Join Early Retirement Today
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Degenerative shoulders and weight lifting???
Old 08-21-2011, 01:30 PM   #1
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,323
Degenerative shoulders and weight lifting???

Since I was thrown over a car when I was 21, the problems with my one shoulder started just recently. It took over 40 years to come to a head it seems, but the one shoulder is starting to cause some pain and weakness.

I just had a bone density and no problems--except where I landed on the concrete, so it's my right hip and right shoulder. I guess I'm lucky that's all it is.

I have found I can jo ign the pool for the hip and that has helped alot.

But can I lift weights for the shoulder still?

Will lifting weights cause this shoulder more problems or build the muscle around the bone and help it?

Anyone on this board have the same problem and know the answer? I'm not pulling up much on the internet about this, so am turning to fellow board members.
__________________
Please consider adopting a rescue animal. So very many need a furr-ever home and someone to love them! And if we all spay/neuter our pets there won't be an overpopulation to put to death.
Orchidflower is offline   Reply With Quote
Join the #1 Early Retirement and Financial Independence Forum Today - It's Totally Free!

Are you planning to be financially independent as early as possible so you can live life on your own terms? Discuss successful investing strategies, asset allocation models, tax strategies and other related topics in our online forum community. Our members range from young folks just starting their journey to financial independence, military retirees and even multimillionaires. No matter where you fit in you'll find that Early-Retirement.org is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!

You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with our members, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create a retirement blog, send private messages and so much, much more!

Old 08-21-2011, 02:09 PM   #2
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
haha's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Hooverville
Posts: 22,983
Quote:
Originally Posted by Orchidflower View Post
Since I was thrown over a car when I was 21, the problems with my one shoulder started just recently. It took over 40 years to come to a head it seems, but the one shoulder is starting to cause some pain and weakness.

I just had a bone density and no problems--except where I landed on the concrete, so it's my right hip and right shoulder. I guess I'm lucky that's all it is.

I have found I can jo ign the pool for the hip and that has helped alot.

But can I lift weights for the shoulder still?

Will lifting weights cause this shoulder more problems or build the muscle around the bone and help it?

Anyone on this board have the same problem and know the answer? I'm not pulling up much on the internet about this, so am turning to fellow board members.
I think you may want the specific advice of your Doc on this issue.

Ha
__________________
"As a general rule, the more dangerous or inappropriate a conversation, the more interesting it is."-Scott Adams
haha is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-21-2011, 02:10 PM   #3
gone traveling
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: DFW
Posts: 7,586
Quote:
Originally Posted by Orchidflower View Post
Since I was thrown over a car when I was 21, the problems with my one shoulder started just recently. It took over 40 years to come to a head it seems, but the one shoulder is starting to cause some pain and weakness.

I just had a bone density and no problems--except where I landed on the concrete, so it's my right hip and right shoulder. I guess I'm lucky that's all it is.

I have found I can jo ign the pool for the hip and that has helped alot.

But can I lift weights for the shoulder still?

Will lifting weights cause this shoulder more problems or build the muscle around the bone and help it?

Anyone on this board have the same problem and know the answer? I'm not pulling up much on the internet about this, so am turning to fellow board members.
I think you should get your shoulder checked out by the Dr or perhaps a physical therapist to see what is realistic for you to do. If you currently have pain and weakness in it, this is not something that should be diagnosed over the internet. That said, there are a lot of exercises using elastic tubing and light weights that could be used to build your shoulders up, but whatever you do go slow and go light and see a professional first.
eytonxav is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-21-2011, 02:22 PM   #4
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Naples
Posts: 2,179
Go right to an orthopedic specialist. Don't mess around. They can tell you if it's a muscle problem, bone, something else or a combination. They will be able to tell you if physical therapy will help or if you are wasting your time. Maybe surgery is required. My orthopedic surgeon does x-rays right in his office and can make a quick disgnosis. Maybe further testing like an MRI would be required.
JOHNNIE36 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-21-2011, 03:36 PM   #5
Recycles dryer sheets
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 471
OF,

You may have degenerative joint disease caused by the injury to your shoulder when you were young.

I injured my shoulder at age 24 and was well into by 40's before the degenerative arthritis became a big problem leading up to total shoulder replacement. I would find a good orthopedic doc right away who specializes in shoulder problems.

2soon2tell
2soon2tell is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-21-2011, 04:24 PM   #6
Moderator Emeritus
W2R's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: New Orleans
Posts: 47,474
I agree about checking with your doctor.

