Shoulder Injury?

[SneakyStuff]

I was doing incline dumbbell press the other day with a little more weight than I usually do. On the 5th rep I realized that my left arm wouldn't be able to bring the weight down slowly but couldn't just drop the weight because someone was on the bench next to me. WELL, my friend who was supposed to be spotting me wasn't paying attention so my entire left arm just buckled backwards and I heard this pop noise in my shoulder. There was no immediate pain but I write this a day later with some soreness/discomfort in my shoulder. What could have happened to me and what should I do? I'm a business major so not a whole lot of knowledge on my part about this sort of thing. I have heard horror stories though about people injuring their shoulders and continuing with normal lifting only to find out months later they caused irreparable damage.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Originally posted by: SneakyStuff
I was doing incline dumbbell press the other day with a little more weight than I usually do. On the 5th rep I realized that my left arm wouldn't be able to bring the weight down slowly but couldn't just drop the weight because someone was on the bench next to me. WELL, my friend who was supposed to be spotting me wasn't paying attention so my entire left arm just buckled backwards and I heard this pop noise in my shoulder. There was no immediate pain but I write this a day later with some soreness/discomfort in my shoulder. What could have happened to me and what should I do? I'm a business major so not a whole lot of knowledge on my part about this sort of thing. I have heard horror stories though about people injuring their shoulders and continuing with normal lifting only to find out months later they caused irreparable damage.

It could be any amount of things. Muscle strain, labrum tear, tendon strain/tear, etc. Honestly, when it comes to joints, I don't usually play around. If something like that happens, I'm in to see the orthopedist the next week. You should probably try something like that because you're not gonna have any idea until the doctor does some range of motion tests and maybe an MRI.

 

[SneakyStuff]

Well I won't be able to see anyone until monday so in the meantime is there anything I should be doing? sling maybe?

 

[brikis98]

As SC said, go see a doctor. In the meantime, give your shoulder a rest (ie, no more lifting!), ice it, and take some ibuprofen to bring down any swelling.

 

[MadOni0n]

i wouldn't play around with this type of injury, sorry to scare you but it might be a slap tear. You should go see an orthopedic surgeon right away but he'll send you to get XRAY/MRI's then from there he can tell you whats wrong.

edit: definitely stop lifting for now. take advil if you have any pain / ice it for 20mins every few hours. try to rest it.

 

[SneakyStuff]

I was able to see one of the trainers today at the gym. He thinks that I tore a muscle running over my shoulder because I only felt pain when he touched that specific area. Safe to say I won't be doing anymore lifting for the time being.

 

[MadOni0n]

if you do have a tear of any sort and if you do indeed need to have surgery i just want to stress the fact that you shouldn't push yourself onto too strenuous exercises (weightlifting) too fast BUT really focus hard on the PT excercises you are given and do them daily.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Originally posted by: SneakyStuff
I was able to see one of the trainers today at the gym. He thinks that I tore a muscle running over my shoulder because I only felt pain when he touched that specific area. Safe to say I won't be doing anymore lifting for the time being.

Well, let me say this first of all: trainers like to think they're doctors. They're not. A personal trainer has little to no experience in physiology or anatomy and should not be diagnosing you. Second of all, you would have definitely felt extreme pain after you did it. Your body lets you know when you tear a muscle. There are a ton of neurons that interact with your muscle. You probably would've been crying Also, there would be severe bruising/hematoma. Please, slap your that trainer when you see him next.

In the meantime, live by R.I.C.E. - rest, ice, compression, elevation. Also, take some ibuprofen for swelling and pain. Good luck, man. Let us know what the doc says.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Originally posted by: MadOni0n
if you do have a tear of any sort and if you do indeed need to have surgery i just want to stress the fact that you shouldn't push yourself onto too strenuous exercises (weightlifting) too fast BUT really focus hard on the PT excercises you are given and do them daily.

I think you're getting a little bit ahead of yourself. He hasn't even gone to the doctor yet. The doctor will tell him all he needs to know when he gets diagnosed and treated.

 

[SneakyStuff]

OK so even if the pain is reduced/gone monday you would still definately reccomend seeing a doctor?

edit: and this is just a hypothetical scenario because I can still feel it now.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Originally posted by: SneakyStuff
OK so even if the pain is reduced/gone monday you would still definately reccomend seeing a doctor?

edit: and this is just a hypothetical scenario because I can still feel it now.

