass, getting fat etc. Instead focus on primarily the depth of the injury and how you can 'slowly' strengthen it and make the shoulder close to just as good as it was. Also the psychological side of an injury is just as critical as making the pain go away. Because your nerve system will continue to signal your brain as a 'reminder' for the injury and put you down, worry, drag your day, etc. Try to mentally teach yourself how to cope with this 'small' or 'big' injury. And remember that the shoulder will go back to normal as long as you take the proper steps with an Orthopedic and a Physical Therapist.

Hope this helped somewhat, Good Luck pal!
Nav

[BB is Serious]

Try a 4 plate each side shoulder press and HARDEN THE FUCK UP.

[Tapeworm]

Here's my 2 cents...
I've had a shoulder injury myself and it's been about 3 years now. Within the first 72hrs of the injury 'you have to get it checked out by a Dr.' Stop thinking it'll cost you a buck or two extra. Because in the long run it could be worse for not acting on it faster than you could've. As some mentioned earlier, yes an MRI is very critical, and X-Ray as well to be on the safe side. You can't just go by 'feeling' and 'pain' to evaluate the severity of the injury. It requires an inside diagnosis. Like you said, you can't tell if it's tissue/tendon/cartilage etc. type of injury.

2nd find a good professional physical therapist. Because now your main focus should be on recovery & rehabilitation. Don't worry about going to the gym and staying 'fit' for the moment, losing muscle mass, getting fat etc. Instead focus on primarily the depth of the injury and how you can 'slowly' strengthen it and make the shoulder close to just as good as it was. Also the psychological side of an injury is just as critical as making the pain go away. Because your nerve system will continue to signal your brain as a 'reminder' for the injury and put you down, worry, drag your day, etc. Try to mentally teach yourself how to cope with this 'small' or 'big' injury. And remember that the shoulder will go back to normal as long as you take the proper steps with an Orthopedic and a Physical Therapist.

Hope this helped somewhat, Good Luck pal!
Nav

Just got back from the doc.  Got an xray and ultrasound referral for monday.  MRIs cost too much so she wouldn't write for one but I can get one later if the doc thinks it's warranted.    Fucking semi socialized medicine.  I could pay for one but it would cost me about $600.  Got an appointment with a physio scheduled too.

I'll probably keep doing lower body work and cardio but nothing upper body.  Fucking one armed man on a building site come Monday. 

Agree that keeping my chin up is key.  It'll come good sooner or later.  Thanks Nav. 

Try a 4 plate each side shoulder press and HARDEN THE FUCK UP.

[_bruce_]

Rotathor Cough issue maybe?
Only injury I ever had - couldn't raise my right arm to the front and had to wear a sling.

[Tapeworm]

Rotathor Cough issue maybe?
Only injury I ever had - couldn't raise my right arm to the front and had to wear a sling.

Thankfully not.  No pain rotating either way against resistance.  I do rotator work about once every 2 weeks.  Not as often as I should but haven't had any rotator issues since starting it.

Best guess is an impingement of the long bicep tendon/sheath from some misalignment.

[Coach is Back!]

I am putting together a small video series on shoulder health when we finish I will let people know.

[Tapeworm]

I am putting together a small video series on shoulder health when we finish I will let people know.

Sweet!  I've had shoulder problems on and off for the last 20+ years.  Give us a link when you're done, Coach. 

[andreisdaman]

Hurt my shoulder as well..heard and felt the same "ping" sound in left shoulder and it hasn't been the same since...hurt it on the shoulder press machine while lifting the entire stack after a long layoff so it is my fault for pushing myself too hard too soon

[webcake]

I can sympthaise, i've been battling a dodgy left shoulder for a couple moinths now. Did some heavy BB inclines (an exercise i don't normally do) and since then the left one is fucked. Funny though is that i can train shoulders and pain isn't too bad.....yet training chest hurts. Time to bite the bullet and get it checked out.

