Cutting during an injury?

[AD1985]

My forearm on my dominant arm has been acting up during rows and most other pulls so for the past 3 weeks I've neglected all pulling movements. I thought it would be fine in a week or 2, now I wonder if it'll be fine at all. It has improved somewhat but even during standing ab wheel the forearm issue makes itself known.

I was expecting to cut soon. Bodyfat is getting high, somewhere around 18-20%. I'm now concerned that if I cut and this forearm issue prevents pull training I'll lose a ton of strentgh and mass. I'm thinking of pushing back the cut 1-2 months, maybe longer until the forearm is fully recovered.

Is that best or would you guys do the cut anyways?

[wave_length]

The amount of strength you‘ll lose will be more related to the stimulus you can still apply than the amount of calories you take in. I would stick to the plan, there is no guarantee on how the training will evolve in the next months anyway.

[grubman]

My forearm on my dominant arm has been acting up during rows and most other pulls so for the past 3 weeks I've neglected all pulling movements. I thought it would be fine in a week or 2, now I wonder if it'll be fine at all.

Well...that’s because you are still working out. You are using the forearm muscles every time you grab anything. Take two weeks COMPLETELY off from lifting (maybe a month) then see where you are at. Keep lifting at the risk of making a minor injury into a major chronic one.*

I feel like a broken record...when has “working through” an injury EVER been a good idea? I’ve never seen a consistent dedicated long time lifters muscles shrivel up in a month out of the gym.

Good luck.

*Assuming we are talking about a pulled muscle or tendinitis, or a fairly minor injury ...see a doctor if it’s something worse.

[YoelDovid]

When you say "acting up", is this by any chance a sharp pain along the radius and even across the inside of the elbow?

[mtpockets]

Dial in your nutrition, heal that arm and in the meantime work on legs, would be my recommendation. Any mass you loose, which probably wont be much, will be gained back, don't over think it.

[AD1985]

When you say "acting up", is this by any chance a sharp pain along the radius and even across the inside of the elbow?

Not sharp no. 3 weeks ago I could feel the fatigue on that arm most of the day and it didn't want to bend all the way straight (when it was straight it felt like it was being stretched a little).

The feeling kept getting worse until I decided to give it a week off. 3 weeks later I can straighten it and the stretched feeling is maybe at a 2/10 now. But when I do ab wheel it verges on some form of mild pain again.

Interestingly it was less bothersome during heavy rows but I think that was due to concentration and general stimulus overload (after the set of heavy rows it become super sensitive).

I will do as you guys suggested and just take time off. Never a fun feeling but I guess even during bench and other stuff it's being activated somewhat.

[hmmmm16417]

do you use wrist wraps or rely 100% on your grip?

[AD1985]

do you use wrist wraps or rely 100% on your grip?

I use straps on my deadlift work sets, but not wraps.

Deadlifts don't really bring out the agitation. Rows do it the most, its very clear the rowing motion is the cause of this.

Haven't done a workout for a couple days now and if I had to guess, I think it is improving. I can stretch my hand out without even a light stretched feeling in the forearm. I suspect I'm not ready yet but I think 2 weeks will cure it.

[grubman]

I use straps on my deadlift work sets, but not wraps.

Deadlifts don't really bring out the agitation. Rows do it the most, its very clear the rowing motion is the cause of this.

Haven't done a workout for a couple days now and if I had to guess, I think it is improving. I can stretch my hand out without even a light stretched feeling in the forearm. I suspect I'm not ready yet but I think 2 weeks will cure it.

I’m not a doctor...but from past experience, it’s better to be 100% recovered, than to feel your recovered just enough to start up again. If you aren’t 100%, one workout can put you right back to square one and you’ll have to start the recovery process all over again. Good luck, hope it gets better ASAP.

[EjnarKolinkar]

Is that best or would you guys do the cut anyways?

Bodybuilding really is not an endeavor for the impatient. I'd focus on getting healthy first.

[OldFartTom]

Cutting can conflict (a lot) with muscle growth, but it can also conflict with healing for the same kinds of reasons.

I'd look to eat maintenance at very least, while healing from an injury or illness.

[AD1985]

It's been about 3.5 weeks without any rowing now. I tried rowing a DB with 60 lbs total weight as a test. The weak arm had no issue. The dominant arm with the prior issue, flared up mildly on the first rep.

At this point I believe the issue is chronic. It doesn't seem to be fading. It goes into remission on a break but then shows its head with even light weight.

I now wonder what this will mean. No more horizonal pulls? That would be pretty crazy.

