help, possible torn pec ...

[from zero]

i am so fucking pissed right now.

doing close grip bench tonight, during my first set, 5th rep, about 3/4 of the way up, i felt my right pec pop, up by where it connects to the shoulder. my partner quickly helped me rack the weight, as i immediately was overcome with fear. i went to the bathroom, took my shirt off, but could not find any signs of bruising (could not really tell either. maybe it was too dark, or it was hidden by my stretch marks ...) or swelling. it just felt weird ... like a charliehorse, or like when your arm or leg falls asleep, but it's not quite there yet.

after seeing if my gym had any ice packs (which was negative, as people stole them. fucking assholes), i immediately grabbed my shit and headed home.

i'm icing it as i type this. i think it is beginning to hurt more, but maybe because i am moving it a little bit after keeping it still for a while.

still feels like a dull pain, like when someone comes up and punches you in the shoulder. a constant one of those, in my pec. i can flex my pecs, but the dull pain becomes a little more prominent.

any ideas as to anything else i can do? i am planning on icing it for like an hour and just resting tonight. should i ice it on and off?

help me out guys. i am pretty scared that i might not be doing any upper body for a while ...

oh, by the way, i am mobile. i spent about 15-20 minutes repeatedly checking my ROM in all directions. not sure of what it is now, as i am icing it down still.

 

[anabolicmd]

Well, you did the smart thing by getting ice on it asap, and if you have complete ROM and arent feeling much pain, and arent bruising, thats a good sign. How did it feel before it popped? Im assuming its still attached, or you would definitely know it if it wasnt. Was it sticking or smooth before it went? Is it bruising now, were you warmed up, etc etc?

 

[from zero]

It was going up very smoothly. Easy as hell. I did 2 warmups sets prior, but I didn't stretch my chest at all ...

I don't see any bruising, and I still have full ROM, with minor pain.

 

[guldukat]

It was going up very smoothly. Easy as hell. I did 2 warmups sets prior, but I didn't stretch my chest at all ...

I don't see any bruising, and I still have full ROM, with minor pain.

I'm not qualified to speak to such things but that sounds like a good sign to me. Keep on it with the ice, regardless, and pray for now.

I'll be thinking about you my man. I wish I could say more, but I'm sure someone else can help.

 

[anabolicmd]

btw, how close was the grip? If it was very close, it could cause some torque or twisting of the pec, at the shoulder actually. Because bringing your hands together contracts the pec, and running a contracted muscle through a full range of motion can make it pop.

 

[from zero]

1-2 fingers on the smooth.

 

[from zero]

Well it's been about 2 hours since the injury. I've been icing it of and on, every half hour or so, for 20-30 minutes at a time. My ROM is still excellent. No real pain, except when I'm in a fly position (arms all the way out), flexing my pec hard, or squeezing my hands together (like at the end of a fly, or pec dec).

I am planning on icing it off and on until about 12:30 or 1:00, then I'm gonna try and go to bed. I will attempt to lie flat on my back and sleep like that. Hopefully I will not be feeling worse tomorrow.

 

[anabolicmd]

Sounds like you didnt hurt it too bad, and your grip was not terribly narrow, but I think that is what might have caused it. Keep us posted, hope you get better.

 

[from zero]

Well, i Just woke up. I slept surprisingly well. No disruptions in the night, except when I rolled over on my stomach and leaned on my right arm, but nothing too painful. The area feels about the same it did last night, maybe even slightly better. I can open my arms all the way, and there is almost no pain. It still hurts when I flex hard, or if I squeeze my hands together (like the pec dec thing I explained earlier).

I think I will use ice on and off throughout the day, and just take it easy.

 

[from zero]

70 views, I got 2 guys offering help ...

 

[bigstve12]

how does it feel if you push on it? take some anti inflamatorys like advil, the ice will keep inflammation down and promote healing....could it have been like a cramp??

 

[from zero]

how does it feel if you push on it? take some anti inflamatorys like advil, the ice will keep inflammation down and promote healing....could it have been like a cramp??

If i press down on the area, it hurts ...

 

[bignate73]

i'd help but i have no experience in this. all i can say is go easy, rest up and make sure you are ready to get back in the game. get well bro.

 

[WalkingBeast]

I injured my chest once from jumping straight to 315 with no warm-up. This was before I ever did 315 for one rep. I couldnt train my chest for a month or so. Was very frustrating. Cant remember how many weeks it took me to get back into it again, but dont think it was too long. Thats the only experience Ive had with a pec injury. Never use ice or anything like that. Maybe it would help. Your injury doesnt sound to bad, keep us updated!

 

[150shot]

Stay with the ice, dont train chest for at least 5 days and start out light just like coming back from an injury..

 

[Lord_Suston]

You most liekly had a mild grade muscle strain, ice and anti-inflamatories will help, after a few days if there is not swelling you can start using heat pack to gfet blood flow, try for light (and I mean light) stretching, don't do chest for a while I would say for a bout 10 days and then when going back into it start with smith machine and go nice and light, if any more pain persist go see a doctor

 

[lucidblue]

FZ, how are you feelin?

 

[from zero]

FZ, how are you feelin?

It's actually feeling a bit better I think. Seeing my doc tomorrow, so he can refer me to a sports doc if I feel I need it.

Suston, good info bro. Thanks.

 

[lucidblue]

My stepfather recently tore his pec benching with my brothers. He almost had to get surgery, but luckily he managed to get out of it. He was miserable. He said he heard a sound like a soda can being smashed. He's healed now, but it took patience and therapy.

 

[punch]

FZ...You did NOT have a full Pec Tear. However you could have partially torn it. I have spoken w/ sport medicine docs who told me that strength and BB athletes could have small partial tears quite a bit. Usually these heal on there own with a little time and RR. I am speaking from experience.

The one piece of advice I could give you is too make sure your ROM does not become that impaired. Many times if you tear or strain a tendon or muscle they heal in a more constricted manner. I have found that it is now imperative for me to stretch, WELL, before my movements especially when it involves Benching or pressing. I am 33 now and I have noticed that my body requires a little more warmup now than say 10 years ago. I have never taken any sauce so it is even more crucial to stretch and warmup the rotators etc..before heavy pressing. Get better. Peace.

 

[from zero]

punch, thanks for the info bro.

Update: Waking up this morning, the injury feels a fuck of a lot better than it has been. I can stretch all the way with almost no pain, and flexing does not hurt as much. I will continue to rest this week, maybe put some heat on it if I have some free time at night. I will plan on re-entering the gym next week.

 

[punch]

awesome. work on reps man and do that with dumbells. this will work the stabilizers which may help prevent injury when your ready to lift heavy again.

 

[Tweakle]

Ouch, that sucks. It sounds like it wasn't too serious if you can stretch it but I think you're doing the right thing taking a week off. Hope you heal up soon!

 

[Lord_Suston]

some very solid advice given by everyone here, I would advice not training to failure, no need to have a slightly compromised muscle go to failure, or the stabilizers helping it, this will help in the long run not to build up scar tissue. Also deep massage therapy can help remove any microleisions

 

[guldukat]

That's great to hear, man.

Your right pec is looking pretty good, too, btw

 

[from zero]

Guys, this is some good info. Thanks a lot. I appreciate the compliment too, guldukat.