I've been lifting weights, off and on, for a long time. About six months ago, I started noticing some unusual discomfort in my lower forearms when I did barbell curls.....the higher the weight, the greater the discomfort. It has gradually gotten worse. Now, it just plain hurts like hell.....even with lower weight. It not the muscle soreness that you feel the day after a good workout. It's something else. Honestly, it feels like my forearm bones, just above my wrists, are bending and about to break. It isn't fun. What's weird is that here is no residual pain and the pain doesn't occur during other biceps exercises. I'm fifty-five years old. My regular doctor was clueless and referred me to a sports medicine specialist. Does anybody have any ideas about what this might be and how to stop it. I'd rather not take the time off work, pay my stupidly high co-pay and wait in a doctor's waiting room for two hours to get this figured out.
Stop for a few weeks, let it heal, then start up again with light weight and see if there is any pain.
Agreed with ryoung. You could have stress fractures in your forearms. You need to take a few (4 or more) weeks off and let it heal. Do cardio or other things that put zero stress on your forearms during that time. You wouldn't be doing Crossfit would you?
Sounds like carpel-tunnel to me. I had the exact same kind of pain years ago when i was working out every day. time off can help a little, but it usually just comes back as soon as you start working out again. You should prob start with massive doses of ice on the wrist, esp right after working out. A little time off will probably help, but make sure you are icing and taking anti-inflamatorys. I think it can also help if you work the oposing muscles ( ie reverse curls in this case) You will prob end up needing to see a doctor, and check out the carpel tunnel thing...in which case surgery is the most common answer
Carple tunnel, stress fracture and tendonitis are all plausible. Some days my hands (fingers) wont straighten out and most days they are semi curled from the work I do. I have some strong forearms, but the tendons ache. Try this and see it it helps, (it should with Carple Tunnel and tendonitis) Take a really hot shower (steaming) put your hand flat against the wall 90 degree to your forearm and bend it back/up as much as you can while keeping your fingers flat on the wall. let the hot water pour over them in this state for a few minutes. the muscles and tendons will relax and stretch under the heat (you can do it with a heating pad as well, I just find it easier in the shower) Get them good and stretched, hold them in this position then swap the water to cold.Hand held shower heads are recommended so other things don't, ahem, contract. The tendons will stay (mostly) at the stretched length if you cool them fast while stretched rather than gradually doing it. It should give relief for several hours. During that relief period, go search Texas Supreme Court law on antique firearm laws
What? Stop doing the thing that's causing the pain? Now that's just crazy. All joking aside, that's probably what I ought to do. It's just that I've got long, gibbon-ape arms and I'm finally getting some decent size on them. I'd rather not go back to square one and other biceps exercises don't work as well for me as the heavier, barbell stuff. I do some Crossfit exercises, or what ever you call them, about twice a week, but I don't do the classes. I'm getting old and Crossfit stuff just kicks my ass.
I've got Carpal Tunnel Syndrome rather badly. I had surgery on both wrists for the condition about eight years ago, but it came back with a vengeance (nerve studies suck ass). I do the stretching exercises and they definitely help, but they don't provide complete relief. Honestly, I don't think this problem is carpal tunnel related. Whereas my carpal tunnel pain takes the form of a dull, but intense, ache in my wrists, this barbell curl thing is sharp and in my forearms and it only occurs during the curl movement. When I set the bar down, the pain's gone.
Thats EXACTLY how I had it, and the only way I had it. It is my understanding that that is associated with nerve pain, but obv a doc is the answer there man, unfortunately seems like the best solution
Pain = damage. Do a different exercize for biceps, or use a machine, yes it sucks but you can allow your arms to heal and at least maintain muscle/strength until healed. Take some calcium magnesium supplements, good for bones and soft tissue. If you continue, the damage will get worse. Routine must adapt or you won't be curling anything and you'll have flab arms like a 60yr old woman. Sucks but find a curl that doesn't hurt, dumbells, machine, something until you are healed, then still be careful.
