Shoulder Pain...thoughts?

[VTliftVT]

I realize that most of you here are not qualified doctors so I am not out looking for a qualified opinion but more so your thoughts on the matter and possible steps to help "deal."

My left shoulder goes through spats of pain when lifting. Now the pain is not unbearable most of the time but the problem is, it will not support any weight. It feels like it just "lets go" and I have NO control over a true muscle contraction. I do all sorts of rotator cuff stretches prior to lifting and use what I thought was proper form on all lifts. As mentioned I go through this off and on. It NEVER bothers me during dumbbell military presses but you can forget straight bar. I don't know if it's the straight bar forcing my shoulder into a specific ROM that the dumbbells do not but I do know that it's far worse with that specific lift.

Has anyone experienced something similar? Like I said, it hurts, but mostly just sucks due to the feeling of complete loss of muscle usage haha.

Thoughts?

 

[thebrick]

you say you do rotator stretches, do you also do strengthening for that? Do you have any rotator impingement issues?

 

[AWN2004]

I realize that most of you here are not qualified doctors so I am not out looking for a qualified opinion but more so your thoughts on the matter and possible steps to help "deal."

My left shoulder goes through spats of pain when lifting. Now the pain is not unbearable most of the time but the problem is, it will not support any weight. It feels like it just "lets go" and I have NO control over a true muscle contraction. I do all sorts of rotator cuff stretches prior to lifting and use what I thought was proper form on all lifts. As mentioned I go through this off and on. It NEVER bothers me during dumbbell military presses but you can forget straight bar. I don't know if it's the straight bar forcing my shoulder into a specific ROM that the dumbbells do not but I do know that it's far worse with that specific lift.

Has anyone experienced something similar? Like I said, it hurts, but mostly just sucks due to the feeling of complete loss of muscle usage haha.

Thoughts?

I just went to an orthopedic on Monday about my left shoulder. I had been having problems with the anterior portion of the deltoid for at least the last 6-8 weeks and it just got to the point where I couldn't train shoulders effectively or chest the way I used to. It would get a little better and then I would start training again and it would go back to being very painfull. I tried to train through the pain and that ended up being the worst thing I could have done.

You are going to have to go see a doctor. If it is a partial rotator cuff tear you are going to have to get it taken care of or else you are not going to be able to lift weights period. The doctor did a battery of tests on my shoulder to check my ROM as well as took a series of X-rays. One thing that surprised me was that he did NOT have me get an MRI right off the bat. The reason was because he didnt think my rotator cuff was damaged but rather I had inflamed tendons or a bad muscle strain. He told me to take two Aleve liquid gels in the AM and to take it easy on my shoulder. The great thing about my ortho is that he lifts weights and is in great shape. He understands the mechanics of the movements and knows what someone who is either bodybuilding or doing serious weight training is going through and can make a pretty good diagnosis. Prior to visiting the MD, I had been taking nothing for pain or inflamation. I hate taking pain killers or anything that may reduce or block inflamation. I know they can reduce muscle gains by blocking the prostaglandins that cause the inflamatory response that repairs and grows new muscle cells. However, I was getting to the point where I thought if I didnt take care of this that it might prohibit me from training my upper all together. As of two weeks ago, prior to my doctor visit, I stopped training my shoulders with pressing movements and went very light on chest movements. At that point my shoulder actually started to feel better. Now that I have been taking the Aleve for the last five days, I can barely feel any pain in my shoulder. I have also added a little cocktail of stuff to help my shoulder as well and the doctor thought it was a good idea. I have never taken anythig for my joints until now but this is what Im taking; Glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM, cissus, cetyl myristoleate, hyaluronic acid, cats claw, yucca extract, and boswellia extract along with a fair amount of omega 3-6-9fatty acids. I have also started some deep tissue massage work as well. Its covered by my insurance and does help.

The hardest thing for me to do and the hardest concept for me to grasp was to let my shoulder heal by taking it easy. I mean its rather funny how so many guys are knowledgable about weight training principals and how to work the muscle and we know we are supposed to rest, but tell a guy to take it easy in the gym and it goes in one ear and out the other. I guess its the over acheivers mentality most bodybuilder/athletes have. Go get it checked out and lay off the shoulder pressing movements and anything else directly putting stress on the shoulder. I hope some of this helped.

AWN

 

[VTliftVT]

you say you do rotator stretches, do you also do strengthening for that? Do you have any rotator impingement issues?

I do incorporate several weighted movements during the stretch. I use a light band and wrap it around a pole close to shoulder height, with my elbow almost tucked into my side but not quite i rotate outward (not sure what this is called but it seems to be quite common). If a band is not available i use some light dumbbells.

I don't believe I have any impingement issues however I am not flexible at all in any means. I haven't been to a doctor about this as for around a year or so it has not caused any problems. This has just came about in the last week or so where it was just unbearable.

 

[VTliftVT]

I just went to an orthopedic on Monday about my left shoulder. I had been having problems with the anterior portion of the deltoid for at least the last 6-8 weeks and it just got to the point where I couldn't train shoulders effectively or chest the way I used to. It would get a little better and then I would start training again and it would go back to being very painfull. I tried to train through the pain and that ended up being the worst thing I could have done.

