I think i fvcked up my shoulder

[bignateyk]

The actual injury happened while golfing, but I think it is a result of lifting.

My right shoulder hurts like hell when doing a straight or downward pressing motion (i.e. flat bench press, decline bench press, chest dips, straight back row)

In addition, when I rotate my shoulder through different positions, it "pops" alot. It almost feels like there is a tendon or something getting stuck on my shoulder, and then snapping over top of it.

I have full range of motion still.

Did I partially tear a rotator cuff or something? Should I have it MRI'd, or just wait a few weeks and see if it goes away on its own? Its been about a week and it hasnt gotten any better.

 

[Dualist]

Sorry to hear that, best thing to do is to get that checked out by a doctor to find out if it's very serious or not.

 

[sixone]

If it's bothering you enough to ask here, you'd better see a doctor.

 

[Ausm]

I would consult a Doctor.


Ausm

 

[bignateyk]

Originally posted by: sixone
If it's bothering you enough to ask here, you'd better see a doctor.

It doesnt bother me at all for every-day tasks. I can even play golf.

I just dont feel comfortable lifting on it, as there is very noticeable pain while doing the exercises in the OP.

I'll schedule a trip to the doctors next week I guess.

 

[vi edit]

I did the same thing about 7 years ago when I was in college. I damaged something in my shoulder doing incline bench. I never did anthing at the time as far as seeking treatment. It still bothers me. I have restricted motion in that shoulder, it cracks doing the same exercises you mentioned, and if I work out too hard I still have some pain.

Talk to a doc now and see if you can prevent any long term problems like i have.

 

[D1gger]

It sounds like a possible rotator cuff injury to me.

Linky

 

[Uppsala9496]

Go see a doc. They will schedule you for an MRI if it is bad enough.
I blew my shoulder out playing ball in college and to this day I still can't sleep on my right side for more than an hour.

 

[jman19]

I hurt my right shoulder lifting about 2 years ago - and I had no health insurance at the time. Interestingly enough, most shoulder exercises didn't hurt too much, but flat and incline bench presses would really hurt. I tried to lift through the pain (DUMB MOVE) which only aggrivated it until it hurt too much to do more than a few reps. The day after the pain got bad, I woke up with such stiffness that I couldn't raise my arm above shoulder level without serious pain. I stopped lifting for 6 weeks and just did some light jogging. Eventually the pain got better... but if I had insurance you better believe I would have seen a doctor about it.

 

[Chunkee]

rotator cuff injuries suck...

shoulders in general are tough to rehab due to their large range of motion. i have had surgery on mine...

when i lift I ALWAYS warm up and strengthen my rotator cuff muscles...i recommend the same when you get better...for now though...Ibuprofen..ice, and no weights...

and see a doctor...also no overhead lifting with any amount of weight..

do a search on exercises or ask a PT for strengthening your Rotator Cuffs. External rotation motion and anterior delts exercises will help stabilize your whole shoulder joing.

JC

 

[GuitarDaddy]

As others have said see a Doctor.

Unforetunately if it is a rotator cuff injury there is not much they can do short of surgery, and surgery is not normally recommended until the pain becomes fairly severe or your range of motion becomes seriously limited.

<<< Living with a rotator cuff injury

 

[SVT Cobra]

Doctor for an MRI right away.

 

[bignateyk]

Originally posted by: Chunkee


and see a doctor...also no overhead lifting with any amount of weight..


JC

Its weird though.. overhead exercises dont hurt one bit. Incline bench and military press dont bother me. Its the straight and decline motion (especially dips, they hurt the most).

 

[edro]

I would let it go for a few weeks after taking 400-800mg Ibuprofen 2-3 times a day.

Shoulder injuries for lifters are extremely common. I have had the same thing happen to me a few times. I was told by fellow professional lifters that it is usually a minor pulled muscle, but they tend to stay inflamed, casuing the injury to linger. To stop the inflammation, taking high doses of Ibuprofen will allow the muscle to heal.

Go to any doctor and they tell you to stop lifting for 8-10 weeks. It is absolutely impossible for any semi-serious weight lifter to take 8 weeks off.

Try the Ibuprofen trick (Advil, or Aleve or off brand Ibuprofen). 800mg, 3 times a day for a week. Then 400mg, 3 times a day for a week. Then 200mg, twice a day for a week, if needed. (It's usually cured after the first 2 weeks)

You can continue to lift while doing this regime, but limit the weight. Don't go nearly as heavy until you know it is cured.

If it was a ripped rotator cuff, you would know Instantly. You wouldn't be able to raise your arm.

 

[Jeraden]

I had something similar a year ago. I went to the doctor and all he did was prescribe some prescription strength ibuprofen (or it might have been the Aleve equivalent). Hoping that by making the swelling go down, it would get better itself. According to him, when its swollen, it keeps rubbing against something, which keeps making it worse and prevents the swelling from ever going down.

