shoulder pain

[utblazer]

I'm a rugby player and I have a shoulder injury. I've never really gotten it checked out -- although I have a chiropractor's appt. tomorrow -- my first. Anyway, it just started flaring up again -- I'm guessing it's rotator cuff injury, but not sure. Anyway, it's hard as hell to do chest -- heavy and lat pulldowns. How the hell am I supposed to stay in shape with this going on? I do those strenthening exercises for rotator cuffs but it doens't seem to do all that much. Any thoughts? I hear there's non-steoroidal inflammation blocker or something like that which I can take to help it? All thoughts are appreciated. Thanks

[fabiensf]

Take a break from training; don't put any stress on your shoulders. Take a collagen complex containing glucosamine and chondroitin, that should help you heal. If you have shoulder pain use an anti inflammatory gel, somehing containing ibuprofen should do.Just make sure you do not work out your upper body before you are fully recovered!!!

[Fletch]

or even better........go see a doctor and get an MRI done on your shoulder to see how much damage there is. The shoulder is the most rehearsed area in med school and one of the easiest to perform a diagnosis.

This is coming from someone who has strained the rotator cuff on multiple occastions, and watched many still train hard with even a tear in it. If it's a strain.....the doctors will give you some exercises to do to stregthen the stabilizing muscles around the shoulder. My strain was bad enough where i couldn't lift my left arm high enough to put a shirt on. I rehabbed the stabilizer muscles and after 6 weeks I was lifting at 110% again. I had always tested it every couple days doing some light non-beneficial dummbell flat bench but it would've been better for me just to rest.

- Fletch

[ironpete]

Hi....I had a problem also with my left rotator cuff, infact it was so bad that I nearly had to give away weight training for good. I originally got it when i was 18 from incorrect lifting and lousy form, i believe that was the cause back then. Then 5 years later it flared up again, worse then before. I tried everything...rotator cuff exercises, anti-inflammitorys, stretching, laying off from weights for a while, nothing seemed to help. Then I started using ice, everytime I done a workout i slapped a pack of frozen peas on that shoulder, i also changed my workout style. I started concentrating on rear delt exercises, no front delts only military press and I executed all my chest and shoulder movements and any movement that irritated that should slow. @ seconds up and 4 down...as decribed in HIT. My shoulder has been 100% and I haven't had a problem since. Dude i reckon, lots of rest...if you train light and it hurts throw some ice on it and concentrate on slow movements, it worked wonders for my shoulder. Hope I could help.