how can i tell if i’ve injured myself or if it’s the typical exercise pain

trulyhealy

i’ve recently started properly training my glutes with different types of dead lifts, split squats and more

but it’s painful when i sit and i’m not sure how to tell if it’s an injury. i’m just concerned bc it’s lower body day tomorrow and i don’t want to worsen the injury

i think it’s caused by squeezing mu glutes on the leg press or just over training it i’m not sure

psychod787

By seeing your doctor. That's how...

trulyhealy

psychod787 wrote: »

By seeing your doctor. That's how...

i’ll just leave it then and hope that it goes away

AnnPT77

Psycho's advice is correct, really ideal.

Since you don't want to take it, some rules of thumb (that are not nearly as accurate): Sharp, very localized pains are more likely to be injury. Broader-area, kind of pressure-sensitive achy discomforts are more likely to be sore muscles. If the pain level changes quite a bit with particular types of body movements (like you get a sharp stab or spasm when you move or something), more likely to be injury. If impairing normal body movement or activity (by something other than mild stiffness), more likely to be injury.

If something hurts, that's a decent reason to take some extra time off, and rest (or do a non-aggravating exercise). You have the whole rest of your life to be active, and improve strength/fitness. Resting to wait out an uncertain-source pain just costs a few days in the short run, no big deal. If you aggravate an actual injury, you might have to take weeks off from working out, or in a worst-case scenario, cause a life-long physical problem (though that's not super common).

The best advice, if not sure, is "see the doctor". Second best: Take some rest days, until you're sure it's not an injury.

Oliveciabatta

Echo the above any sharp pains should be given notice. Rest ice elevation etc as its likely to be injured. Doms should be no more than a mild achey grumble or tightness and should go away quite quickly with gentle exercise of stretching. If you can easily 'walk it off' its within acceptable levels if you can't move or are in painkillers level pain you've hone too far and will need to rest. Regularly pushing yourself that far can end up cancelling out any benefits as you need more rest to recover though it can build bulkier muscle if appearance is all you are after.

trulyhealy

trulyhealy wrote: »

psychod787 wrote: »

By seeing your doctor. That's how...

i’ll just leave it then and hope that it goes away

i meant this in the way that it’s not that serious to the point that i would have to see a doctor

briscogun

DOMS is kinda easy to tell because it's a lot of sore/tight muscles. Pain/injury is something different. So when I have muscle soreness from working out (DOMS) I can usually warm up and stretch out or use a foam roller to ease the pain and get some relief. An injury is totally different.

briscogun

As a side note, if you're not sure, maybe take it easy for a day or two and see if it gets better. Do something light?

psychod787

I was not trying to be a "richard" OP. If you came into my clinic, and I could evaluate you, I could give you a better idea what was wrong. Without assessing ROM, swelling, pain levels, I can't help. That is why I am recommending you see someone in person.

Diatonic12

@trulyhealy No self-diagnosis, don't let it go. Psychod is right and I just want to say his new pix is handsome.

quiksylver296

Does the pain diminish if you go for a 10-20 minute walk? That’s DOMS.

sgt1372

Give it 3-4 days of COMPLETE rest.

If the pain/discomfort doesn't go away or diminsh by then, it's probably something more than DOMS and you should make an appt w/an orthopedic specialist.

Take it from someone who has had 2 rotator cuffs tears, a 3 way ligament knee tear, a sprained S-I joint, a chronic elbow deterioration, broken clavicle, broken ankle and a painful foot neuroma.

trulyhealy

quiksylver296 wrote: »

Does the pain diminish if you go for a 10-20 minute walk? That’s DOMS.

it’s not as sore as it was early so i think it’s just because i’ve never worked that muscle as hard as i did on monday with the squeezing of the fluted with 115lbs on the leg press machine i’m not sure if that’s bad

lorrpb

Since you’re not sure, play it safe. Even if it is “normal” pain, continuing to “overdo” it will make you more susceptible to a “real” injury. Take time to learn how your body responds to different situations.

AlexiaC47

If it’s just muscle soreness I would let it go. If pain in your lower back, hip, knees etc then it could be something worse.