rotator cuff popping and grinding

I took last week off bescuase I was having some real pain in my rotator cuff. Theres alot of popping and grinding bone againts bone. I thought that taking off a week and being a lazy a$$ would help but started to stretch yesterday and did chest/bi's day yesterday and the pain was back. Its NOT muscle soreness its a sharp pain especially with fly's and lat raises if I go heavy it kills me. I know it not my form its well developed. Any one else have this feeling or problem.

Life's only limitations are the ones you place on yourself, push through your physical restraints with mental positivity and you can accomplish everything!

To some degree yes.

Rotator cuff injuries are tricky. The only way to know what's really going on is an MRI. They can determine the extent of the damage and if just doing light band workouts will help with certain stretches or if surgery is needed. Surgery is pretty much the final resort.

Even laying off shoulders won't do much to heal and repair the area.

There's a post here somewhere.. over 30 days that has some good info on rotator cuff injuries.

It sounds like you have one. It's not a pull muscle. It is much more. And it doesn't just "go away"

I feel snowboading in December 2004. I still suffer to this day with the lousy pain. Although I can workout shoulders just fine, I have issues with raising my arm into certain positions.

Marc C. David - NGA CPT
Author of NoBull Bodybuilding
www.nobullbodybuilding.com

Thanks mda. I just hate going to the doc. But it seems I'm going to have to.

Life's only limitations are the ones you place on yourself, push through your physical restraints with mental positivity and you can accomplish everything!

Just curious. Do you do a lot of bench presses with barbells and heavy weights?

Scott "Old Navy" Hults, NFPT-CPT; NGA-CPT FAME, NGA & IDFA Natural Master Pro Bodybuilder FAME, NGA & OCB Contest Judge [image]http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/6610/shlogo2hor8tk.jpg[/image]

I work every bodypart once a week. Bench/bi's were yesterday

Bench
press 2 sets warm up light
Press-3sets of 6(heavy)(slight discomfort in shoulder)
incline fly-3 sets of 6(lighter)(most discomort)
delicne fly-3 sets of 6(lighest)(medium discomfort)

Bi's should not have muich of an effect o my shoulders. They dont hurt when working them.

Shoulders dont hurt during rear delt, or backworkout movments either but, lat and front raises kill the joint. military press not so bad but arnold press hurts.

Im on a bulk right now so more food and more weight are key. But dont want to blow out my shoulder.

I have been reading about glucosimine. Any body have any experience with this product?

Life's only limitations are the ones you place on yourself, push through your physical restraints with mental positivity and you can accomplish everything!

Frank: You are going to hate what I'm about to say. I would quit working out with the barbell bench press in any form, straight or slanted. You have a serious rotator cuff condition that needs immediate attention. Go to a orthopedic MD for treatment. Don't mess around with this. It can take months to heal. I'm sure the ortho MD will tell you to lay off the bench press permanently. The ballbell bench press, by its nature, restricts shoulder and joint movement, causing stress, and as you know, pain. I have been working out for 15 years and haven't touched a barbell in more than five years. I use dumbbells for all weight lifting exercises. This shot was taken a few weeks ago at a bodybuilding competition. Shoulders are not too bad for not doing any barbell work.

[image]local://3102/B506783F44A44F60B0BD5009AE284FF0.JPG[/image]

Attached Image(s)

Scott "Old Navy" Hults, NFPT-CPT; NGA-CPT FAME, NGA & IDFA Natural Master Pro Bodybuilder FAME, NGA & OCB Contest Judge [image]http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/6610/shlogo2hor8tk.jpg[/image]

I was affraid of that. I dont like doctors and absolutly fear needles. Thanks for the advise though Scott. I havent been to the doctor since high school though. I dont even have a doctor to go to. But my wifes a nurse and she'll get me one I guess. I'll keep you posted as to my updates. Should I try going lighter with more reps.

Life's only limitations are the ones you place on yourself, push through your physical restraints with mental positivity and you can accomplish everything!

Scott what is your shoulder routine. Most of my should movements are with dumbbells. I really want a developed set of shoulders. I keep very strick form. but the pain on some days is horrific and I move to tri's. I dont take any pain killers or medicine nor do I want too. Did you get surgery on your shoulder? I really dont want to loose the progress I have made in the last 6 months.

Life's only limitations are the ones you place on yourself, push through your physical restraints with mental positivity and you can accomplish everything!

I don't like doctors either. The longer you wait, the longer it's going to take to heal. About five years ago, while at a strange gym in Lima, Peru, I pulled my rotator cuff while doing a bench press with only two 45 pound plates. I was warming up and when I replaced the bar, I overshot the holder, and the bar with the weights wound up on the floor behind me, and I wound up with a shoulder injury that took about eight months to get over. From that time, no barbells in my workouts. Sorry, Man. But get it fixed soon. Stay healthy!

Scott "Old Navy" Hults, NFPT-CPT; NGA-CPT FAME, NGA & IDFA Natural Master Pro Bodybuilder FAME, NGA & OCB Contest Judge [image]http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/6610/shlogo2hor8tk.jpg[/image]

Thanks, I really appreciate your help. I am just going to have too bite the bullet and go. It's been hurting for a couple of months now and getting worse.

Life's only limitations are the ones you place on yourself, push through your physical restraints with mental positivity and you can accomplish everything!

In reply to your shoulder workout question. I use 12-15 pound dumbbells for shoulder raises, straight out and to the sides, slowly. I do seated bumbbell Arnolds for shoulder presses, or regular dumbbell presses, about 30-35 pounds, slowly. I use machines for shoulder push downs and I use dumbbells for shoulder shrugs. I usually do three sets with 10-12 reps each. I work shoulders and biceps on the same day, so the dumbbells are handy for bicep work too.

