Returning elbow pain

Zackoz · 13-Jul-07, 07:58 PM

A while ago I posted about elbow pain I was getting while doing skull-crushers. To refresh your memory, whenever I did them, I would get almost a burning pain in my left elbow. Now, this could be confused as a different elbow pain which is quite common to get when doing these types of exercises, however this is a different pain now. When I FIRST started doing skull-crushers, I always got a sharp pain in my left elbow, almost like a nerve was getting caught. I solved this problem by wearing an elbow support, and the pain went away completely. The pain I get now is very different. It is on the outside of my elbow and really feels like the tendon is burning. I recently dropped the weight wayyyy down on skull-crushers and slowly worked my way up and this seemed to solve the problem, however I am now on about 40KG which is below my max, and the pain is returning...does anyone have any ideas on what I could do? Has anyone else experienced this themselves and found a way to work around it? I REALLY dont want to stop doing this exercise as, when the pain is not there I make such good progress with my Tris and they grow so much when Im doing this exercise...

Zackoz · 16-Jul-07, 05:14 PM

The cable press tricep exercise, I know its nowhere near as good as doing skull-crushers, but they dont seem to cause me any pain...can I see decent gains with this exercise?

bodyshop20 · 22-Jul-07, 09:11 AM

some work is better than none, so find a movement that dose not hurt and stick with it.
I used to get this pain with bicep curls so i change angle of wrists by using E Z grip bar and i have got round the pain which has now vanished

Zackoz · 31-Jul-07, 06:15 AM

Ok, Ive tried doing other exercises but cant seem to find a Tricep exercise that doesnt aggrivate it...I am now sure it is elbow tendonitis, as Ive spoken to a few people at the gym and they all had the same thing....the only thing left to do seems to be taking time off ANY Tricep exercises...but the thought of losing all the progress made is sickening...does anyone have any advice?

bodyshop20 · 31-Jul-07, 09:30 AM

Zack sometimes you gotta face the truth, if rest is only cure....Rest.
Yr gains will return fast as muscle has a sort of memory as to dose fat.
1 month off will set you back 8 wks and in a lifetime that aint to long.

Zackoz · 31-Jul-07, 11:55 AM

Ok how should I go about it? Should I completely stop doing any tricep exercises and keep everything else the same?

Rufiedodg · 31-Jul-07, 01:35 PM

You must work around the pain. I’ve experienced the same thing as a result of performing skull crushers, and bicep curls.

Try performing close grip bench presses. Use an easy curl bar. The exercise really hits the triceps but at a little different angle than skulls. You shouldn’t experience any pain when doing these. My guess is that you’ll probably see even better results by changing the exercise as suggested

I would also recommend trying skull crusher’s with dumbbells. The problem with a bar is that it restricts you from adjusting to a “plain of motion” that best suits your bone structure. Dumbells will allow you to choose your own plain. I only use DB when performing curls for this very reason. I simply cannot do straight bar curls because of the restriction. Doing them always results in elbow tendentious.

Good luck

Dan

Zackoz · 31-Jul-07, 03:19 PM

Tried close-grip bench, even with an EZ-Bar not only did it hurt my elbows still, but REALLY hurt my writsts (i have very small wrists). Believe me Ive tried working around it, I havent had a decent Tricep workout for a couple of months now and it is very depressing. Im already a hardgainer, and made loads of progress over the last 3 years, and now I really dont know what to do....even tricep cable presses hurt my elbows.

Zackoz · 31-Jul-07, 03:27 PM

Ive been doing a bit of research online and one bit of advice I have come accross is to not bend the elbows more than 45 degrees when doing tricep exercises....yes this GREATLY limits the range of motion but apparently takes a lot of the strain off of the elbow tendon whilst still allowing you to work your triceps. I have actually noticed that it hurts mainly when I push off after the elbows have been bent all the way, for example, at the part of skullcrushers when the bar is just behind my head, pushing from there is where most of the pain is, and lets say I only lowered the bar to just above my head, I wouldnt really get pain....whats your guys take on this? I would only do this temporarily until my tendons have healed but it seems better than completely taking time off triceps? It allows me to at least work them with a good weight, albeit a limited range of motion.

bodyshop20 · 31-Jul-07, 03:27 PM

Zack rest up Mr, try a month of cardio, cycling or running to keep fit and get leaner