Test prop....could it be causing joint problems?

[Puddles]

I decided to go with a cycle of test. prop. 50 mg/wk, 12.5 mg every 3 days, for my first and probably only cycle. First week I was normal, 2nd week I had some strength increases and then I hurt msyelf arm wrestling. 3rd week I notice all of my joints feeling like they need to be lubed and held together, especially my shoulders, elbows and hands, but it is also being felt less severely in my ankles and knees. My shoulders are cracking with just simple movement and at times it feels like my arms are gonna come out of the shoulder socket. I took a week off from all upper body work and started back lightly, doing lots of stretching, and lifting carefully. I delayed my last shot by a day (by mistake) and was feeling somewhat better that morning than I had in 2 weeks, then by that night I was feeling joint discomfort again. Could the prop be the cause here? Anyone experience joint pain/discomfort like this?

I've had no other sides except for the 2nd and 3rd week some increased sexual stuff and my skin seems dryer than usual, but that could just be because we've had the heat on and the air's drying me out. I don't know if what I'm going through could be cycle related or just coincidence. Any ideas?

 

[vinylgroover]

Hi Puddles,

I have never taken AAS so i'm trying to use some sort of common sense instead.

It could be that the strength increases accompanying your test cycle are too much for your joints and tendons to handle first up.

Since you are relatively new to lifting, your joints and tendons will feel the brunt of the stress from lifting, i would imagine this would be exacerbated by the strength gains associated by the cycle.

It takes time for the joints and tendons to strengthen and get used to the weight which is a particular reason why you always here people, me included, singing the praises of free weights.

Hopefully that's all it is and nothing structural.

Have a great weekend Puddles.

 

[The Ranger]

As VG stated, it could be due to the sudden strength gains, but I am curious as to what kind you are using....Sometimes, not saying that all of them are like this, but UG labs that make this stuff have no QC/QA and *may* contain impruities that can cause problems, such as, stiff joints, fever, painful injection site(though prop. is already known for this)....

Generally speaking, this type side is more associated with winny only cycles due to the slight supression of cortisol production....

Prop. is rather fast acting and puts on a bit of water weight quickly, lubing the joints, adding strength...etc.

My advice is, if these sides continue as you are on the cycle, doing injections, then subside once you stop, or miss a given injection time...step back, re-evaluate your goals, and decide if it is indeed worth it, or perhaps try something of better quality, or one with a different ester chain....

This is just my opinion Darl'in.....

Ranger

 

[Puddles]

I've decided to just stop the cycle and see what happens. It's not likely a problem with the quality as this stuff is prescription and made locally. Prior to this cycle I was experiencing some shoulder problems, but this has been ongoing for years, just never this severe or happening in other areas of my body. Now it's just outta control. The strength increases were nice, but I only felt them for 2 weeks because I had to slow down due to the injury...I feel like I've wasted the last week or so. The reason for this cycle was to hopefully boost bf loss and increase mainly my chest muscles in preparation for a lift and implants. I was doing fine on my own but just getting antzy to get the surgery underway...I'm already running about a month behind what I had planned. Live and learn I guess.

 

[The Shadow]

well.......it seems suspicious to me as well......since half life is so short you would get a more consistent blood profile if you shot EOD as opposed to ETD. The sides you mention sound like Winny or even Fina as both has the reputation of drying out the joints.

Prop also generally causes less water retention than other esters.

 

[Puddles]

I don't seem to be retaining any water, and although I haven't checked with callipers, I appear to have dropped a little bf. I'm taking dandelion root and glucosamine, but only started the latter a week ago.

 

[wilson6]

My take on this is that you were already pushing the envelope with training and perhaps overtraining. So many people start juicing and really up the intensity, sometimes because of the central effects of the AAS on "central drive" and perhaps some peripheral effects on ACh mRNA and ACh receptors, but often times because they think they need to because they're juicing. Suddenly they find themselves with more joint problems and feeling worse, not better. That increase in strenght you experience early on is in your head (central effect), not yet in the muscle due to increased protein synthesis that would at the 1 - 2 week mark, result in increased force production.

I don't think it is the TP, just overtraining.

In theory, you'd want to stay on the TP for recovery, and stop training for 2 weeks. Then start back slow, with the TP.

W6

 

[Puddles]

I just bought two 3 lb dumbells and 3 bands to do some stretching at home in lieu of lifting at the gym. I looked at Spatts active recovery post on the training board and got some ideas. My chiropracter and massage therapist (who also used to be a trainer) both agree that I should continue to use the muscles, as the minor inflamation that happens will actually help speed recovery as opposed to just completely resting the muscles.

I did take one week off from upper body, but I did continue to work on my legs, lower back and abs with no bothersome problems except for a touch of pain in my ankles when I was dooing calf work. I went back lightly for the past two days for some upper body work, but today I'm hurting bad again so I figured maybe just doing stretching type stuff with the bands and 3 lb. dumbessl would be a good way to go and lay off the weights for another week.

W6...If I stay on the TP and stop lifting for a week or two but replacing complete inactivity with using the bands be a good way to go or do you think I should really stop alltogether?

I probably was overtraining but I was feeling good, so I didn't know. I agree that the strength increases were likely in my head because I knew I was on cycle and wanted to push myself to get the best possible results.

Corn mentioned changing to EOD instead of ETD. Any other oppinions on that? I would imagine keeping it at 50 mg/wk, right?

Thanks for all of your help and input everyone.

 

[wilson6]

I'd take a week off, then start back with the bands, then the weights. Give the body a rest and let the net positive protein synthesis kick in.

ETD = less inj. that is always preferable but perhaps not optimal, and certainly no more than 50 mg/wk.

W6

 

[The Shadow]

yeah...whatever dosing you wanted to have..split up over and EOD spacing.