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Snapping elbow when lifting!

B

bigguy123

Member
I have this strange snap in my elbow when I do any tricep exercise. I'm a righty and it's just behind the left elbow...maybe my tendons are the problem? When I bring weight down to my chest when benching, the snap occurs. It doesn't happen when pushing away, such as doing a push-up off the ground. Only when weight is coming down.

It has been happening for about a year now. I've tried lifting/resting/ice and nothing seems to help. The longer the workout is, the more powerful and audible the snapping is and it will eventually be very very sore. The next day after a tricep workout, the snapping will be stronger than if I hadn't lifted for a month.


I went to an orthopedic doctor and xrays came out fine. He said he was "stumped."


Does anybody know what this could be? Should I locate a different kind of doctor? How do I find a competent doctor who won't want to just take a needle to my arm?
 
it's just an alignment/biomechanics issue. your tendon is snapping over a bony structure. not a big deal unless it becomes inflammed chronically.
 
The problem is I can't continue tricep workouts because it becomes very sore and a little painful which makes me very scared to push myself any further.
 
eits said:
it's just an alignment/biomechanics issue. your tendon is snapping over a bony structure. not a big deal unless it becomes inflammed chronically.
Click to expand...

Went back to the gym but it is worse than ever. I could barely finish 3 sets on the bench before my elbow began to burn and become very very sore. What kind of doctor should I see? Will an MRI be able to reveal anything?
 
bigguy123 said:
Went back to the gym but it is worse than ever. I could barely finish 3 sets on the bench before my elbow began to burn and become very very sore. What kind of doctor should I see? Will an MRI be able to reveal anything?
Click to expand...

See an orthopedist or othopedic surgeon. They'll be able to tell you more about it than a general practitioner.
 
both my elbows "snap" every now and then if they are in a position for awhile, but i don't have the inflammation and pain u experience.

i would lay off the exercises till u find out whats going on. is there any tricep exercise u can do without pain?
 
bigguy123 said:
Like I said, I went to an orthopedic doctor and he didn't know what to do. Should I just find another?
Click to expand...

X-rays cannot show problems with soft tissue. If it's really bugging you, I'm saying you should get a second opinion from an orthopedist specializes in athletic problems. I had shoulder issues for years and the orthopedist told me she didn't know what to do because the x-rays didn't show anything. I was later diagnosed with the fairly common shoulder impingement syndrome. Sometimes doctors just aren't the right ones to treat your problem. Find another and solve the issue. Or you could get a prescription to see a PT who specializes in diagnostic tests for soft tissue problems. They could also give you some exercises to rehab the problem, if applicable.
 
i disagree about an ortho for this. a good pt or a chiropractor that knows a.r.t. or cbp should be able fix the problem. seeing an ortho for this is either going to result in an extreme, unnecessary measure or medication.

the problem is that you have a tendon snapping over a bony area. it's happening because there's a muscle that's contracting in a certain angle that it shouldn't be, which is probably due to an imbalance of a contraction somewhere in your shoulder, forearm, or someplace else near your elbow.

take a video and post it... i'll take a look and give you my opinion.
 
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bigguy123 said:
The problem is I can't continue tricep workouts because it becomes very sore and a little painful which makes me very scared to push myself any further.
Click to expand...

Doubt you need to do dedicated tricep workouts anyway, bench pressing and shoulder presses will more than work your triceps.
 
I sometimes get a similar popping sensation in a wrist that I broke playing soccer in junior high. When the popping occurs I immediately stop what I'm doing and do something else. Usually rest clears my problem up.
 
eits said:
i disagree about an ortho for this. a good pt or a chiropractor that knows a.r.t. or cbp should be able fix the problem. seeing an ortho for this is either going to result in an extreme, unnecessary measure or medication.

the problem is that you have a tendon snapping over a bony area. it's happening because there's a muscle that's contracting in a certain angle that it shouldn't be, which is probably due to an imbalance of a contraction somewhere in your shoulder, forearm, or someplace else near your elbow.

take a video and post it... i'll take a look and give you my opinion.
Click to expand...

I just tried to take a video but it doesn't show anything, unfortunately. Where can I find a good physical therapist if that's the best solution?
 
Not all orthos have great training in everything below the shoulder and maybe not even especially good training in sports medicine. One of the ortho surgeons I worked with did a fellowship JUST in the shoulder and arms (e.g. rotator cuff injuries and repairs, ulnar nerve problems, repetitive injury/strain issues such as carpal tunnel, etc.), because its an area with complexity that warrants additional training than they receive in a typical ortho residency/training program. Others do fellowships in spines, for the same reasons.
 
I had a similar problem with my knee when running. It went away when I began squatting regularly (which surprised my doctor).
 
zebano said:
I had a similar problem with my knee when running. It went away when I began squatting regularly (which surprised my doctor).
Click to expand...
Unfortunately it hurts more and more during a workout. I'll see a physical therapist in a few days I'll see if that helps.
 
I'm the opposite. This happens to me every time I do a pushup. Luckily, I haven't experienced any pain thus far.

Hope you find a solution.
 
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