AC Joint Injury, should I continue cycle or wait it out?

I hurt my shoulder every once in awile. Roofing is a bitch on my shoulder. I stop doing military presses, and do high rep bench instead of 5-6 reps. And in a week or so I'm good as new.

Hey guys. A couple weeks ago, I was going all out on back day and lat pulled 300lbs for 3. (I weighed 170 lbs at the time.) I guess it was too much because my shoulder began to ache soon after. As the week went on I noticed every once in a while my shoulder would start aching on certain lifts but I figured it was just typical growing pains at this point.

This past Monday (last week) I began my bench routine and noticed this slight pain even while warming up at 135 lbs. I slowly progressed up to 285 for 1, which the pain was becoming more pronounced and I began to question if this was an injury. I quit my workout soon after. I went to the doctor and the doctor didnt give me much information. I guess she figured it was a light muscle sprain. I was prescribed prednisone, ibuprofen, ice often and refrain from any harsh physical activities, although I could still lift.

This past Monday, I figured I would bench again. Bad idea. I had dull pain, but lasted 2 hours after my workout before finally going away. I dont really feel much pain under a weight load, just dull discomfort. I can technically still sleep on the shoulder (where last week I could not at all) so I know its getting better in some way or another, but coming into week 5 of my cycle, im not sure if its a good idea to stay in if I HAVE TO keep it easy.

What would you guys do? I plan to take off bench & shoulders all of this week, and next week. (thats 3 weeks total for no shoulders, and 2 weeks for bench rest time.) I can raise my arm from my side and up with no pain, and front raises I feel 0 pain going up, but 3/10 pain coming down. I do have a decent sized chest already and I dont believe I would grow disproportionate but I would rather ask before trying!

I'm assuming you saw a G.P.? I would see an orthopedist so you actually know what is going on (although even they might not know for sure). I deal with a similar thing, a dull ache deep in my shoulder joint that rears its head almost always on incline bench, and like clockwork on shoulder days. This ache can be severe enough that I have to stop the workout, or can be just a minor annoyance. I push through because it is not a shooting pain, it is a dull ache. I find relief during the workout by completely relaxing my shoulder, and leaning into a wall for a minute or so. Seems to allow blood flow into the area and definitely works for me. But, that said, my advice is to see a specialist, and continue your cycle as planned until you have more information.

I've had a separated AC joint for about 12 years now. I wanted to continue playing when it happened, I had multiple sports relates surgeries in a span of about 18 months, so I just didn't get this one done. The way my orthopedic explained it, is your are better off completely separating the joint because with a partial separation you experience a lot of bone on bone rub that causes pain. They have to go in and shave bone.

Anyway, I've worked out pretty damn hard with that injury for the last 12 years and played two seasons of college football w that injury. i can't use a barbell on the bench or in the squat rack. It feels like someone is sticking a hot knife in my shoulder. But i feel no pain at all when using dumb bells on the bench or the "u" bar in the squat rack. Forget about straight bar overhead presses of any kind as well. Doesn't hurt but the load crack it makes when you reach the top will make you want to puke by the 3rd rep.

Anyway, I've been able to work through it/work around it. At some point, I might get the procedure done. But I've got a pretty good orthopedic, one of the top guys that we civilians can get. He's worked on some pro athletes, but local pros. He's not the guy Tom Brady or Peyton manning will fly to see. He's told me if you can live through the pain, you can't do anymore damage.

My biggest concern would be if you compensate for the pain or weakness you feel. You might injure yourself. Also, I don't shoot for 580 on the squat or 400 on the bench as my goals anymore. I don't work work out for power. I work out to build a physique I want. I still lift heavy weight, but you won't see me doing sets of 3 or less.

If it were me, I'd ask my doctor of working through it would do anymore damage. If the end result is you have to have surgery anyway, then take the pain and finish the cycle. If you are a power lifter, you might want take a step back, get it done, do some rehab, and get back into the form. Because pushing up 1 rep weight might get you hurt if you cringe from the sharp pain or compensate. It's not a dull pain. It's a burning sharp, tearing feeling.

I'm really proud, these responses are better than those you'd find on 99% of boards out there.

As GS mentioned, see a different doc for these kinds of injuries. No offense to anyone in family practice, but your regular doctor (unless they have a certificate in sports medicine) has no idea about the kinds of injuries bodybuilders/athletes get nowadays. Orthopeds, physical therapists, anyone in the sports medicine field, etc. will know way more and have much more experience/training with this.

There's not much I can add - I would suggest you really lay off the shoulder as you're planning on doing for 3 weeks. Gear increases the likelihood of joint injuries and slows down recoveries (GH, on the otherhand, will do the opposite, if you're running that). Take it easy and train something else like legs hard. Injuries happen to the best of us, and it's best to help the recovery along rather than impede/aggravate it.

I dont have access to GH, but i've read that IGF1 could be helpful. What do you guys think about this as well?

Thanks guys for the great responses. I am quite shocked as well. But this forum seems to have a mature crowd where forums like bodybuilding are a bunch of kids. Thanks again.