forearm pain; cannot contract my bicep

[MR.cashcream]

So I've had this lingering forearm pain (left forearm) now for a few months. I work through the pain, as I feel it immensly during curling work, or any kind of wide grip pullup/pulldown activities. I can't touch hammer curls, that's the most painful. The only way to even consider doing any bicep work with this arm is to keep my arm completely straightened out, palms facing up, but it still hurts a tad. Now I've noticed I can't fully contract my left bicep, it doesn't get as hard as my right bicep does, actually the arm as a whole is much smaller feeling than my right. The pain is felt on the top of my forearm, is this a tear? Besides the obvious, going to the doc, what is recommended that I do?

[Typhoon]

Does your job involve computers?

[MR.cashcream]

Does your job involve computers?

Yes, but not constant typing. And I use the mouse with my right hand.

Any suggestions on this?

[Typhoon]

Ya but it isn't one you want to hear.

Rest your arms.

Cut down ALL typing even mouse at work and wear a carpal tunnel wrap(get at pharmacy store) on both arms WHILE typing or mousing. In a few weeks I bet it feels perfect.

The pain you're describing is descriptive of carpal, NOT a weight lifting issue. But putting pressure on that area can kill you.

Im no doctor, just from personal experience.

[MR.cashcream]

I thought carpal tunnel was more related to the wrists? This pain is at the top of the forearm, where it connects with the bicep. My wrist feels fine.

[Typhoon]

It is the tendon that connects the wrist to the elbow area gets inflammed. Mine was a shooting pain all the way up to my elbow starting about halfway down my arm./ It went away with rest - again bro I could be wrong - you may be right and its a tear. I dont think there is much advice anyone can give ya here tho you should see a doc.

[TrenAman]

I had, whats sounds like, the exact same problem about 2years ago. I went to the Dr., granite he is a country Dr. and old, but he said I strained the muscle in my forearm so bad, it started to seperate from the bone. That is where the pain was coming from. Had to let the thing rest for 6 weeks or so. Was the Doc correct, no idea, but after I let it heal for a good 6 weeks, I started out light on preachers and hammer. etc.. adn was gtg about 4-5 weeks later with the crazy weights. Wish I had GH 2yrs ago when I got this injury, it was all gone at the time, could ahve used it!

It could be what Typhoon says too, I have zero knowledge of CT.

Hope you get to feeling better bro, looking jacked as always!

[Killer]

If hammer curls hurt, you most likely strained your brachioradialis.

Brachioradialis - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brachioradialis_muscle)

Many peeps on AF have had this problem in the past. I strained my after cleaning a weight up in a cage several years ago.

You need to avoid anything that makes it hurt. Experiment with different grips, machines, DBs instead of bars, to acheive this.

Ice after activity. There is not alot to do to the area as far as rehab, unless you have access to e-stim and ultrasound. Give it several days to calm down, then you might want to try a little heat and 5 min massage afterwards, going across the muscle. Ice afterwards.

But, the biggest thing is to be smart and do not piss it off anymore.

[MR.cashcream]

Thanks for all the posts and feedback.

So in the case that you stated Killer, does this explain why I can't flex my lefty bicep and make it as hard as my right? When will this return back to normal? Cause right now my left arm feels like an inch smaller than my right...

[Killer]

It could. Your body may be trying to get you not to contract your brachioradio and it is locking down your biceps so you do not bend your elbow. The body is amazing in regards to getting us not to be stupid and hurt ourselves further.

Also, your brachioradio could be so strained and inflammed that it is giving some referred pain over to your biceps.

It sounds like you are pretty bad off, which means the healing time will be longer. It may be 4 - 6 weeks before things get better, a little longer till everything is back to normal.

Do you have insurance? Make an appt with an ortho with a sports med emphasis.

[IliekFude]

rest ice n ibprofen sounds like overuse or tendonitis.
does it hurt and run up the front of yr bicep when you bench? or is it simply from pulling/curling?

[MR.cashcream]

It could. Your body may be trying to get you not to contract your brachioradio and it is locking down your biceps so you do not bend your elbow. The body is amazing in regards to getting us not to be stupid and hurt ourselves further.

Also, your brachioradio could be so strained and inflammed that it is giving some referred pain over to your biceps.

It sounds like you are pretty bad off, which means the healing time will be longer. It may be 4 - 6 weeks before things get better, a little longer till everything is back to normal.

Do you have insurance? Make an appt with an ortho with a sports med emphasis.

Do you suggest I take 4-6 weeks off from all lifting? Cus that's a daunting task right now, haha.

Yes I have insurance, I'll look into some local doc's here sometime.


rest ice n ibprofen sounds like overuse or tendonitis.
does it hurt and run up the front of yr bicep when you bench? or is it simply from pulling/curling?

Normally all feels fine when I do bench work, not much of an issue there....but yes, for certain, curling is very hard to do without any pain. Most pulling I am ok with, depending on the angle.

[redguru]

Tennis Elbow? I get it when I over-train my arms and it takes forever to heal. Only in my right arm, though.

[Killer]

You need to take time off (4 - 6) from whatever makes it worse. Try using some wrist straps on most lifts to take pressure off your elbow flexors. But if it hurts, doing that movement will only prolong the process. You have to be smart.

Redguru mentioned tennis elbow. Are you point tender on the outside (lateral) or inside (medial) epicondyle? Those are the points where you get forearm extensor or flexor tendonitis.

Medial epicondyle of the humerus - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medial_epicondyle_of_the_humerus)

Lateral epicondyle of the humerus - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lateral_epicondyle_of_the_humerus)

Are you point tendor in the muscle belly of the brachioradialis?

I am still thinking you strained (remember that any strain is actually a tear) of the brachioradialis (which is very common). It is possible that you did something to the joint capsule too, but not likely by what you are describing (a bro had that on here before too).

[IliekFude]

I duno if anyone mentioned it but a ratchet style wrap or strap around yr forearm below yr elbow but at the widest point of yr forearm - takes the pressure off the usual leverage point for that tendon and shifts it slightly lower alleviating alot of the stress from tennis elbow style injuries.
This may help but it honestly sounds like, as killer said, youve aggrivated the braciorad tendon so in that case ya just make sure to warmup properly (linement helps me) and to use sleeves well before you get to the gym and during - and rest / ice / ibprofen (or yr favorite nsaid) whenever possible. the nsaid is used before and at times after the workout but def. b4 to reduce inflamation and the resultant friction damage and problems that come with it.