Shoulders are getting old?

[erikwells]

I work out with weights 2 times a week. I am no longer heaving up the big weight like I did back in my glory days. Rather I'm a bit smaller than the 245 I was back when I was in college and could bench press 500. These days I'm 42 years old weighing 180 and trying to keep some muscle and strength. I work cardio more than I do lifting. However I enjoy weight training and see the benefits. I work with lighter weights and more reps (12-15) these days. I use a machine to bench press and also do some flat bench with 50 lb dumbells, curls, tricep pushdowns, lat pull downs, bent over rows, shoulder dumbell presses etc.. I switch it up a little but I think that may frame up what my general routine is. My shoulders hurt when I try to do dumbell flys or shoulder dumbell presses. I can do dumbell rows (front shoulder) fine. It hurts when I try to do flkys and presses. Aslo hurts when I try to do big circles with my arms like there is gravel in my shouylders. I stiopped doing the stufff that makes them hurt but my shoulders really have not gotten better as I hoped. My question is what part of the shoulder is causing the pain? Second question other than not doing things that hurt is there anything I can or shouold be doing? Could a doctor help? Thanks, Erik.

[delcecchi]

Yes a doctor could help. At the minimum a doctor would be able to determine what the problem is. Cartilage, arthritis, rotator cuff, could be any number of things. Some they can do something about and some they can't.

I have two bad shoulders, mostly due to breaking both arms, one at a time, some years ago. I have friends with bad shoulders too. It comes with age to some extent. Also wear and tear.

[TR21HP]

A sports physician is going to give you your best chance to see what's going on. Tell them what you're experiencing let them do their diagnosis and see what they have to say. It makes no sense to lift if you're experiencing pain.

[DrJuice1980]

Engage your LATs and work your posterior delts. Do some research on what to do that will place your bicep tendon back in its groove. That could be the crepitus that you're experiencing. For the lifts you can do without pain don't just stick to the "3 sets of 12" adage. Go until failure, you will only see a change (adaptation) if you achieve failure. Failure is not compensating just to do the lift, maintain proper form the entire rep/set.

[erikwells]

I recently did some research regarding the benefits of fish oil having recently had a family memeber diagnosed with cancer. The benefits are significant from what the research indicates. I discovered it also has anti-inflammatory benefits. I started taking it for my ailing shoulders and the benefits have been great. My doctor wanted me to do a few different exercises and take ibuprofen. Last night I was doing bear crawls with my sons wrestling team. I don't take anything other than a multi vitamin but I'm taking fish oil. Just wanted to pass it on.

[BAIT956]

Yes a doctor could help. At the minimum a doctor would be able to determine what the problem is. Cartilage, arthritis, rotator cuff, could be any number of things. Some they can do something about and some they can't.

I have two bad shoulders, mostly due to breaking both arms, one at a time, some years ago. I have friends with bad shoulders too. It comes with age to some extent. Also wear and tear.

Good advice. I had the same problem with my right shoulder. My doc said it could be a number of things, like delcecchi said. Only way to tell was an MRI. Turned out it was a torn rotator cuff. Had the surgery a year ago in December. Several complications and the therapy was no fun, but it is back to full go now. I'm 67, which was also a consideration.

[Ufatz]

I might as well chime in here. Four hours of surgery and repair on first of November. Suffering with my physical terrorist now and also working on it at home. It no fun. BUT I need that arm for shooting and using a fly rod. I CAN use the other arm for casting rods and fly, but have never tried left handed shooting.

Am better now and am told it will take a heap of time. When MD come to see me he frankly told me shoulder was a mess and he didn't see how I could have been doing some of the things I HAD been doing. I told him I COULD do them but they hurt. He say you might not get all of that shoulder back. We shall see.

He forgets I'm an old baasturd and we are tougher than we look. And smarter too.

[KING]

im going through the same thing now with my right shoulder. kept me from bowhunting and musky casting last fall.

went to doc and shoulder injuries are hard to diagnose, spent a couple weeks at physical therapy and was given a prescription anti-inflammatory with limited results. next steps are cortizone injection then MRI specialist.

before i do the injection or spend the money on specialist, i decided to expand the rehab on my own, based on the recommendation of a friend.

So now I am going on my third week with positive results. Doing a pretty solid cardio workout with a heart rate monitor, 20 min running (treadmill)can substitute elliptical but that has more shoulder movement, 20 min bike, then a cardio weight program with fitness machines, the machines are key for a single shoulder or one weaker one as the machines will not isolate the weaker one as much. Then suppliment with Glucosamine Chondroitin and 800mg Ibu a day.

I know several guys that have had success with Glucosamine Chondroitin and / or fish oils for both knee and shoulder pain.

[Ufatz]

If you think that is helping, and you are getting full range of motion (ROM) and no pain, that's probably okay. But I think you should keep in mind that you COULD be doing further damage to the complex bundle that makes up a shoulder joint. I fought off surgery for two years with injections and the same medication I used for two knee surgeries but in the end we had to go in and do some work. And the surgeon suggested to me afterword that he was "amazed that you did some of the things you were doing with that shoulder", which told me I might have been doing myself more harm by toughing it out and continuing to use it through the pain etc. Try to see and orthopedic MD if you can and let him do an evaluation. Even it it's another six months with an injection you might have a better feel for what your real problem is.

Oh, and so you'll know. It has now been three months, and I end up with pain at the end of every PT session I have, three times a week. And pain at night sometimes too. This stuff ain't for sissies.

Just some thoughts. I look back now on some of the things I did with a shoulder that I knew was not all that great, and which hurt when I did heavy stuff with it, and think "hey, maybe you're and one-who-thinks-I-am-silly!!"