Yep, 100%. Something doesn't pop for no reason. You need to get it checked out. It could be nothing or it could be something fairly serious. It's worth it to see a doctor no matter what.

 

[MadOni0n]

Originally posted by: SociallyChallenged

Originally posted by: MadOni0n
if you do have a tear of any sort and if you do indeed need to have surgery i just want to stress the fact that you shouldn't push yourself onto too strenuous exercises (weightlifting) too fast BUT really focus hard on the PT excercises you are given and do them daily.

I think you're getting a little bit ahead of yourself. He hasn't even gone to the doctor yet. The doctor will tell him all he needs to know when he gets diagnosed and treated.

well i just posted that since i had a very similar injury.. i got a slap tear. i didn't "cry" or anything it didn't hurt that bad at all but it was a very serious injury so he could possibly have something of that sort

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Originally posted by: MadOni0n

Originally posted by: SociallyChallenged

Originally posted by: MadOni0n
if you do have a tear of any sort and if you do indeed need to have surgery i just want to stress the fact that you shouldn't push yourself onto too strenuous exercises (weightlifting) too fast BUT really focus hard on the PT excercises you are given and do them daily.

I think you're getting a little bit ahead of yourself. He hasn't even gone to the doctor yet. The doctor will tell him all he needs to know when he gets diagnosed and treated.

well i just posted that since i had a very similar injury.. i got a slap tear. i didn't "cry" or anything it didn't hurt that bad at all but it was a very serious injury so he could possibly have something of that sort

Just because an injury happened to the shoulder doesn't mean it's the same injury or damaged to the same degree. A labrum/SLAP tear is completely different from an actual muscle tear. The labrum tear, I agree, is a bothersome injury but can sometimes be accommodated for through rotator cuff strengthening. It all depends on the degree of damage. He COULD have a lot of injuries so let's not scare him unnecessarily. Other options: muscle strain, tendon strain, tendinitis, tendinosis, shoulder impingement, etc, which are injuries that are much less serious and create the same symptoms from similar situations.

 

[SneakyStuff]

Definately making a dr. appointment monday, I appreciate the feedback guys. :thumbsup:

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Originally posted by: SneakyStuff
Definately making a dr. appointment monday, I appreciate the feedback guys. :thumbsup:

No worries, man. Let us know how it works out. I've had a shoulder injury and worked at a couple of physical therapy places. If there's something I can help with, I'll definitely try - just lemme know.

 

[SneakyStuff]

Was able to see an dr. today and she did some range of motion tests, her opinion is that I have a fibrous muscle sprain and I'm not to lift for 2 weeks. She said to schedule an MRI if the pain is present after 2 weeks. The good news is that I have full range of motion and according to her I would have been in a lot of pain when she moved my am in some of those tests. Thanks for encouraging me to see an actual dr. :laugh:

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Originally posted by: SneakyStuff
Was able to see an dr. today and she did some range of motion tests, her opinion is that I have a fibrous muscle sprain and I'm not to lift for 2 weeks. She said to schedule an MRI if the pain is present after 2 weeks. The good news is that I have full range of motion and according to her I would have been in a lot of pain when she moved my am in some of those tests. Thanks for encouraging me to see an actual dr. :laugh:

Great news, man. That's pretty much the best thing she could say. Did she give you some light rotator cuff exercises to do in the process? Those might help prevent something like this in the future. Anyhow, it's good to hear that you're only out for a little bit. You can still work your legs out in the meantime

 

[SneakyStuff]

Gah! I have to drag myself to the gym every week to do legs, guess it's an easier sell now! :laugh:

 

[polarmystery]

Originally posted by: SneakyStuff
Gah! I have to drag myself to the gym every week to do legs, guess it's an easier sell now! :laugh:

I had the exact same thing happen to me. Doctor told me I tore a tendon. He told me I could work out in a month but it took three just to have enough heal time. He gave me a shot of hydrocortisol. I should have gotten a second opinion as he was worthless.

I still have pain in it today if my shoulder is at a specific angle. Sucks...

 

[SKC]

Nearly the exact same thing happened to me (except I didn't have a spotter) - I was essentially out of commission for ~3 months. Glad you went to see a doctor, and if they put you on a physical therapy plan please, please follow it. Get better soon!