View Full Version : elbow pain
Dave422
01-25-13, 11:11 am
I have elbow pain in both elbows whenever I perform pressing movements, especially bench. It seems like the compression activates it more than the actual movement itself. I have tried ice, ice / heat, before and after, massages and I recently purchased some Rehband elbow sleeves. Is anyone aware of anything else to at least dull the pain while lifting? What about taking alleve or tylenol before lifting? Thanks for the info, much appreciated.
Bruiser
01-25-13, 11:24 am
Try warming up more with lighter weight. Also add in some Flex and more fish oil. My favorite for elbow pain is Blue Heat! I can't lift without the stuff.
http://www.flexcart.com/members/elitefts/default.asp?m=PD&cid=114&pid=492
I have elbow pain in both elbows whenever I perform pressing movements, especially bench. It seems like the compression activates it more than the actual movement itself. I have tried ice, ice / heat, before and after, massages and I recently purchased some Rehband elbow sleeves. Is anyone aware of anything else to at least dull the pain while lifting? What about taking alleve or tylenol before lifting? Thanks for the info, much appreciated.
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How old are you, have you ever had elbow-bicep-triceps-shoulder pain or injury before?
I have worked in the Physical Therapy field for over 13 years, without seeing you or knowing -- you might have some sort of tendonitis-over use. We all have it time to time. I am 46 years old and was a very serious competitive bodybuilder since 1987. Time to back off, sure not stop but rest it. Neoprene sleeves with Icy Hot rub on the elbows prior to training helped me. This adds compression and locks in "heat" for pain free and healing. So did A LOT
A LOT of warm ups..Like 25-40, reps (baby lightweights) rope pushdowns, single arm and both arms, cables curls, and reverse curls. I like the ice after training for 20 minutes on, using a frozen bag of corn-peas-molds to the site better! This reduces inflammation. Animal Flex helps. I take 2 packs a day on training days 1 pack on non-training days. Advil-Motrin prior will act as a bandage and mask the pain, which can be a bad thing; you might turn this into a sprain-strain or tear. Be careful!
Listen to your body...try taking 2-3 days off all training. Do cardio for an endorphin release; focus on stretching, return back to very light weights. Try more cables and machine work. Your body cannot tell the difference between a barbell bench press/machine press/cable movement, stimulus and shocking the body makes it grow-along with proper rest-nutrients.
I'm 59 and have my share of joint issues. Agree with the tendonitis observation . . . I get it from time to time and just had a bout of it which I felt in my elbow while doing BB reverse curls. Aside from Flex and the other advice, i.e. taking a break and working around the inury, etc., I also use an old Ayurvedic remedy called Mahanaryan oil. It is a decotion of 20 plus herbs in a Sesame Oil base and specifically good for deep or connective tissue such as ligaments, tendons. I rub just a few drops into the area right before bedtime and once again when I get up. I would also recommend against NSAIDs unless the pain is so bad its keeping you up at night . . . if that is the case, maybe time for a trip to the Dr., especially if its chronic and you get little or no relief.
Nfleagle78
01-25-13, 12:53 pm
I have elbow pain in both elbows whenever I perform pressing movements, especially bench. It seems like the compression activates it more than the actual movement itself. I have tried ice, ice / heat, before and after, massages and I recently purchased some Rehband elbow sleeves. Is anyone aware of anything else to at least dull the pain while lifting? What about taking alleve or tylenol before lifting? Thanks for the info, much appreciated.
It depends on where at on the elbow it is. If it's more of the inner like below the bicep, could be a strain. If it's more along the forearm more likely it's tendenitis (golferselbow or tennis elbow) take a break from presses and anything that hurts it. Make sure to do really really good warm ups. It sounds simple but every time I have had this injury, it's always because I didn't warm up very well. Take your time and warm up and stretch properly! I would say 60% of all injuries are because you didn't warm up or stretch properly! Those arm bands help if the tendenitis gets really bad. Take some animal flex!
RaisingTheBar
01-25-13, 1:11 pm
Try warming up more with lighter weight. Also add in some Flex and more fish oil. My favorite for elbow pain is Blue Heat! I can't lift without the stuff.
http://www.flexcart.com/members/elitefts/default.asp?m=PD&cid=114&pid=492
"THIS IS A VETERINARY PRODUCT!"
Haha, is this stuff made for horses? That link you posted said it's a vet product. I've heard of it before, but just that that was a funny line for their product info.
"THIS IS A VETERINARY PRODUCT!"
Haha, is this stuff made for horses? That link you posted said it's a vet product. I've heard of it before, but just that that was a funny line for their product info.
Yeah. It's made for race horses. Which is why the stuff works great!
Cellardweller
01-26-13, 12:01 pm
Yeah. It's made for race horses. Which is why the stuff works great!
Why am I not supprised that you use horse products?
I've got bursitis in my left elbow with chronic swelling. I'm a huge fan of warming up. Don't be afraid to do a few sets of light weight. Save those 'bows. I can't do skullcrushers and upright rows anymore at all.
KettleBellFreak
01-27-13, 5:07 pm
Yeah. It's made for race horses. Which is why the stuff works great!
Bruiser you're a hard ass!
Tauscheck
01-27-13, 7:01 pm
I always warm up my elbows with the rope pushdowns. bursitis came to my mind but you mentioned it was in both elbows and I always thought one way to get bursitis was from overuse of a joint, so to have it in both elbows at the same time might be a little more rare. Just my opinion but I think it might have to do with warming up properly like few other posts mentioned
korn_fed
01-27-13, 7:12 pm
Just restating what everyone else here said, the main focus is to warm up thoroughly. I have tendonitis in both elbows so I know how you feel brotha. I usually warm up (for triceps day, just for example) with a five minute elliptical, stair master, or treadmill session (its important to prepare your entire body, not just your triceps!), then do 3-4 sets of tricep extensions using the thick-handled V-bar, keeping my reps at 20 per set, exploding on the way down, going to full extension, holding at the peak of the contraction for a second or two, then coming up slowly on the negative, usually around 3-5 seconds, and making sure I go all the way up to the point where I can feel a stretch on my triceps.
I've also found it takes a load off of my triceps if I begin my workout with a pressing movement, like Dips or Close-Grip Bench, BEFORE moving on to something like Skullcrushers or Overhead Tricep DB Extensions.
DAVE422---How is the elbow?
I have elbow pain in both elbows whenever I perform pressing movements, especially bench. It seems like the compression activates it more than the actual movement itself. I have tried ice, ice / heat, before and after, massages and I recently purchased some Rehband elbow sleeves. Is anyone aware of anything else to at least dull the pain while lifting? What about taking alleve or tylenol before lifting? Thanks for the info, much appreciated.
I've had elbow problems for quite some time now, I've tried everything from taking time off from the gym to different supplements, nothing is working for me, I even tried taking tylenol and ibuprofen but didn't have any luck. It seems to get worse during the cold months for me.