This has got me a little scared

[needsize]

On sunday I was benching. I did a very thorough warmup on my way to my heaviest set ever for bench(but only by about 5lbs). Here was what the workout looked like
Flat bench
45lbs x 10
135 x 8
185 x 5
225 x 5
275 x 5
295 x 5
315 x 5
While doing the set on 315 everything felt fine, other than my spotter dripping sweat in my eye. But when I went to hit my next set, back on 295 again, I got the bar half way down and it kinda felt like my chest was ripping. I racked it, and tried again at 275, same shit. The pain was in my right pec, around where it ties in to the front delt. It hurt to use, and even hurt if I poked at it, but no bruising or anything. I didn't want to push my luck, so I had my buddy take the pics that I posted, and split. Next day it didn't feel anything out of the ordinary, so I forgot about it.

Today was arms, so I warmed up for weighted dip for tris. When I got to my working weight, the pain from Sunday immediately came back. I did manage 2 heavy sets, but the feeling in my pec spooked me a bit. I'll post the warm up so you can see that I did warm up thoroughly
weighted dips
bodyweight x 10
bodyweight plus 25lbs for 8
bodyweight plus 45lbs for 6
bodyweight plus 90lbs for 5
bodyweight plus 135 (3 plates) this is where the pain hit

So after a hella long post, anyone know what I did? Minor tear?

 

[USMC War Dog]

Well it's very possible to tear you chest muscles. I know a few people that can no longer bench because they tore their muscles. I recommend laying off the chest a bit, until it feels better. Good thing is to get it checked to make sure nothing is seriously wrong. After that, try changing the way you do your sets. Might be too much stress on the chest.

 

[bignate73]

dips are not the best choice after that little incident. puts a whole lot of strain on your shoulders and definitely alot of stress at the areas you indicated.

start from ground zero. take some time off. stretch lightly. hot and cold treatment and then tread back lightly into pressing exercises. make sure you warm up thoroughly each time from here on out.

if you notice any bruising in the armpit areas...chances are you have some sort of a tear. get it looked at pronto in that case.

for now, you have 2 options. rest and recover or go get looked at for a definite answer.

 

[needsize]

dips are not the best choice after that little incident. puts a whole lot of strain on your shoulders and definitely alot of stress at the areas you indicated.

start from ground zero. take some time off. stretch lightly. hot and cold treatment and then tread back lightly into pressing exercises. make sure you warm up thoroughly each time from here on out.

if you notice any bruising in the armpit areas...chances are you have some sort of a tear. get it looked at pronto in that case.

for now, you have 2 options. rest and recover or go get looked at for a definite answer.

no bruising that I can see, bad time for a lay off though, I start clomid in 2 days, I think maybe I'll take an extra day of rest and train chest on monday, if it still hurts after 4 nights sleep then I'll have to get it looked at

 

[solidj55]

Ok my question is, is your form on bench press like a bodybuilder or like a powerlifter? Before I got into powerlifting I had similar pains but once I read about the form powerlifters use when benching and started using I havent had any pains at all. I see most people that bodybuild just lay flat on the bench as if they were relaxing while lifting. And they also have there elbows out way away from their body almost parrallel to the floor. If you watch a powerlifter bench, he will pinch his shoulder blades together drive his upper back into the bench with his legs(as he is pressing) and his elbows will be tucked in close to his body. This means you will have to bring the bar lower on the chest than normal though. Just a thought for you. Hope everything heals up and works out for you.

 

[CytoMel]

Post this over at the powerlifting board also. I think you will get a lot more people with experience about this

 

[needsize]

Post this over at the powerlifting board also. I think you will get a lot more people with experience about this

Thanks, I will

solid, I bench like a bodybuilder, chest out, elbows tucked in

 

[Charvelle]

Probably just a strain, definately ease up until it heals. You don't
have to quit training, but don't do any movements that aggravate
it. Try to take some extra time off if possible.

 

[Doktor Bollix]

Minor tear is exactly what it is. I had one some time ago and it is as you described it.

What did it for me was a cold day, freezing cold gym, hopped up on a dipping station with really, really wide handles, way wider than the one I usually used, and started doing bodyweight dips. I could actually feel a tear on the way up at rep 3. It was near the clavicle though.

Healed up pretty quick. Just don't go heavy for a while.

 

[needsize]

Minor tear is exactly what it is. I had one some time ago and it is as you described it.

What did it for me was a cold day, freezing cold gym, hopped up on a dipping station with really, really wide handles, way wider than the one I usually used, and started doing bodyweight dips. I could actually feel a tear on the way up at rep 3. It was near the clavicle though.

Healed up pretty quick. Just don't go heavy for a while.

Thanks

 

[The Dude]

Thanks, I will

solid, I bench like a bodybuilder, chest out, elbows tucked in

Umm, that's like a powerlifter really. BB is with the elbows out either with back arched or flat (depending upon who is dispensing their "wisdom").

 

[nikkita]

no bruising that I can see, bad time for a lay off though, I start clomid in 2 days, I think maybe I'll take an extra day of rest and train chest on monday, if it still hurts after 4 nights sleep then I'll have to get it looked at

clomid?? what was your cycle? sometimes when ending AS cycles you must lower the intensity of workouts so that you can keep strenght and mass gains (depending on the AS used). If you were on cycle consider recovering otherwise you are on the edge of loosing your gains.

 

[rippedup]

I had the same stuff happen to me. A slight tear in the pec/shoulder attachment (might also be the bicep tendon).

What I did was stop all pushing movements and focus on lat/back work. It took about a month or so to heal completely.

 

[needsize]

clomid?? what was your cycle? sometimes when ending AS cycles you must lower the intensity of workouts so that you can keep strenght and mass gains (depending on the AS used). If you were on cycle consider recovering otherwise you are on the edge of loosing your gains.

i did 7 weeks of bulking with enth and fina, then 6 weeks of cutting with prop and winny, last shot was today so I'll start clomid on Sun. I could feeling a strain there when I was squatting today as well, so I think I'll train lighter for a bit, but up the intensity to compensate

 

[Ingram]

I'm pretty sure there would be bruising if the muscle tore, get it checked out if it doesn't get better within the next week.

 

[needsize]

For those of you, and I know you're out there, that spent the past week worrying about my busted pec, I think I'm out of the woods. I benched today, dropped 40lbs off my working weight and upped the reps, so did sets of 8 reps on 275, I could feel it pulling a bit but nothing ripped/tore so I think I'm okay. Still not totally sure what it is, but it's still attached so it's all good!!!

 

[coolcolj]

Maybe it was cramp?

 

[b fold the truth]

Good luck...I"d back off the weight for a few weeks...and make darn sure that your form is perfect.

B True

 

[needsize]

Maybe it was cramp?

No, I know it wasn't that as the pain was still there 3 days later when I was doing weighted dips for tri's, that's why I was worried.

B, that's why I dropped the weight and upped the reps a bit. My form was probably some of the best I've ever done as the negatives were super slow and I was really concentrating on keeping it smooth.