wrist pains from bench, but can i still do pulling motions?

[wimp2pimp]

topic says it all. I don't want to miss a workout. I'm doing the rippetoe routine, and wrist pain seems to be getting stronger, and staying longer. I'm pretty sure I got it from bench pressing. Tomarrow is going to be my standing overhead press day, and I hate to miss a workout, but it seems that my wrist hurts a little too much, as well as my anterior shoulders still being a little bit sore. I think it's a good idea to not perform the press tomarrow, but should I still do the bentover barbell rows, and pullups?

[PhreEkGarden]

I had this problem toward the end of my time on rippetoes. Had to lay off all pressing like military and bench. Doctor said I had tendinitis. He said its really common among athletes, I just need to give it rest and take some aleve I think he said. The aleve will help with the swelling which will allow it to heal faster if I remember him saying correctly. I kept it in a brace as much as possible for about 2 weeks so I would stop moving it the wrong way and make it hurt. I also bought some Inzer wrist wraps which ive still been using every time I have to press heavy and they work great.

Edit: Oh yeah.. I was still able to do all my pulling exercises fine, anything with a straight bar kind of bothered it though. (like curls) Pullups did some but I found a variation I could do with no problem...

[bigpauly]

ditch the barbell and use dumbells there heaps better, they work the chest more evenly and and you dont get sore wrists
when using dumbells you are using much more stabilisers and so it does seem harder
it dosent allow for the stronger side to help the weaker like on barbell resulting in uneven strenth on either side of the body

[li0scc0]

Do you use an excessively wide or narrow grip? I have seen that bench press wrist pain usually comes from a grip that, at the bottom of the motion, has the hands/wrists/forearms not properly aligned. I.e. a wide grip often stresses the 'inner' part of the wrist, a narrow grip the outer part of the wrist.

[wimp2pimp]

Originally Posted by bigpauly

ditch the barbell and use dumbells there heaps better, they work the chest more evenly and and you dont get sore wrists
when using dumbells you are using much more stabilisers and so it does seem harder
it dosent allow for the stronger side to help the weaker like on barbell resulting in uneven strenth on either side of the body

I love dumb bells, and i would do them. the only problem is, they only increment in 5 lbs per dumb bell. And my bench press goes up so slow, that i don't think dumb bells would offer me the level of progression I would need.

Originally Posted by li0scc0

Do you use an excessively wide or narrow grip? I have seen that bench press wrist pain usually comes from a grip that, at the bottom of the motion, has the hands/wrists/forearms not properly aligned. I.e. a wide grip often stresses the 'inner' part of the wrist, a narrow grip the outer part of the wrist.

That's a good point. I may have to experiment with different grips.

Originally Posted by PhreEkGarden

I had this problem toward the end of my time on rippetoes. Had to lay off all pressing like military and bench. Doctor said I had tendinitis. He said its really common among athletes, I just need to give it rest and take some aleve I think he said. The aleve will help with the swelling which will allow it to heal faster if I remember him saying correctly. I kept it in a brace as much as possible for about 2 weeks so I would stop moving it the wrong way and make it hurt. I also bought some Inzer wrist wraps which ive still been using every time I have to press heavy and they work great.

Edit: Oh yeah.. I was still able to do all my pulling exercises fine, anything with a straight bar kind of bothered it though. (like curls) Pullups did some but I found a variation I could do with no problem...

It doesn't look like there are any swellings on my wrist, and it's just on one of them. But it definately feels like some sort of tendinitis.I think I'm going to be safe and go ahead and buy the wrist braces, and use them.

[MegaPump]

Get wrist straps and dont bend at the wrist also. Try keep your knuckels in line with your wrist as much as possible without dropin the weigh on your neck.

[tonester]

Just on the off chance...do you do your benching with the heels of your hand. You know... without the thumbs around the bar. If so you're missing out on the strengthening that a good solid grip provides. I see it all the time on all sorts of exercises. ie cable flys with open palms and handles pushed by the heel of the hand...pulling with the fingers hooked/hand open on machine pulls etc. These folks will at some point regret the lack of strength in their forearms, wrists and elbows.