pushups and pain

librarian11111
librarian11111 Posts: 45 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I've started doing the "100 pushups in 100 days" routine. I'm barely 2 weeks into it, and I feel a tingling sensation/pain in my upper right arm (nerve damage caused by poor technique? Or temporary pain/discomfort that will go away? I don't want to stop doing pushups. But I don't like this pain--and don't want to cause myself permanent injury. Should I stop doing pushups or just tough it out until the pain goes away once I get stronger?
The tingling/pain in my arm is now constant--and I've stopped doing pushups until I figure out what I'm doing wrong.
BTW, the 100-pushups-in-100-days routine is this: do as many pushups as you can once (then wait one minute); do pushups again (wait a minute) until I've done 5 sets of pushups.
Please help me figure out how I can keep doing this routine without doing permanent damage somehow to my arm :happy:
Thanks!

Replies

  • Stage14
    Stage14 Posts: 1,046 Member
    I am not a doctor, but I suggest you see one, or at least a sports medicine practitioner. Tingling pain is not usually created by normal weakness or overuse.
  • cstoney2013
    cstoney2013 Posts: 167 Member
    I agree, if youcannot tell that it is muscle pain then see a doctor.

    what is your goal? last year I was doing 1000 pushups a week as part of my exercise routine, but I did not do them everyday, I did like 250, 4 times a week or so.

    is your goal just to push out 100 each time you do them?

    maybe that particular routine of burning out every set, and doing them every day is not working for you.
  • librarian11111
    librarian11111 Posts: 45 Member
    To Cstoney and Stage14:
    My goal was to be able to do 50 pushups at once.
    I've completely stopped doing the pushups--and I don't feel any tingling pain. Though I'm reluctant to start up a pushup routine (even at a smaller scale/intensity level) without seeing a doctor.
    Thank you both.
  • cstoney2013
    cstoney2013 Posts: 167 Member
    When I first started working out I over did it as well and I was almost laid up, good thing was that I had a week of work training and several doctors attended as well and thier recommendation was to 'go easier' if that helps... I bet the next time you do them if you just do sets of 20 you will be fine.

    I originally started with sets of 10 and worked my way up to sets of 40. It takes time though.
  • phjorg1
    phjorg1 Posts: 642 Member
    1) Is this challenge in ADDITION to a proper workout template that covers all muscle groups? If yes, then carry on. If no, then routines and challenges like this are really really stupid and a waste of time.

    2) Where are your elbows when you do pushups? Most people flare them out to the side. This causes internal rotation of the shoulders and puts a lot of strain on the shoulders. When you do pushups your elbows should be tucked in if you will, and basically stay right beside your torso. this gives proper external rotation of the shoulders, protecting your rotators and placing most of the load on your chest where it belongs.
  • eso2012
    eso2012 Posts: 337 Member
    Totally agree with seeing a doctor! There should NOT be any pain. Soreness maybe, but not pain, and should not be in the upper arm region.
  • addysolari
    addysolari Posts: 181 Member
    Probably shouldn't be mentioning this to you but when I started training I got a tingling sensation like pins and needles almost. It was just on the inner side of my arm up into my armpit and down to my elbow. I'd massage it a bit and it'd go away. Like an idiot I just ignored it but I've progressed to higher weights and I don't get it anymore.

    I'm not an expert and I don't know if it's what you got so take that with a grain of salt. If it gets worse or persists for a while then see a doctor.
  • JumpinJill
    JumpinJill Posts: 63 Member
    I have started doing a lot of push ups and planks myself and have the same issues. A tingling, sort of pins and needles type of pain in my upper arms, mostly kind of in a circle around my shoulders. If you feel like you need to see a dr. then go ahead, I believe it sounds like simple muscle pain because your body is not used to the stress. Another reason I think this, is that for me at least it is worse in the right shoulder and I believe that is because I am unintentionally carrying my weight on one side instead of evenly distributing it. I try and remind myself of this during my exercises.
  • librarian11111
    librarian11111 Posts: 45 Member
    To all,
    Thanks for all the helpful suggestions/personal anecdotes.
    BTW Phorg1, the pushups aren't in addition to a proper workout template that covers all muscle groups. For some ridiculous reason, I thought if I did pushups regularly that would help prevent Type 2 diabetes (type 2 diabetes runs in the family; and I've gained weight recently.) Also, the tingling has come back (no pain, though)--and I haven't even attempted pushups since my last post.
    To Jumpinjill--though I'm a novice on myfitnesspal, I wouldn't ignore the tingling you're experiencing (I'm glad it went away for Addysolari though.)
    Still, I've done some research and I think the tingling is a symptom of a pinched nerve (http://www.webmd.com/pain-management/guide/compressed-nerves) and won't attempt pushups again without seeing a doc.
    Now I'm signing off--and doing a 30-minute workout on the exercise bike. I might add situps to my routine though (your thoughts, Phorg1)?

    Thanks

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