Shoulder update.

[Waller]

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.

[Coffeed]

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.

[Yamcha]

[Waller]

I guess shooting a horse in the face will get some frustration out... cheers dude.

[_aj_]

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.

[Waller]

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.

[Stephano]

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.

[_aj_]

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.

[Sokolsky]

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.

[falco]

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.

[Grape Ape]

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.

[Griffith]

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.

[funk51]

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

[Hulkotron]

Could start going for the health look

Sorry to hear, good luck man.

[SF1900]

Sorry to hear. 

I guess you will need to keep making adjustments until you figure out what works best.

[Grape Ape]

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

[oldschoolfan]

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.

[Waller]

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.

[El Diablo Blanco]

Check Ebay for new shoulders.

[njflex]

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.

[njflex]

Check Ebay for new shoulders.

I saw a set on craigs list recently.

[Grape Ape]

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.

[El Diablo Blanco]

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.

[calfzilla]

I have contacted Basile and he is working on a special machine that will allow you to train your shoulders.

[judochoke]

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.