[supersize77]

I been lifting heavy 4-6 reps for the past 6 moths and my left bicep has become extremely sore. Its progressed from a slight twinge to a deep ache. I have tried to work around the pain but now it even hurts to flex it. It hurts the worst when hoisting DBells up to do shoulder presses or Inclines (I was using 100 & 120's respectively (I feel a stabbing pain along the biceps and directly below in the bend). As far as curls, forgetaboutit, I can still do 70 on DBells but man the pain. My question: should I just take a few weeks off completely?; or just do exercises that dont hurt the biceps including machines and raise the reps to lighten the stress to my joints while not training bis directly at all. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. This really sucks because lifting weights is my outlet for stress.

[scotty2]

See a Dr regardless. Is it a dull ache or a sharp pain. A deep ache would signify tendonitis probably. Sharp pain may represent a tear or something worse. If strength is still there, probably not a tear. Ice it, take anti-inflammatories, see the Dr.

[supersize77]

Originally posted by scotty2
See a Dr regardless. Is it a dull ache or a sharp pain. A deep ache would signify tendonitis probably. Sharp pain may represent a tear or something worse. If strength is still there, probably not a tear. Ice it, take anti-inflammatories, see the Dr.

The pain is a dull ache acompanied by a sharp pain when I move certain ways. Its weird I can deadlift 500 with no pain in my bi but if I rotate my forearm to a supinated position I get a stabbing pain in my biceps and upper forearm. Strength is still there even with the pain present, and although it has gotten progessively more painful my bicep strenght has actually increased. I DON'T want this thing to turn into a full blown rupture. Do you really think a walk in doc will do me any good, or will he just give me the runaround?

[scotty2]

See an orthopedic or a sports trainer. It is, most likely tendonitis. I get it every winter when bulking. The pain is almost debilitating.

[msclbldrguy]

sounds like tendinitis...i'd get a doc or sports trainer to check it out as well. good luck...been the tendinitis route..and it does hurt. hampers the workout too...

[supersize77]

Thanks for the responses, I'll try to talk to a sports trainer but I'm expecting the ol' RICE response. I will probably take about 2 weeks off completely to let it heal (thats gonig to suck) and concentrate on cardio and eating clean. I just dont see any other way to let it heal besides a layoff-do you?

[locoangmo]

I am dealing with similar pains in my left arm now. It isn't a good time in my schedule to take time off, so I work around the pain. Light or no curls with injured arm and then use a limited ROM to stay away from the pain. No chins, light pulldowns. Have someone help to get dumbbells in place for shoulder press. The pain has subsided some.
Dr. and rest is your best bet but if you can't you might try my approach to keep you on your summer cut cycle or whatever your immediate goal may be.
Good Luck, LOCO

[supersize77]

Originally posted by locoangmo
I am dealing with similar pains in my left arm now. It isn't a good time in my schedule to take time off, so I work around the pain. Light or no curls with injured arm and then use a limited ROM to stay away from the pain. No chins, light pulldowns. Have someone help to get dumbbells in place for shoulder press. The pain has subsided some.
Dr. and rest is your best bet but if you can't you might try my approach to keep you on your summer cut cycle or whatever your immediate goal may be.
Good Luck, LOCO

Besides pulldowns, what other back exercises are you using to "work around" the pain-hammerstrength rows, bbell rows? Supinated back exercises actully irritate my biceps less that pronated ones.

[scotty2]

I work through the pain. I KNOW it's tendonitis and that no further injury will result. Get checked out first.

[supersize77]

Originally posted by scotty2
I work through the pain. I KNOW it's tendonitis and that no further injury will result. Get checked out first.

I feel you on that bro, If I knew no fruther injury would result I would definitely work through the pain. This has been getting progessively worse although strenght has improved, the last thing I want to do is sustain a serious tear because I went with my feelings and pushed through the pain, without getting it checked.

[locoangmo]

Originally posted by supersize77


Besides pulldowns, what other back exercises are you using to "work around" the pain-hammerstrength rows, bbell rows? Supinated back exercises actully irritate my biceps less that pronated ones.

DB rows, T-bar rows (palms toward me), single arm cable rows (palm neutral), single arm pull down using cross over cable. All with heavy weights (6-8 reps failure) and light pulldowns (palms forward) with wider than my normal grip. Pain interferes with chins no matter which grip I take so I don't do em. I still get a good work out with minor pain and I am actually slowly healing.
LOCO

[supersize77]

Originally posted by locoangmo



DB rows, T-bar rows (palms toward me), single arm cable rows (palm neutral), single arm pull down using cross over cable. All with heavy weights (6-8 reps failure) and light pulldowns (palms forward) with wider than my normal grip. Pain interferes with chins no matter which grip I take so I don't do em. I still get a good work out with minor pain and I am actually slowly healing.
LOCO

Cool, I'm glad you can still train heavy on most exercises-for me heavy is the only way to train. I do back tonight, and I'll try some of your suggestions and see how it feels.

[LunaHotel]

Some advice : Buy some Devil's Claw Root. In little glass vials. It's a natural anti-inflammatory without side-effects. Take 2-3 vials the first day, then 2 every day for a few. If it helps, then it's an inflammation and the doc will most likely prescribe anti-inflammatories that can have severe side-effects.

