take a guess at my bogus injury...

[Timm1704]

I am going to see my specialist in 3 weeks regarding a shoulder injury I currently have. it has been a problem for around 7 weeks now, and currently cannot train my chest. I first started noticing the pain when doing shoulder presses, in the following weeks it began affecting all chest exercises apart from dumbbell pullovers.

What I am going to do is list all of my symptoms, in the hope that some of you could list ideas of what it might be, so I can maybe help my specialist along in areas to think about. I have had shoulder surgery with him before, 3 years ago on my AC joint, having the end of my clavicle cut off to provide more room in the joint. this went great. It took the doc awhile to figure out for sure what the problem was last time, and at one point he thought id torn my biceps tendon.

anywho, on to the symptoms...

On certain triceps movements (skull crushers, close grip bench press, cable pushdowns) it causes pain to the left shoulder. Close grip BP being the worst

Wide grip pullups cause slight discomfort, as can any grip wider than shoulder width really.

All biceps movements are no problem, same goes for barbell rows, narrow grip pullups, side lateral raises are no problem, neither are front raises, rear laterals or shrugs. I do get pain from overhead press. If i rotate my hands so my palms face towards my face, and keep my elbows in, there is no discomfort with overhead presses however.

Incline, flat or decline presses, dips, flyes, hammer strength machines, cable crossovers and pec deck all are currently out of bounds as these movements cause alot of pain in the shoulder area.

when sitting at this very computer the other nite, i started getting sharp pains just below my side deltoid, towards the pec insertion.

I now believe it may be an injury to my pec, not my shoulder.
example: 2 weeks ago I was training shoulders. when i sat at the rear delt/[ec deck machine, i was doing rear delts on the machine, all felt great and strong. i then turned around so I was facing away from the pad, didnt adjust anything, and started doing pec deck with the lighter weight. This was uncomfortable, although it was the same plane of movements as the rear delt flyes.

I can still train hard, apart from my chest, so Im not massively concerned about losing size, but its still a bitch.

I know from just reading this stuff you cant get an ideal image of whats wrong, but from this could anyone give any insight on the problem, and if it could be fixed with physio? really dont want another operation

[skank]

This is a tough call. You know the MRI is the only answer. I had the same shoulder surgery as you a couple years ago. As for your problem now, it could be a small tear in the labrum or even rotater cuff tendonitis. Sometimes the bursa gets inflamed. I had to have mine removed. Hope you are using lots of ice and stay away from the motions that aggravate the area. At least until you get your results. Maybe you will be lucky and its only tendonitis. Ice and rest. Anti inflammatorys. Good Luck!!

[Timm1704]

heres hoping, and that physio will be able to sort it. thanks for the input there dude.

[InsaneInTheMembrane]

Hey Timm,
I am having the same problem and apparently it is very common in weightlifters. Doctors will first start you on anti-inflams and cortico steroid treatments along with suspension of all exercises (ie, bench press) that cause the pain. However, since most lifters cannot give up hard intensity execises forever and the meds works temporarily, surgery becomes imminent. HOWEVER, it can take from 4 months to a year to come back to benching to your max....so your decision for surgery is a tricky one. You can continue working out around the injury until the pain becomes unbearable then have it...or have it so you can start doing presses again but tough out the 6 months to one year complete recovery. This surgery is purely for pain control. \IMO, as long as you can put upwith the pain, tough it out as long as you can... cuz you're gonna be real ***ressed when you atrophy during post surgery recovery...more ***ressed than not being able to bench! That's what I am gonna do!

Cheers!

[skank]

Hopefully he will not need surgery. Maybe its tendonitis of bad inflammation. But on the other hand if a MRI shows a tear, spur or something more serious, then in the long run a surgery is best. Because to continue to lift will aggravate it and may add to the damage. Yes there will be atrophy afterwards, but he will be much happier down the road.

[Timm1704]

i have had surgery before, and other lay-offs, and i know all about atrophy. I also know all about muscle memory, so all shall be swell, whatever happens. I think to say I will definately need surgery at this stage is abit dramatic, but, you never know I guess. It doesnt feel like something majorly serious, as last time when i had my AC injury I pretty much knew I would need surgery to fix it, this time however I have a gut feeling on the physio option. Likely wont bother with meds, as its only temporary, and masks the problem, and Im hoping to have longeivity in my bodybuilding and wrestling. At this stage of my career I can afford to take time off, as wrestling is not my lone means of living, so id rather take the time off now, and eliminate all problems/potenial problems that I can, incase down the road, wrestling IS what pays my way, and having time off would mean me being broke