Shoulder hurts!

[malfeasance]

I am 43 . . . benchpressing with 315. Frankly, it felt light, which surprised me, as I have not touched that much weight since I was in my 20s. I was shooting for 5 or 6 reps, and, after I completed the second one, you know the feeling, I just knew I was going to get there.

I lower the weight very slowly, smooth and controlled.

On the third rep, as I was lowering the weight, I felt a tearing feeling in my left pec, up near where it attaches to the shoulder.

Well, a few days later, the chest pain disappears completely, to be replaced by shoulder pain when making certain movements. I remember having this shoulder pain a couple weeks back when doing dumbbell military presses (just pain in the shoulder during the exercise, not after). I had stopped doing those for a couple weeks as a result, as I noticed a little shoulder pain while benching. Stopping the military press resulted in me doing sets of bench with 305 pounds with no shoulder pain whatsoever.

SO I thought I was good to go a week ago when I loaded three plates on each side . . .

Now of course I am hurting. It is hard to tell if it is getting worse or better. When I woke up this morning it was extremely painful almost to move my arm at all. It even hurt to lay on my left arm. A couple of Alleve seem to have knocked out most of the pain, but it still hurts depending upon which way I move it.

You know that exercise where you use a light dumbell with your upper arm parallel to the ground and your forearm perpendicular, and then rotate it down, and up? Well going down, so that the forearm is pointed at the ground, HURTS! This is with no weight whatsoever.

Oddly, lateral raises and pullups do not seem to hurt. Sometimes, though, just walking, normal swinging of the arm, hurts.

My question is this - has anybody had a similar experience bench pressing, and if so, did it resolve itself? What was it? It has been only a little over a week, so . . . maybe it will go away?

I have been lifting since I was a teenager, and I have never had anything like this happen.

In the best shape of my life, and now the only options appear to be rest or surgery, both of which mean being out of shape again . . .

 

[GearsMcGilf]

Similar predicament here. My shoulders now hurt when I lay in the same position in bed too long. I have to move around to keep them from hurting. After resting for a couple weeks, I could work out without pain. But, after one week of training, they're hurting again. I couldn't do any chest work yesterday because of the pain. I may try to go with light weights for 12-15 reps on each set for a while and see how that works. It only seems to be the heavy stuff that hurts.

 

[phosphor]

I remember when I was benching years ago real heavy (for me) it felt like my arms were about to be pushed out of the sockets - i could do the weight, but toned it down after that. My retard strength didn't know my bodies limits.

Yesterday I popped something in my calve when I was pushing major weight on a sled. Heard it over my earbuds it was so loud. It's sore, but doesnt look any different.

See a doc and get a cordizone shot - or maybe heal it with one of the peptides known to heal such injuries, that's my ticket soon.

 

[BillHicksFan]

Shoulder injuries can take a long time to heal. The first injury I suffered from benching I managed to fix myself with rehab exercises and time away from bench. Second injury wouldn't heal nomatter what i did so I got a cortisone shot which worked like magic in relieving the pain instantly.

I may need another in future when the cortisone wears off but I'd gladly take it. I would give it some time though as you may find that it heals itself. Cortisone should be a last resort option.

This thread might help you decide whats right for you.
http://www.ironmagazineforums.com/general-health-awareness/122799-cortisone-shot-shoulder.html

 

[ApexContestPrep]

I haven't done flat bench press for years due to shoulder complications. I feel it has too much unnecessary stress on the rotator cuff and prefer decline bench instead. The neglected area of fiber by switching from decline from flat you can isolate later on a movement like DB fly's.

I am 43 . . . benchpressing with 315. Frankly, it felt light, which surprised me, as I have not touched that much weight since I was in my 20s. I was shooting for 5 or 6 reps, and, after I completed the second one, you know the feeling, I just knew I was going to get there.

I lower the weight very slowly, smooth and controlled.

On the third rep, as I was lowering the weight, I felt a tearing feeling in my left pec, up near where it attaches to the shoulder.