My row was my strongest lift, I was doing 215 x 15 before this. Maybe I will need to maintain from here. I think a few (1 to 3) top sets per week, and then some extra DB work only on the weak side if the strong one is aggravated, which it almost certainly will be. But the low volume should minimize the problem.

If you guys have any suggestiosn please share.

[wave_length]

I don‘t think you can judge whether or not it is chronic after 3 weeks. I have had injuries that took months/years to fully heal.

[grubman]

If you guys have any suggestiosn please share.

Yeah...STOP FUKING WORKING OUT AND LET IT HEAL!!

You don’t listen.

[AD1985]

I don't think lifting 60 lbs 3 times is a workout

[OldFartTom]

I don't think lifting 60 lbs 3 times is a workout

Maybe your brain doesn't think that's a workout but clearly your arm has a different opinion on the matter

... The dominant arm with the prior issue, flared up mildly on the first rep

You can try the sage advice... (Stop sugar coating things Grubman and say what's on your mind )

.. ...STOP FUKING WORKING OUT AND LET IT HEAL!...

Plus maybe see a physical therapist
Or you can try lifting to make it worse... it's up to you

[grubman]

I don't think lifting 60 lbs 3 times is a workout

Well, good luck then. Apparently you have it all figured out. I’ll unsubscribe now.

[AD1985]

Maybe your brain doesn't think that's a workout but clearly your arm has a different opinion on the matter

You can try the sage advice... (Stop sugar coating things Grubman and say what's on your mind )
Plus maybe see a physical therapist
Or you can try lifting to make it worse... it's up to you

I tried searching for physical therapists in my area not expecting much, but there were actually quite a few. And sports injuries seem to be their whole niche. I'll check one out, thanks

[OldFartTom]

I tried searching for physical therapists in my area not expecting much, but there were actually quite a few. And sports injuries seem to be their whole niche. I'll check one out, thanks

I've only seen them for running injuries, but my limited experience is that it's as much their experience and art, as it is science. So if possible get a really experienced one (and recommendations is best). Good luck, hope it heals quick!

[EjnarKolinkar]

I don‘t think you can judge whether or not it is chronic after 3 weeks. I have had injuries that took months/years to fully heal.

Exactly, and it's so easy to back off and play it safe. I'll often just work on other body parts if my shoulder is problematic to avoid another long layoff and rehab.

[tblodg15]

Yeah...STOP FUKING WORKING OUT AND LET IT HEAL!!

You don’t listen.

LOL, well said!

[AD1985]

Physiotherapist was able to isolate the issue. He pressed down on a place that made it hurt worse than a top set of rows. He said my tendon on that forearm had been overstretched and might have fibrosis (internal scarring).

He did clear me for leg work, abs and even bench press kept to half reps at the bottom. I workout at home and ab wheel has been my only ab work, but that requires full arm extension and I already know that movement flares up the issue. So I guess I'm relegated to something like planks for now.

He said it's not a ligament issue so it won't be a long term issue. But as I was squeezing a tennis ball and doing other light exercises the agitation was there. Makes me think his version of "not long term" is different from mine.

[AD1985]

I have not done rows yet but I have worked in curls. I was at the working weight of my weak but undamaged arm but it still flares up at that weight. The same happened at lower weights before gradually dissapating so I am hopeful. I give it another 3 weeks before it's fully healed up

These little muscles sure can stay damaged for a long time!

[AD1985]

Curls only have the slightest unsual feel on the hurt arm now. I finally started doing somewhat real sets of rows today, 158 lbs for 3 sets of 8. As my work sets used to be a little over 200 x 15 my back could still handle it with ease.

My arm however, showed it still has damage. The most pronounced discomfort was on the elbow itself. I remember before I quit rows 2 months ago it did have issues there but the forearm pain overshadowed it.

I've stopped the PT sessions. They weren't helping much (beyond doing my own incremental work at home). The therapist would basically put a hot pack on the area for 20 minutes, then come back and have me do some very low intensity arm bends.

I think the first session where the problem was explained was well worth it though.

[AD1985]

Doing my first serious back workout in 10 weeks today. My last post was wrong, I checked my logs and I was doing 215 x 15 in early January. Now I tried 203 and got 12 for the first set, 9 for the second. So I lost a lot of strength.

The good news is the pain is finally gone completely. So with that out of the picture I think my rows can get back to my previous max in 1-2 months. I'm thinking I'll delay the cut that much more. Kinda fat right now (21% or so) but knowing myself I won't be happy cutting unless I'm close to top form.