1 important question (and 2 minor ones)

[ellinghad]

1) Whenever I bench or do weighted dips, my left shoulder hurts. It isn't a muscley type of pain, it is a boney type of pain (maybe joint?). The thing is, it doesn't hurt on the bench until the weight is all the way up, then I feel that sharp pain. I hope it isn't something that's too bad, any advice? I share a similar pain when doing standing preacher curls, except i feel it in my forearms. It doesn't hurt with less weight, but I feel pangs of hurt when I do them with regular weight for some reason. (Same boney pain) They could be related, but I am more worried about the shoulder. And it never hurts until I do the lift...

2 small questions: Does donating blood affect lifting in any negative way? Also, is it true that squats can make you shorter? (Don't laugh, someone actually thinks this wholeheartedly, and I'm not totally sure)

Thanks again fellas!
-ell

 

[1_more_rep]

1) Whenever I bench or do weighted dips, my left shoulder hurts. It isn't a muscley type of pain, it is a boney type of pain (maybe joint?). The thing is, it doesn't hurt on the bench until the weight is all the way up, then I feel that sharp pain. I hope it isn't something that's too bad, any advice? I share a similar pain when doing standing preacher curls, except i feel it in my forearms. It doesn't hurt with less weight, but I feel pangs of hurt when I do them with regular weight for some reason. (Same boney pain) They could be related, but I am more worried about the shoulder. And it never hurts until I do the lift...

2 small questions: Does donating blood affect lifting in any negative way? Also, is it true that squats can make you shorter? (Don't laugh, someone actually thinks this wholeheartedly, and I'm not totally sure)

Thanks again fellas!
-ell

all i can say about the shoulder thing is check out a doctor

about the donating blood, i just gave blood at my school about 2 weeks ago. The lady said not to do any physical activities for AT LEAST 1 day and preferably two. and she said to drink lots of fluids and have a good meal before AND after donating blood.

anyways i say take 2-3 days off from lifting then you should be completely fine. I am no pro bodybuilder by any means, but i was able to go back 2 days after giving blood and i was fine. But then again, i felt fine after giving blood. Some friends of mine felt really sick and lightheaded after for 1-2 days so it depends how you feel as well.

Good luck bro

 

[ebear]

Agree with 1 more rep, get it checked out. Sharp joint pain is definitely a signal to stop - so don't try to "work through" it. Many lifters have problems with the flat bench and weighted dips hurting their shoulders. Inclines and dumbbell use for the pecs can be excellent alternatives. But first, go see the doc. Feel better and keep us posted.

 

[Guinness5.0]

If the pain's not too bad, try to warm up more thouroughly. Do a general warmup (a few minutes on the treadmill or something) then a specific warmup. I like to hold a 5 or 10 pound plate and do "windmills" frontwards and backwards about ten times in each direction for each arm. Seems to work for me. Like the others said, if it's bad then get it looked at.

As far as donating blood, the net effect is a positive one (for you in terms of health and especially for the recipient ). If you lift MWF try to give blood on Friday several hours after you workout or Saturday a.m. Personally I can give blood and feel great within a few hours, but I still don't think it's a good idea to lift too soon after, but that's pretty obvious .

And no, squats don't make you shorter .

 

[rbtrout]

I agree with Guinness, try warming up completely first then see if you've still got pain. You might try db's instead of bb on the bench. My shoulder hurts doing bb bench, but no db bench, so I do those most of the time.
I don't give blood, I'm a stingy bastard.
Squats do not make you short, they make you grow bigger (not necessarily taller). Lou Ferrigno and Nasser would argue about squats making you shorter.

 

[ellinghad]

I talked with a fitness instructor today and a powerlifter, and they both said that it is probably a rotary cup strain, and that a doctor wouldn't be able to do much (unless it was really serious, then it would be surgery). Do you guys know of any good rotary cuff exercises? I know the windmill is a good one... any others?

I tried the windmill before I lifted today and it didn't hurt so much the first lift (I did it right before the lift). I am going to try to do it more before I lift next time (maybe I should bench after my squats/bent over rows?) But also in my free time I think I am going to do windmills and other small exercises for my rotary cuff... tell me what you think...

thanks!

 

[Guinness5.0]

It's amazing what getting a little blood to a 'tweaked' area can do.

It's my understanding that the main function of the 'pump' is for protection of the joints. If this is indeed true then it follows that those light windmills that pump your 'cuffs would be beneficial.

Take it slow and keep warming up thouroughly. That pain will be gone soon if you're careful.

 

[bignate73]

i always warm up with either windmills or L (external) rotations to warm up my shoulders, get my rotators ready to lift and stabilize the area with some extra bloodflow.

squats making you shorter....maybe, with a slight compression of the spine. I always feel a bit shorter after deads or squats (mental, i know) but I go hang on a bar and let my spine decompress just in case.