First of all allow me to apologize for my first post being one that requires help from the community here. I came upon this site when I was searching for a information on the web.
Now that I think about it, I have always had a bit of a problem with my right shoulder since I started going to the gym; however, it has never been that much of an issue. It was just a bit painful. I always seemed to have a problem with the shoulder joint following the right path during Arnold presses, DB presses and flys unless I really concentrated and tightened the joint.
Anyway, a few events lead up to my problem. I was doing upright rows and I experienced some sudden shoulder pain. That seemed to go away with a break from the exercise. Then I had a problem with pain during incline hammer presses. It seemed to me that the positioning of my shoulder was the problem, so I returned to DB inclines. A few weeks later, during Arnold presses something seemed to happen during the upward twist at the top. I couldn’t follow the pathway, I was exhausted, it was painful and something happened that did not feel right.
Thereafter, it seemed as though I had too much space in my joint. It was uncomfortable and difficult to explain the feeling and what happened. Now it seems as though there is too much movement in the joint when I flex and a bit of pain. I have trouble doing most exercises because it seems as though my joint may pop (?). After some research, I have been doing rotator cuff exercises and stretches. The DC stretch and a few exercises I found at T-Nation. After reading the article about being mindful of one’s daily routine, I came to realize that I lean on my left elbow a lot at work due to sitting at children’s tables (I teach.) This pushes my humerus into the joint and my shoulder upward.
Now here is the interesting part. I was doing the motions of the Arnold press, and while at the top position I noticed that if I pull my shoulder down, imitating what would happen if I had a heavy DB in my hand, I cannot bring my arm down in a twisting motion as in the Arnold press fashion. It is locked there. I have to bring it down after unlocking it with shoulder movement or straight down in front without bending at the elbow. This does not occur with the other shoulder. Furthermore, I experience pain in my shoulder during the stretch where you put the elbow of the side being stretched in front of your chin, and hand over the other shoulder, and pull behind the elbow into your body.
Is it possible that leaning on my elbow did this, or are there any other ideas? Any ideas on how I can fix this issue?
I know that some will say to see a doctor, but I teach in S.Korea and doctors here are notorious for ridiculous diagnosis and excuses for not doing their job properly. Hence, I would like to attempt clearing this up myself, if possible.
Thank you very much in advance… .
Michael