I was wondering if anyone could share some advise on training with shoulder tendinitis. I've been icing, stretching, and using Alieve, but it only helps a little. I thinking I might just need to bite the bullet and take a week off anything using my shoulders. I'll call it Appendage week! Any advice?

I'm in the same boat!!!! It hurts to bench or OH press or really do anything that involves the shoulders!! I've been debating on taking time off too. But man, I hate to do that. You know? Feels like lost time.....

I dealt with that problem from age 35 to age 59 when I finally had a shoulder replacement. But, there were many things I did that allowed me to keep training through the pain. First a caveat, there is pain that you could work through and pain that you shouldn't work through.

I found that using dumbells and adjusting my hand position often allowed me to do pressing movements. When I used a hammer curl grip it usually relieved the pain. I would just keep adjusting range of motion until I found one that didn't hurt.

I'm 57 and my shoulders are the one area that causes training pain. I can usually manage it if:
a) I don't go too heavy on chest work (stay in higher rep ranges)
b) As Roger said, use DB's (or machines in my case) and use the hammer grip
c) For me, avoiding any type of overhead press. I knew better, but just had to try them last night. Serious shoulder pain today. I have to limit my shoulder work to various types of laterals. I also do reverse grip inclines (which were advocated by Doug Brignole, a successful over 50 BB in one the latest Iron Man magazines).

It is very frustrating to remember the days of putting 3+ plates on ea. side for bench presses, but...that's life I guess.

Roger, did I understand that you had shoulder replacement? Didn't know that they could replace the shoulder yet. How's that working out? Can you successfully train with that?

My shoulder replacement has given me a new lease on life and training. My joint was basically destroyed. Training had become nearly impossible (and I had been training with pain for 24 years to that point so pain wasn't the issue). In fact, everyday life was miserable. I went to the doc finally thinking he would suggest a scope or something. He looked at the xray and said it's a wreck. We can try cortisone and stuff but at some point you'll need a total replacement.

I suffered about 6 more months until I couldn't even put on a shirt without help and had it done. (Ironically it was exactly 4 years from last week.) I started back with 1 lb, then 2 lb dumbells etc. And each week for months continued to progressively add weight. First bench workout was with 95 lbs after about 3 months. I've since worked up to 285 and think I can go to 300 if I don't decide to diet too strictly.

Before the surgery I hadn't been able to flat bench in about ten years.

Yes, I am training more consistently over the past 4 years since the surgery than ever before in my life for that length of time. However, I would not recommend getting it just so you can train without pain, but only when your quality life goes down the drain and you are making everyone around you miserable.

Another tip for shoulder health and balance is to use a Shoulder Horn or do some external rotation exercises. It certainly won’t cure some of the advanced injuries or pain that we’re talking about on here, but for others it will help to prevent problems before they occur. Investing as little as 2 sets of 15-25 reps twice a week will go along way to provide more balance to the shoulder joint. This area almost never gets worked by traditional exercises. If you’re not sure what I’m talking about, you can google Shoulder Horn.

Avoid barbells like the plague. Overhead stuff should be kept to a minimum, if at all. If you do anything behind the neck, the closest person to you at the gym should slap you.

As anyone on this board will probably tell you, taking a little time off for recouperative purposes isn't such a bad thing. It's just my humble opinion, but I believe the body itself needs a break after about 12 weeks of training. Try hitting up one week of straight cardio and abs. Take the time to ice and heat your shoulder and do light motion exercises. Chances are it's never going to be perfect, but it will help.

On a side note, have you ever heard of or tried prolotherapy? Me knees were just awful and I've received 5 of my 6 injections to both of them. While they're not 100%, I'd say that they're at least a good 70-75% of their former selves-which is a far cry above where they were before treatment. Prolotherapy, look it up. If you want more info, PM me.

I blew out my right shoulder about 10 weeks ago while training for my first show. I damaged my corcoid process. My muscle in my chest and bicep and deltoids locked up and caused my right shoulder to drop 3 inches lower than my left shoulder. I went to see my massage therapist and he was able to relax the muscles which allowed everything to heal faster. I was back in the gym after a week of rest. The injury turned out to be a blessing because I realized how much weaker my left side was compared to my right side. I was also in a bad place mentally and believe that my injury was a manifestation of my poor outlook and negative thinking.

Guys,

Being in the well over 40 club (closer to 50 ) I'm in the same boat with shoulder issues like most of you. I understand were discussing training but don't forget the supplementation side of things. Keep those joints lubricated with some good Joint Fuel. It definately mehas been my saving grace..

I'm in the over 40 club too and have the same shoulder problems. I just came back from a week off because of tonsilitus and I can tell you that extra rest time made a huge difference when I got back to the gym. My strength and stamina is way up and even though I can still feel some pain I'm able to work through it without problems. Three weeks ago the pain was limiting me quite a bit.

I think the week off after 12 is a good idea, since that is eccentailly what I did, just not on purpose. Hey, we aren't 18, we need more time to recover.