Arm pain, exercise the reason?

Question

I went for a workout 2 days ago after not going for a couple of months. I worked my arms and shoulders. Now, my elbows and forearms hurt excruciatingly bad when i hold them straight, so they bend forward at the elbow when i relax. My left arm also feels 'asleep' sometimes, even though there's nothing cutting off the circulation(from the outside at least.) They're very much usable, its just painful to do so.

Should I be worried? Or will the pain go away within a few days?

Answer 1

Sounds like you pushed yourself too far with the exercise. Often people feel that if they push harder and further than they'll get results quicker. This really isn't true. Often the injuries that come from doing such things makes it all take even longer during our healing time.

When we push too far our bodies aren't as interested in repeating it again and you start to leave the gym alone longer. Not many want to purposely go hurt themselves, and our bodies do tend towards self preservation.

Allow your arms to rest as long as they need. You may have really bruised or even pulled something in there. Next time, do less. The heavier the weight doesn't mean you are going to get the best muscles. Do smaller weights and do a much slower movement. Slow works your muscles harder than a fast rep any day. Fast jerking motions rarely work the muscle you'd like to be working. Especially if you are having to jerk your body along with the motion of the arm.

Give yoruself time to heal. It may take a few weeks, depending on how badly you hurt them. Give it a few more days, if the pain hasn't slackened slightly, than go see a doctor. But don't use your arms much for the next three days. Use them as little as possible and use something with a muscle relaxer. Like ibuprophen (over the counter) and take it a few times a day. Will help take swelling down and help your arms heal itself better. Also soak them in a tub when you can. Or take a hot tub or jacuzzi. Drink plently of water (straight water, not this vitamin or flavored kind). Water helps your body to heal itself. Eat healthy so your body has the nutrients and vitamins it needs to help with the healing as well.

Good luck.