Well, a few days later, the chest pain disappears completely, to be replaced by shoulder pain when making certain movements. I remember having this shoulder pain a couple weeks back when doing dumbbell military presses (just pain in the shoulder during the exercise, not after). I had stopped doing those for a couple weeks as a result, as I noticed a little shoulder pain while benching. Stopping the military press resulted in me doing sets of bench with 305 pounds with no shoulder pain whatsoever.

SO I thought I was good to go a week ago when I loaded three plates on each side . . .

Now of course I am hurting. It is hard to tell if it is getting worse or better. When I woke up this morning it was extremely painful almost to move my arm at all. It even hurt to lay on my left arm. A couple of Alleve seem to have knocked out most of the pain, but it still hurts depending upon which way I move it.

You know that exercise where you use a light dumbell with your upper arm parallel to the ground and your forearm perpendicular, and then rotate it down, and up? Well going down, so that the forearm is pointed at the ground, HURTS! This is with no weight whatsoever.

Oddly, lateral raises and pullups do not seem to hurt. Sometimes, though, just walking, normal swinging of the arm, hurts.

My question is this - has anybody had a similar experience bench pressing, and if so, did it resolve itself? What was it? It has been only a little over a week, so . . . maybe it will go away?

I have been lifting since I was a teenager, and I have never had anything like this happen.

In the best shape of my life, and now the only options appear to be rest or surgery, both of which mean being out of shape again . . .

 

[GearsMcGilf]

Let us know how it goes. I'm hoping my shoulder pain will heal in time also. Mine started after a 6 month run of tren and test. My strength was going thru the roof, so I didn't want to get off the gear wagon. I got to where I was pumping 315 for 5-6 reps on the incline bench and 110 for seated dumbell shoulder presses. So, I didn't come off till the pain started setting in and I couldn't do any pressing movements at all. I'm hoping the damage isn't permanent and I'll be able to SFW like I'm accustomed to soon.

 

[malfeasance]

Let us know how it goes. I'm hoping my shoulder pain will heal in time also. Mine started after a 6 month run of tren and test. My strength was going thru the roof, so I didn't want to get off the gear wagon. I got to where I was pumping 315 for 5-6 reps on the incline bench and 110 for seated dumbell shoulder presses. So, I didn't come off till the pain started setting in and I couldn't do any pressing movements at all. I'm hoping the damage isn't permanent and I'll be able to SFW like I'm accustomed to soon.

So what are you doing now?

I am just working around mine, still working arms, legs, back, abs, and, ironically, shoulders, just no pressing movements or front lateral raises. I cannot think of anything at all to do for my chest with my shoulder like it is.

Pullups give a little pain, but not much.

Triceps extensions - tricky, I only got one heavy set last time, even though I was using good form and keeping the shoulder still, it still puts strain on it.

 

[damage]

So what are you doing now?

I am just working around mine, still working arms, legs, back, abs, and, ironically, shoulders, just no pressing movements or front lateral raises. I cannot think of anything at all to do for my chest with my shoulder like it is.

Pullups give a little pain, but not much.

Triceps extensions - tricky, I only got one heavy set last time, even though I was using good form and keeping the shoulder still, it still puts strain on it.

For RC issues, you can still work chest by doing decline hammer strength presses. Go as heavy as you can without discomfort and pin your shoulder blades together........ Dont lock out, and limit the range of motion so your elbows dont go too far back.

This is fantastic because it also helps build your shoulder back up. Follow it up with high rep incline flies and end with high rep incline db presses.......

of course continue with the RC exercises.........Its a slow process, but beats surgery and rehab IMO.

 

[malfeasance]

For RC issues

I have no idea if this is what it is. Will a bench press injury result in an RC issue?

 

[BillHicksFan]

Rotator cuff

 

[damage]

I have no idea if this is what it is. Will a bench press injury result in an RC issue?

RC = rotator cuff.

When your shoulder hurts doing pressing movements, its generally some kind of rotator cuff injury.

 

[GearsMcGilf]

So what are you doing now?

I am just working around mine, still working arms, legs, back, abs, and, ironically, shoulders, just no pressing movements or front lateral raises. I cannot think of anything at all to do for my chest with my shoulder like it is.

