Body pain after halting AAS usage

I have spent years stretching and got injured and years not stretching ands have got injured. At least half of the studies i have over the last 35+ years at best show it does not reduce injuries. Most injuries happen in the normal range of motion so having a greater range of motion does not seem that it would do much to reduce injury. And could even add to injuries i would think if people go for something in the extended range. And most sturdies i have seen show more intense stretching before and during a workout decreases performance.
I remember a stat in school that stretching the muscle before use, in for example deadlifting, doing toe touches for an exetended period prior to doing the DL would decrease performace by 15-20%, moreso then if you did not do so.
 
I agree…. It does decrease performance….

But foam rolling/stretching at a different time slot hours later is best. Working out at 8 am, and stretching/foam rolling at 6 pm.
To decrease pain and discomfort from the intense exercise at hand.

Or one could use Foam Rolling to get to further ranges of motion that wouldnt otherwise to hit deeper muscle fibers. But the muscle would be “weaker”.

In my case the bigger i get, the more pain i get in my upper back, this is do to postural issues, and stretching and foam rolling later at a seperate time slot, is not for the muscle growth, but for a seperate issue in itself.
I can't speak about using stretching to relieve pain as i have seen few studies that deal with that and the few small ones i saw said it didn't do a thing as i remember, but that was years ago. But if someone thinks it works for them then they should do it same as anything a person thinks that works. Whether it actually does or not they perceive it does and that is good enough for me. And never used stretching to do that as muscle pain never bothered me, and i actually kind of like it as it let me know i did something. The only pain i tried to relieve was from injuries. Which stretching never did a thing for.And never seemed to help to avoid injury.
 
I have spent years stretching and got injured and years not stretching ands have got injured. At least half of the studies i have over the last 35+ years at best show it does not reduce injuries. Most injuries happen in the normal range of motion so having a greater range of motion does not seem that it would do much to reduce injury. And could even add to injuries i would think if people go for something in the extended range. And most sturdies i have seen show more intense stretching before and during a workout decreases performance.
Maybe if you're doing really intense stretching it could decrease certain kinds of performance. A lack of mobility and flexibility can hinder performance as well though, depending on what you're doing. Mostly I don't do deep yoga poses making my joints super loose or anything like that. Some of my joints are plenty mobile and I just do active mobility on them. Some parts of my body are not mobile enough and those I do certain deep stretches, but never before training or performance. Usually hours after or on a recovery day. I have found stretches and PT like exercises that have completely eliminated chronic tendonitis in different parts of my body though. Mobility work is very healthy for the joints and a great recovery activity. I'm coming from a place of athletic performance though, not bodybuilding or weightlifting. There's going to be some differences.
 
Maybe if you're doing really intense stretching it could decrease certain kinds of performance. A lack of mobility and flexibility can hinder performance as well though, depending on what you're doing. Mostly I don't do deep yoga poses making my joints super loose or anything like that. Some of my joints are plenty mobile and I just do active mobility on them. Some parts of my body are not mobile enough and those I do certain deep stretches, but never before training or performance. Usually hours after or on a recovery day. I have found stretches and PT like exercises that have completely eliminated chronic tendonitis in different parts of my body though. Mobility work is very healthy for the joints and a great recovery activity. I'm coming from a place of athletic performance though, not bodybuilding or weightlifting. There's going to be some differences.
I just tend to go with what i read for the most part. But i have my opinion but if most things don't support my opinion then i tend to change it. Although that can be hard to do. Decades ago i thought stretching was great for you and told people they should but after 35+ years reading studies and seeing how things went with me i think it can have some value but is far from a blanket statement that it keep people from being injured or will help with gains.




 
I just tend to go with what i read for the most part. But i have my opinion but if most things don't support my opinion then i tend to change it. Although that can be hard to do. Decades ago i thought stretching was great for you and told people they should but after 35+ years reading studies and seeing how things went with me i think it can have some value but is far from a blanket statement that it keep people from being injured or will help with gains.




Interesting reads. Sounds like it very much depends on the individual and the sport they're doing. Personally certain parts of my body suffer greatly without my stretching, mobility, and PT routine. I have been maximizing hip mobility for many years and it benefits me a lot and improves my performance. My shoulders I only do active mobility on though. Stretching them increases my injury risk. N=1 things I've figured out through trial and error.

I agree that stretching before training/performance is a bad idea, except if maximal flexibility is needed in the part of the body and strength in that area is less important. Full body active mobility is very productive for me before effort/performance though. Maybe I'm just a rigid guy?

I believe you that stretching is unimportant for you. Seems like it's much more nuanced then a yes or no answer.
 
