Lack of Strength?

[James1226]

About two weeks ago, I was feeling a little pain in my right shoulder(front side, more in the arm). It ONLY hurt while trying to bench straight out with a barbell. I could still use dumbells with the same motion with no pain. I could aslo still do shoulder presses, chest flys, triceps, biceps, etc. I decided to rest for about a week and did only cardio, then went back to my chest excercise on Monday and I had ZERO pain. The issue I'm having now is, my right arm(which is my stronger, dominant arm) has very little stamina/strength. I hit a wall that I never had before and max out at 155lbs, where as before the "injury" I was at 175-185 fairly comfortably. My left arm/shoulder isn't struggling at all, but I simply can't push the weight up with my right arm. Once again, I can still do shoulder presses and everything else at my normal weight with no pain or lack of strength.

Anybody know what the heck is going on? I'm so baffled by this, it just doesn't make any sense.

 

[marko157]

the sensible thing to do my friend is go see a doctor and get yourself checked out if u keep lifting you could be doing yourself more damage
good luck

 

[James1226]

the sensible thing to do my friend is go see a doctor and get yourself checked out if u keep lifting you could be doing yourself more damage
good luck

That's what I'm afraid of, the last thing I want to do is injure it any more than it may be. I just don't understand what it is though. It doesn't even hurt in the slightest bit. The only motion that I struggle with weight is benching with a bar.

I'm afraid if I go to the doc, all they'll say is to rest it without giving me much attention. Since there's no pain, what would he be looking for? My range of motion in my shoulder is fine. I just don't see them doing an MRI just because my shoulder is preventing me from benching what I'd like. Maybe I'll be pleasantly suprised, who knows.

 

[Adler1983]

James, absolutely go to the doctor. The likely reason that you're experiencing pain only with the flat barbell bench is because the movement "locks" your should in place, IE: you are not able to rotate your should at all. However, when using dumbbells you are able to adjust, even slightly, the rotation of your shoulder thus taking the pressure off whatever part of your shoulder is injured.

Stop doing what you're doing. The shoulder is the most complex, delicate joint in the body. See a doctor, if he tells you to rest it, push harder. I recently met an orthopod regarding my knee, he did some movement tests and said rest it. I pushed hard for x-ray and MRI, sure enough, the MRI revelaed some issues that need resolved.

 

[James1226]

James, absolutely go to the doctor. The likely reason that you're experiencing pain only with the flat barbell bench is because the movement "locks" your should in place, IE: you are not able to rotate your should at all. However, when using dumbbells you are able to adjust, even slightly, the rotation of your shoulder thus taking the pressure off whatever part of your shoulder is injured.

Stop doing what you're doing. The shoulder is the most complex, delicate joint in the body. See a doctor, if he tells you to rest it, push harder. I recently met an orthopod regarding my knee, he did some movement tests and said rest it. I pushed hard for x-ray and MRI, sure enough, the MRI revelaed some issues that need resolved.

Thats exactly what I'm worried about. What did you have to do to get the MRI? Did you resist the "rest" right away, or was it a long drawn out process?

Basically, if it IS injured, I want it fixed asap so I can resume workouts. I don't want to BS around and rest two months, then find out I need surgery and be laid off even longer.

As far as pain, I'm actually not feeling any at all. I just lose strength on the flat barbell bench. There is NO pain to speak of. Thats why I'm so puzzled. I'd totally understand if I had pain and couldn't push the weight, but its simply lack of strength all the sudden, with no pain.