I have an old knee injury from falling off a loading dock in 1997. I have been trying to build up muscle on it, using the leg extension machine, to protect the knees. They do seem to work better now with a little less pain, and to be more stable, but there seems to be a limit as to how much weight I can do on that machine. I started at 10 pounds and seem to be stalled at 40 pounds (whereas, on the leg curl machine that doesn't bother or affect the injury, I have worked up to 105 pounds). I also tried the leg press machine at a low weight but gave up on that one because it was very painful and results were not encouraging.

So, if you are determined not to see your doctor and to do this anyway, I would urge you to start with VERY LOW WEIGHTS on machines that use your shoulder. Use the lowest possible. See if it increases your pain too much. Increase the weights way, way more slowly than you otherwise would. Always, always, always pay attention to what your body is telling you.
__________________
Already we are boldly launched upon the deep; but soon we shall be lost in its unshored, harbourless immensities. - - H. Melville, 1851.

Happily retired since 2009, at age 61. Best years of my life by far!
W2R is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-21-2011, 04:28 PM   #7
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Lisa99's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,440
See your doc before continuing the weights. If you have a rotator cuff problem any amount if weight can complete a partial tear.
__________________
Learning how to be still, to really be still and let life happen - that stillness becomes a radiance -
Morgan Freeman
Lisa99 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-21-2011, 05:42 PM   #8
Moderator Emeritus
Ronstar's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Northern Illinois
Posts: 16,543
OF -

I echo what others have said - see a doc. I tore my rotator cuff about 15 years ago and didn't go to the doctor even though I was incapacitated for awhile. And it didn't heal back to normal. My chiropractor noticed it when doing an adjustment - my right shoulder does not hit the floor when I'm laying on my back. Its pulled forward. The doc told me I should not do bench presses because they will tighten the chest muscles and pull the shoulder forward.
Ronstar is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-21-2011, 06:21 PM   #9
Gone but not forgotten
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Sarasota,fl.
Posts: 11,447
You enjoy swimming and that's a great exercise for the arms and shoulders . I would be very careful with too much lifting without checking with a Orthopedic Physician or at least a Physical Therapist .
Moemg is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-21-2011, 06:44 PM   #10
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Fair Lawn
Posts: 2,940
1) Definitely see the doctor.
2) I never fell over a car, but I have had serious shoulder injuries. The last one was simply overuse/partial tear. After PT and a cortisone shot, I was pain-free. With my doctor's blessings, I resumed weight lifting. I started at VERY low weights; as I built up a modicum of strength I similarly increased the weights very slowly and gradually. However, I will not go much more than where I am now as I do not want to push it.
Bottom line, once you improve a little - and with doctor's approval - I think light weight lifting can actually help, in the long run.
mystang52 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-21-2011, 09:49 PM   #11
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,323
Great responses and I am grateful to get the feedback. Thank you all. This could be more serious than I thought.

And I am starting with a Chiro appointment tomorrow a.m. and making an appt. with my Dr. after that.

I was at a social Friday night and an ex-physical therapist told me to swim alot--especially the back stroke--to build up the shoulder, and, also, warned me not to push it too hard with the weights. I guess I will have to concede on this one and do what I'm supposed to (drats!). I was looking forward to reshaping my upper body quicker with weights...sigh.

The physical therapist did say that--for the degenerative hip--jogging in the pool was a good thing, tho.

Not much pain at all except when my shoulder gets cold in Winter...oooowwwwie, hurts! Even at night with the ceiling fan on, I pull a sheet over the one shoulder to keep it warm whereas the rest of me is out in the open. My entire left side is ok. The right hip and right shoulder I have to bundle up all year long and make sure they don't get any chill at all.

I really shouldn't gripe, because a nurse at Georgetown Hospital in DC where I was taken after the accident told me that I'd get arthritis in my body "somewhere" around my 40's (I was 21 then)...and this really didn't cause much problem till my 60's. But I sure wish this accident never happened. It did end my motorcycle hobby, tho.

And I can't help but wonder how much pain all those retired football players go thru? Must be bad. No wonder they pay them so well.
__________________
Please consider adopting a rescue animal. So very many need a furr-ever home and someone to love them! And if we all spay/neuter our pets there won't be an overpopulation to put to death.
Orchidflower is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Quick Links

 
All times are GMT -6. The time now is 06:48 AM.
 
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.