You are going to have to go see a doctor. If it is a partial rotator cuff tear you are going to have to get it taken care of or else you are not going to be able to lift weights period. The doctor did a battery of tests on my shoulder to check my ROM as well as took a series of X-rays. One thing that surprised me was that he did NOT have me get an MRI right off the bat. The reason was because he didnt think my rotator cuff was damaged but rather I had inflamed tendons or a bad muscle strain. He told me to take two Aleve liquid gels in the AM and to take it easy on my shoulder. The great thing about my ortho is that he lifts weights and is in great shape. He understands the mechanics of the movements and knows what someone who is either bodybuilding or doing serious weight training is going through and can make a pretty good diagnosis. Prior to visiting the MD, I had been taking nothing for pain or inflamation. I hate taking pain killers or anything that may reduce or block inflamation. I know they can reduce muscle gains by blocking the prostaglandins that cause the inflamatory response that repairs and grows new muscle cells. However, I was getting to the point where I thought if I didnt take care of this that it might prohibit me from training my upper all together. As of two weeks ago, prior to my doctor visit, I stopped training my shoulders with pressing movements and went very light on chest movements. At that point my shoulder actually started to feel better. Now that I have been taking the Aleve for the last five days, I can barely feel any pain in my shoulder. I have also added a little cocktail of stuff to help my shoulder as well and the doctor thought it was a good idea. I have never taken anythig for my joints until now but this is what Im taking; Glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM, cissus, cetyl myristoleate, hyaluronic acid, cats claw, yucca extract, and boswellia extract along with a fair amount of omega 3-6-9fatty acids. I have also started some deep tissue massage work as well. Its covered by my insurance and does help.

The hardest thing for me to do and the hardest concept for me to grasp was to let my shoulder heal by taking it easy. I mean its rather funny how so many guys are knowledgable about weight training principals and how to work the muscle and we know we are supposed to rest, but tell a guy to take it easy in the gym and it goes in one ear and out the other. I guess its the over acheivers mentality most bodybuilder/athletes have. Go get it checked out and lay off the shoulder pressing movements and anything else directly putting stress on the shoulder. I hope some of this helped.

AWN

Great reply, thank you. I guess I sort of knew the answer to my question prior to posting...get my ass to a doctor...you just know us bodybuilders hate to hear that hahah..

It's funny bc my shoulder doesn't bother me the least bit during any heavy chest pressing movements (incline,flat,decline). However, as soon as I go to any shoulder pressing movements bam, the pain and loss of strength. There is also quite a bit of pain with any standing curl motion. Just the weight of dumbbell pulling down on my shoulder illicits a strong pain to the front deltoid area.

I am currently taking it very easy in the gym and will be doing so until I get this checked out. I started to warm up with dumbbell presses yesterday using 35lb'ers and was like yup...there's the pain...no go today. I just popped 20 reps out and then realized I probably shouldnt have even attempted that.

Thank you again for your reply. I will go get this checked out and reply back with any information.

God bless!

 

[oldfella]

Just a shot in the dark, without knowing where exactly the pain is, many lifters suffer from AC joint damage. It causes impingment of the tendon that glides under the AC process. Oncew this happens it is excrutiatingly painful and causes loss of motor function momentarily until the load is removed. Does not have to happen every time. Just the rightr load at the right angle and bang, the AC compresses your tendon and you have pain and weakness.
Like I said, just a shot in the dark.

 

[VTliftVT]

Just a shot in the dark, without knowing where exactly the pain is, many lifters suffer from AC joint damage. It causes impingment of the tendon that glides under the AC process. Oncew this happens it is excrutiatingly painful and causes loss of motor function momentarily until the load is removed. Does not have to happen every time. Just the rightr load at the right angle and bang, the AC compresses your tendon and you have pain and weakness.
Like I said, just a shot in the dark.

holy hell that sounds very similar to what im going through. the thing is, i feel this originated from a football injury. i was the "bigger kid" really meaning the fat ass that could move and smash kids. i often lead with my left shoulder when making a tackle and depending on how i hit someone, my shoulder would just go completely numb and limp and not allow me to lift or raise it for 30-60 seconds or better. the same feeling occurs except when under a constant load it does not allow for it to recover in that manner.

thank you oldfella, i will look into that further!!!

 

[oldfella]

holy hell that sounds very similar to what im going through. the thing is, i feel this originated from a football injury. i was the "bigger kid" really meaning the fat ass that could move and smash kids. i often lead with my left shoulder when making a tackle and depending on how i hit someone, my shoulder would just go completely numb and limp and not allow me to lift or raise it for 30-60 seconds or better. the same feeling occurs except when under a constant load it does not allow for it to recover in that manner.

thank you oldfella, i will look into that further!!!

Ac joint probs ae very common among footballers. it is the constant impact of leading in with the shoulders for tackling or blocking that actually pops the ac joint up. it is only held in place by small ligaments and they can tear pretty easily.