Is my body starting to fall apart?

DaivaSimone

I started lifting on January 4th and I have been doing great progress since.

Here's where I am now:

Squat: 120 (currently deloaded to 110 because I strained my back sunday night, but my max is 120)
DL: 130
Rows: 65
Bench: 65
OHP: 50

Here's my problem: I have all sorts of pain that appear at any time. At first it was DOMS and muscle soreness (normal), and sometimes pain in my lower back that I attributed to my sensitive back (I had a bike accident when I was younger and my lower back has been fragile since). Then, I started to have stiffness in my right shoulder, that I tried to reduce with mobility exercise, but it's still pretty stiff all the time. After that, I started to have pain in my left elbow, because my grip on the squat was junk and I put to much pressure on the articulation. I corrected the grip and it reduced the pain a lot, but I still feel it whenever I'm pulling someting while twisting my arm (you know, like a heavy door with knob that you have to twist to open). Three weeks ago, I started to feel a sharp pain in my right tibia whenever I was sitting below parallel and trying to get up. At first, it was really just then, and yesterday, I started to feel it while squatting. This morning, both of my elbows have inflammation, for apparently no reason.

Now, I can tolerate all that pain because it's not that much acute, and I don't feel the pain most of the time, or not for a long period of time. Except for the tibia where I suspect a stress fracture, which is not good, I don't think any of those "injuries" are serious... But (because there's always a but), I'm not sure if all of this is normal, or if I am doing something wrong (like progressing too fast, or something like that).

Did you experienced this when you started lifting? Will it return to normal at some point?

I would love to have any tips, hints or advice about this.

Thanks!

krokador

While I will try to go with my personal experience and suggest some things, I'm not a medical practitioner. Those questions sound like stuff you might wanna take to an actual specialist.

Sounds to me like you might've pinched something in your wrist. I've injured mine when I started lifting, doing skullcrushers of all things, and I had pain in it for like 6 months afterwards. Made it really hard to do front squats and I had to use DBs to do push-ups on for the longest time. It eventually got better though. But since you use your hands for everything, it takes a while for it to fully get back to normal (and that pain in your elbow could definitely be a referal of that)

The tibia paired with breaking parallel makes me think it could be a calf restriction of sorts, or a knee-type injury, but I wouldn't really know as I've never experienced it

The elbow inflammation could just be an onset caused by some food you ate. Sometimes you also sleep in a weird position and pinch things that shouldn't be pinched for a long amount of time. Try moving the joints around and avoiding sugar/gluten and other inflammatory foods for a bit and see if it gets better.

There will be aches and pain associated to lifting from time to time. They're usually a sign you're doing something wrong, so assess, correct and progress And again, if the pain is a concern to you and not just some minor tweak, you might wanna go see a doctor about it.

I do hope you feel better soon!

Llamapants86

My guess is that this is not normal (just from my n = 1 and the posts here). I did experience some issues that were all corrected quickly just with form adjustments. You seem to be increasing quite linearly and that is to be expected at first, unfortunately that linear increase goes away. I suspect that moving forward to quickly is causing some issues.

My very much non medical opinion is see a doctor about the pains that are bothering you now, take things a little slower with the progress (and it might help to redefine progress, an extra rep, less rest time etc. are all indicators of improvement. It's not all about adding on more weight), and don't skimp on mobility exercises.

Good luck, and I hope you feel better. There is definitely a line between being sore and being injured and it's good to recognize that early.

symba1130

I have to agree with both @Llamapants86 and @krokador. If something is hurting don't let it go on or ignore it.
Also...easier said than done, but don't measure your progress to anyone else's progress. I am quite competitive myself and I think it can really hurt us (literally). I am now out for some back issues because I was too tough on myself to get back in the lifting game.

Take care of yourself first and foremost!

giusa

Llamapants86 wrote: »

There is definitely a line between being sore and being injured and it's good to recognize that early.

Second this statement.
Take care of yourself!

DaivaSimone

Thanks for those messages.

My real question was not what can cause all that pain, but rather is it normal to feel that pain and is it a normal reaction to the stress caused by heavy lifting.

Your answers seem to tend toward the "not normal", so I should go to the doctor. Let's say as soon as possible. But I'm afraid that a generalist won't be able to give me recommendation about adapting and tweaking my lifts and how much activity I can do, and that is the most important to me right now, being able to continue to train (not as much as I am doing now, but still).

