RobxMcCarthy
13-04-2007, 03:40 AM
Hey guys,
This is my first post here, and I will very much appreciate any input I get. I'm somewhat anatomically savvy; however, I can't seem to figure out this injury and don't have time to see a specialist right now.
Background:
I'm 22 years old, I started lifting three years ago and injured my shoulder within the first three months doing military press. I don't remember exactly how it hurt or what happened, because I was very much an out of shape engineering student with no physical knowledge of muscles or the human body. Three months later it healed.
Recently I started lifting again. I've been very careful and have avoided exercises which cause much shoulder strain.
The day of the injury:
Biceps back and lower abs day; I decided to try a new form of leg lifts wherein you hang from a chin-up bar and raise your legs then twist. I did six sets of these and felt mildly stretched out, but relatively fine. In hindsight I probably severely loosened my rotator cuff muscles during this experiment. My bicep exercises are isolated and don't cause any shoulder strain. Afterwards I did dead-lifts with 135 and 185 lbs. The 185 felt like it was a bit too much that day (probably from the hanging) and I moved back to 135 on the third set. I had no shoulder pain, but when I went to do rows I was unable to pull back all the way... That's weird I thought, man I must just be overworked.
When leaving the gym, I noted to my friends that my shoulders felt really loose and good.. stretched out. And that maybe I should hang more often.
I got to the cafeteria and filled a cup with water, when I sat down and attempted to lower it from my mouth to the table my arm dropped and the cup slammed down, spilling everywhere. This startled me and I immediately felt my left shoulder. It was completely numb to the touch (and still is 1 week later). I felt my right shoulder and found that it was also slightly numb, although it had more sensation than the left.
I have also been sick for three weeks (cold symptoms).
Post Injury Testing:
I did the four rotator cuff tests and I tested poorly on the empty can test and Hawkins test. These indicated a problem with the supraspinatus tendon, although I'm not entirely convinced.
I have no pain my my shoulder, but what appears to be muscle paralysis.
When I raise both of my arms out straight from my sides and feel my right shoulder the deltoid and surrounding muscles feel very hard and look flexed in the mirror. When raising my left shoudler the muscles are soft to the touch - IE not contracting. Other muscles must be compensating as although the motion is possible added weight makes it significantly more difficult.
Specific Paralysis:
The exact motion that is impossible with this shoulder occurs when I stand, lower my elbow to my side and position my forearm across my stomach. When I attempt to raise my elbow out to the side (IE how you would move your arm to put a hand into a hoodie sweatshirt pocket) I find it pretty much impossible.
One week later:
A week later the symptoms are pretty much the same. The left shoulder appears smaller than the right and the same motions are impossible. I know that the primary suggestion is to go see a specialist, but I'm in my senior year of college and I honestly don't have the time. Health above all, sure, but my teachers don't believe in that philosophy.
What I think Happened:
By avoiding certain shoulder exercises (I do side lifts and front lifts, but that's it) while simultaneously strengthening my trapezoids and back left the muscle grouping imbalanced. The hanging loosened up the shoulder muscles and caused the ball to come slightly out of the socket. When I did dead lifts the trapezoids pulled too strongly on the shoulder and shifted it out pinching a nerve connecting the supraspinatus or part/whole of the deltoid. Since there was no pain, I can't see it being a tear... it has to be a pinched nerve. This would make sense because there is slight numbness in my right shoulder as well.
The question is; do I have to get this checked out, or will the doctor come to the same conclusion and suggest rest. IE will muscle control come back eventually? When I lift my arm and strain my shoulder in certain directions I can feel the muscles twitching a bit.
Is there a specific home-rehab plan I can start? I've already been doing mobility training and extremely light (5lb) weight training with what muscles remain working in both shoulders. I have also been icing it after every weight training session, and have been taking anti-inflammatories.
Thanks for any advice, and for reading my extremely long post.. heh.
This is my first post here, and I will very much appreciate any input I get. I'm somewhat anatomically savvy; however, I can't seem to figure out this injury and don't have time to see a specialist right now.
Background:
I'm 22 years old, I started lifting three years ago and injured my shoulder within the first three months doing military press. I don't remember exactly how it hurt or what happened, because I was very much an out of shape engineering student with no physical knowledge of muscles or the human body. Three months later it healed.
Recently I started lifting again. I've been very careful and have avoided exercises which cause much shoulder strain.
The day of the injury:
Biceps back and lower abs day; I decided to try a new form of leg lifts wherein you hang from a chin-up bar and raise your legs then twist. I did six sets of these and felt mildly stretched out, but relatively fine. In hindsight I probably severely loosened my rotator cuff muscles during this experiment. My bicep exercises are isolated and don't cause any shoulder strain. Afterwards I did dead-lifts with 135 and 185 lbs. The 185 felt like it was a bit too much that day (probably from the hanging) and I moved back to 135 on the third set. I had no shoulder pain, but when I went to do rows I was unable to pull back all the way... That's weird I thought, man I must just be overworked.
When leaving the gym, I noted to my friends that my shoulders felt really loose and good.. stretched out. And that maybe I should hang more often.
I got to the cafeteria and filled a cup with water, when I sat down and attempted to lower it from my mouth to the table my arm dropped and the cup slammed down, spilling everywhere. This startled me and I immediately felt my left shoulder. It was completely numb to the touch (and still is 1 week later). I felt my right shoulder and found that it was also slightly numb, although it had more sensation than the left.
I have also been sick for three weeks (cold symptoms).
Post Injury Testing:
I did the four rotator cuff tests and I tested poorly on the empty can test and Hawkins test. These indicated a problem with the supraspinatus tendon, although I'm not entirely convinced.
I have no pain my my shoulder, but what appears to be muscle paralysis.
When I raise both of my arms out straight from my sides and feel my right shoulder the deltoid and surrounding muscles feel very hard and look flexed in the mirror. When raising my left shoudler the muscles are soft to the touch - IE not contracting. Other muscles must be compensating as although the motion is possible added weight makes it significantly more difficult.
Specific Paralysis:
The exact motion that is impossible with this shoulder occurs when I stand, lower my elbow to my side and position my forearm across my stomach. When I attempt to raise my elbow out to the side (IE how you would move your arm to put a hand into a hoodie sweatshirt pocket) I find it pretty much impossible.
One week later:
A week later the symptoms are pretty much the same. The left shoulder appears smaller than the right and the same motions are impossible. I know that the primary suggestion is to go see a specialist, but I'm in my senior year of college and I honestly don't have the time. Health above all, sure, but my teachers don't believe in that philosophy.
What I think Happened:
By avoiding certain shoulder exercises (I do side lifts and front lifts, but that's it) while simultaneously strengthening my trapezoids and back left the muscle grouping imbalanced. The hanging loosened up the shoulder muscles and caused the ball to come slightly out of the socket. When I did dead lifts the trapezoids pulled too strongly on the shoulder and shifted it out pinching a nerve connecting the supraspinatus or part/whole of the deltoid. Since there was no pain, I can't see it being a tear... it has to be a pinched nerve. This would make sense because there is slight numbness in my right shoulder as well.
The question is; do I have to get this checked out, or will the doctor come to the same conclusion and suggest rest. IE will muscle control come back eventually? When I lift my arm and strain my shoulder in certain directions I can feel the muscles twitching a bit.
Is there a specific home-rehab plan I can start? I've already been doing mobility training and extremely light (5lb) weight training with what muscles remain working in both shoulders. I have also been icing it after every weight training session, and have been taking anti-inflammatories.
Thanks for any advice, and for reading my extremely long post.. heh.