u/Intelligent_Dingo695 — reddlx

Hey, need some input on a shoulder issue that’s been going on for a bit over a month.

Context:

19M, lifting regularly
Injury started during dumbbell flys (no single pop/tear, just irritation that developed)

Main symptoms:

Pain is very position-specific
I feel pain mainly:
- In the fly/stretch position
- When I extend my arm out to the side (like a T-pose), then bend the elbow (90°), and internally rotate past ~90°
That position feels tight + painful, especially at end range
Bench press is mostly pain-free during the movement
No major weakness or loss of general ROM

Other things:

Clicking has increased recently across different angles
- Mostly painless, but feels rough / not smooth
If I push heavier (e.g. tried near old bench strength), I get a delayed flare-up for a couple days
Rows sometimes irritate it depending on how far I pull

Progress:

Earlier: pain just getting into those positions
Now: pain only at end-range + rotation (so I think it’s improving, just slowly)

What I’ve been doing:

Saw a physio once → said shoulder is stiff
Doing:
- External rotations
- Face pulls
- Light lateral raises
Avoiding:
- Flys
- Deep stretch positions
Gym:
- Legs/arms normal
- Bench light/moderate
- No overhead pressing

Questions:

Does this pattern sound like rotator cuff tendinopathy / impingement (supraspinatus?)?
Is increased clicking without pain normal during recovery?
Should I completely stop bench for now, or just keep it light and controlled?
Is it normal that only end-range positions are still painful after ~1 month?
At what point would you consider imaging (MRI)?

Main concern:
It’s clearly not severe (I can still train), but the end-range pain + clicking isn’t fully resolving, and I want to make sure I’m not dragging this out.

Any insight appreciated.