big1ntexas’s BodyBlog

I received my 2nd - in 4 months - cortisone injection today.  I tried not looking at the size of the needle.  I knew I was making a huge mistake when I sneaked that peak.  What was I thinking?  It just made the pain of the injection all that much more pronounced.  All I could think about was that that needle has got to be touching bone.  Of course I realized that it never even came close but it sure as hell felt like it especially when the doctor started rotating the needle to “hit” all the areas of concern.  He said that he figured it was easier to rotate it then to pull it out and re-inject it.  Hey, that was good looking out on his part!  I am a big wuss when it comes to needles. 
If this injection gives me half the relief that the first one did then today’s pain was well worth it.
I have to wait at least a month before I can schedule surgery.  Then it’s 6 weeks in a restrictive sling (during our first consultation I believe that he told me 4 weeks) followed by 3 to 4 months of therapy.  The doctor also spoke of a “screw” that he will have to screw into my shoulder bone to help hold and tie every thing together.   
Okay, can I just say that he didn’t paint a pretty picture in my mind by telling me all this today?  He could have just told me after the surgery that I will now be setting off medal protectors because of a screw he placed in my shoulder.  Then it would have been too late.  The damage would have been done and I couldn’t sit and think about everything.  
When it’s all over and done he did assure me that I would be able to lift again.  But then he also stated that it could tear again because it will be held together by a screw. 
You know, I am starting to think that I am really screwed here!
 

We’ve all seen them, those infamous infomercials on P90X.  Well, I decided to give it a try.  I mean, why not?  I really can’t lift right now due to all my injuries and I want to stay active and the guy hocking the product is my age and he looks amazing.  Besides, who wouldn’t want to be able to do THAT many pull ups?  I know I would! 
Well I am into my second week of P90X and I have to be perfectly honest…it’s kicking my ass!  What the hell was I thinking?  This workout is no picnic…it’s brutal.  But, I love it!  I mean, I really love it!  I can’t wait to see the transformation my body makes when I complete the 90 day program…assuming I am able to stick w/ it for that long.
Wish me luck!
 

I met w/ the orthopedic surgeon today regarding my shoulder.  I was informed that I have rotator cuff tendinitis w/ a partial tear, bursitis, and a partial labrum tear in my right shoulder. 

My options are: 

Well, it turns out that I have a partial tear in my right rotator cuff.  I guess that would explain all the pain that I have been feeling.  My next step is to meet w/ the Orthopedic Surgeon on Wednesday the 29^th to discuss my options.   
   Partial Rotator Cuff Tear - nich huh?

I had an MRI performed on my right shoulder today.  I won’t get the results until later on this week at the earliest.  Wish me luck!

I don’t recall when I injured my right shoulder but I know that it’s been over a year now.  I have been rehabbing every since and I still have a nagging pain.  The good news is that I can sleep on it where as before I couldn’t.  So I guess that some shows progress.  But I still can’t go heavy on chest day à which I realize was probable the cause of my injury in the first place à so this could be a good thing.  Heck, I can’t even do a freak’n push up!
I know that I need to be patient and keep doing my rehab exercises, which is usually how I start my workouts.  I just want this nagging pain to go away!  My shoulder pops now.  No, it’s more like a crunching noise and then there’s this dull pain that usually goes away when I am lifting but I can feel it throughout my day and at night when I lay down for bed. 
If this is what I have to look forward to in my older years than no thank you! 
I go to the doctor this Friday.  I think I am going to ask for a cortisone shot to help manage the pain.

I had my body fat tested today. 

Now why is it that I associate a lower percentage of bf to mean more mass or bigger muscles?  I think that is because bodybuilders when competing are in the 4 - 6% range.

I know that I am lean regardless of what my bf% says!  So why am I struggling w/ the results?

The lady, before testing me, told me that I want to be in the 21 - 22% range.  I tested at 21%.  That can’t be right!  In my mind that’s fat and I know that I am not fat.  So I have a new goal now and that’s 15% bf by the end of May.  I think that’s doable if I just watch my diet.  According to the results I would need to lose about 20lbs.  I can do it! 

I just hope that I don’t look skinny as a result.

In the last month I have been in the gym and actually worked out 3 times.  I struggled w/ injuries and illness during my time away but I am better now and back at it.  I have lost a lot of strength and apparently my routine.  I feel like a freaking idiot!  What am I doing?  Never before have I paid so much attention to all the weirdos working out beside me.   

I am not judging mind you.  I was actually entertained!  This one guy was so into himself that he demanded everyone’s attention.  He grunted so loud and ran from one side of the gym to the other supersetting exercises.  At one point he said in a rather loud conversation w/ himself, "Here comes the pump!  Here comes the pump!"

W-T-F?  So I had to ask, "The pump?"  

"Are you making fun of me man," he asked?

"No, not yet but I am sure that I will," I said. 

He laughed and then explained, "Yeah man, I hate it when it comes late.  I have done six sets and finally it’s here!"  (As he flexed and stared at himself in the mirrors)

"Um, what’s here," I asked? 

He said, "The pump man!  The pump!"

Okay, I don’t mean to be rude here but…I couldn’t see it.  I am not doubting that he felt it.  In fact, I couldn’t help to think that maybe I have been missing something all these years.  Maybe I have never felt the "pump" because I don’t recall ever running around the gym talking to myself in an attempt to psych myself up.  I may think it!  But I swear this guy was his own workout partner and personal trainer!  He would yell to himself, "Come on!  One more!  You can do it!"

He was simply amazing to watch.  I actually ended up timing my lifts to match his grunts.  I thought that I could conserve energy by doing this.  I am not sure that it worked but it did help w/ the entertainment. 

Lesson learned: Charge your freaking ipod!

It’s Sunday and here I sit watching some stupid rerun on television when I should be in the gym lifting something heavy.  This week has really been a struggle for me.  Where’s my motivation?  I just haven’t felt like lifting.  I know that once I get to the gym that I will be fine but I have to get there first.
Okay, enough of this shit!  I am headed to the gym. 
Later!
 

Over a year ago I injured my shoulder attempting to set a New World Record on bench.  Well actually it was more like a personal best record.  I have no idea as to what I was thinking at the time.  I was training w/ an Ex Marine who was great at motivating and pushing me.  He is older, shorter, pot bellied, and works out in layered sweat shirts (no lie!  I think he thought that he could sweat off that belly of his instead of dieting).  He is a strong man.  No matter how much weight I would throw up he could always match it.   Being extremely competitive by nature I should have known that I was headed for trouble.
My shoulder injury was a gradual one that still lingers on and hinders me to this date.  Needless to say I have rather hesitantly accepted the fact that I will never be entering any Strong Man competitions or setting any World Records.  I will leave that to the younger people in the gym.  Although when I see some punk kid throwing up high numbers in bad form while making as much noise to draw as much attention as possible I have to admit that I am tempted to…
Oh who am I kidding?  It was this kind of mind set that got me injured in the first place!  I guess I will continue to keep those thoughts to myself and watch the all the chaos for a distance while scratching my head and preying that I never act(ed) like an idiot seeking whatever attention I can/could relish.      
If the shoulder injury wasn’t enough last night I injured my right hand middle finger in a freak accident not related to lifting.  This new injury is going to hinder my weight training even more.  My hands and fingers are already a problem do to the onset of arthritis from my years of fighting.
Looking on the bright side of all of this my legs have increased size.