rehab cycle: test, deca, albuterol, gh

[flenser]

PT went really well this morning. I felt strong and had literally zero shoulder pain doing the various exercises. They have to be just running out the insurance on this. I barely need any guidance when I go in, and they know I repeat the entire PT at home every evening.

I ended up in a long discussion with a PT on how to do a correct/safe flat bench press. She told me close hand bench was more dangerous in my case, and I should keep my hands wide. She even had illustrations from one of her re-certification classes. I'll give it a shot on Sunday, but I'm not sold yet. I know I lift at least 15% more with my hands wide, but I've been told by too many people that it's bad for the rotator cuff.

 

[Voltrader]

Thats sounds about right as far as the rotator cuff is concerned unfortunately it also takes away from isolating the chest. I even sometimes feel it moves into my tri's too much. The fun part about a narrower grip you can stack weight and the bar will bend when pushing. My arthritis dictates if I go wide or not.

 

[flenser]

Ow, you had to say arthritis. My shoulders are about the only place it doesn't call home.

I couldn't bend a broomstick with what I've been pressing lately. I have fond memories of it, though.

 

[Voltrader]

You will be at it again one day Flenser take your time. The iron goes nowhere it will be there waiting for you.

 

[flenser]

Looks like I lost a post or three in the site conversion. Oh well...

I've cut back to 1 day a week PT, though I still do it on my own every night. I expect next Tuesday to be my last day, though they seem reluctant to let me (or my insurance money) go.

I'm going to start working with the trainer asap to finish the rehab. If I try doing it alone I have this fear I will re-injure myself. I need someone to hold me back, heh.

 

[Voltrader]

HaHa Flenser at least my motivational post is still here.

 

[flenser]

Heh, you know I need all the motivation I can get.

 

[flenser]

Managed to bench a whole 135 this morning with my usual hand width (pinkies on the rings). I could do tons of mostly pain free reps at 135, but zero reps at 155. I was there for deads anyway. I just have to bench every workout to check progress.

I skipped squats so I could mountain bike at lunch (not a good excuse, I know). Once I got moving I forgot about the shoulder and took a 3' drop without thinking. I didn't remember I wasn't supposed to do that until I got to the end of the trail. It felt good enough I think I might try a harder trail this weekend.

 

[flenser]

Decided to try overhead press today, and managed several sets at 145 with a pause at the bottom. No pain at all. I think it's all rebuilding lost muscle from here. My front delts have always been a weak point anyway. I don't think I ever hit 225 without cheating a little.

Tried a behind the neck press with just the bar and had to drop it on the floor. Might try that again in a month or two, heh.

No other surprises. No pain on any rows or shrugs - I started doing DD's 45lb plate shrug, ow! I didn't have time for bench, but I did a ton of pushups between sets of other stuff. My shoulder felt good enough I didn't bother icing it after.

 

[greenddog1]

Just finished reading thru your thread and you're doing outstanding. I've been there several times, arthritis combined with torn muscles are a bitch. Take it at a comfortable pace, you'll know your limits. Not to say don't test those limits, but do it with caution. My first surgery went south when I pushed too hard, too soon. Sounds like you're on the right track. Good luck and I look forward to your progress to 100%.

 

[flenser]

Just finished reading thru your thread and you're doing outstanding. I've been there several times, arthritis combined with torn muscles are a bitch. Take it at a comfortable pace, you'll know your limits. Not to say don't test those limits, but do it with caution. My first surgery went south when I pushed too hard, too soon. Sounds like you're on the right track. Good luck and I look forward to your progress to 100%.

Thanks, it's been a new kind of experience. I've never been unable to do something for this long before. The doc tells me I will come out of this stronger than before the injury, since she removed a ton of old scar tissue - probably from mountain bike crashes. I don't have any schedule for when I start lifting heavy again, but it wouldn't bug me (much) if it took another two or three months.

 

[flenser]

Have a short Caribbean vacation starting at the end of next week. I can carry my test and tren mixed in a prescription vial, but I think I'm going to leave the GH at home. I had been planning on putting it in an insulin vial, but it seems like a lot of trouble for just a week. I'm also still feeling some carpel tunnel symptoms I picked up after putting all those screws in the new deck. The swelling went down right away, but not the numb hands. If that's really from the GH, a week off should help, no?

