is there a correlation between TRT and tendonitis

[pmd]

Is there any relation to tendonitis and trt?

Recently seems like all my tendons are achy and had a minor hamstring sprain/tear. I layer off working out, resting, icing and using ibuprofen. But slow recovery.

 

[Mprtz]

Are you using an AI? any chance your estradiol is too low? That can cause achy joints.

 

[pmd]

I am on adex 0.5mg every 3 days. I am going in next week for blood.
Estradiol was in the high 130's last time tested.
Still trying to dial it all in.

 

[Mprtz]

Did you raise the adex dose since the last test? Your dose is a bit too much for me (would put me in the teens I think) but it's individual for sure.
Probably best to wait for the next blood test.

 

[Megatron28]

When did the tendonitis set in? After you made a change in your adex dose? Sounds like it is time to run new labs and see if your E2 is too low.

 

[pmd]

I have changed my adex to 0.5mg every three days about a month ago. The tendinitis started coming on about a couple of weeks ago, but really came on hard last week. My muscles all feel real tight and despite warming up i sprained/tore my right hamstring. Luckily no bruising so I would say its a stage 1 sprain. Scary thing though.
About a couple of weeks after I changed my adex, I also noticed a tiny bruise on my right shoulders, another on the rear of my left shoulder and one on my left hip. I suspect my hematocrit may be a little high.
Next week I get blood and follow up with doctor the following week. I will post labs.

 

[Mprtz]

If I suspected high hematocrit I would go (attempt) to donate blood. You'll get a good idea where you stand for free with no waiting and if it's high you'll be doing something about it at the same time. If it's too high to donate then the earlier you know, the better.

 

[Megatron28]

Just use Private MD - Buy Lab Tests Online

Get the Hormone Panel for Females (it is for men too). $50 and you will have results in 24-48 hours. Easy peasy. Why wait 2 weeks for your doctor? Then you will know for certain if you need to back down the AI dose or not.

And mprtz is right on -- donate blood.

 

[bigben34]

i dont think there's a link between TRT and tendonitis. I find that my tendons have felt better on TRT. That being said, I would say that there is a link between supraphysiological doses of test and tendonitis. Saying that simply based on my opinion. But I believe there are some studies out there showing that collegen production slows down with higher doses of T.

Whats your TRT dose?

My experience with it is that I'm 30 years old and I've torn both patellar tendons, SLAP tear in left shoulder, and my tricep tendons are in very rough shape.

 

[pmd]

I am still trying to dial in my dose. I was at 200mg every 10 days and my test was through the roof in the 1600 range. I switched to 100mg every 5 days as per recommendations here on the forum and doctor got upset and told me to desist or he would not treat me any further. It is really hard to debate with a doctor and when your are not feeling well. My estrogen was in the 130's.
My dose was lowered to 175mg every 12 days. He is aiming to get me in the 1000-1100 range. At this dose is when the tendonitis set in.

Still trying to control my estrogen and I am currently taking 0.5mg adex every 3 days.
I just had blood work done yesterday and hope to have results back next week.

I plan on engaging doctor on further discussion on issues regarding dosing less more frequently in order to avoid the adex and the tendonitis issue. I would love to regain that euphoria I had in the first month. Lately I feel strong, have great pumps, but don't have that zest of life in my spirit anymore. Now add to that tendonitis. Overall minus the tendinits I feel really flat emotionally. In other words not bummed out, but slightly happy.

 

[tommyguns232]

Only if your e2 is low.

 

[Gossamer]

Only if your e2 is low.

Or if you are overtraining.

At least that's an educated guess. My strength has increased since being on test. So I lift more weight. If muscles get too big for the tendons and ligaments, there can be tendon and ligament problems.

But like I said, it's just a guess.

 

[yellowballs]

Or if you are overtraining.

At least that's an educated guess. My strength has increased since being on test. So I lift more weight. If muscles get too big for the tendons and ligaments, there can be tendon and ligament problems.

But like I said, it's just a guess.

