Well on top of my back problems, now my right shoulder is giving me problems. In everyday life it hurts if I do the wrong thing. When I bench press the first set hurts pretty good but it improves for the second and third set. It doesn't hurt as much on the shoulder press as the bench press. I am in a program with Mastover and I really want to continue. It going really well, but I don't want to do damage to my shoulder. Any advise? thanks.:bang::bang:

I was kinda hopin for a little input here.

Hey Cymbals:

I kind of laugh as we seem to be off of the same page. We're both 51, both using Mastover, and guess what, I've got right shoulder problems as well. My shoulder issues stem from a torn rotator cuff injury from about 15 or so years ago. I canceled my surgery back then the day before it was scheduled (ditto for a torn ACL in my left knee) and just used physical therapy to rid myself of the pain.

I have to really be careful when I do bench presses, particularly close grip incline bench presses. For some reason the incline presses put more strain on that shoulder. I was careless a few weeks ago and tweaked mine a bit, but it appears to have recoverd.

What has always worked for me is lots of ice at night. Years ago I bought one of those shoulder wraps that you put ice in and then strap it on. Most of the drug stores carry them (they're usually blue in color). I'd put it on for several hours a night. It seems to really help for me.

Also, there are some good resistance exercises you can do with elastic bands and light dumbbells to help out as well. You can find them online. Google them or there are some on youtube as well.

The final suggestion is a few sessions with a good physical/massage therapist. The best massage therapy I had for my shoulder involved the therapist isolating different tendons in my shoulder, then putting pressure on them and rubbing them back and forth across my shoulder joint. In addition to that, there is ultrasound which can be very helpful.

Here is one site that explains some of this:

http://www.massagetherapy.com/articles/index.php/article_id/747

I hope you can get it resolved. At our age, we just don't heal so fast. Last year, just when I was set to start working out, I took a bad tumble snowboading while attempting to jump over a log. I landed square on my left shoulder and heard it crunch. Hurt like heck, but fortunately nothing broken, but it did set me way back as it took several months to resolve and it blew my plans to work out that winter.

A final option are prescription anti-inflammatories. In addition, there is a fairly new drug out there called Lyrica that is used to treat nerve related pain. I used it for my shoulder last year, and it really helped. Here is their website: http://www.lyrica.com/

Good luck!

Well on top of my back problems, now my right shoulder is giving me problems. In everyday life it hurts if I do the wrong thing. When I bench press the first set hurts pretty good but it improves for the second and third set. It doesn't hurt as much on the shoulder press as the bench press.

:)Good day……..I think it safe to say I’m not known here on the forum as being a fountain of useful lifting information :blank: however I have been engaged in lifting for 13 years and for all those years I ignored doing rotator cuff ‘drills’ . As one might expect, over time, I have suffered with a plethora of various and sundry ‘delt’ wees and woes.

In the last year I have incorporated into my lifting regimen Around the Worlds http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/exercises.php?MainMuscle=Chest (categorized as a quick pump for pecs) and since that time (despite the fact I am still derelict with my rotator cuff drills) as a result of doing ATW’s, I have noticed a degree of delt ‘health’ that had eluded me in my previous 12 years of lifting. In truth I haven’t a ‘clue’ why…none the less I find myself suggesting you might ‘consider’ the possibility that you too might appreciate a similar benefit.

I recognize my prior remarks offer no ‘curative’ information to your current situation but offer them rather as a possible ‘preventative’ measure in future. However and what ever I wish you and your shoulder……….good health! :nod:

Hey Cymbals:

I kind of laugh as we seem to be off of the same page. We're both 51, both using Mastover, and guess what, I've got right shoulder problems as well.

Guess what else? Mastover knows shoulder problems, because he's had them himself.

The rough guidelines for shoulder pain are:

A: If you don't take it seriously, eventually, you will.

B: Limit the range of motion and exercise choice to avoid pain.

C: Use pre-hab exercises while you are healthy (e.g. Jobe exercises, serratus anterior work).

D: No really, it's OK to lay off the barbell bench press.

Guess what else? Mastover knows shoulder problems, because he's had them himself.

The rough guidelines for shoulder pain are:

A: If you don't take it seriously, eventually, you will.

B: Limit the range of motion and exercise choice to avoid pain.

C: Use pre-hab exercises while you are healthy (e.g. Jobe exercises, serratus anterior work).

D: No really, it's OK to lay off the barbell bench press.

Great advice from a fellow half centurian and a guy who obviously has been there. As we get older the biggest problem we have is with our joints. Thanks for sharing this as its a good reminder.

With regard to the barbell bench press, I don't know why that bothers my shoulder more than a dumbbell bench press. It would seem to be the opposite.

Edit: I found this site with a good chart for Jobe exercises for the shoulder. I'm going to incorporate them into my workout a couple of times a week as a preventive measure.

http://www.tenafly.k12.nj.us/~jmaison/Docs/thrower10.PDF

With regard to the barbell bench press, I don't know why that bothers my shoulder more than a dumbbell bench press. It would seem to be the opposite.

And probably there is some guy, somewhere, for which it is the opposite, but for a lot of people, the barbell bench press is much worse for the shoulder than the dumbell bench press.

