Joint pain while lifting all over the body

TJP · October 22nd, 2005, 02:04 PM

I've been lifting since I was 15ish and am now 31. Way back when I played football rather seriously and it left me with a number of joint/spine issues that I have always been able to manage during my lifting program mainly by learning what made me hurt and avoiding it as much as possible. Recently, over the past 6-8 months, it seems that i can't do much of anything without joint pain in the area where movement is occuring related to the exercise. I'm inclined to think that this might just be related to getting a bit older and not recovering so fast anymore, but I've recently cut back from my 6 days a week training schedule (which I maintained for about 10 years with no problems) to a 4 day a week schedule (over the last 4 months) and it hasn't helped a bit. I might be concerned about some form of disease, but i happen to also be a scientist who works in the pain neuroscience field and I've ruled most anything I can think of out and my doctor sees nothing wrong with me.

My nutrition is good (as good as it can be for a really busy person) and I'm not taking any supplements other than whey protein 2Xday (40 grams per time). i'd post my routine but I've never been one to do the same thing in the gym and I do something different nearly everytime. I don't do squats do to a spine injury from the football days. I'm 6 foot and 200 pounds.

My question is, has anyone else experienced such a rapid change as they got a bit older? Are there any supplements that they've found help. Being a pharmacologist (not pharmacist -- I discover drugs rather than work out treatments/dosing and the like) I'm a bit weary of that whole business, but i'm to the point that I'm willing to give about anything a shot.

**Doughboy** · October 22nd, 2005, 02:22 PM

I dont know I think you should see a doctor

**Adonis** · October 22nd, 2005, 02:41 PM

Try taking tylenol each day to get rid of some of the pain. Not advil, not aspirin, TYLENOL.

Talk to your doctor, honestly and openly about what is bothering you. Perhaps, visit a sports doctor(they have a better understanding of weight elated aches and pains. Decrease the weight you are using in the gym NOW.

Hope that helps a bit

TJP · October 22nd, 2005, 06:03 PM

I have been to a doctor for an exam and spoken to several others in my feild. There is nothing overtly wrong, no cancer, no arthritis, etc..

The pain also does not last after the workout (at least it is not intense). I always deal with some level of pain due to my back problem (which is a degenerative disc at L5) and sometimes its difficult to tell if other pains aren't just referred from the back, but what I've been experiencing is not consistent with anything I've previously had due to my back.

I'll try cutting back on the weight a bit more than I already have and the tylenol is a good idea. Just curious, what is the rationale behind Tylenol vs. advil?

**Sasaku** · October 22nd, 2005, 08:56 PM

Maybe start taking joint supplements and fish oil, and doing full joint ROM workouts to help keep you joints lubed-like water aerobics or Super Joints by Pavel.

**Adonis** · October 23rd, 2005, 12:51 PM

Advila dn aspirin have been shown in studies to inhibit muscle recovery, whereas tylenol does not

**bbabb22** · October 23rd, 2005, 01:05 PM

the pain from your back could be causing the pains in other areas of your body. Not so much cause pain in your elbow but i think ya'll get the idea. When i had my knee injury my calf, quad, ham and lower back all hurt. Its jsut an idea though.

Killa_Z · October 23rd, 2005, 02:01 PM

do you warm up properly?

try some ballistic stretching before to get the synovial fluid flowing around the joints

**Old_Fart2** · October 24th, 2005, 07:59 AM

I have two suggestions:

See a neurologist. It could be something related to your previous spinal injury. It could also be unrelated to that but still related to some sort of neurological disorder. A neurologist would be able to perform more specific test than a general practitioner.

If nothing is found, I would suggest seeing a chiropractor. My opnions of chiropractors in the past has been that they are one notch above witch doctors. However, my wife has recently been seeing one in the hopes of trying to help her chronic back pain. She has visited various specialists including orthopedic surgeons, nuerosurgeons, pain specialists and even another chiropractor. The current chiropractor she's seeing has put her on a variety of supplements that actually seem to be having some effect. I am amazed! So if you can find one that is knowledgable in nutrition, also, you may want to give it a try (after the neurologist rules out any neurological factor).

The other thing I would suggest is to only workout each muscle group once a week and limit your days in the gym to 3-4, no more. You probably need to be a little more organized in your training to make sure you're not overstressing any particular body part.

You may want to consider starting blog like some of us have done. At the top of the page under Additional Site Features you'll see Training Blogs. Click on that, then click on start new blog.

You just also carry a notebook with you in the gym and record your workouts as you go.

**Italianangel** · October 24th, 2005, 06:52 PM

I agree with seeing a dr.