 

[lightspan]

Read through this, sounds like you're doing great, thanks for logging this. I had adhesive capsulitis ("frozen shoulder") and literally couldn't raise my arm above my shoulder without wanting to scream like my four year old, so I know exactly how you felt not being able to bench and empty bar. Was considering a run of gh to try and heal up the shoulder, but based on your results I think I'll just run aas and call it good. Won't fix the arthritis though, aging is a bitch.

 

[flenser]

Read through this, sounds like you're doing great, thanks for logging this. I had adhesive capsulitis ("frozen shoulder") and literally couldn't raise my arm above my shoulder without wanting to scream like my four year old, so I know exactly how you felt not being able to bench and empty bar. Was considering a run of gh to try and heal up the shoulder, but based on your results I think I'll just run aas and call it good. Won't fix the arthritis though, aging is a bitch.

Frozen shoulder does sound painful. I had some impingement a couple of years ago that ended in a dislocated shoulder during some lateral raises. It took almost 2 days for me to decide something was wrong and then I only went to the chiropractor. Lucky he knew what he was doing and reset it...

I don't know if the GH helped. Early on the PTs kept telling me I was recovering way faster than normal, but now it's all settled down to being slow and mostly unnoticeable improvement. It has helped with composition, though.

 

[flenser]

No troubles getting my mixed vial through customs, so I'm staying on the test/tren while on vacation. The hotel has a pretty nice gym. No squat rack, but DB to 120, numerous cable machines and an OK Smith machine. The GF sleeps late, so I'll be lifting every morning.

Swimming was a new experience with the shoulder. It was decidedly against doing it, heh. I almost drowned myself swimming to the edge of the wave barrier at the hotel beach. My shoulder cramped up right as I got there, and the rocks weren't foot friendly. It's not sore this morning, so I'll be back in the water later today..

 

[flenser]

Watching the game last night I was ambushed last night by six grey geese pelting me with olives. I really thought I would be unable to get out of bed, much less lift, but I made it to the gym and managed a heavy back workout. Almost barfed on my shoes doing good mornings on the damned smith machine, but I survived.

I did a few laps in the lagoon here afterward. The shoulder isn't bothering me much at all now. I dunno what was wrong yesterday. I'm still sort of hung over, so maybe that has something to do with it too. Anyway, I'm thinking I will avoid shoulder and chest in the gym while I'm here, and just swim. I'll still do squats and rows, etc. every day while I'm here. No reason not to, as long as I stay away from the vodka..

 

[flenser]

I fly back tomorrow, thank god. The grey geese are starting to run the show here. I think I could smell the alcohol seeping out my pores at the gym this morning.

Still, the shoulder is doing well. I swam 2 miles this morning after the gym and I'm only a little stiff tonight. I haven't decided if there is a significant shoulder benefit to swimming, or if it's just a non issue. I'm pretty sure it's not doing any real harm. I would continue swimming when I got home if I thought it really helped.

 

[johnnyBALLZ]

I fly back tomorrow, thank god. The grey geese are starting to run the show here. I think I could smell the alcohol seeping out my pores at the gym this morning.

Still, the shoulder is doing well. I swam 2 miles this morning after the gym and I'm only a little stiff tonight. I haven't decided if there is a significant shoulder benefit to swimming, or if it's just a non issue. I'm pretty sure it's not doing any real harm. I would continue swimming when I got home if I thought it really helped.

Ah, you're on vacation flenser, embrace the geese!!

 

[pumpingiron22]

Good log. Hope you keep moving forward and feeling better.

 

[lightspan]

I fly back tomorrow, thank god. The grey geese are starting to run the show here. I think I could smell the alcohol seeping out my pores at the gym this morning.

Still, the shoulder is doing well. I swam 2 miles this morning after the gym and I'm only a little stiff tonight. I haven't decided if there is a significant shoulder benefit to swimming, or if it's just a non issue. I'm pretty sure it's not doing any real harm. I would continue swimming when I got home if I thought it really helped.

It's vacation, embrace the geese.

I found swimming was great for my shoulder, I just don't get a chance to do it much now. I was going during rehab at the suggestion of my PT. She was hot so I did it to humor her. Now I can't seem to find the time. I thought it helped quite a bit.