Pullups give a little pain, but not much.

Triceps extensions - tricky, I only got one heavy set last time, even though I was using good form and keeping the shoulder still, it still puts strain on it.

I've taken several days off to let it recuperate. 'll prolly start back on monday and either do light weight for very high reps or do what the cat up there ^ said. IDK about the partial ROM tho. It doesn't seem like you could accomplish a whole lot with a limited ROM. I'll just have to play it by ear. The pain just recently started. I'd heard that joint damage was a risk with tren as it causes dramatic strength gains in a short period of time.

 

[malfeasance]

I can take off my seatbelt and do some more normal movements without too much pain now, although taking off or putting on a T-shirt is still tricky. It has been most painful in the mornings when I wake up, but this morning it was not very noticeable, so maybe there is some improvement going on. It has been two weeks.

 

[malfeasance]

I tried some bar dips, no weight, in fact using my foot to try and keep weight off, but no way. Every time I tried to do it, it felt like something was tearing in the pec/shoulder.

I tried pushups, feet on the floor, hands on a bench, to take weight off and make it very easy - same thing.

This is very frustrating.

I added more than an inch to my arms on this first cycle, and two inches on my legs, but I guess I am going to loose it all now (well, maybe I can keep the legs).

I need to go visit the doctor, although I keep hoping this will resolve itself.

I worked arms today. I cannot do standing, rotating dumbell curls, so I did concentration curls with a lighter weight (not sure why one hurts and the other does not). Preacher curls were ok.

Oddly, I was able to do lying triceps extensions.

 

[damage]

If you have decent insurance, get a scan so you know what kind of injury you have, then you can start working on healing it.

Mine is healing nicely, at the start I couldnt incline or shoulder press 35lbs (three months ago) now I am up to 80lbs on both.

Slow and Steady does it.

 

[malfeasance]

damage, did you tear your RC doing bench press?

 

[damage]

damage, did you tear your RC doing bench press?

It was a combination injury.

The day before, Somebody jerked my whole arm back in a game of basketball......next day ( I should have known better) I benched normally but felt pain on my very heavy sets. The next morning I couldnt raise my arm over my head.

Most lifters tear it doing bench press. I have two friends, pros, who dont flat bench at all due to previous RC injuries while benching.

 

[malfeasance]

Today, I did 12 push ups with no pain. So I got brave and benched with an empty bar. Then I put on 95 pounds and benched 20 reps. I could feel something in there, but I would not describe it as pain. I decided not to push my luck any further today.

No pain while tucking in my shirt like usual, so it must be improving.

Assuming it is an RC injury, I am going to Google RC rehabilitation exercises and see what they suggest.

 

[malfeasance]

No way to do any pressing exercises yet, but the shoulder seems to continue mild improvements. Not as much interference with daily life now. I have started doing light weight dumbell RC rehab exercises, but to be honest they seemed to aggravate it, so I am unsure whether to continue them.

 

[G.Smith]

A cousin brother of mine has that kind of problem. But after check up it was sorted out. He was having some sort of bone misplacement which was happen when he was younger .

 

[malfeasance]

Did 30 pushups today, keeping elbows in close to the body. No shoulder pain.

 

[tommygunz]

these things happen, shit tears, pops and snaps good form or not. Lay off rehab and learn do live with some level of pain...or.....take up pilates

 

[malfeasance]

these things happen, shit tears, pops and snaps good form or not. Lay off rehab and learn do live with some level of pain...or.....take up pilates

Well, I tried benching 135 pounds today, after warming up with an empty bar and then 95 pounds, and 135 pounds, somewhere around the sixth or seventh rep, started feeling like there was tearing in my upper left pec to the shoulder, same area . . .

I am getting really frustrated with this.

I cannot figure out a way to work my chest.

 

[malfeasance]

Success!

I tried inclince presses with only 135, and managed to do it without pain. The next workout, I tried 155, same result. Today, I tried bar dips without weight, which I was unable to do at all just a few weeks ago.