No, I didn't need surgery because it was just a bad pull. I was lucky. It hurt like hell for several weeks, even when I slept. But, eventually it got better and I have continued with heavy dumbbell work with no pain and no injury.

Scott "Old Navy" Hults, NFPT-CPT; NGA-CPT FAME, NGA & IDFA Natural Master Pro Bodybuilder FAME, NGA & OCB Contest Judge [image]http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/6610/shlogo2hor8tk.jpg[/image]

old navy

I have leaned a bar forward before, not like you did, but i can tell you that the rotator cuffs did not like that one bit.

AGE 23
Height: 5'9"

Arms 14 5/8"




"TRAIN LIKE AN ANIMAL"

Any bodybuilder or lifter who says his shoulder hurts has probably been bench pressing with heavy weights. The bench press with barbell that causes the most injuries is the "lets see how much I can press one time!" lift. I have seen guys trying to outdo each other, and after their turn, they try not to show just how much shoulder pain they are suffering. Really dumb. The problem with the barbell is that it restricts the motion the shoulder and joints need to lift the weight properly. That's why dumbbells are better. With dumbbells, your arms and shoulders are free to adjust to the weights and control their movement, without restriction. When I do dumbbell bench press sets, I start with 60s the first set x 10, 65s or 70s the second set x 10 and finish with 75s x 10 for the third set. So in set three I am bench pressing 150 lbs with dumbbells and I weigh around 140. It's enough for me. I usually use 35s for flys and 35s or 40s for seated shoulder presses. I use 60s or 70s for shrugs. Believe me, there is plenty you can do with dumbbells that can work for you in your program.

Scott "Old Navy" Hults, NFPT-CPT; NGA-CPT FAME, NGA & IDFA Natural Master Pro Bodybuilder FAME, NGA & OCB Contest Judge [image]http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/6610/shlogo2hor8tk.jpg[/image]

I dont understand though I dont lift really heavy. I work out at home by myself. So i cant lift heavy because there is no spotter, and funny enough it's my left shoulder and I'm right handed. I know I have elbow problems from throwing a baseball but that my right arm and it dosent hurt when lifting. So go figure.

Life's only limitations are the ones you place on yourself, push through your physical restraints with mental positivity and you can accomplish everything!

Throwing a base ball kills your rotator cuffs also, thats why pitchers ice down after a game. Maybe that is part of the reason for your pain.

AGE 23
Height: 5'9"

Arms 14 5/8"




"TRAIN LIKE AN ANIMAL"

It's the wrong arm. My left shoulder hurts and I'm right handed!

Life's only limitations are the ones you place on yourself, push through your physical restraints with mental positivity and you can accomplish everything!

oh, shoot, i didn't see that you said that. Well I guess go see the doctor.

AGE 23
Height: 5'9"

Arms 14 5/8"




"TRAIN LIKE AN ANIMAL"

As long as your shoulder is not treated, it will hurt whenever you use it...carrying a bag, opening a car door, raising up to reach something, and of course any kind of weight training. A mere strain will take two to three months to heal without treatment. A tear or rupture will hurt until you get treatment and won't heal by itself under any circumstances. So, my advice, go see an Ortho MD as soon as possible and get it scoped or have an MRI. Then you will know what your are dealing with and how to treat the injury.

Scott "Old Navy" Hults, NFPT-CPT; NGA-CPT FAME, NGA & IDFA Natural Master Pro Bodybuilder FAME, NGA & OCB Contest Judge [image]http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/6610/shlogo2hor8tk.jpg[/image]

Old Navy: your words are a revelation. What I always felt now reassured.

bench270: - I messed a rotator cuff by simply skimming a stone into the sea

- If you don't like needles order on online, swab it and stick it in your ass according to guides online. You'll be amazed how painless it is - odd even. Blood samples are a bit more hardcore. I must admit I did struggle giving blood. But intramuscular is fine

- it's my left cuff that's knackered too and I'm left handed too. You could thoerise that it's the weaker side

- don't worry. You may not need to train your left shoulder at all for the moment! Because we're bilaterally symmetric the body copies across building. There's a study quoted somewhere that gives exact figures but basically if you train just one side of your body the other side will grow, I'm just not sure how much difference there is between the sides.

I messed a rotator cuff by simply skimming a stone into the sea

 
for your sake, i hope the stone atleast went a long way
 

  don't worry. You may not need to train your left shoulder at all for the moment! Because we're bilaterally symmetric the body copies across building. There's a study quoted somewhere that gives exact figures but basically if you train just one side of your body the other side will grow, I'm just not sure how much difference there is between the sides.

 
thats rather interesting. I wouldnt mind looking into it a bit more. do you know the source?

I'm in the same boat.  Years of heavy bench totaly screwed my left shoulder, and now my right is doing the same.  When I even slighty move it in any direction it pops out of place and does that snap crackle pop rice crispies thingy.  I just had a ultra-sound on both shoulders and big supprize I have inflamed rotator-cuff tendons and inflamed joints.  Being a certified traner I should have known this would happen but you know you think its not going to happen to you, lol yah right!  Quit the barbells and only do the dumbells for upper body movements.  Yes glucosamine sulfate does help with the pain but will not heal the injury at all.  Go to the doctor and get it taken care of now for the sake of your health.  Do rotator cuff warm ups before and after workouts that involve any shouder movement at all. Reason being it gets blood flow to it and stretches it for the workout to lessens the irritation to the injury. Good luck bro!

As you say IronMan23, I think Glucosamine only treats the pain, but Chondroitin, and MSM, are supposed to speed recovery.
 
As I said in another thread, I have read that when there are imbalances in the four muscles of the rotator cuff, the popping and grinding noises occur. The way to overcome this is to strengthen those muscles.