elbow pian, need advice bad

[Johnathon Conner]

i would like to start off by saying hi to everyone, this being my first post. I have had extreme pain in my elbows for about 6 months. it usto only happen when i did triceps but now it worked its way into my bench workout. i have woken up countless nights in pain. i was just wondering if this is common or what it could be?? I took 3 weeks off and it feels better but still a little sore.

[Stephen Calhoun]

Hey, not sure if our problems are the same but i feel your pain. my left elbo is the worst. I have limited my bicep work to light weight bb curls and some hammer curls. I can not do any over head ticep exstension work such as skull crushers or my elbow feels like some one is driving an ice pick though it. So my tricep work is usely light weight narrow bench, tricep press downs and dips, this seem to keep the pain away most of the time and still pump the triceps. I do not know what causes it other than some kind of strain maybe. But easing off of them for a while always helps me. I also massage them on a regular basis. be careful that after they start feeling better you don't push them to hard to soon. that will just set you back.

[AnimalGryphon]

I feel your pain as well. Looks like a trend is strating to form. My problem is mainly my left elbow and only for exercises that stretch that elbow back (i.e. incline bench, dips, and so on). What you describe could be you radial colateral ligament, triceps brachii tendon, Articular Capsule, Annular Ligament, Ulnar Collateral Ligament, ect... To beter help you and maybe others like us with the same pain can you describe where the pain is in your elbow (i.e. lateral or anterior)?
However, i think you have answered your own question. You said that you took 3 weeks off and it is not a 100% but it is better. Maybe time will solve it. If not try attacking the same muscle in a different way. Meaining if flat bench makes it sore then do something else that will work your triceps brachii (long and medial heads), pectoralis major, anterior delts, serratus, and corachobrachialis. Or do a variation of your falt bench. Something like using a smith machince or another machince that mimics the flat bench but limits your ROM. Just throwing some ideas out.
If the problem is like mine I just limit my ROM so I am not puting the full potential strain on that elbow. However, mine cycles on and off with pain. Thus when it is not hurting I do the full ROM and when it is I don't. I also use a compression sleeve when it starts to hurt and when it stops I don't use it. I also ice my elbo to eliminate the pain and any sweeling after my workout.
In short rest it, ice it, and compress it. See how that works for a little while, and if it doesn't get your elbows back to 100% you should probably get it checked out by a sports physician. You may have a tendon or ligament problem that can only be fixed by a doc. Then again it may be something that has to do with your form. Sorry it is a long answer, and if you have more information then maybe all of us can help you narrow it down and hopefully fix the problem.

[Corey Schaich]

Try varying your grip and do:

drink more water

8 x 8 roling tricep extensions

with 15 sec breaks in between use 50% of your max 1 arm tricep ext.

it is like a 1 arm lying french press

do this after your Max effort presses.

and after your speed press workout do:

3 x 15 tri pushdowns with 15 sec rest


they both will help develop the muscle around your elbow and keep up the blood flow to keep them healthy.



http://www.elitefts.com/documents/force_training4.htm

http://flexcart.com/members/elitefts/default.asp?m=PD&cid=213&pid=968

http://www.deepsquatter.com/strength/archives/dtate4.htm

http://www.elitefts.com/documents/snowed_in.htm

[Mike Lang]

I have a plate and 8 screws in my left elbow so I understand pain when doing tris and bench.

My advice is to put wraps on well before you lift, maybe if you have a drive to the gym, put them on before you get in the car. I also do 15 min of stationary bike before lifting to get the blood flowing. I also stretch, and I've played drums for 23 years, this has worked for me to loosen up. I take my hands, place them palm to palm pointing towards my body and push my fingers back on each hand, you really feel it in the elbow, tricep and the muscles on the underside of the forearm. I still get pain, but it is much less and less widespread through the elbow joint when I do these things.

And Tiger Balm works like a charm.

[MarkSikora]

A good suggestion someone posted:

throw a mini or monster mini or whatever band over the top of your power rack and do some quick tri pressdowns. This will get the blood flowing. Or, as was said, do light pressdowns after your workout. The band thing helped my sore elbow.

good luck

Mark

[Johnathon Conner]

thanks for all of the advice. today was my first day to do triceps since my break and it fels amazing. my first good tricep workout in a long time. i actually hit a new high(315x5) on close grip with no pain. i will definantly start warming up better and check with a physician if there is any reoccuring pain. thanks again to everyone

[Corey Schaich]

those neoprene elbow sleeves from

http://www.jackalsgym.com/

are the shtuff!!!