[Tapeworm]

You guys are tuff.  2 days & I was straight to the doc.    Hurts like a mofo if I move wrong tho.

I can do a sort of Michael Jackson break dancing shoulder roll to the rear and then extend the arm tho.  Going down to Funky Town.

[The Showstoppa]

Thankfully not.  No pain rotating either way against resistance.  I do rotator work about once every 2 weeks.  Not as often as I should but haven't had any rotator issues since starting it.

Best guess is an impingement of the long bicep tendon/sheath from some misalignment.

I had a bicep tendon that was unseated.  Could be the same problem you have.  I was yound and stupid at the time with no insurance, so I didn't see a doc.  It lngered for a long time and I met a PT at the gym who quickly diagnosed it and helped me out.  ALL cases are different of course, but for me once the tendon was reseated, I haven't had any issues with it at all.

[Ursus]

Multiple sets of 25-30 reps with very light weights. Like 5lbs raises etc. I generally find that the blood being forced into teh injured muscle helps it heal.

[andreisdaman]

when I train my shoulder actually hurts les...but it hurts really bad in the morning and lifting myself out of bed is a bitch..hurts really bad

[Tapeworm]

I had a bicep tendon that was unseated.  Could be the same problem you have.  I was yound and stupid at the time with no insurance, so I didn't see a doc.  It lngered for a long time and I met a PT at the gym who quickly diagnosed it and helped me out.  ALL cases are different of course, but for me once the tendon was reseated, I haven't had any issues with it at all.

How did you go about reseating it?  Non-surgical, I hope?  Google is giving me a lot of descriptions of bicep tendon subluxaton, impingement, and associated bursitis but not much advice on what to do to sort it out.

Multiple sets of 25-30 reps with very light weights. Like 5lbs raises etc. I generally find that the blood being forced into teh injured muscle helps it heal.

Might just keep to arm weight and stretching in pain free positions for now.  The joint was definitely stiff and sore this morning when cold but is feeling better after an hour of moving around and a few movements to warm it up.

when I train my shoulder actually hurts les...but it hurts really bad in the morning and lifting myself out of bed is a bitch..hurts really bad

Screw that, man.  I'd be looking for a solution if every day starts that way and you're not healing.

[The Showstoppa]

How did you go about reseating it?  Non-surgical, I hope?  Google is giving me a lot of descriptions of bicep tendon subluxaton, impingement, and associated bursitis but not much advice on what to do to sort it out.

No surgery.  Since it had been so long between when I was injured and when it was diagnosed that the PT advised that the biggest thing was to get the inflamation out.  He suggested icing it and taking ibuprofen for a few days.  then he showed me some excercises to try to help "reseat" it.  Essentially it was putting your elbow against a doorjam and after letting everything relax just push gently.  The day mine actually "reseated" I was sitting in class in college with my elbow/forearm resting on a desk and I was kinda rotating my shoulder and I heard a pretty loud pop.....from that day on, no pain.  Very strange injury.  One thing, I have always had a huge range of motion with my shoulders and wonder if that played a part.

[Tapeworm]

No surgery.  Since it had been so long between when I was injured and when it was diagnosed that the PT advised that the biggest thing was to get the inflamation out.  He suggested icing it and taking ibuprofen for a few days.  then he showed me some excercises to try to help "reseat" it.  Essentially it was putting your elbow against a doorjam and after letting everything relax just push gently.  The day mine actually "reseated" I was sitting in class in college with my elbow/forearm resting on a desk and I was kinda rotating my shoulder and I heard a pretty loud pop.....from that day on, no pain.  Very strange injury.  One thing, I have always had a huge range of motion with my shoulders and wonder if that played a part.

Thanks Show.  I'll do some playing around with those movements.  So you've got your arm down at your side, bent 90 degrees with your hand on your bellybutton, and you're pushing your elbow forward?

Been on the phone for 2.5 hours trying to schedule appointments earlier than Christmas.