elbow/tricep/bicep ache (both arms) WHY ?

[jenvoiedulourd]

Roughly 4 months ago, while doing rope pull downs I partially tore my left tricep tendon, right where the tricep connects to the elbow (the medial head). Obviously it was a sharp pain, but at the moment I didn't even really consider what the injury was. I even tried to finish the workout but it was just too painful and had to call it a day. After the injury I think I rested for a week and then got back into it. It already felt a little better, but I had to avoid, basically, all tricep exercises EXCEPT dumbbell kickbacks; the only one that wouldn't aggravate my tricep. Anyways, I continued to workout like that (avoiding the exercises that would cause the pain) for approximately another 2 months I believe. Outside of the gym, I rarely felt any pain or discomfort.

However, gradually (again roughly two months after the tricep injury) I started to feel a very peculiar ache in my upper left forearm/ lower bicep while during biceps curls. It's not that easy to describe the pain. All I can say is that instead of feeling that great pump that we all love, the lower bicep/upper forearm feels real tight and stiff..a very dull and annoying ache. And this is using light weight! I can't manage to achieve that pump like usual, but only this very awkward ache. After that I decided to take another small break and wouldn't you know, WHILE resting, I even start to feel the same aches around my right elbow (even in the same spot where I tore the tricep tendon) albeit less noticeable and painful than the left elbow. So with all this aching around my left elbow: the left tricep still 'healing', the left bicep/forearm ache and then the sudden aching around my right elbow, I decided it was time to see a physician, an elbow specialist (which was at the beginning of May).

So I get an x-ray of my left elbow. He told me no problems with the elbow itself, but he did confirm that I partially tore my tricep. He told me we'll wait before an MRI. He prescribed me cinoril and told me I could workout with light weight and he sends me on my way. He didn't even really tell me if the aching in my forearm/bicep was related to the tricep tear. I didn't even ask about my right elbow.

Well that following week (this was when I taking a little break) I was feeling pretty good, so I decided to workout. I believe I worked out 4 days that week: shoulders, legs, chest, and then arms. Doing arms was a mistake. Even with light weight, it seemed to aggravate everything all over again. After that, I was feeling these dull aches in my left elbow (around it anyways) much more frequently, all while resting! Before, I felt it mainly in the gym, but after I tried to do arms that week after the doctor's visit, I was feeling it much more often during the day. What's weird is that most of the time the pain isn't where I tore my tricep, but rather on the inside of the elbow, the lower bicep and upper forearm. Rarely do I feel the pain in my tricep, but when I do it's sharp, like when I injured it initially, whereas the other sensation (the one I feel the most of the time) is more of a dull ache and it seems move all around the inside of the elbow and lower biceps.

So now we're in mid May (the week after I tried to workout after the doctor's appointment). Since I start to feel the pain much more frequently, even in the right arm now, I tell myself I have to take a break from working out indefinitely. So that's what I do. Thing is, it don't get better. I start to worry because I knew I was leaving for Europe at the beginning of june (where I am right now as I type) and I wanted to at least know what's going on with my elbows before I leave. This is where I notice that the pain i'm feeling in my elbows is a bit more prominent when I play xbox 360! Note that during all this time, I've been playing the xbox for several hours during the evening. I don't know how this could aggravate it, but it seems to be the case. I play in a normal position like everybody else (in a chair with arms rested). I have no idea how this position could trigger the pain. I think it's when I press the buttons, but I still don't see how this could be.

So anyways I end up getting the MRI before I leave (only my left elbow however). They say it's normal. He tells me I still have the tear and he just reiterates what he said at his office (light weight while working out, could take several months to heal, etc). In a way, I was glad there wasn't anything, but disappointed because I still have no idea what's going on. I don't know if the pain I'm feeling in my left elbow is related to my partially torn tricep tendon or not. And if it is, why the hell am I feeling basically the same thing in my RIGHT elbow (the arm where I didn't even injure the tricep)?!!

So the week before I leave, I decide to not play the xbox (of course, still while taking a break from working out). Well it seems to help. I got here the beginning of June, feeling better, so what do I do? I get a gym membership and start playing the xbox again haha! The pain's coming back again! I don't really know if my tricep still hurts because I haven't done arms since the last time, but I still have the dull aching. However, now it's mainly in my RIGHT arm and it seems to be mainly on the inside of the biceps (close to elbow)! I'm now 95% sure that playing the xbox triggers the pain (I prefer to use the term 'ache'). I believe working out is probably the original cause of this (for the left arm at least), but playing the xbox no doubt aggravates it.

With all that said, i just have 3 questions:

1. Could the pain around my elbows be related to my tricep injury 4 months ago?

2. Why would playing the xbox cause trigger the discomfort in/around my
elbows?

3. Any suggestions on how to recover as quickly as possible? Should I take a break from playing the xbox and continue to work out (with light weight and avoiding exercises that cause pain) or take a break from the xbox and working out all together? Maybe continue legs at least.

It sucks, I feel like a lost so much muscle these past 4/5 months...i really see it in my arms and shoulders. Feeling skinny

Please any advice is appreciated

 

[jenvoiedulourd]

As of now, the pain is on the lower interior biceps of both arms, still by the elbow

Anybody have any ideas at all? It's a real dull ache

 

[Rayca]

You probably have golfers elbow (aka tennis elbow). Your tricep injury probably caused pressure and aggravation on the elbow(s). You can feel a dull ache even when lifting a fork to eat. I had it in one elbow and the only exercise I couldn't do were lat pulldowns. Then the other elbow started in and I'm sure it was compensating for the pressure I put on it. Best thing is stretching exercises. 1. Clasp hands together as if praying, and squeeze the palms. Feel the pressure in the elbows? That's what you want but don't overdo. Just feel the pressure, not much pain. 2. Place both palms on a table facing AWAY from you. So basically your hands are backwards. Feel the stretch? This one should feel really good, even if it's painful. Again, don't overdo the pain. Do both hands on table, even if only one hurts. You MUST do these all the time. Every time you think of it, do them for 30 seconds each. You must be diligent about doing it. Do it at the gym, at work, at home. It will be a very good stretch for your biceps/triceps, as well. Not sayin it will completely take care of your tricep/bicep problem, but it might and it will help tons. It takes a long time to get rid of this (if that's what it is), so don't expect it to go away in a few weeks, but it will get better almost immediately. Be patient and baby those elbows. You can wrap an ace bandage for a while when you're relaxing but not too long. Only do exercices that don't aggravate it and you just have to tough it out if you can't go heavy right now. Nuttin wrong with high reps. once in a while. Your muscles will respond. Hope it helps and good luck.