Dang Shoulder is Dragging Me Down

I have had a few shoulder problems for awhile now. A few years ago I was playing basketball and after laying it in the basket I was pushed into a padded wall under the goal. My shoulder hurt pretty bad. For a few days I couldn’t raise it above my head.

I didn’t know I had insurance at the time so I never went (dumb college student). Eventually it got better, but I would notice it not quite feeling right when lifting weights. Fast forward a few years later and now it pops and grinds when I move it around in certain positions. My other one pops a tad, but nothing out of the ordinary and never hurts.

It’s my left shoulder. Starting in a relaxed position:

  1. If my move it forward (big circle perpendicular to the plane on my stomach) in a circular motion (360 degrees) it gives a little grind and pop.

  2. Starting relaxed from my side if I move it backwards 360 degrees (assume when vertical arm down is 0 degrees) when I hit about 90 degrees (arm somewhat horizontal and facing backwards) it gives a sharp pain.

  3. When I move it directly outward from my side it gives a tiny pop

Sometimes the next day after working out there’s a light, deep ache.

It’s really uncomfortable. I know I need to go see a doctor about it, but I don’t have insurance right now so I don’t have much of a choice. I am just debating on whether to continue lifting weights until I get it taken care of. The shoulder is one of the places like your back and knees that are hell once you do damage to them so I am kind of scared.

Anyway, I don’t really know why I am posting this. I know I don’t need to workout my upper body. I know I need to go to the doctor about it as no one on the internet can diagnose a shoulder problem.

There are a number of articles on this site about training to get your shoulder health back up.

And you’re right, you should see a doctor.