Pec/Bicep Tear?

[chriscarr_78]

Hi all,

I'm new to BB, been training about a year now and within the last 6 weeks I moved abroad and as a result my training schedule went down the pan. From 5-7 days a week down to maybe twice weekly for a variety of reasons.

Anyway, today I was in the gym working on my chest and decided to take it easy. Did a few sets of bench at 44lbs then moved upto 88lbs and then moved onto dumbell flyes at 33lbs each side. Lied down, arms held out in front, lowered them and...RIIIIIP! My right arm felt like it had buckled at the shoulder.
I dropped the weight immediately and sat up. There was no pain but the sensation and noise terrified me. I came out in a cold sweat and thought I'd dislocated my shoulder.

Anyway, I went home straightaway, I only live 2mins from the gym, decided to eat some tuna but couldn't even use a tin opener. I took my top off to see for any visible damage and my right pec is HUGE. It is literally double the size of my left.

SYMPTOMS:
Arms down at the sides, I can flex my chest, no pain but slight burn at top of right chest near armpit.
Lift my arms out to the sides, burning pain on right underside of arm and tightness of bicep.
Arms out in front of me, cannot fully rotate right hand/wrist.
Arms down by my side, full rotation in both hands/wrists.
Arms out to the sides, attempt to push down (against resistance), severe burn/pain on underside of right arm and top of right pec where it meets the armpit.
Arms down by the sides, lift arms out (against resistance), no pain.

I went to see a physio and she told me to go home, place some ice on the affected area and go back in a week. NO GYM in the meantime.

I would just like to hear some of your opinions please what you think it could be. I appreciate you may not be qualified to give this type of advice but through your combined experience I'd like to hear what ideas are bandied about and also things like recovery times, will I reach 100% strength (I was benching around 220lbs when attending regular) again etc.

Look forward to your input people! Thanks!

[chriscarr_78]

WOW! Thanks for all those replies! They really helped!

Anyway, sorted my problem out. My right pectoral is still swollen and I can basically do ZERO press ups.

Going to physio every week and exercising every day at home but was just wondering if anybody here has experienced anything like this and how long did it take you to get back to 100%?

Look forward to hearing your replies (or not)

[BiggerGuns=LongerDrives]

Dude, I am pretty positive that you tore your pec muscle just by what you described.

That RIIIIP sound is disgusting isnt it, sounds like a cotton T-shirt being ripped down the middle right???
I have torn my trap muscle (8 years ago) and most recently I tore one of my lats (Aug 07'). When I tore my lat, I heard that exact sound!
I took off all back training and even chest straining for 3 months to let my lat heal (no surgery needed for me)

You need a better opinion and more tests as surgery is required in alot of cases. It can heal on it's own even if surgery is needed, but expect permanent strength lost in that pec and of course a mishappened or diformed pec.

Good Luck

[lee thompson]

you must have had a weakness there already? injury is no fun especially when it affects your training.luckily i have never suffered one.

[RyanLRams]

Originally Posted by lee thompson

you must have had a weakness there already? injury is no fun especially when it affects your training.luckily i have never suffered one.

Dumba**! Now your jinxed. I hope you knocked on some nearby wood.

[lee thompson]

ha ha,yep i have done it this time!!

[BiggerGuns=LongerDrives]

Originally Posted by lee thompson

you must have had a weakness there already? injury is no fun especially when it affects your training.luckily i have never suffered one.

Not necesessarily speaking as the opposite could be true too making the stronger muscle work harder, or take more of the load and thus causing the rip.

Or, it very well could be form related .
Even a lapse in concentration that makes you let your guard down can cause you to go from sugar to sh!t in 1 second flat. I have heard many stories of guys doing squats and turning their head for a split second to see a hot chick walk by and BAM, they screw themselves up royally, all from a split second loss of concentration.

[lee thompson]

Originally Posted by BiggerGuns=LongerDrives

Not necesessarily speaking as the opposite could be true too making the stronger muscle work harder, or take more of the load and thus causing the rip.

Or, it very well could be form related .
Even a lapse in concentration that makes you let your guard down can cause you to go from sugar to sh!t in 1 second flat. I have heard many stories of guys doing squats and turning their head for a split second to see a hot chick walk by and BAM, they screw themselves up royally, all from a split second loss of concentration.

very good point mate.

[chriscarr_78]

Thanks for the replies guys,

Well BGLD (your names too long!) first off, YES! that noise scared the s*it out of me. I broke out in a cold sweat straight away and thought I'd really done some serious damage or that I'd even dislocated my shoulder.

Funnily enough there was no pain but that noise!!!

I have noticed a slight, 'dimpling' at the point where my pec meets the armpit but I'm gaining strength back everyday. It's been 3 weeks now, no bruising left have full supination in hand and wrist and full rotational movement in the arm. Noticing a tightness if I reach across my chest, then under my left armpit. (Pretend your trying to scrath behind your left shoulder with your right arm by taking the right arm UNDER the left armpit).

Finally, on the day it happened my form was fine though I'd noticed through the warm up that my shoulders were feeling more fatigued than usual and, I didn't stretch and warm up as well as I usually do. All that I feel contributed towards this injury.

Had tests and what not and, thankfully, there seems no need for surgery

I'll keep you all updated on my progress and thanks for your opinions/input.

C

[lee thompson]

glad your on the mend!