I will take your advice and I will be gentle on myself tomorrow. I will probably deload a little and see from there what I should do.

TravelsWithHuckleberry

Perhaps a full, total rest week would be a better idea than a deload. Even bodyweight movement can exacerbate an issue -- if you take a break, you not only give your body a break, but might be able to figure out what pain is related to what activity.

threnjen

I have to agree with Court. It sucks but you really can't get an idea of what is happening without a week off. Can still do cardio!

chubby_checkers

I agree with taking some time off to figure out what's going on.

I just came back after 2 months off ( ) because I was experiencing overuse pain in my elbow, ignored it, and really jacked it up with too heavy bench presses. I couldn't grip anything for awhile. I did cardio stuff, then bodyweight and dumbbell stuff.

Deena_Bean

Can you ask your general doc about maybe physical therapy? Those guys usually have the right moves for you based on your condition. I do get some random aches and pains, but they clear up pretty quickly.

awkwardsoul

Having major DOMS is normal, especially in the beginning, but that soreness usually hits you a day later. Sharp pain is a bad, especially when you are actually lifting. I'd take time off until it feels better, at least. I've taken breaks a few times due to pain (usually resulted from bad form, derp!)

Even though SL is kinda easy in the beginning + beginner gains, how have you been warming up? Do you do anything before your lift? Do you do the warm up sets?

After getting back into lifting from injury, I've been taking extra care to foam roll, stretch, warm up, warm up set, then lift. Then foam roll again. I found this helps me a lot and I feel limber by the time I get to my work weight. I also correct my form by video taping myself if I don't have someone watching me.

I keep linking Alan Thrall's videos here (I'm not affiliated or anything) but he's got a great one on warm ups.
http://youtu.be/BH11j4kSQ8E

canadianlbs

DaivaSimone wrote: »

Did you experienced this when you started lifting?

i didn't, except for kneecap pain that was caused by extremely awful squat form, and then later other stuff that also looks like it's got form origins. but i have rheumatoid arthritis and random inflammation is a thing your doctor should be aware of, to me. just in case there is some systemic thing going on that has nothing to do with your lifting at all.

I'm afraid that a generalist won't be able to give me recommendation about adapting and tweaking my lifts and how much activity I can do

if you don't want to see a doctor unless you're sure the doctor will tell you something you want to hear, then idk what to say really. rest weeks are recommended every now and again to give your body time to catch up, so you could always do that until things settle down and then use your own experience go guide how aggressive you get when you return.

in any case, if it turns out that you do have something going on that requires specialist attention and recommendations, then getting to that would probably have to start with getting a referral from a gp anyway.

alasin1derland

Is it possible the shoulder and elbow soreness could be attributed to snow shoveling. I am having a hard time with my left elbow in what sounds like pretty much the same way. We have had so much snow this year, its been frequent and heavy. Its taking its toll. Also for myself, certain foods create joint inflamation. I avoid white flours and refined sugars. Husband just went gluten free. Turns out I can't eat his gluten free bread products. Potatoes also seem to bother me. I hope its nothing serious and you work it all out. We are all here because we are pushing to improve and that can be challenging enough without extra strain and stress.

DaivaSimone

Well, it turned out it was not normal. I have epicondilitis (tennis elbow) in both elbows, and I also have inflammation in my meniskus that would have to be checked in MRI if it get worse. No lifting for two weeks as per doctor orders, but I can do low impact cardio stuff. I'm thinking about using the time I'm usually in gym to swim or do AMT. I don't know. I'm a little bit sad.

DawnEmbers

*hugs*

Sorry to hear. Rest up and hopefully you'll be able to lift better once the time off is done.

questionfear

DaivaSimone wrote: »

Well, it turned out it was not normal. I have epicondilitis (tennis elbow) in both elbows, and I also have inflammation in my meniskus that would have to be checked in MRI if it get worse. No lifting for two weeks as per doctor orders, but I can do low impact cardio stuff. I'm thinking about using the time I'm usually in gym to swim or do AMT. I don't know. I'm a little bit sad.

Ouch all around. So sorry.

Did the doc say anything about seeing a physical therapist? I would ask if things aren't better in a few weeks-there are plenty of bodyweight exercises you could do once the inflammation dies down to help strengthen your knee especially.

giusa

Yikes I'm sorry.

alasin1derland

Sorry to hear your news. Certainly can understand about being sad but your attitude is amazing. You're already thinking about how you are going to adjust rather than giving up. Inspiring.