Well on top of my back problems, now my right shoulder is giving me problems. In everyday life it hurts if I do the wrong thing. When I bench press the first set hurts pretty good but it improves for the second and third set. It doesn't hurt as much on the shoulder press as the bench press. I am in a program with Mastover and I really want to continue. It going really well, but I don't want to do damage to my shoulder. Any advise? thanks.:bang::bang:

I feel I'll pipe in. I'm in my mid-fifties and working with Mastover as well. Twice I've had a rotator cuff problem and each time it took 4-8 weeks to get rid of it. Here is a link to a post I made with another link to the training program I used to get over my rotator cuff problem. LINK IS HERE (http://forums.johnstonefitness.com/showpost.php?p=302224&postcount=6) It's listed as a shoulder strengthening training program but the first 4 weeks are done as a rehab program for shoulder problems.

Check with Mastover as far as taking a break from training while healing your shoulder. Or you may continue training and replace your upper body shoulder work with the training program listed there. And don't worry, shoulder problems aren't forever.

Thanks for all of the great advise, it actually is feeling better today. It's odd that it hurts more on the bench then the shoulder press. Hopefully I'm on the road to recovery I had a good workout today. Dang it's tough getting old. It's nice to know that there are a lot a folks in here my age and older. Thanks again. :tucool::tucool::tucool:

This is strange, today by the time I did my last set on the benchpress my shoulder hardly hurt at all. :confused::confused:

This is strange, today by the time I did my last set on the benchpress my shoulder hardly hurt at all. :confused::confused:

Mind over matter. Feel the force.:bb:

This is strange, today by the time I did my last set on the benchpress my shoulder hardly hurt at all. :confused::confused:

I've had that experience too. It could be just an inflammation in some part of your shoulder and then muscles tightening.

Of course you should get anything checked out -- hopefully you have a really good PT around.

But being very careful, sometimes working out actually makes the shoulder better.

of course, I have no idea what your shoulder issue is but I had a shoulder impingement in the rotator cuff that was as a result of inflammation (caused by too strenuous exercise I was not ready for.)

I've just started using the exercises in this book: Treat Your Own Rotator Cuff by Jim Johnson (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1598582062) -- and the results have been overnight. Of course this was after 3 months of physical therapy and 3 months of nothing -- but the last little bit just wouldn't go away.

Today I went to do DB Presses, Flys, overhead extensions for the first time in 6 months and I barely felt anything. On the extensions, which I most feared, I felt nothing on the shoulder with the (former) impingement -- on the other shoulder, I felt a little twinge -- nothing to worry about -- just the usual -- but I found it ironic how good my "injured" shoulder felt.

I also iced it as soon as I got back and it feels fine right now. Tomorrow will really tell the tale.

But generally, Carole's advice is very good.

Keeping one's shoulders in shape before-the-fact tends to avoid after-the-fact problems.

Just wanted to report -- I did my workout Wednesday -- which included DB Bench Presses, Overhead Extensions and Bicep curls -- and which were followed by the stretching and strengthening routine recommended in the book: Treat Your Own Rotator Cuff
by Jim Johnson... (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1598582062)
And I can't believe it -- but my shoulder issue is now 99% GONE!!

The book is highly recommended and I must add my own accolades to all the others...

Amazing how working out and knowing what you are doing helps....

:tucool:

Just wanted to report -- I did my workout Wednesday -- which included DB Bench Presses, Overhead Extensions and Bicep curls -- and which were followed by the stretching and strengthening routine recommended in the book: Treat Your Own Rotator Cuff
by Jim Johnson... (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1598582062)
And I can't believe it -- but my shoulder issue is now 99% GONE!!

The book is highly recommended and I must add my own accolades to all the others...

Amazing how working out and knowing what you are doing helps....

:tucool:

:claphigh::claphigh: great news ;)

Well, the Doc says he thinks I have tendonitis. So after I finish therapy on my back I should have therapy on my shoulder. I'm not sure what to do in the meantime. I have never had these kinds of muscular problems in myn life.
I just signed back up for 2 months training with Mastover. I guess I'll just take it day by day. If my shoulder feels up to lifting I will, if not I won't.:bang::bang:

Shoulders are really, really funny. I can do weighted dips with three plates hanging off me no prob, but couldn't even flat bench an empty olympic bar with stabbing horrible pain in my shoulders. Yet, I can do flat DB and inclines without any pain. I can also use the incline smith machine and hammer press machines without any pain. Simply experiment with different movements to see what works best in regards to being pain free and effective.

Sometimes its also better to go lighter. I used to do DB fly's in the 6-8 rep range only. Usually topping off with incline fly's using 80 lb. dumbells. When I switched to higher reps, in the 10-15 reps range using half the weight, my chest development became much better.

If you are lifting for life, we constantly have to make adjustments, tweaks, substitutions, to keep progressing. Keep listening to your body.

BTW my favorite exercice for chest is DIPS. :tucool:

Thank you Mastover, my friend and trainer. Yesterday on my chest, delt, and tri workout my shoulder felt better. I did go with a narrower grip on the bench.
I'm not sure if it's recovering or of it's the 800 MG of Ibuprofen I've been taking the last few days. I don't like taking drugs but at this point I'm willing to try just about anything.