Shoulder pain doing push up

Tsoggo
Tsoggo Posts: 114 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
My right shoulder hurts when I do a push up. This happened a week ago. It was all good until I barely can do 1 push up because of the pain. When I'm resting there's no pain on my shoulder. But when I try to go on a push up position it starts to hurt. I suspect this happened when I carried that heavyass grocery lol. But how do I stop this pain? I try to do a push up every single time to check if the pain is still there.

Replies

  • spiriteagle99
    spiriteagle99 Posts: 3,730 Member
    Give it rest. No weights, no pushups. You don't want to make it worse. I ended up tearing my rotator cuff (in the shoulder) last winter doing a push up challenge. Nine months later, after two months of PT and steroid shots, it still hurts.
  • jgnatca
    jgnatca Posts: 14,464 Member
    RICE Method. Not something to mess around with. Unless you don't mind months of recovery.
  • Tsoggo
    Tsoggo Posts: 114 Member
    How long should I do these things tho. I'm afraid of losing muscle mass since im eating in calorie deficit
  • jgnatca
    jgnatca Posts: 14,464 Member
    You rest until it doesn't hurt any more. A few weeks isn't going to set you back too much.
  • Tsoggo
    Tsoggo Posts: 114 Member
    jgnatca wrote: »
    You rest until it doesn't hurt any more. A few weeks isn't going to set you back too much.

    It doesn't hurt if I don't put weight on it. How will I know if it doesn't hurt anymore without putting weight on it? Also is running okay while resting?
  • Tsoggo
    Tsoggo Posts: 114 Member
    edited November 2017
    Also does muscle imbalance cause pain? Since I made my 1st push up I just do push ups no more other exercise. Maybe my shoulder hurt because of muscle imbalance?
  • BrianSharpe
    BrianSharpe Posts: 9,248 Member
    If the pain persists see a physiotherapist or sports medicine type, shoulder injuries can be persistent and painful if not allowed to heal properly.
  • canadianlbs
    canadianlbs Posts: 5,199 Member
    Tsoggo wrote: »
    Also does muscle imbalance cause pain? Since I made my 1st push up I just do push ups no more other exercise. Maybe my shoulder hurt because of muscle imbalance?

    a physio can answer that for you. or do some googling and actually read all the content you found.

    shoulders are complicated. the reasons why something hurts can be complicated. the reasons why something GETs hurt can be complex as well. your question is like asking 'does going outside cause chicken pox?' it does if many other conditions are also met.

  • sgt1372
    sgt1372 Posts: 3,996 Member
    If you want to give your shoulder a chance to heal on its own, you have to do absolutely NOTHING that involves any shoulder movement.

    If you continue to work the shoulder because you're too stubborn or impatient to let it rest, you will just prolong the recovery time and/or possibly injure the shoulder further.

    I've had 2 rotator cuff surgeries and the shoulder pain leading to the surgeries never went away until I had the surgeries, healed and completed physical therapy, a process that took a year for each shoulder.

    If it takes you as long to get an orthopedic appt as it does me, you should schedule an appt NOW to get an MRI, if the pain doesn't go away on its own. If the pain goes away b4 the appt is scheduled, you can just cancel the appt.

    PS: Muscle imbalance does not cause shoulder pain. Muscle or ligament strains and/or tears do.
  • spiriteagle99
    spiriteagle99 Posts: 3,730 Member
    I was able to continue to run with my shoulder injury because running does not cause pain for me there. If yours hurts when you run, stop.
  • anubis609
    anubis609 Posts: 3,966 Member
    Shoulder pain during a push-up is either indicative that you injured it doing something else or you need to really assess your form during a push-up. As everyone already stated, you should be implementing the RICE or PRICES method to allow for proper healing. Being in a deficit isn't going to do you any favors since being injured is catabolic in itself since tissue has been damaged, so eat at maintenance or a slight surplus, focusing on proper protein intake.

    Running might be okay but 1) running is a catabolic movement, 2) the jarring from running *may* cause referred pain, just pay attention to pain, and 3) running will get you better at running > your shoulder health won't see improvement from doing a completely different body part.

    Alternatives: if you want to remain active, strength training to tolerance that stimulates muscle protein synthesis -
    even if it's lower body, like leg press/curls/etc or another body part - might be better to promote signaling for repair. For upper body, limit it to what you can do with range of motion and resistance bands may be beneficial. It's better to pulse lighter weight/resistance for rehab/mobility for higher reps more often throughout the day than to do one long heavy session.

    Source: Optimal Nutrition for Injury Recovery - Lyle McDonald
  • icemom011
    icemom011 Posts: 999 Member
    spiriteagle99 wrote: »
    Give it rest. No weights, no pushups. You don't want to make it worse. I ended up tearing my rotator cuff (in the shoulder) last winter doing a push up challenge. Nine months later, after two months of PT and steroid shots, it still hurts.
    I ended up with bursitis in my shoulder after starting a push up challenge too. All was going well, and i did my push ups, increasing it and everything, until i overdid it. All it took was one time. Then i was in pain for six months, some days could not move my arm much at all without terrible pain. Did the restind, icing, naproxen combo, of course, as i firmly believe in that method, but it didn't work. Went to a orthopedic dr, got a shot. It made it bearable, but not where i was before, still couldn't do push ups or much else, just pain have subsided some. Then went to physical therapy, worked on it for a few more months. Now I'm 100% good. So it's a long recovery and takes some work. Rest it, OP. If no improvement, go to a dr.
  • Gisel2015
    Gisel2015 Posts: 4,164 Member
    I had rotator cuff (RC) surgery in both shoulder and the left one never healed completed even with proper follow-up PT. I developed a frozen shoulder and it took me more than 18 months to get almost back to normal. That was almost 8 years ago.

    For the last 12 months the pain had returned and a cortisone injection didn't do much help. The MRI showed increase OA, tendinitis, and a small bone spur. The pain is real and it flares up out of no where, which is most likely the result of the OA (very common after RC surgery).

    My orthopedic doctor (also the Director of the Sport Clinic), reviewed my workout and strongly recommended a total change. I can't bench press in supine position so I had no choice but to use the sitting press machine. No OHP or any other exercise that involves lifting the arms above shoulder level. I can't do dips, not even using the dip machine due to the pain. And I can go on and on about how I had to modify my workout to avoid further shoulder injury and pain.

    Most likely I aggravated my left shoulder by trying to go heavier on my lifts without considering my problem and the fact that I am a small and much older person. Hard to admit that ego, too much self confidence and the fear of losing what I had gained in muscle strength and definition, got in the way of common sense. I am paying the price.

    I know how hard is to modify our fitness routine to accommodate injuries or limitations. But it is better to do something else, rest, listen to our bodies and bite the bullet rather than ending in the OR.

    As other said, ice, rest, walk and if the pain continues go to your doctor and ask for a X Ray. Some insurances don't allow a visit to an specialist or to a physical therapist, unless is requested by the primary physician.

  • Tsoggo
    Tsoggo Posts: 114 Member
    Doesn't hurt anymore when I try 1 knee push up. I'm afraid to try a full push up

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