Im 40 on TRT but I feel like Im 25 almost. But my tendons feel otherwise. Sometimes I have to force myself to hang back a little cause once the itis kicks in its hard to shake.
Also did read that on TRT dose your collagen production is pretty good but once you go over then your collagen production diminishes. This wasn't a study I read but some one posted this based off a study they read so maybe someone else has something more definitive?

 

[willnorthwest]

Testosterone makes you stronger than you otherwise would be. Everyone knows that. What some people dont know is that while your muscles get stronger, your ligaments and tendons do not. They remain the same. So while we are pushing and pulling more weight in the gym, we are putting stresses on those tendons that would otherwise be under less strain. The result is overuse and sometimes damage to ligaments and tendons. Whereas this effect is more pronounced in individuals taking supra-physiological amounts of testosterone and other anabolic steroids, I firmly believe that this effect can happen within the realm of trt. I am on trt, and I have noticed this myself. The 160mg/week of t-cyp that I take puts my t levels about 800-900 points higher than I would be if I wasnt injecting. As a result I can see a marked difference in the amount of weight I can lift, especially on the core exercises like benching and squatting. I can 100% tell a difference. The problem is if im not catefull and try to go too heavy, I end up with very sore knees, or particularly a very bad case of tendonitis in my right elbow. And lastly, I dont think estradiol has anything to do with this particular issue, like some previous posters have suggested. Estradiol is very important and has its' roll in trt of course, but I have noticed that alot of us seem to attribute every little problem we have while on trt to estradiol being not ideal. Its just not the case.

 

[DreDay187]

Testosterone makes you stronger than you otherwise would be. Everyone knows that. What some people dont know is that while your muscles get stronger, your ligaments and tendons do not. They remain the same. So while we are pushing and pulling more weight in the gym, we are putting stresses on those tendons that would otherwise be under less strain. The result is overuse and sometimes damage to ligaments and tendons. Whereas this effect is more pronounced in individuals taking supra-physiological amounts of testosterone and other anabolic steroids, I firmly believe that this effect can happen within the realm of trt. I am on trt, and I have noticed this myself. The 160mg/week of t-cyp that I take puts my t levels about 800-900 points higher than I would be if I wasnt injecting. As a result I can see a marked difference in the amount of weight I can lift, especially on the core exercises like benching and squatting. I can 100% tell a difference. The problem is if im not catefull and try to go too heavy, I end up with very sore knees, or particularly a very bad case of tendonitis in my right elbow. And lastly, I dont think estradiol has anything to do with this particular issue, like some previous posters have suggested. Estradiol is very important and has its' roll in trt of course, but I have noticed that alot of us seem to attribute every little problem we have while on trt to estradiol being not ideal. Its just not the case.

Tendons and ligaments don't get stronger, they only remain the same? Oh really lol?

Your sore knees are due to improper form most likely or previous injury. This has no bearing on whether or not your ligaments and tendons can strengthen (which btw they most certainly do).

 

[willnorthwest]

From what I have read dre...one of the reasons that steroid use is discouraged in young kids and inexperienced lifters is that while your strength will increase greatly, your tendons will not, and that the result is someone lifting heavier weights without the corresponding increase in tendon strength. The result os overuse and strain to those tendons. I'll see if I can find the source from where I read that.

 

[DreDay187]

From what I have read dre...one of the reasons that steroid use is discouraged in young kids and inexperienced lifters is that while your strength will increase greatly, your tendons will not, and that the result is someone lifting heavier weights without the corresponding increase in tendon strength. The result os overuse and strain to those tendons. I'll see if I can find the source from where I read that.

I'm not saying you cannot strain them but to say they don't grow or get stronger isn't true. They do just at a much slower rate than skeletal muscle tissue.

 

[willnorthwest]

I guess I should have been more specific. Im talking about those of us, without extensive lifting experience, who all of a sudden are stronger than before and lifting alot more weight at a greater frequency than we did before starting trt.

 

[willnorthwest]

I see your point....but are you saying that testosterone DIRECTLY increases the strength of tendons?

 

[willnorthwest]

** About Steroids

Read this ^

*Since the increase of muscle mass associated with steroids is not accompanied by a corresponding increase in tendon or ligament or joint size or strength, the risk of serious injury is increased. This may be the No. 1 problem associated with anabolic steroid use.