Bicep pain (inflammation)..

[AllNatrl84]

Hello all! I am new to the board. Im 23 years old and have been training on and off for 5 years. About 4 years ago, I irritated what I thought was a bicep muscle. About 3 weeks went by and I was still in discomfort. I went to my doctor who said it was a slight form of tendonitis. He prescribed me anti-inflammatories. The relief was minimal and obviously temporary, so I went back again and asked if there was anything else he could do. He gave me a cortisone shot which gave me immediate relief. He told me that tendonitis comes and goes depending on the kind of activity I do. I have had discomfort in my bicep area ever since and I don't know what to do about it. I have taken time off within the years to see if it would heal on its own but it never fully subsides. Its a slight burning sensation and always feels fatigued. I lift heavy but not stupid and I use correct form with all my exercises. The only exercises I have a problem doing are vertical pulldowns (in-front and behind-the-neck), hammer curls, and reverse curls. I have cut them out of my workout entirely because the pain is just too much. Because I cannot do hammer curls, reverse curls, or pulldowns I believe my brachialis has something to do with this. It really frustrates me because I got this pain only 1 year after training so I dont really understand how 1 year can give me tendonitis. I ice it now and then after workouts when I slightly irritate it and put heat on it when I wake up in the morning. Endless frustration!

Im pretty sure im not the only person this has happened to so if any of you have ever experienced this I would appreciate it if you would tell me your story, how you "got through" or are "getting through" with it, and if there are any exercises I should do or not do. Thanks alot guys, I would GREATLY appreciate it! -AllNatrl84

 

[wucrew420]

have you ever injured your bicep in the past, or broken your arm, torn a muscle?? anything? it may have not heeled correctly if so... also did you play any sports in the past??

 

[AllNatrl84]

aside from me dislocating my left arm (injured arm) at the elbow when I was 8, no.. I have not injured or tore it.. to my knowledge. I was thinking this was caused by a slight tear back when I first injured it because of the burning sensation, but my doctor said if it was a slight tear it would heal on its own, which it never has. Ive been back and forth from the doctor's office getting more anti-inflammatories and thats all he said he can offer me, besides the cortisone shot, which he isnt a big fan of.

I actually just got done with my back/biceps routine and believe it or not, my discomfort is minimal - maybe because of all the blood flow from my pump as a natural pain reliever??

This is my back/biceps routine, with me switching it up here and there, and has been for the past 5 months...

I replaced long-bar pulldowns with A-frame because its alot more comfortable.


BACK
5 pyramid sets of A-frame pulldowns in front..
5 pyramid sets of 45 degree A-frame pulldowns in front..
5 pyramid sets of cable rows
5 pyramid sets of barbell rows

BICEPS
5 pyramid sets of barbell curls
5 pyramid sets of cable curls

and I also add forearms in every upper body workout which is 5 sets (not pyramid) of wristcurls

And also, I played baseball for 11 years.. I threw with my right arm not my injured arm so I dont think that played a part.