The shoulder still hurts when I move it the wrong way, but it is definitely improving!

 

[Gfy55]

Read up Labrum tear. It's most likely what you have.

 

[malfeasance]

Managing incline presses with 175 for 3 sets of 10. It is kind of funny that this was enough to make the top of my chest and the front of my shoulders sore, but I guess that is to be expected after almost two months of disuse.

 

[cdan19]

If you haven't been to doctor and had MRI you'll never really know until it's too late. could be anything from AC joint seperation, rotary cuff and yes like previously stated Labrum tear. Verticle tears of rotary cuff will heal itself but a sidewall tear will not. To give u brief history fall of 08 I had verticle tear of rotary cuff, reinjured it in spring of 09, worked around it and through it at times as bench strength fell off the charts to bare bar - 135 shoulder presses weren't suffering. but eventually that began to pain me as well. Ultimately I was left with locking my elbows tight to my sides for tricep push down and curls until I couldn't do them either. July 09-surgery four titanium anchors to reattache the labrum sidewall tear and verticle tear of rotary cuff and a lateral tear of bicep tendon. My shoulder was a mess and rehab was 6 months. I'm finally getting back to pre fall 08 levels but still not there. so you see the progression about 10 months of off and on pain. I was 42 yo. at the time. If it persist get an MRI everything else is blind speculation.

 

[malfeasance]

If you haven't been to doctor and had MRI you'll never really know until it's too late. could be anything from AC joint seperation, rotary cuff and yes like previously stated Labrum tear. Verticle tears of rotary cuff will heal itself but a sidewall tear will not. To give u brief history fall of 08 I had verticle tear of rotary cuff, reinjured it in spring of 09, worked around it and through it at times as bench strength fell off the charts to bare bar - 135 shoulder presses weren't suffering. but eventually that began to pain me as well. Ultimately I was left with locking my elbows tight to my sides for tricep push down and curls until I couldn't do them either. July 09-surgery four titanium anchors to reattache the labrum sidewall tear and verticle tear of rotary cuff and a lateral tear of bicep tendon. My shoulder was a mess and rehab was 6 months. I'm finally getting back to pre fall 08 levels but still not there. so you see the progression about 10 months of off and on pain. I was 42 yo. at the time. If it persist get an MRI everything else is blind speculation.

We are about the same age - I suspect that has more to do with it than anything else. As for your surgery, do you believe that it would have been less recovery time and less serious if you had gone to the doctor earlier, or would it still have been six months off?

Wow, at our age one can really get out of shape in six whole months.

 

[cdan19]

We are about the same age - I suspect that has more to do with it than anything else. As for your surgery, do you believe that it would have been less recovery time and less serious if you had gone to the doctor earlier, or would it still have been six months off?

Wow, at our age one can really get out of shape in six whole months.

I have no doubt that if I dealt with the verticle tear at that time and let it heal I would have avoided the second tear which had a spiral effect on the rest. Every time you compensate for an area you put stress on other area and this can always lead to new or worsening injury. The older you get the less blood flow you have to the joints. Pushing through soreness is one thing. Pushing through injury will only rsult in a worse condition. Knowing the difference is where the rubber meets the road. Let's face it no one on here or worth their weight in salt is without ego, but some times you need to put it in check. The only thing I disagree with when it comes to doctors is when they just say lets try PT. Without the MRI they're guessing too. If you have insurance get it. If you don't take the precautions of backing off seeing doctor re-evaluate. I've had 6 surgeries and with the exception of rupturing ACL all could have been avoided. Good luck brother i hope it's just tendinities or over use. Cortizone willl help that.

 

[damage]

Just as an update to this thread. 6 months of RC rehab exercise has paid off.

Yesterday I did my first bench press workout in close to a year and I was able to work up to 315 x 5 with no pain at all in my shoulder... some instability, but that is to be expected having not done the exercise at all in such a long time. I was pretty impressed at my strength considerin I have only been doing Machine and DB work at medium to medium-heavy weight for the last 6 months.

Feels great. So to all you RC tear sufferers, keep at it.