That didn't work, so off to physical therapy I went after an x-ray. After 5 therapy sessions it still didn't feel any better. Meanwhile I was out several hundered dollars in copays/deductibles/etc. Now a year later it feels fine.

 

[SVT Cobra]

Originally posted by: edro
I would let it go for a few weeks after taking 400-800mg Ibuprofen 2-3 times a day.

Shoulder injuries for lifters are extremely common. I have had the same thing happen to me a few times. I was told by fellow professional lifters that it is usually a minor pulled muscle, but they tend to stay inflamed, casuing the injury to linger. To stop the inflammation, taking high doses of Ibuprofen will allow the muscle to heal.

Go to any doctor and they tell you to stop lifting for 8-10 weeks. It is absolutely impossible for any semi-serious weight lifter to take 8 weeks off.

Try the Ibuprofen trick (Advil, or Aleve or off brand Ibuprofen). 800mg, 3 times a day for a week. Then 400mg, 3 times a day for a week. Then 200mg, twice a day for a week, if needed. (It's usually cured after the first 2 weeks)

You can continue to lift while doing this regime, but limit the weight. Don't go nearly as heavy until you know it is cured.

If it was a ripped rotator cuff, you would know Instantly. You wouldn't be able to raise your arm.

Very bad information.

I am a professional powerlifter and I would slap anyone who gave you information like that.

Inflamed muscles from lifting, especially in the shoulder region. Absolutely, usually due to bad bench form. But you can still tear your rotator cuff and still move it, it just hurts like hell to do anything with it. The fact that he cannot even press makes me think instantly rotator cuff, because if it was inflamed, the pressing motion would actually be one of the few positions he could not feel pain in. But, I definatley think it is torn because of the popping. That is the smoking gun for a torn RC. Like I said OP get a doctor immediately. Do not lift any more on it or else the healing time and rehab will be longer and longer. Not to mention even if it is inflamed, you still quit lifting until ALL pain has subsided. Always a general rule with lifters because the chances of months of rehab are to great.

<<<Torn my rotator cuff twice. Once back in HS during football, then again 6 years later playing touch football.

 

[bignateyk]

Out of curiosity, how does a torn rotator cuff heal itself? Does it require surgery? Will it heal on its own through rehab without surgery?

 

[Koing]

Originally posted by: SVT Cobra

Originally posted by: edro
I would let it go for a few weeks after taking 400-800mg Ibuprofen 2-3 times a day.

Shoulder injuries for lifters are extremely common. I have had the same thing happen to me a few times. I was told by fellow professional lifters that it is usually a minor pulled muscle, but they tend to stay inflamed, casuing the injury to linger. To stop the inflammation, taking high doses of Ibuprofen will allow the muscle to heal.

Go to any doctor and they tell you to stop lifting for 8-10 weeks. It is absolutely impossible for any semi-serious weight lifter to take 8 weeks off.

Try the Ibuprofen trick (Advil, or Aleve or off brand Ibuprofen). 800mg, 3 times a day for a week. Then 400mg, 3 times a day for a week. Then 200mg, twice a day for a week, if needed. (It's usually cured after the first 2 weeks)

You can continue to lift while doing this regime, but limit the weight. Don't go nearly as heavy until you know it is cured.

If it was a ripped rotator cuff, you would know Instantly. You wouldn't be able to raise your arm.

Very bad information.

I am a professional powerlifter and I would slap anyone who gave you information like that.

Inflamed muscles from lifting, especially in the shoulder region. Absolutely, usually due to bad bench form. But you can still tear your rotator cuff and still move it, it just hurts like hell to do anything with it. The fact that he cannot even press makes me think instantly rotator cuff, because if it was inflamed, the pressing motion would actually be one of the few positions he could not feel pain in. But, I definatley think it is torn because of the popping. That is the smoking gun for a torn RC. Like I said OP get a doctor immediately. Do not lift any more on it or else the healing time and rehab will be longer and longer. Not to mention even if it is inflamed, you still quit lifting until ALL pain has subsided. Always a general rule with lifters because the chances of months of rehab are to great.

<<<Torn my rotator cuff twice. Once back in HS during football, then again 6 years later playing touch football.

When injured DO NOT LIFT WHILST ON ANTI INFLAMAATORIES! This is a HUGE mistake. You feel 'good' whilst on the anti inflammatories but you will more then likely injure yourself more during and when you come off them.

Take 2 weeks off shoulder work (you can still do legs if that exercise doesn't hurt your shoulder), you can also go on the anti inflamatories but stay away from shoulder exercises.

If after 2 weeks it isn't better go see a Dr. Take it easy when you go back.

If it hurts DON'T DO IT!

Koing