Injury question

[BBAddict]

I have a brand new injury I have never seen and can't imagine what it is. I believe it happened on a day I did back and triceps. It is extremely painful to straighten my arm and I have a line of bruising that extends from my armpit, down the inside of my bicep and to the inside of my elbow. I assume that the line of bruising is an indication that I tore something, but I have no idea what I could have torn that would give a whole line of bruising down the entire upper arm. The weird thing is that it doesn't hurt to flex the arm--it just hurts to extend the arm at all and I have a lot of pain in the elbow.
Any ideas on what this could be would be appreciated. I think I'm going to try to lay off the weights and give it time--might go to the doc if it it doesn't seem to heal well.

[bad14u]

Wish I knew what to tell you. One thing is for sure though...you need to go to the doc.

[BBAddict]

Somebody suggested that it could be torn muscle fascia, but I don't know anatomy well enough. The bruise is actually follows the lower line of the bicep muscle. Any ideas?? I just hate to go to the doctor to hear them say rest it and give it time if it's not something that needs any actual procedure or something besides time.

[infiniti1982]

go to the doctor, sounds more serious than resting and icing it.

[Shibby]

Somebody suggested that it could be torn muscle fascia, but I don't know anatomy well enough. The bruise is actually follows the lower line of the bicep muscle. Any ideas?? I just hate to go to the doctor to hear them say rest it and give it time if it's not something that needs any actual procedure or something besides time.

I'm not sure the suggestion you were given is entirely accurate. Take a look at this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fascia and see what you think. The idea could be right and the pain in the elbow could be from the pooling fluid. Excess fluid likes to go with gravity and settle in the joints.

[NYCmitch25]

seems pretty obvious you strained or sprained your elbow (u said it yourself triceps day). The diff i a sprain is when the ligament (the tissue that holds bones together at the joint) is twisted, stretched too far or torn causing pain and loss of function. A strain is when muscle is overstretched or overexerted. Ice, Rest & antinflammatory - self care. However, due to the pain, swelling, & bruising if it doesnt get better soon i would have it looked at but wait a couple of days ssee how u feel. no major activity for 6 weeks AT LEAST.

[BBAddict]

no major activity for 6 weeks AT LEAST.

That makes sense--tricep workout causing an elbow strain/sprain. I did go a little too heavy on overhead db extensions. Thanks a bunch.
I just got done taking 6wks off for a broken rib!! I'm sick of training to come back from injuries and never making any progress, but I guess training injured will only make it worse. :(

[hlcn8]

definitely a sprain/strain/tear. the bruising is pooling of blood, and the gravity and effects of circulation are spreading it which is natural. if you can move it significantly but can't extend it fully, it sounds like a partial tear, but you do have to have a dr. see it as they can determine the extent of it, etc. you don't want a partially torn muscle heal in an incorrect position, which can occur as a result of swelling and inflamation. sometimes they'll just say to RICE it, other times surgery for the correct placement of the muscle is in order.
i know i might sound rather adamant about this, but i've had some muscle and joint injuries that i've shrugged off and have to now deal with on a regular basis, and wish i hadn't been so machoistic before. heal up bro, and give us updates as to how you're doing.

[BBAddict]

doc's word is partially torn tricep. RICE is exactly what he recommended and then do low weight/high rep therapy to get back into lifting. I guess I can really focus on my legs for a couple weeks.