Injury: How long to take off?? Or do I just go at it with less intensity??

[SJ Stang]

I have had a re-occuring left wrist "strain" recently. I have to think it is tendon related since it comes and goes depending on how much the wrist is used on off days, and how much weight is used on on days...

Also, I have just started to get MAJOR aching in my left elbow whcih I believe to be also tendon related.....

(I am pretty much a wreck!! )


Any opinions on if I should be taking it easy or taking time off??

I recently took off a week for a muscle pull in my neck/trap area....
and was hoping that would help with the wrist.
Nope, and now I have to deal with the elbow pain to boot...


Soooooooo,
Do I continue to work out as frequently??? Do I take time off??? How long?? If I push through and keep training, should I drop the imtensity, and if so how much???


Sorry for all the questions, but this is really the first time I have had to adjust my training at all due to injury.

Thanks in advance,
Stan


EDIT: Damn I guess I am a newbie again.....wouldn't let me back in unless i signed up for platinum on my old name??? Oh well!!

 

[MsBeverlyHills]

what lifts are making it hurt???

 

[SJ Stang]

Lately, EVERYTHING!!! lol


Seriously, at first it seemed to be that my left wrist (the one with the most pain as of now) would get really sore/tight when doing any pressing movements. After chest days it would be sore for at least the rest of the day. I knew it was tendon related, but chose to work through it. Bad idea.

I recently (last week or so) have been getting a nice dull aching pain in my elbow to go along with it. I kinda think I may have been trying to save the wrist subconsciously and, in the meantime screwing up my elbow by doing it.

So:

Wrist: pressing movements, pushdowns, and lately rows/deads.
Elbow: pushdowns and curls mainly.

I have been out of the gym for 5 days straight now and I am in constant pain. I have been hopped up on advil/ibuprofen all day every day b/c if not it hurts to pretty much do anything that involves the movement of my wrist or arm at the elbow joint.


I have pretty much decided to take a month+ off of all upper body b/c I don't need this to be a permanent injury even though I may go postal not being able to do a full split every week.

New plan: (for the time being at least)
Legs: 2x a week
Cardio 2-3x a week
Abs: 2-3 times a week
Accessory work will be whatever will not require the wrist or elbow to be a stres point(which is ??? pretty much nothing that I can think of)

Hopefully, a month will be enough to heal to the point of being able to get back at it with lighter weights/poundages. I guess 1+ year of really going heavy with no break took its toll.....knew I should of done some periodization work with less weight.


BTW- already bought some wrist wraps, a wrist brace(for the really painful one), and a couple different elbow braces so I can get back in there in time and not go right back on the IR.

Thanks again,
Stan