joints and power lifting.

Got a question for you power lifters out there.

My bench has always been kinda a weak lift for me (given my size and other lifts). I resently started working out with a new partner who does a hell of a lot of flat bench. Im hoping this will help bring up my bench. His routine is basically a pyramid, but instead of doing one set at the peak weight, we do 4 sets at the peak. So Im used to doing 375 for like 8 reps, but what we are doing is 4 sets of 375 for 5 reps. its easy for the first 2 sets, then gets very hard the 3rd and 4th set.

I feel great while im lifting the weight, i've already become stronger, but i feel a lot of joint pain in my shoulders for like 3-4 days after. the pain feels like sharp needles. it effects the rotation of my shoulder when its happening. My shoulders will make popping noise when i rotate my arm. And when i hit a certain point, my arm just drops... its like i hit a weak spot and cant lift my arm up. This used to last for 3-5 days. slowly its been getting better. I think this week it only did it for 2 days.

im new to lifting heavy weights so much. I've never felt this kind of pain in my shoulders before that wasnt permanent. Usually id screw up my shoulders doing military or something and it would last for months.

im completely off at the moment, so drugs are not a factor in this.

First of all--benching 375 is a weak lift?? I can't get past 245 at the moment. Sounds like perhaps with the new regimen, you should reduce weight temporarily until you get used to it to let your joints catch up.

Bench is hard on the shoulders. I would say make sure you are doing a good
warm up but sounds like you probably are. I had to lay off bench for about a
year because of sholder pain. Listen to your body. (great advice I am too thick
headed to follow myself) Keep us posted - I would be interested to see if you
adapt or it gets worse.

rub some cranberry sauce on them before you lift...


seriously get yourself back on IGF and this time solely use it on your delts and make sure you keep measuring your head so that your hats still fit!!!

as you know bro i cant even do heavy barbell anymore man. I have to stick to dbells wich is ok with me until i wanna switch it up. I can hit my chest solely alot better with dumbells personally. But i would try some igf or get on some chondroitin msm its been provin to do a great job at recovering and helping joints. May take a month or so to start to feel the effects of it.

good catch b2s i knew i left one out

thanks for all the replies.

375 is alot... but i've been lifting it for a long time with no progress.

i got 6 reps for all three sets this weekend. Next weekend we're going to be adding 10 more pounds. I was stoked cause no pain, and the extra rep went easy. I wish i could say this was all natty, but i bet some of that test deconate is still floating in my blood.

Joints feel great this week. I think my body has adjustsed.

G-Mike, Im starting some GH soon, I might add igf to the mix... but i have to rob a bank for the GH alone... so we will see about the igf.

keep it up bro..

fyi - from what I've read about chondroitin it has only been shown to be effective in the injectable form, studies on taking it oral have never been proven to be effective.

interesting mike i just always assumed they were oral cause ive never seen them saying injecting it. Do you know where you can get some inj. chond. that would be great supp for sources to carry ya know.

I used to power lift. I'm 48 now and just maintain. Never hurt tendons or joints to the point of surgery. Every now and then you will feel discomfort, and as mcgaret stated, listen to your body. If it hurts or does not feel right, stop and check things over. I've used cortizone shots as temp fixes before. When power lifting, I also always worked out with a partner. Never alone. That has saved me a couple of times.

Get_Swole said:

interesting mike i just always assumed they were oral cause ive never seen them saying injecting it. Do you know where you can get some inj. chond. that would be great supp for sources to carry ya know.

Click to expand...

Glucosamine definitely works as an oral, chondriotin works to a much, much lesser degree as an oral and in talking with my chiropractor he says to achieve therapuetic benefits of chondro it needs to be injected. He quoted some studies I will look into it and see what clinicals I can find.

Chondriotin would be a great ancillary for sources to carry, we should definitely look into that.

I have a similar problem with similar weights.

What I do is to do less volume: 1 warm up set, 1 heavy set (4-6 reps) and one set at higher reps (10-12). Then I do inclines which don't hurt my shoulders.

Also, do some exercises to strengthen the small muscles around the shoulders. This has done wonders for me.

damn doc, you where just the guy i was looking to hear from!! how you been?? hopefully better than me. Im falling apart!!