Hurt shoulder during Bench

[wild_wild_wes]

Three weeks ago I was doing Bench Press; I had added 5 pounds to the bar from the previous week (I only Bench on wednesdays). I lift 2-set RPT, with first work set (after a couple of warm-up sets) being max, dropping 10% for the second set. The first work set went well, and I hit my reps. On the drop set I did something stupid- I tried a much wider grip than usual, just to experiment... as I pushed the bar up, I felt a broad pain in the inner upper arm, between the top of the bicep and the shoulder; my initial thought was that I had pulled a muscle. The next day though, and a few days after, it was difficult to raise my arm to put a shirt on. The pain went away for the most part after a few days, but now it is more of a sharp, point pain instead of the earlier broad feeling.

The next week after the injury was my usual, scheduled one-week off from lifting. When training resumed the week after that, I tried Bench again; after the warm-up set I loaded the bar for the first work set, but stopped the lift before I fully unracked the bar, because the pain was too much. Last week, I skipped Bench all together. I've been doing Deads, Pendlay Rows, Tricep Extensions, Bicep Curls, and Squats since the injury with no problems; only Overhead Press feels iffy, and I didn't make my reps this week.

I sleep on my sides, and I'm constantly shifting from side to side to alleviate the pain. Last night it was so bad it woke me up twice. How long should I avoid Benching?

[gun71530]

I would go see a doctor.

[dth4lf]

I agree. You should probably play it safe and get that checked out before you try to move forward.

[Vic303]

Go see your favorite orthopedic doc. Get the MRI so you know what is messed up.

[zzhawk]

I separated my shoulder once during a bench press. As suggested, get and MRI so that you know what is really going on and don't make it worse.

[TAZ]

1000+ to go see a doc. Shoulders are pretty complex so lots of things can go wrong. The last thing you want to do is do permanent damage.

[Hizzie]

Rest
Ice
Compression
Elevation
NSAIDs

Go see a sports med guy. Have the shoulder taken care of professionally. As you've seen a shoulder injury makes even the simplest daily tasks very difficult. I seperated my right shoulder just before thanksgiving. Recovery is slow if you do it right with long term health and wellness in mind.

[ABNAK]

As a veteran of SIX shoulder surgeries over the last 12 years (four on the left, two on the right) I wholeheartedly agree with the majority opinion so far: go see an ortho doc.

[Vic303]

Go see your favorite orthopedic doc. Get the MRI so you know what is messed up.

Yes, do as I say, not as I do! I need to get my butt into the Ortho-doc's office to get my shoulder looked at. I'm pretty sure what is going on in there, I just don't want to have to undergo the surgery fixing things will entail.

[Vic303]

Yeah, and now I have my orthopedic visit set up for Monday. Argh...I am pretty sure the prime issue is impingement, with some rotator cuff damage. What scares me is the good possibility the biceps tendon is not in it's groove, and that it will require open surgery (big incision) to repair. If that happens, it will be a lengthy healing and recovery process.