Blew out my elbows

[zkt]

Started Testosterone and weights 3 weeks ago. Went at it way too hard and heavy. Now my elbows hurt on the inside (proximal) side of the joint. Mostly at the bone just proximal to the funny bone (nerve). Consulted on the run with a bro who is a PT and he said I overstressed the tendons. Golfers elbow. And to lessen the weights for forarms and bicepts a lot. Sound about rite ? How would I know if I damaged the joint syngovial membrane or whatever ? I`m 58.

[dennis]

You need to go ahead and go see the doc..if it is tendonitis you are in for a long road to recovery..just lifting lighter will hurt them further and cause the rehab to go on for much longer.i did this to mine doing heavy brain crushers..bi exercises would agravate it worse.

[zkt]

Shit. Thanks bro. If I stop lifting and wait and see for a while, what should I exoect to see best case and worst case ? And what is the best course of action in whatever the case turns out to be ?

[Stormbringer]

Agree with Dennis. I did the same thing and still have pain every once in a while. Years ago I had to quit lifting all together for about 4 months beacause it was so bad. Could not even get a coffee cup to my mouth. Be careful and go slow. As wierd as this sounds, I started adding sugar free gelatin mix to my protein shakes as recommended by a sport trainer (AT) and it actually seemed to help tendons and cartildge.

[dennis]

Originally Posted by zkt

Shit. Thanks bro. If I stop lifting and wait and see for a while, what should I exoect to see best case and worst case ? And what is the best course of action in whatever the case turns out to be ?

As minor as tendonitis sounds it is a major set back.the quicker you go see your ortho the better..he is the only one who should give you advice on recovery.Mine took 8 months to heal because i was a bad ass(I thought) and tried to work through the pain.,I even went and got cortozone shots in arms to mask the pain...this way i could still lift weights and tear the tendon without feeling it..real freaking smart ! Go to doc asap..listen to what he has to say..You can still train ..... there will just be certain exercises you must avoid.I hope you will listen to someone who has been there.This is a great time for legs/cardio ,abs etc....If the tendons are not too bad you might just need 1 month off....pm me with results..dennis

[zkt]

LMAO. Does that ever sound familiar ! But the cortizone tops it off. Definitely sounds like something I would have done a few years ago. Laughing at myself more than at you bro.
Haent seen a doc but did some reading and am confident that the Dx is tendonitus Sure are a lot of muscle in the arm and forarm. Must be a couple dozen and I tweaked a few of them in both elbows and wrists. The left elbow is in by far the wost shape. Now heres the thing: if I avoid those movements that are painful, can I go ahead and work the other muscles (with less weight) ?

Originally Posted by dennis

As minor as tendonitis sounds it is a major set back.the quicker you go see your ortho the better..he is the only one who should give you advice on recovery.Mine took 8 months to heal because i was a bad ass(I thought) and tried to work through the pain.,I even went and got cortozone shots in arms to mask the pain...this way i could still lift weights and tear the tendon without feeling it..real freaking smart ! Go to doc asap..listen to what he has to say..You can still train ..... there will just be certain exercises you must avoid.I hope you will listen to someone who has been there.This is a great time for legs/cardio ,abs etc....If the tendons are not too bad you might just need 1 month off....pm me with results..dennis

[juggernaught]

I had tendonitus in both elbows and ignored it ......... first in 12-04 I ruptured my left triceps tendon then had it reatched surgicaly took over a year off for it to heal . Started training again in jan feb 06 and ruptured my right triceps in Oct of 06 had it reatched also. This was all do to the fact I wouldnt take the time off to let it heal.Evon if you have to take sevral months off to let it heal fully it is well worth it ! goodluck
pic of ruptured triceps

[zkt]

Damn! that looks bad. I`m nowhere near that, just a little redness and its gone now. Thats gotta hunt just being there.

[Barbender]

I am in the same boat. Based on the information I got on this site from Dennis and Shredded Wheat I have not touched a weight in 5 weeks. It is driving me crazy but I am sticking to it. My elbow is still pretty bad. I have decided to stick to my plan of starting up again in Sept. If I can offer any advice it would be to stop and let it heal before continuing. I did not and I am paying the price for it now. Would have been much better to take a month off as opposed to 4 months or possibly longer.

[dennis]

Originally Posted by zkt

LMAO. Does that ever sound familiar ! But the cortizone tops it off. Definitely sounds like something I would have done a few years ago. Laughing at myself more than at you bro.
Haent seen a doc but did some reading and am confident that the Dx is tendonitus Sure are a lot of muscle in the arm and forarm. Must be a couple dozen and I tweaked a few of them in both elbows and wrists. The left elbow is in by far the wost shape. Now heres the thing: if I avoid those movements that are painful, can I go ahead and work the other muscles (with less weight) ?

Avoid anything that sends that pain down your arm and elbows..do not do any exercises that you can even vaguely feel the tringe ! I found many exercises that i could do that did not hurt...palms down if i remember right felt better than palms up exercises.Curls for bis,triceps exercicises..specially braincrushers killed the elbows..close grip bench work hurt like hell too.If yours are not too bad then lay off them ..maybe 4-6 weeks and you will be good as new.Try and figure out how you injured them and do not go there again

[drunkenmaster]

Elbow injuries suck. Check out my avatar. Yeah that's really an elbow.

[amuuzing]

Make sure to see a sports physician. There are too many variables and a regular Dr is just going to give you some anti-inflamatories, tell you to take some time off, and heat the area. You want a better definition (X-rays, MRI, whatever it takes). Get someone who understands you do not want to be out of the gym and will listen AND diagnose better, thus giving you a better healing therapy.

[Millard Baker]

I think most everyone overlooked the best advice in this thread offered by Dennis:

Take this as opportunity to focus on training LEGS!!

It's not as if you need to completely stop training because of tendonitis in the elbow.

Squats. Deadlifts. Leg presses.

If more people focused on these in all their variations and nothing else, we'd see a lot better physiques.

And no elbow problems. :-)

[Barbender]

Admin you bring up a great point. Tendonitis has kept me out of lifting the last 4 months. I have focused on abs, cardio and legs but never thought of deadlifts. That is a great overall excersize that have not done in awhile. Thanks for the input.

[dennis]

I would never let an injury to one particular body part keep me out of the gym..this gives you the chance to focus on other body parts.