Hi guys.. I've been reading up online and I'm pretty worried.. I might have torn my rotator cuff.. I have no medical insurance and can't afford it right now so I'm relying on the Internet and good ol' fashioned advic to get me through this. Heres the specifics: About 2 months ago I threw a jab, as hard and fast as I could at the pad. I felt a sharp pain in my shoulder after throwing the jab but it didn't restrict my movement and I could continue to box. The following day/days my left arm and shoulder were painful. I didn't box for about 3 days. I went back to the gym and it was fine. A few weeks later I was throwing left hooks on the bag, my technique was wrong and I was turning my body INDEPENTANTLY of my arm and shoulder. Ie. My body turned to the right along with my legs but I left my arm slightly away from my body, this put undue stress on my shoulder. Now, I began to notice a sharp pain in my shoulder whenever I threw the hook incorrectly. Soon this pain spread to my left shoulder and upper bicep when I jabbed. But only if I REALLY popped the jab out hard and fast. I don't know if this is mental (my left arm is weaker than my right, im right handed) but after working out my left arm seems to fatigue very quickly. I'm telling myself this is inevitable as I use it far more than my right but this sharp pain which occurs is telling me different. The pain is worst when I'm left hooking, I have full motion and there is no pain unless I whip the hook or snap the jab, then there is this sharp pain my shoulder. It has gotten better, but only slightly.. Also, until recently, when I propped my body up using my elbow (ie. pushing down on the elbow to reposition myself in bed or on an arm rest) there would be pain in my shoulder. Also, after finished a tough workout the pain will be present in both arms but much more pronounced in the left. Has anyone got any idea what the problem could be? Feel free to ask me more questions as I really am worried that if I continue to box I will do permenant damage. But I have already taken 1 week off and I am training with a new trainer who I don't want to let down... Thanks!
Sounds to me like a tear or an impingement of one or more of your shoulder muscles. You NEED to see a physio. There is no point training until the shoulder is better. One of my lads has this problem. Muscle tears are a *****, make sure you warm up and cool down effectively in the future. Having torn my intercostel muscles on two occasions I know exactly what your going through- its a **** but full recovery is the only way forward. Maintain CV work if possible to reduce reversability of your CV- recumbant cycle might be suitable.
thankyou brown bomber! even though shadow boxing, shadow boxing with light weights etc does not turn, should I still avoid these activities, or only the ones which cause pain (sparring, hard padwork)? how long was the recovery time on those injuries which you sustained?
Rotator cuff injuries are nothing to be taken lightly. They can take up to a year to heal fully in some severe cases. If i were you id seek professional advice.
STOP BOXING. Seek medical advice and if in doubt seek more advice. Don't start boxing again until better. This is the only course of action for pretty much every injury.
Get it checked, Ive a feeling you could have shocked the erector muscles around the upper 4th and 5th vertabrea its common those vertabrea are the message highway to the shoulder and arms. If they tighten it causes pain in that area. The clue is youre feeling it in both shoulders now. Get it checked if it is that, got some good stretches that will help.
