Weird shoulder pain

[rob]

OK, I want some free medical advice, too.

 

When I do bench presses, I get this weird sharp pain inside my right shoulder. I can do curls and flies just fine with no shoulder pain, and it doesn't present itself when climbing. The only time I ever get it is when doing bench presses -- even if I do them at really low intensity.

 

I took a break from free weights for about 3 weeks now, and stretched out well and warmed up and tried again, and it's still there.

 

I guess the obvious solution is to stop doing bench presses. Any other suggestions?

[KaskadskyjKozak]

OK, I want some free medical advice, too.

 

When I do bench presses, I get this weird sharp pain inside my right shoulder. I can do curls and flies just fine with no shoulder pain, and it doesn't present itself when climbing. The only time I ever get it is when doing bench presses -- even if I do them at really low intensity.

 

I took a break from free weights for about 3 weeks now, and stretched out well and warmed up and tried again, and it's still there.

 

I guess the obvious solution is to stop doing bench presses. Any other suggestions?

 

I've fucked up my shoulder too. I had to cut back on weight for some exercises and cut others out completely. Welcome to the old farts club.

[Hendershot]

I had a ski pole catch on something and twist my arm around, you know like when the cops put handcuffs on you and then fell on my shoulder. It made a sublaxation (ball moved, but not completely out of socket). I was fine for weeks, except for some soreness, so I resumed lifting.

 

After doing military press, my shoulder was PISSED. Had the MRI, saw an orthopedic specialist, just saw an orthopedic physical therapist today. Diagnosis, 1 cm tear of one out of four muscles that form the rotator cuff and contusion in my socket.

 

My PT's recommendation (and relevant to Rob) is to strengthen your deltoid muscles. Your pecs may be fine, but those muscles have to work jointly with your shoulder muscles. The excersises prescribed to me were similar to the motions of arm wrestling, I don't know how to describe it without a diagram, but it was like the excersises in Will Gadd's Ice climbing book.

 

 

[rob]

thx! I dislocated the same shoulder a decade ago, and broke the collar-bone on that side prior to that, and the collar-bone fused weird, causing my right shoulder to lean forward slightly more than my left, which has caused all sorts of problems (i.e. carrying heavy packs). I wonder if it's related?

 

Laying on a bench is kind of weird because my right shoulder blade gets pushed flat by the bench, pushing my right shoulder further back than it naturally wants to go (due to the collar-bone thing) -- always been kinda uncomfortable because it's hard to balance the weight evenly between both shoulders. I wonder if this is causing part of the trouble.

 

I wonder if doing an inclined bench press on a nautilus machine would hurt as much? I should test that theory.

 

I think I'll give it another 2 weeks, and then I guess I should check in with my PT. It hasn't bothered me in any other situations, so I haven't really worried about it too much....

[KaskadskyjKozak]

thx! I dislocated the same shoulder a decade ago, and broke the collar-bone on that side prior to that, and the collar-bone fused weird, causing my right shoulder to lean forward slightly more than my left, which has caused all sorts of problems (i.e. carrying heavy packs). I wonder if it's related?

 

Laying on a bench is kind of weird because my right shoulder blade gets pushed flat by the bench, pushing my right shoulder further back than it naturally wants to go (due to the collar-bone thing) -- always been kinda uncomfortable because it's hard to balance the weight evenly between both shoulders. I wonder if this is causing part of the trouble.

 

I wonder if doing an inclined bench press on a nautilus machine would hurt as much? I should test that theory.

 

I think I'll give it another 2 weeks, and then I guess I should check in with my PT. It hasn't bothered me in any other situations, so I haven't really worried about it too much....

 

FWIW nautilus is even worse for my shoulder for both bench and incline. Incline is worse than flat bench with free weights.

 

Dumbell presses seem to cause me much less problems and I think it's because you are able to twist your arm and get in a better (less-constrained) position for the exercise.

[spotly]

Bench press and pushups were impossible for me when I tore my rotator and messed up my labrum. Towards the end of PT I was able to climb with no pain but I'm just now beginning to do pushups and presses again and it's been almost a year. Still only 5 to 10 pushups though

 

Might be worth having a doc look at in case it's something more serious.

[dmuja]

 

 

 

From what I hear, rotator cuff tears are fairly common, and are sometimes small enough to not be a big deal mostly until you want to push or pull bigger and bigger weights etc.. I have to deal with such issues also (previous small RC tear). For me its both flys and presses that cause problems. I laid off ALL weights for more than a year before slowly coming back with low intensity and careful exercises. I eventually could lift moderately heavy weights again but at times I still have to back off from some kinds of movements for a while.

 

I also hear that RC tears arnt always sudden occurrences and may progress over time until they become a noticeable issue.

 

In general, I try to work related muscles with exercise adjustments that don't stress the joint in a way that causes the pain. For instance, try more tricep pull downs and maybe less (lighter) bench presses. I also think its good to try building all muscles around the joint with specific theraputic excersises after a 'healing time' lay off.

 

just my experiences...

[tomtom]

Sounds familiar.

 

I got it using the machines. Nothing dramatic, it just started hurting when I was going through a weightlifting cycle. Cut back on the weights, but still hurt. After over a year, I could start again without pain. Haven't tried pushing it since. Never had any problems with that shoulder before.

[fern]

does it hurt when you do pushups? pushups with feet elevated? handstand pushups? Dips?

 

if the only thing that makes it hurt is benchpressing then like you say stop benchpressing. There's lots of other pressing movements that are more functional (though maybe not as helpful for developing your man-boobs). How often do you find yourself stuck on your back under a piano?

[rob]

Doesn't hurt doing pushups, or dips. I did a bunch of sitting chest presses, and there was no pain. It only seems to be when I'm flat on my back, pushing up. I bet it has something to do with my funky shoulder.

 

I made an appointment with my PT, but I know what he's going to say

 

I think you're right, fern. I think I just need to stop doing bench presses. There's lots of other pec excercises I can do.

 

Edit: On my back under a piano? Not often. On my back ON a piano? That's hot.

Edited June 6, 2008 by rob

[billcoe]

What did the PT say Rob?

[glassgowkiss]

OK, I want some free medical advice, too.

 

When I do bench presses, I get this weird sharp pain inside my right shoulder. I can do curls and flies just fine with no shoulder pain, and it doesn't present itself when climbing. The only time I ever get it is when doing bench presses -- even if I do them at really low intensity.

 

I took a break from free weights for about 3 weeks now, and stretched out well and warmed up and tried again, and it's still there.

 

I guess the obvious solution is to stop doing bench presses. Any other suggestions?

 

sounds like you might have tweaked serratus anterior muscle. it is responsible also for protraction of the scapulae. it's on ribs 1 through 8 (think)- you can feel it on the side of your chest. also preses scapulae against the rib cage. anyway- just press your fingers on your ribs and raise your arm up and down. it will hurt like hell ate first, but should get better soon. also dig in with your thumb under your scapula on subscapularis muscle.

as far as stretching- clasp your arms behind your back. while squeezing your scapulas together raise them behind your back. hold the stretch for 1-2 seconds and repeat 10 times.