arch47’s BodyBlog

At some point this past fall, I injured my left elbow resulting in tendonitis.  After numerous attempts to address it myself and the pain not diminishing, I consulted a physician specializing in sports medicine.  The initial treatment was an elbow brace in concert with some anti-inflammatory medication.  NSAID’s are wonderful drugs but one side effect can be to lower ones immune system.  Over the 4-5 week period of treatment, I managed to contract a sinus infection that ultimately went into a middle ear infection.  I also was not to pursue resistance training during this time but I felt so lousy it soon didn’t matter.  As of this past week, the sinus and ear problems have abated and the elbow is being greatly helped with some ultra-sound treatments.  On Monday I can resume training but with some minor alterations to spare the elbow for awhile.

The lesson learned is how to avoid injury in the first place.  I now know that overworking my biceps and not doing corresponding triceps training was not correct.  I was doing triceps but not in a balanced manner.  Other exercises as well were putting stress in places where it maybe should not have been.  All this being said, it is a learning process.  Perhaps others are far wiser than me and knew how to structure their training in a better fashion.  But, like anything else in life, we learn best by experience.

2007 ended in a rather lackluster way.  The goal for 2008 is a much adjusted program via advice from a personal trainer and some trusted friends on this site.