What was your cycle, if you dont mind me asking?
I ran deca/ test most of the time, tren /test when i was competing among other PEDs.
I will add that my hair has grown back very healthy since I have stopped too...but damn my joints hurt most days‍♂️
I was running test c 420, mast e280, deca 175. Also some dbol pre workout for a few weeks.
 
At 58 I can confirm lots of joint pain. We cant workout as hard as we could when younger. Ive had to alter my workouts to give my body a chance to recover. I split my split-routine so I lift heavy, then have a cardio day to rest, then train light followed by with two days of cardio. I need two days rest from lifting as everything is screamingly uncomfortable. After two days of cardio, I feel good to go again.
Sometimes I have to change things up if Im extra achy - its not worth an injury.
 
At 58 I can confirm lots of joint pain. We cant workout as hard as we could when younger. Ive had to alter my workouts to give my body a chance to recover. I split my split-routine so I lift heavy, then have a cardio day to rest, then train light followed by with two days of cardio. I need two days rest from lifting as everything is screamingly uncomfortable. After two days of cardio, I feel good to go again.
Sometimes I have to change things up if Im extra achy - its not worth an injury.
You're over 50 too?
 
Great info here guys. My experience has been improved by slowly changing my approach to fitness.

I’ve accepted and embraced TRT.

I’ve stopped alcohol and drug use.

I get 7 hours sleep minimum, no matter what.

I have retired from movements that no longer serve me: deadlifts, bench and squats.

I no longer chase numbers on the bar, or on the scale.

My rep range is usually 15-25 now, which means lighter weight and slower reps. I focus on form, stretch and squeeze.

I lift less, I am down to 2-3 days per week.

I cardio more. I wish it wasn’t true, but the more LISS I do, the better my mood, libido and overall pain levels are.

I’ve gravitated away from foods that cause gut issues. If I’m farting, bloated or shitting weird, I’m sure it’s not exactly fighting inflammation.

I take magnesium, vitamins A/D/K, taurine and Circumin.

At night before bed in front of the TV, I take inventory and am on the living room floor using foam roller, psoa rite, or any number of tools I have, as well as doing a few relaxing yoga poses.

The whole point of lifting for me was to:

1) not look like a victim - achieved
2) get girls - achieved, married for 13 years
3) protect myself - If my charm and wit don’t work, I can hold my own until I reach my gun :)
4)manage anxiety/stress- still able to do

I have come to terms with my ‘meathead days’ staying in my past, and look towards a future I want to live. I am at peace with the size I have, and focus on bringing up smaller body parts, staying lean and being pain free. I’ve learned that the lighter I am, the better I feel!
 
I stretch almost every day. Usually some active/dynamic stretches in between sets in the gym, then cardio, then some static stretches (touch your toes, weird poses to stretch ass muscles, quad/calf stretches, etc). Sometimes another brief (couple minutes) stretching session later in the day. Good feelz, hoping to maintain mobility & maybe injury prevention.
 
I have searched a bit on here and havent found anything related.
My question is how many people here over 40 have stopped using AAS completely, gone through the withdrawals, leveled off and then started TRT and still feel sore everyday?
Now I do have a background of injuries, lifting related and non lifting related, ive worked my ass off as an industrial welder working 74-84 hrs a week for nearly 7 years out of 25 in the business, im 50 years old and used PEDs for over 10 years.
I have been off of all PEDs for about a year, started TRT and have a much lower work load.
I work out 2-3 x per week to stay fit, some cardio, and eat fairly well.
I am not getting on stage again, not a hugely competative person and I just want to stay healthy.
Does anyone else have day to day joint soreness?
My main cycle was 500 Test 300 Deca 25mg Var/day. Did cutting cycles of everything for stage and in between.
Please keep dumbass remarks to yourselves. I am asking for serious responses of likeness.
Thanks
I have had two surgeries, I tore my distal bicep and had that surgery 4/21/22. I just had surgery on my right shoulder, a bicep tendonesis done 4/2/24. I’m bone on bone in both my shoulder joints and am not trying to go under the knife for another one. I have found myself in this situation with both of my shoulders I believe with a lot of bad technique, a lot of years of ego lifting, no resources to ask for help, a lot of football since a kid all the way threw college, and now my job! A lot of artheritis. I’m healing up quickly got full range of motion and now I’m excited to get back in the gym. My diet is good, and my cardio level is great! I can start resistance training here next week, and then focused on the main problem which is a muscle imbalance, once I tend to the problem I can find the right reliefs in pain in my shoulders. But no matter what everyone body is different and as we age we get sore and have pain.
 
I recently found the Lacrosse Ball! That thing is fucking amazing for treating muscle adhesions, tight tendons and IT bands. Hurts like hell but works. Not sure stretching does anything for injury prevention, but I do know that I feel better after stretching and I maintain my range of motion.
 
Back
Top