What does a torn muscle feel like?

AnahitaCanDoIt

I have had problems with my left shoulder clicking at the shoulder blade and the collarbone where it meets the shoulder. I was goign to the physio regularly before Christmas but he's off until Monday as is my PT ( a private one, not a gym one).

I think I injured my left tricep but as I've never torn a muscle before, I'm not sure what it feels like. What I think caused it was trying too heavy a weight ( I don't usually use machines, just free weights and bar) on a lat pull down machine. It was quite sore after that but nothing too bad. Yesterday, i was using a 10kg weight for a pull over (I think that's the name)...I lay on my back on the bench, with my knees up and the weight held in both hands with arms extended and then let the weight go up over my head so it's behind my head and my arms are up over my ears if that makes sense.

Yesterday when I did this, it was exruciating right in the middle of my left tricep. Not an aching or DOMs type pain, but almost as if someone had a very large gauge needle and was pushing it into my left tricep. Since I was using both hands to complete this exercise, I had the right arm to take most of the weight and the left one was most sore at the full extension over my head and hurt a lot when I was bringing the weight back up so it was perpendicular with my body and the floor.

I ended up moving down to 7.5kg but completed the 15reps 3 sets. Just wondering if you think I should continue these exercises. The left tricep didn't hurt in the same way with tricep dips (no more than it usually hurts) and the kneeling extension doesn't hurt as much either.

Should I back off of any tricep exercise? Reduce the weight? Number of reps or sets?
Help please!

AntWrig

I have had problems with my left shoulder clicking at the shoulder blade and the collarbone where it meets the shoulder. I was goign to the physio regularly before Christmas but he's off until Monday as is my PT ( a private one, not a gym one).

I think I injured my left tricep but as I've never torn a muscle before, I'm not sure what it feels like. What I think caused it was trying too heavy a weight ( I don't usually use machines, just free weights and bar) on a lat pull down machine. It was quite sore after that but nothing too bad. Yesterday, i was using a 10kg weight for a pull over (I think that's the name)...I lay on my back on the bench, with my knees up and the weight held in both hands with arms extended and then let the weight go up over my head so it's behind my head and my arms are up over my ears if that makes sense.

Yesterday when I did this, it was exruciating right in the middle of my left tricep. Not an aching or DOMs type pain, but almost as if someone had a very large gauge needle and was pushing it into my left tricep. Since I was using both hands to complete this exercise, I had the right arm to take most of the weight and the left one was most sore at the full extension over my head and hurt a lot when I was bringing the weight back up so it was perpendicular with my body and the floor.

I ended up moving down to 7.5kg but completed the 15reps 3 sets. Just wondering if you think I should continue these exercises. The left tricep didn't hurt in the same way with tricep dips (no more than it usually hurts) and the kneeling extension doesn't hurt as much either.

Should I back off of any tricep exercise? Reduce the weight? Number of reps or sets?
Help please!

Sounds like a muscle strain. I would go get it checked out and don't use it.

AnahitaCanDoIt

Is that something a physio could help with? Or a sports masseuse?

DavPul

It's generally accepted that there are 3 degrees of tears. While it's possible you have one, I'd bet it's grade 1 (very minor) and not anything to worry about. If there's swelling then you should ice it. Give it a couple weeks off or with very light duty and it should start feeling better. If after a few weeks you still have sharp (very sharp) pain then consider seeing someone. Keep in mind that you can a strain can take up to 4-6 weeks to fully heal

AnahitaCanDoIt

Thanks, DavPul. Now a stupid question ...should I keep working the right tricep or will I end up looking unbalanced if I do?

DavPul

Thanks, DavPul. Now a stupid question ...should I keep working the right tricep or will I end up looking unbalanced if I do?

I would probably take time off from any direct tricep work for a while. Use the extra time to work something else that you may be neglecting. It's only 2-4 weeks we're talking about, so the healthy tricep won't be suffering long