Any sport therapists or orthopedic people? I need Help!

[Donk]

Hi guys,

I have a problem and am having a hard time diagnosing what it is. My wife who is a nurse and a Doctoral student tells me that the shoulder problem I am having stems from the AC joint. The problem is I have some pain all the time, except for when I am at the gym working out. I have had this issue for quite a while now and can feel some popping when touching my shoulder and moving my shoulder.

I start by stretching and warming up some. Start doing incline bench press with 60 lb. dumbbells and my shoulder hurts for all 12 reps.
move onto 70 lb. for 10 reps still hurts. go to 80 then 90 then 100 lb. dumbbells for 5 reps, then the pain stops, 110 lb. dumbbells for 5 reps, and I feel great.

oh yeah, it's only my left shoulder.

So question is, What kind of injury to a shoulder hurts with no weight and some weight but lessens the heavier and harder you go?

lastly I also have no issues when it comes to doing shoulder presses with dumbbells either, but same problem is going on. pain in the shoulder until heavy dumbbells.

I'm just curious, can't find any related info online, not sure If I want to go see a Dr. just yet.

Thanks for any input you can share, feel free to write on the board or PM either way I just need some answers.

 

[Alwayslit]

Sounds like you have micro tears in the Rotator Cuff and when you work out blood flow to the area actually makes it feel better. Suggest getting a Cortisone shot and placing heat on the area everyday. It will take time to heal. Take 1000mg of fish oil daily.

 

[smokinbodybuilder]

Just sent your issue to my sister who is a Physical Therapist. Will post up her thoughts when I get them?

I had a similar issue in high school. My elbow would throb all the time. Hurt to turn a door knob, pick my nose and hurt to toss a baseball. But when I unloaded the baseball and threw hard it felt fine. Eventually got to the point that no matter how hard it felt I was throwing the ball wouldn't go anywhere. Lol...long story short I ended up getting Tommy John surgery.


TapaDeezNuts

 

[smokinbodybuilder]

Here is her exact response:
"I would question where exactly the pain is. Shoulders are hard but its possible to have a small tear or strain causing the pain and when going to heavier weights he is altering the shoulder mechanics and thus not stressing where the injury is. Also with heavier weights he is going to recruit more and different muscles which can also change the mechanics of the joint. The popping can be scar tissue or loose bodies in the joint but I would def have it checked sooner rather than later. You don't f*ck with shoulder injuries."

She of course didn't censor the F word. Hope this helps.


TapaDeezNuts

 

[jmartins]

I had the same issue turns out I had destroyed a portion of the cartilage in my shoulder. My rotator cuff had gotten pinched in my should the reason the weight help me was because like what was said above the other muscle in my shoulder were keeping everything tight and in place. I would definitely go to the docs because the shoulder is one of the trickiest joints cause it begins to effect your neck, chest, ribs and back. Trust me you don't want any of that.

Cheers,
JM


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 2

 

[daniyal]

The wife is a chiro I can talk to her and get back to you but she's gonna say tell him to get a MRI/CT done before a proper diagnosis can be made.. not sure which one would be appropriate in the case but let me ask her and get back to you.

 

[hdroadglide]

as a PT, i agree with what has been said by sbb's sister. sometimes the rotator cuff gets overlooked when working out and the stability of the shoulder's inner workings can be compromised. this can lead to bursitis, which would be achy all the time. you could also have some impingement going on as well (with the bony structures). either way, you need to see an orthopedic dr and get an mri so that you can see if an injection and proper exercises would solve the problem.......or keep doing nothing and have surgery!!!!
just my .02 from 20 years in the business.

 

[mofo]

Wouldn't diagree with anything written here...while you are waiting to get in to see an MD here is a little trick from Robin McKenzie, a great PT from New Zealand who just passed away...find a everyday position or activity short of the lifting that always brings on your pain like, reaching out to the side or overhead (your test position)...then take your arm straight backward like in the following youtube video...the extension will often eliminate a good amout of pain when you return to the painful test position...if it helps with the pain go thru the progression in the video...this often works for simple cuff problems...a more serious cuff tear or labral tear, not so much...most insurance companies witll make you do some PT prior to taking some pictures, so this activity is a pretty safe palce to start as long as the pain is not severe...worth a try...BTW PT for 20 years as well...hdroadglide and I are getting old...

[video=youtube;fvTT5duA2r4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvTT5duA2r4[/video]

 

[sdlaird]

Sounds exactly like what I had which is/was a partially torn labrum. Certain movements were like an ice pick in my shoulder. Had a contrast MRI that confirmed the diagnosis and then PT that resolved it for the most part. No surgery necessary, but as mentioned, there are a dozen things that could be causing the pain.

 

[Donk]

Thanks guys. I guess I need to see a dr. about the problem. I knew I'd get the answers I needed on here. You guys rock.