Need help, advice and Confidence build! Please take a look at my problem :(

[Stacked7]

Alright guys.
Let me start off with telling you that I have been body building on and off for 7-8 years (on and off meaning about 4-5 of those years actually at the gym) I started off in high school as a freshman. I knew that it was a sport I liked to be in since I became so strong and was bigger then most the kids in the HS but I was young and just went with the flow!

Freshman year of college I started to seriously lift. I lifted just like I had throughout high school, but I started to do the essentials like take some supps and have a better diet. Coming home after freshman year I was in the best shape of my life and I got TONS compliments from everyone telling me how big I had gotten.

SO LONG STORY SHORT... Summer after freshman year I got in a drunken brawl with one of my friends, while someone proceeded to grab my arm and try and rip me off the person. This is when my left CHEST MUSCLE was completely torn off my chest/shoulder and left me with deformation in my left check (WHEN FLEXING) and put a end to my benching career.

Two year later after avoiding the gym because of how much it absolutely drove me crazy that I couldn't bench (bench being my favorite body part to exercises and best gains) and other exercises where I was my chest had small roles and it just felt weird. Last time I benched freshman year I was able to put up 315lbs three times and maxed out at my highest ever 345lbs.

So my questions now are.....
-Who has had this problem or something similar and what have you done about it... Ive been told surgery would be less the a 50/50 shot and I would have huge scares on my chest. (50/50 meaning it could def tear again)

-If i work out my chest, I am guessing there is a big chance my chest will start to look deformed? Considering my left chest is using what ever little is left to work my chest (It looks normal not flexing, flexing its FOCKED)

-When I bench I know for a fact if i put on anything over 200lbs now I will tear my chest more (tried one time being pissed and it didn't feel nice). Should I stick to pushups? Or bearly work my chest?

-Will I hurt myself or other parts of my body because of this. Yes my left shoulder def has more pain because of this.

These pictures I am uploading will show you what I mean, and that im not focking around when I tell you I TORE my chest....

First two pic is me freshman year.... All the rest I took tonight 3-4 normal pose no flex (looks normal) the rest are flexed and you see how f'ed my chest is.

[BradleyS]

I don't have the same problem as you...but I do have two (well one now) labral tears.

Why did you not get surgery right when the incident occurred? Your chest tore from your arm being pulled on? You should tell us the story...

I don't even know how you can work your chest with a torn muscle. It's obvious to you that it will not heal on its own. The option is up to you...have the operation done and deal with the risks, or live with it torn. Even if you do the operation and it tears again, it's not a huge set back from your current position. (assuming money isn't an issue)

I would not even attempt to work the chest. Why cause further problems?

To be honest with you, I would get a second opinion from a sports medicine doctor. Check a couple of stories here on the forums, and see how they managed after the tear was repaired. 50/50 seems like a pretty ****ty percentage. make sure you get the best doctor.

[Stacked7]

I have gotten a medical opinion but they all tell me its not a big deal just I cant lift heavy. In my eyes its the worst thing thats ever happened to me physically especially when it comes to working out in the gym. Im not saying they are wrong but I just get "Life light instead of heavy" and its said and done.

THE STORY OF HOW IT HAPPENED:
I was on the ground ontop of my buddy his back to the ground and our chest to chest and we were wrestling around and if you picture from my eyes looking down at him he rolled to my left, as my left arm was being pulled and I was pretty much flipping to my back as my arm got yanked behind me and tore my chest.

Why I come today to ask this question:
I come to ask because after being in the best shape of my life two years ago stronger then ever and just loving my body, I got hurt that summer and since have been so discouraged to hit the gym because of my chest. I used to lift more along the lines of bulking always heavy sets of 3x8... On chest days 225 was easy my first set, now when I see someone on the bench it bothers me and when I work out doing certain exercises and lower the weight to next to nothing because of my injury I get discouraged. some people might not understand but its such a set back in my eyes.

Anyway I now am again back on track 2 years later probably lost about 5-8lbs of muscle and gained it in fat currently weighting in at 222, As you can see in the pictures I took tonight I kept lot of my size just gained a little meat. But I am trying to get back on track with a mind set of having a great body getting a six pack I never had and living the healthy lifestyle again. I intend on running much more, as I used to not run so much, and I am dieting like I used to but WAY more strict and being way smarter about it.

Questions:
-What should I do work out my chest? If so in what form of way push ups or very very light weight?

-Since my left chest muscle is missing most of its attachments to my body, my pecs are pretty much being used in a completely different way, If i even attempt to work out my chest such as simple push ups, would my chest start to form differently on either side (worried about only if it would show when im not flexing.)

- If I am do get advised to not work out my chest at all, is there anything I can do at all?

Thanks for the help dude... All help appreciated everyone!
-Tyler

[lilmisstinygirl]

In the first pic I was like, what's he's talking about. I had to go back and read your message again and I saw after that the first one was a before your accident pic. To be honest with you depending on where you are something you should look into is a plastic surgeon. They are very good at reconstructive surgery and that is what it looks like you need. Rehabilitation and physical therapy would come after that. You had a serious injury, not to be taken lightly. You shouldn't just be concerned with how it looks, but how it can affect you in the long term. If I were you I would look into seeing if your insurance, if you have any, could provide something towards some reconstructive surgery. If they can't you can apply for credit just for medical procedures. Women do it all the time to get boobies so why not you eh? I don't think you should have a lack of confidence just based on the way you look. Hit the track and keep a positive attitude and go get a second and third opinion. Not just from a sports medicine doctor but a reconstructive surgeon as well.

Missy

[Stacked7]

Thanks for the advice...

