Tricep weak due to shoulder injury???

I have an old shoulder injury that the last bout lasted almost 8 months.. Suffered some pretty bad atrophy on the entire left side of my upper body.. So far, after about 12 week of working out 5 days per week, the left side is starting to catch up.. but i have noticed my left tricep is lagging? 

here's my question..
I can do cable push downs.. ok.. overhead extensions with a rope OK..

but when I try to do an overhead, DB extension.. or DB extensions lying on a bench.. similar to skull crushers... 
when I drop the weight behind my head, it's like i have absolutely no power to push it back up?  

this is also effecting my bench, shoulder press and almost any other upper body push but the tricep extensions are the one it really shows on..  

I'm thinking it might be a weak Brachialis?   Any thought on why it would be so predominant on db extensions?? or any advice to help rehab would be appreciated..
 

I've started doing 1 day per week just working the left arm with light weight by doing the tricep exercises that seem to be the most difficult..

There is never enough time to do everything, but there is always enough time to do the most important thing

 

I don't think it's the brachialis as it is an elbox flexor, it's probably the long head of the triceps brachii has suffered atrophy as it's the one that is more active during complete shoulder flexion (overhead exercises), if you cannot manage the weight back up, grab a lighter DB and with time you'll hopefully regain strengh
Note:don't use different weights for each arm, NEVER, stick to same weight in both arms even if the right arm is just playing with it, shoulder injuries are to be taken siriously and it takes time t fully recover

Squat max - 275lbs  30/07/09
Bench max - ¿?
Front Squats(atg)- ¿?

ORIGINAL: Gottabefit

I don't think it's the brachialis as it is an elbox flexor, it's probably the long head of the triceps brachii has suffered atrophy as it's the one that is more active during complete shoulder flexion (overhead exercises), if you cannot manage the weight back up, grab a lighter DB and with time you'll hopefully regain strengh
Note:don't use different weights for each arm, NEVER, stick to same weight in both arms even if the right arm is just playing with it, shoulder injuries are to be taken siriously and it takes time t fully recover

 
Thanks for the advice.  Like I mentioned, the shoulder was out of use for almost 8 moths so I guess I shouldn't expect miracles in 12 weeks but I did notice you said, " if you cannot manage the weight back up, grab a lighter DB and with time you'll hopefully regain strengh." I'm not very familiar with Atrophy problems.. is there a chance the muscle may never regain full strengh?  
 
 

There is never enough time to do everything, but there is always enough time to do the most important thing

 

If trained, the muscle will regain full strengh, but it takes time.. Atrophy is the loss of mucle tissue due to lack of use/movement, I said hopefuly because it depens on the injury, if you injuried the shoulder permanently the the triceps and biceps will be compromised, but if not, you have to wait for the shoulder to fully recover to train and therefore regain full strengh in triceps in your case

Squat max - 275lbs  30/07/09
Bench max - ¿?
Front Squats(atg)- ¿?

One last question..  When doing two hand DB exetentions behind the head, skull krushers with an ez bar, do you think this is only going to overload the strong tricep?  or do you think the weak tri, "long head" will get enough stimulation?

I guess without realizing it i've stayed away from extentions due to the weak arm and mainly done pushdowns, close grip bench and bent over extentions with a rope..  

From what I can tell, it seems the strong arm has only increased in strength and the weak arm keeps lagging.. but again, it took a good year for my left side to atrophy to this extent and maybe I'm just expecting too much in too short of a time..

Just to give you an idea of the strenght difference.. 
With an bent over extention using a rope, I can easily push 50 lbs with my right arm and I'm lucky if I can do 20Lbs 6 or 7 times with the left...   

So should I do tri exercises that use both arms at the same time or would you concentrate on single arm exercises like the db extentions? 

Thanks for the help.
 
I know these questions seem stupid.. and i probably know the answers but i'm so frustrated at this point I guess I just need to hear other opinions..

There is never enough time to do everything, but there is always enough time to do the most important thing

 

Yes, concetrate on single arm exercises, wheter it's with dumbells or cable, it is better.. I'd also suggest going to a therapist to accelerate the healing process if you aren't already..
Good look man see ya arround

Squat max - 275lbs  30/07/09
Bench max - ¿?
Front Squats(atg)- ¿?

I appreciate the good advice and thanks again for tolerating the stupid questions..

There is never enough time to do everything, but there is always enough time to do the most important thing