Strength training fail?

You went a little too hard right out of the gate. It's probably a good idea to wait until you feel normal to go back. In the mean time read over this thread and find a plan, because following a plan can keep you from doing too much at once:

http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10332083/which-lifting-program-is-the-best-for-you/p1

You may want to make sure you're drinking lots of water and eating adequate protein to help with your current recovery.

Have you tried and heating pad and possibly take some pain reliever. Also soaking in a Epsom salt bath

is it 'can't straighten it because ow ow ow muscles' or 'can't straighten because won't straighten at all'?

if the former there's lots of good information on stretching out there on the internet. do it gently while the muscles are so pissed off, just to make sure you don't tear anything. and if you can regain any range, then try to make sure you use it to prevent the muscle from shortening up again. it seems counter intuitive, but a lot of soft tissue stuff does improve the more you use it.

if it's a hard restriction, i.e. something off in your elbow joint, that too might improve as the muscles chill out. but don't try to force one of those even gently.

kimblelynne wrote: »

I went to the gym on Tuesday after deciding I was really going to focus on toning my arms and tried new machines. Now my arms hurt really bad from doms but I can't even straighten my left arm. It's like its locked at a 130 degree angle. What's going on?!

I like to call this the "beginner's blowout."

You did too much too soon.