Tricep tendinitis. Still not healed.

[wanabelifter]

3 orthopedic surgeons, 5 physical therapists, and a lot of research later I discovered I have tricep tendonitis. I'm a 22 year old beginner lifter and I started going to the gym about 3 years ago.

I haven't been able to do any kind of tricep exercise in almost a year. I have a slight snap or pop in my non dominant elbow whenever weight comes down (barbell coming towards chest). The more I lift, the more pain I feel.

Doctors have told me to just rest, but I've been resting for almost a year with no improvement. I have found from research that strengthening my bicep (which was MUCH weaker in comparison to my tricep) can help with recover so I've been doing lots of back/pulling/bicep stuff without trouble.


Do you have any experience with this injury? What would you suggest I try?

[Mark Rippetoe]

What activity caused it?

[wanabelifter]

I believe weightlifting caused it. In my first year of going to the gym, I would only do bench press, incline bench press, chest flys, and tricep exercises. I believe I just did way too much of only a few muscle groups for my own good in the beginning

[Mark Rippetoe]

Probably time for an MRI. There may be something besides the inflammation in play now.

[Viktor]

Just out of curiosity...
If you press with your thumb 5cm proximal to your medial epicondyle.
Can you feel "a thick spaghetti" there?
Are you tender there?
Cheers

[wanabelifter]

do you mean like this?
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=...1t:429,r:8,s:0

I think I feel the "thick spaghetti" but there is no pain or tenderness. The pain occurs only with some kind of resistance and it's located slightly behind the elbow. Very frustrating.