Any suggestions on training around a shoulder injury?

[Mister B.]

I injured my right shoulder a couple years ago. I've since had an MRI and it confirmed a tiny tear in my... (ah shit, I can't remember). It's where the brachialis attaches up in the shoulder area on the corticoid process (forgive the spelling) which is also around where the pec inserts into the shoulder workings as well.

Anyway, some pain when I do some chest exercises (flys mostly but presses sometimes, too) but I work through anyway. Lots of pain when I do any overhead shoulder presses using the Hammer Strength and sometimes with lateral raises.

It's been a real difficult thing to train my shoulders but I do it anyway. I'll change my grip by putting my thumb over while in a machine, I'll go a bit lighter, whatever it takes. The problem is, since I've started doing more marathon-like workouts as I approach a competition, I've noticed I'm getting more sore than usual lately.

Any suggestions on working around the injury?

B

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Gettin' Lean. But soon I'll be...

GETTIN' HARD!!

[archive_1911]

I'm with ya', I posted this in Feb.: http://anabolicfitness.infopop.net/2/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=702093973&f=312093973&m=3353059324

and this in August: http://anabolicfitness.infopop.net/2/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=702093973&f=312093973&m=8893003246

As you would expect, there is a wealth of additional topics addressing shoulder (and other) injuries in the archive.

Bottom-line for me nothing has resulted in improvement and I have continued to degrade. Another ortho appt. tomorrow as a matter of fact.


Later,

[Mister B.]

Thanks Bro!! It's the same damn thing, I'll be.

I used to do physio. Some frictioning did help (fancy word for massage) but only as a pain releiver, not as a cure or preventer.

I have also backed off in the past for quite some time. Didn't heal (as I'm sure you know ;o)).

Keep on updating!!

B

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Gettin' Lean. But soon I'll be...

GETTIN' HARD!!

[archive_Killer]

1911's links are good. Take those to heart.

It sounds like you are doing all you can, which is to modify any lifts to be pain-free or as near pain-free as possible. You probally can't damage the area any further, just cause more pain and inflammation by lifting.

I don't think modalities or even ART will be much help, as the tendon/bone junction has a very poor blood supply. This means no healing. It might help with scar tissue and promote healing in any tissue around the injury, but the tear will still be there.

You will probally find that you have to eliminate more and more exercises as time goes by (I know I did) due to unmanageble pain.

I have been reading your posts on the competitor's forumn, so I know you are preparing for a comp. I would see an ortho now, and see if he would like to set up a surgery date post contest. The good thing is that you have a small tear, not a rupture. So the surgery will probally be done via scope and the ortho will just trm out the tear and clean up the area around (tissue death).

In the meantime, lift as much as you can tolerate, stretch in a pain-free ROM, might as well start on rotator cuff exercises (which everyone should be doing anyway), and ice after workouts

You have a few options. I would stay the clear hell away frm machine over head pressing. Overhead presses place the humerous in an horizontally abducted externally roated position.

Any shoulder pathology such as an impingment is going to be further aggrivated in this position. I would abstain from all over head presses, until an orthopedic Dr has a look at you. If you continue to press then you might need to change to a more neutral grip, whereby the elbows are facing each other.

Pull downs will also place your injured shoulder in a precarious situation. Especially with a pronated grip, try a neutral grip.

you might want to research strengthening your esternal rotators. The muscles which compose the rotator cuff. If your suffering from instability within the shoulder, these movements will help.

PEACE

235lbs of Twisted_Steel and pure Sex Appeal!

[archive_1911]

Just returned from a second ortho visit. The bad news, no long-term treatment plan is determined yet. The good news, got hit with a 10cc injection of Marcaine and Lidocaine via a 21g x 1.5". A lot of needle movement within the shoulder to "spread/target" the solution. The objective, to assist in the diagnostic process and to introduce some short-duration pain management. I'm off the Etodolac for now and head back to the doc in 2.5 weeks. A drag but at least for today my shoulder feels like it did 7 or 8 years ago - wow (I'm not foolin' myself though). /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif Doc says to keep working out and again emphasized intelligent lifting. More to follow.

PS - My next cycle (in the very near future), will have 400mgs of Deca tossed-into the mix weekly. More joint relief "on-the-way!" - heh heh

PSS - Having 10cc's of anything (water-based in this case) pumped into your shoulder is a strange feeling.

Later,

[Mister B.]

Let us know how that decca works for your recovery... I've had the thought myself...

B

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GETTIN' HARD!!

[archive_1911]

It's been a week+ and my shoulder feels excellent, no more pain...none! Obviously the injury is still there but damn...I have not had this kind of pain free movement in years. I've completed two aggressive chest/delt/tri sessions since the injection (using perfect form) and wow, I'm in heaven. My assessment, go get shot up man...and long-live pharmaceuticals. Now, I need to pursue getting some of these "...caine cocktails" shot into each knee and I'll be set.

Later,