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Weight Lifting Injury; Proper Therapy?
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Weight Lifting Injury; Proper Therapy? - April 14, 2003 7:43:00 AM
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DerekPSU
Posts: 2
Joined: April 13, 2003
From: Wilkes-Barre, PA, USA
Status: offline
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Here is an explanation of my injury, the therapy I have tried, and the symptoms that I still have today. I am looking for information as to what exactly is wrong with me and what the proper therapy is to correct it. Any help is extremely appreciated.
About a year and 8 months ago I was doing shoulder press with 55lb dumbbells. While I was holding the weight overhead, I lost control of the dumbbell with my right arm. My arm along with the dumbbell got pulled diagonally downwards below my shoulder, and backwards away from my back. I did not feel any pain at the time of the injury. I first noticed pain in my right tricep a week later doing tricep exercises. The pain gradually increased over the next month to the point where I had to stop lifting. I took a week break and resumed lifting again and was faced with the same problem. This pattern of taking short breaks and resuming lifting only to arrive at severe pain continued. The pain evolved over time. I experienced pain in my upper shoulder during shoulder-intensive exercises (ex incline bench). My upper shoulder felt like things were grinding/rubbing together, or popping. I developed pain in my right scapula (shoulder blade) area following various exercises (flat bench, standing bicep curl, rowing). My upper shoulder began to make loud cracking/popping noises during normal movement.
I’ve tried various things to rectify this injury. I have tried allowing the muscles enough rest to heal. I abandoned all exercise for a 2 month time period, but evidently that did not work. A bone-joint doctor took an x-ray of my shoulder, but found nothing wrong with me. I visited two different orthopaedic doctors, and subsequently a physical therapist. More x-rays were taken, and I received an MRI of my shoulder and spine. The x-rays and shoulder MRI returned normal results; I will receive the results from the MRI of the spine on the 22nd. They noticed that my right scapula is not being held in place during movement. If I raise my hands above my head, or if I stand facing a wall with my hands pressed against it, my right scapula is tilted. They felt there was a muscle strain(s), therefore the muscles were weak and not doing their job. They suggested the rotator cuff or serratus muscles as problem areas. They felt the pain in my upper arm was referred pain from the shoulder. They prescribed various shoulder/scapula-strengthening exercises to be done every day. They advised me to lift weights at the gym very lightly, and progress gradually. I followed two different every day PT programs for about 2 months each. For the following ~month, I reduced the PT to 5 days a week, and now about every other day in an effort to give my muscles enough resting time. During a large portion of my PT, I have been going to the gym and doing light weight exercises for my chest, biceps, triceps, and occasionally back and shoulders. I have gradually increased the weights in my PT and gym training in an effort to get stronger.
Despite all of this, I still possess the same chronic symptoms. What I am most concerned with is the pain in my right scapular area. I have this pain following exercise. Sometimes it is a mild ache, other times it is more severe. The pain can be caused by myself standing completely still and merely turning or tilting my head to the right. I also still experience the grinding/rubbing in my upper shoulder during certain exercises, and the occasional aches in my upper arm (mainly tricep area) following exercise. The loud cracking/popping noises during normal movement of my upper shoulder still persist, although they do not cause pain.
Any input on the cause of my current condition, or a suggested recovery plan will be greatly appreciated!
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Re: Weight Lifting Injury; Proper Therapy? - April 25, 2003 3:07:00 PM
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DocZon
Posts: 70
Joined: April 19, 2003
From: Winchester, MA
Status: offline
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I agree with what you have been told. You need scapular stabilization exercises. You may have injured your long thoracic nerve which innervates the serratus. In this case, it can cause a "winging scapula." It can often take 6-12 months to heal. Consider certain taping techniues such as kinesio taping to give you awareness of the position of your scapula. I would also think about having some manipulation performed to the mid-thoracic spine, if indicated, to reduce some of the pain at the medial border of the scapula.
Continue with PT. Also, request to see all of the MRI reports from the radiologists. It is amazing what will be reported to you as nothing wrong really showed a partial tear of some structure which the doc did noth think was contributory to your pain.
What did the cervical MRI show? Any disc problems?
DocZon
Winchester Hospital Chiropractic Dept.
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Re: Weight Lifting Injury; Proper Therapy? - April 25, 2003 3:09:00 PM
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DocZon
Posts: 70
Joined: April 19, 2003
From: Winchester, MA
Status: offline
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If the pain is bad enough, you can consult with a pain clinic for possible injections. Were you actively seeing a PT or following a PT program on your own?
DocZon
Winchester Hospital Chiropractic Dept.
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