[Russ]

Rotator cuff pain.

As a 50 year old gym-user I’m pretty much resigned to the fact I’m going to pick up new injuries on almost a comical rate regardless of how much stretching I do. I lift heavy so in one way or another I’ve got aches and soreness every day although using my spare wheelie bin as an ice bath helps a hell of a lot.

My gains have plateaued over the last year so I’m adding either a bit more weight or an extra 2 reps to each set and that’s been fine but I’ve overdone it on my shoulders. The recommended treatment for rotator cuff pain is to stop lifting over shoulder level. I’m a stubborn so-and-so and told my doctor I really can’t see myself stop working my shoulders so his advice (on the basis that I refused his initial suggestion) was to lower the amount lifting by 50%.

Naturally I didnt pay attention, instead reducing it by about 25%. It’s made a difference, I don’t need to ice it after each session but he prescribed me Tramadol and it’s doing a hell of a job for about 3 hours at a time.

But when it wears off and the pain returns it’s absolute agony. Yep all self-inflicted but I’m still going to moan about the pain anyway.