Elbow Pain

[Compaq]

Hi, Everytime I do scull crushers the bone on my elbow hurts. Its like a sting. When I bench and do other workouts its fine. Just when I do a workout pushing that way like the scrull crusher. What should I do to get rid of that pain? its On my bone not my triceps. Besides not doing that workout, is there something I can take? If not I'l still do it cause I love pain, But it would be nice if it would go away. And when I sleep that same night doing that workout, The pain is Horrible and gotta keep my arms straight till the next day and gets a little better.

[Compaq]

<<bump>>

[bigwillster]

bump. same thing happens to me. it hurts for a few days too.

[NoLimits]

You can try Glucosamine. It is a suppliment to help with joint pains.

[Vegas Kid]

Maybe some cod liver oil?

[McBain]

I used to get similar pains that were occuring due to tightness in my tricep. The tightness was "pulling" on my elbow and causing the pain. I would recommend a few courses of actions:

1) Maybe see a doctor (try to see a specialist) if the pain persists

2) Maybe see a deep tissue massage therapist (try to get one that works on top athletes, as they will probably be good)

3) Do some extra stretching for your tricep. Stretch it daily, even a few times a day would be even better. When stretching remember it is not an exercise, but a stretch. You must ease into the stretch slowly otherwise the muscle will seize up and the stretching will be pointless. A stretch is similar to an exercise, in the sense that if you go into a stretch and just go through the motions you won't gain much. You have to focus, listen to your body, if the muscle tightens up, back off a little in the stretch. Don't just go through the motions is my point.

4) Hydrotherapy would be a great way to reduce inflamation if it hurts you during a workout. As soon as possible after the workout (if indeed it does bother you) fill up 2 sinks or tubs right next to each other with water. One fill up with the coldest water possible, the other with water as hot as you can stand (don't burn yourself though). Throw 2 trays of ice cubes in the cold water. Put your elbow (and as much of your tricep and forearm as possible) into the hot water to start, let it sit there for 2 minutes, alllow your muscles to relax, don't tense up....then quickly switch to the cold water (again with as much of your arms as you can fit in while still remaining relaxed) and keep it there for about 2 minutes. Repeat this process 3 times, ending with cold. If both elbows are bothering you do it for both of them. Doing this daily (three times a day is optimal) will help get blood to the area, which is especially important if the pain you are feeling is due to a minor tear in a ligament or tendon. The reason for this being is ligaments/tendons do not have a lot of blood circulating to them, it is relatively low. Hence why tendon/ligament tears take forever to heal. By doing this therapy it will flush blood into the area and speed up recovery. Even if it is not ligament/tendon related it will reduce inflamation and get blood to the area. Afterwards your elbow will feel much looser (at least with my wrist/hand injury it makes it feel much looser prior to the therapy). Try to do it at least once per day, three is best if you can squeeze it in.

5) Going on a steady diet of Alleve Sometimes if there is inflammation in an area regular consumption of anti-inflammatories can help your body get on top of the injury. Experiment and I would recommend this as a last resource (as I don't like taking stuff if I don't have to). I am no doctor but I will relay my experience. I usually take 3 alleve every 24 hours. Maybe try that for a week or so. Then stop and see how it feels. During this week back off the skull crushers sub in cable pressdowns. Hell maybe take the week off, if you aren't on a cycle. Just don't go heavy or do anything that might stress your elbow, because the alleve will mask the pain a bit and might cause you to do more damage if you decide to lift heavy because you "feel" good. Remember the alleve will be masking the pain so don't push yourself until you are off it.

Also I forgot to mention it could be that your forearms are tight and pulling on your elbow (similar to what I described above); however since it bothers you most during skull crushers it would lead me to believe it's the tricep.

Again if the pain persists see a doctor. Exaggerate the pain so they will see you sooner and try to see a specialist instead of your regular doctor, as his knowledge will probably limited in this area. Any questions let me know and I'll try to help you out, I've been dealing with this hand injury for a while now, so I've learned a decent amount. Good luck bro!

EDIT: Also might want to supplement with flax seed oil or fish oil (the idea being to up your omega-3 fat intake to help "grease" the joints. Glucosamine is ok, but it must be taken on a regular basis for at least a month, I believe, before you feel any difference. While this might be a good thing to start taking for your connective tissue, I don't think it will help you much with your problem, at least not for a couple months and who the hell wants to wait that long?

[Compaq]

Thank You very much MC, that was very informative and You probably helped millions of other people who might have the same problems as well. I will give it a try and let you know what happens. Thanx again.

[Shredz]

Do you warm up with an exercise that has less of and impact on your joints like skull crushers...sometimes that alone helps.

Glucosamine is a great supplement..but takes some time to actually be effective.

[ROOKIE22]

It sounds like it could be a ligiment or tendon. It could be getting inflamed. Ice it twice a day (once after workout) 20min ice 20 min no ice 20min ice...... I have the same problem right now but it is getting alot better due to the iceing..... You might also want to lower the weight until you tendons get cought up to the muscle..

[dfxinfx123]

I had reconstructive surgery on my elbow when I was 9 (shattered it) had pins holding it all together for a while but basically it healed good as new. But on the reconstrcted elbow I get the pains you are talking about and am pretty sure it is just ligaments/tendons being stressed.. One day I felt a pop in the elbow on bench and since then it hasn't really bothered me at all. Probably tendonitis and I would follow rookie22's advice... ice ice ice and ibuprofen and as we all know listen to your body. If it hurts (not muscle burn) don't do it, change your form find what works well for you.

[Dee-termined]

Just through some deca in the mix, it's good for the joints!! Just kidding, but I have the same thing going on when I do my flyes!! I get a joint that "bumps as I do the decentric portion of the exercise, it sucks!!