He can also offer to shoot your elbow with some cortisone, which will heal it, but WEAKEN the whole area, meaning ligaments, bone, muscle will all be negatively impacted.

So my suggestion is : try the natural way, if it helps good. Doesn't mean not to go see the Doc, but if he says it's tendonitis, you MAY want to treat it with such a thing. It's cheap, and you can take it all the time even when the pain is gone as a preventive measure.

Oh, and one last thing : it is difficult to HEAL tendonitis. Taking a 2-week layoff sounds nice, but it will probably do very little for it. You'll train with no pain once or twice after, then it will quickly come back, in all likelyhood. Devil's claw root, dude. ;-)

[supersize77]

Originally posted by LunaHotel
Some advice : Buy some Devil's Claw Root. In little glass vials. It's a natural anti-inflammatory without side-effects. Take 2-3 vials the first day, then 2 every day for a few. If it helps, then it's an inflammation and the doc will most likely prescribe anti-inflammatories that can have severe side-effects.

He can also offer to shoot your elbow with some cortisone, which will heal it, but WEAKEN the whole area, meaning ligaments, bone, muscle will all be negatively impacted.

So my suggestion is : try the natural way, if it helps good. Doesn't mean not to go see the Doc, but if he says it's tendonitis, you MAY want to treat it with such a thing. It's cheap, and you can take it all the time even when the pain is gone as a preventive measure.

Oh, and one last thing : it is difficult to HEAL tendonitis. Taking a 2-week layoff sounds nice, but it will probably do very little for it. You'll train with no pain once or twice after, then it will quickly come back, in all likelyhood. Devil's claw root, dude. ;-)

Very interesting. Where can I get the vials of this stuff(I think I've seen the pills sold at GNC a while back, but not vials)-I'm pretty much desperate at this point so I'll give it a try, and thanks for the advice. I work all the time so I probably wont get to the doc for a least a week or so but plan on taking one week off, iceing, using Biofreeze before I train, starting back slowly and carefully (picking exercises that dont irritate it as much) and trying some Devils claw root.
I think your're absolutely right about taking 2 weeks off having limited benifits. I took a week off in January while I was on my honeymoon and was having the same problem with biceps pain (though not as bad). The first 2-3 workouts after the layoff were virtually pain free but obviously that did not last which brings me to my present predicament. This also leads me to believe its tendonitis. One more thing, asuming I'm wise in my decision making, and very careful, can I train with this tendonitis in my bicep for years to come or does the pain sometimes eventually become unbearable? Also am I at increased risk for further injury with tendonitis (assuming thats what it is-which is what I believe at this point) such as tears strains-in other words could this pain be a warning sign of something bad in my future?

[supersize77]

Originally posted by supersize77


Cool, I'm glad you can still train heavy on most exercises-for me heavy is the only way to train. I do back tonight, and I'll try some of your suggestions and see how it feels.

I did back today (instead of last night) and the pain was bad but not unbearable. I tried some pronated chins and just couldnt do them (I did do 50 supinated with no weight and supinated grip). This seems strange since supinated grip brings more biceps into the movement but its the only way I can presently train my back. Couldn't do T-bars as "24 hour" doesnt have one so I did supinated grip Bbell rows (hurts to much pronated-very strange) and finished off with deadlifts. Lower Bicep felt strained when doing 400 lbs on DL but did them anyway. Oh well, at least I can still train (for now).

[LunaHotel]

I live in Montreal, Canada, about as far apart as we can be and still be in "North America"... So I can't tell you where you can get the stuff, unless you want to buy them here ;-)

Seriously though, the vials are much stronger and better. If you can't find them, then buy the pills and swallow 15 at a time or so. I've done that. Here in MTL the Devil's Claw Root in vials is available where they sell biological and natural foods and suchlikes... Not GNC but much more "nature" store-types.

You need to take care of that injury, man. Otherwise, yes, the pain will probably become unbearable. You might end up barely being able to bend your elbow for weeks, and other injuries, such as worn-out cartilage and even tendon tears CAN be had, in truly extreme cases.

[supersize77]

Originally posted by LunaHotel
I live in Montreal, Canada, about as far apart as we can be and still be in "North America"... So I can't tell you where you can get the stuff, unless you want to buy them here ;-)

Seriously though, the vials are much stronger and better. If you can't find them, then buy the pills and swallow 15 at a time or so. I've done that. Here in MTL the Devil's Claw Root in vials is available where they sell biological and natural foods and suchlikes... Not GNC but much more "nature" store-types.

You need to take care of that injury, man. Otherwise, yes, the pain will probably become unbearable. You might end up barely being able to bend your elbow for weeks, and other injuries, such as worn-out cartilage and even tendon tears CAN be had, in truly extreme cases.

I looked for Devils claw in a sup store today. They didnt have it but directed me to a place that might have it right down the st. from my house, so I'll check it out beginning of next week. I want to take care of this injury, but I still want to workout. I wouldnt say its extreme yet but it could be if I'm not careful. Still going to take a week or more off and start back slow, as well as ice and plenty of warmups. Other than that, I don't know what to do.

[LunaHotel]

Sounds good, dude. Keep us posted!