When I say confidence I don't mean in every day life I am a pretty confident person, I mean in the gym have confidence to put forward the hard effort. Since getting huge and gaining a lot of muscle really isn't any option anymore I am changing my ways lifting a little differently and on a strict diet with light 15min sessions of cardio 4+ times a week. ( Im looking for the tone shredded look now and trying to not loose any muscle that I have build from before )

And about the surgery I guess I could ask around more, but I still don't think it would be worth it from what I was told. Big scares and the 50/50 chance of tearing it again? Like the doctor said they are replacing a rubber band pretty much it could be alright or it could tear first day back. Also this injury is two years old now I was also told if I didn't do anything right away it would make things a lot harder.

Hypothetically, If i continue to work out and actually do follow a diet plan faithfully, and get down to low BF percentages is my chest goin to shrink on me and look two small? My chest was always one of my best attributes and now its gone .

With all this said I lift everything that excludes the chest hard just like I used to, Arms, back, legs, stomach and shoulders however some shoulder exercises do bother me because of my chest.

Thanks again guys
-Tyler

[Mike-311]

I read your post Bro.

Sorry I cant help ya wif any good advise but my hart goes out to ya and I wonna wish ya good luck.

[HRK (herb)]

lets see.... you got drunk, then stupid... then got hurt....

ya know you now get to live the the result.

best advice, keep your shirt on if it bugs you.

[Stacked7]

Thanks MIKE... Right now I feel its going to be a huge set back, But i really cant tell yet.. I'm aiming for the shredded look now so I know I wont be working out my chest for any type of strength. I just hope if I actually get the look I want, my chest wont be lacking because of this injury.

I got in a fight and it was with a good friend I never was intending to seriously hurt anyone we were wrestling, It only happened because of someone recklessly pulling me by one arm off this person with all there strength and ripping my chest.... This could have happened weather I was drunk or not. ( And again it was a mistake, dont we all make them? Dont tell me "sucks for you" you made a bad decision. I new this 2yrs ago when it happend.)

I am not worried about my chest in any way as far as people seeing it. Currently it looks completely normal like nothing happened standing still no flex. And I do flex my chest all the time to let people see what happened because they call bs and its obvious to them when i flex my chest

MY questions are once again:
Can I work my chest if so how? (I dont want to gain strength, I want to keep shape and keep it size proportioned to the rest of my body)

If i do work my will my chest begin to look abnormal when standing still not flexing?

And if I dont work my chest how do I retain the muscle that is currently there so I dont get shredded and look like i have never worked my chest before?

Again help appriciated guys

[AphtaLyfe]

Originally Posted by HRK (herb)

lets see.... you got drunk, then stupid... then got hurt....

ya know you now get to live the the result.

best advice, keep your shirt on if it bugs you.

Wow... apparently you are the epitome of human perfection... by 42 you have yet to commit an act of stupidity.

Or actually.. I'm gonna guess you just need to not post if you're just going to be a dick. Especially since this guy is honestly reaching out for some help.

[Mike-311]

Originally Posted by AphtaLyfe

Wow... apparently you are the epitome of human perfection... by 42 you have yet to commit an act of stupidity.

Or actually.. I'm gonna guess you just need to not post if you're just going to be a dick. Especially since this guy is honestly reaching out for some help.

Amen

[Stacked7]

Thanks guys...

Does anyone think I am better off posting this elsewhere to get more views?

[alpha-romeo]

Originally Posted by Stacked7

Alright guys.
Let me start off with telling you that I have been body building on and off for 7-8 years (on and off meaning about 4-5 of those years actually at the gym) I started off in high school as a freshman. I knew that it was a sport I liked to be in since I became so strong and was bigger then most the kids in the HS but I was young and just went with the flow!

Freshman year of college I started to seriously lift. I lifted just like I had throughout high school, but I started to do the essentials like take some supps and have a better diet. Coming home after freshman year I was in the best shape of my life and I got TONS compliments from everyone telling me how big I had gotten.

SO LONG STORY SHORT... Summer after freshman year I got in a drunken brawl with one of my friends, while someone proceeded to grab my arm and try and rip me off the person. This is when my left CHEST MUSCLE was completely torn off my chest/shoulder and left me with deformation in my left check (WHEN FLEXING) and put a end to my benching career.

Two year later after avoiding the gym because of how much it absolutely drove me crazy that I couldn't bench (bench being my favorite body part to exercises and best gains) and other exercises where I was my chest had small roles and it just felt weird. Last time I benched freshman year I was able to put up 315lbs three times and maxed out at my highest ever 345lbs.

So my questions now are.....
-Who has had this problem or something similar and what have you done about it... Ive been told surgery would be less the a 50/50 shot and I would have huge scares on my chest. (50/50 meaning it could def tear again)

-If i work out my chest, I am guessing there is a big chance my chest will start to look deformed? Considering my left chest is using what ever little is left to work my chest (It looks normal not flexing, flexing its FOCKED)

-When I bench I know for a fact if i put on anything over 200lbs now I will tear my chest more (tried one time being pissed and it didn't feel nice). Should I stick to pushups? Or bearly work my chest?

-Will I hurt myself or other parts of my body because of this. Yes my left shoulder def has more pain because of this.

These pictures I am uploading will show you what I mean, and that im not focking around when I tell you I TORE my chest....

First two pic is me freshman year.... All the rest I took tonight 3-4 normal pose no flex (looks normal) the rest are flexed and you see how f'ed my chest is.

WELL ..
I AM NOT SUFFERING FRM THE SAME PROB BUT I AM HAVING A ROTATOR CUFF INJURY IN MY RIGHT SHOULDER THAT IS I AM HAVIN A MUSCLE TEAR ON MY SHOULDER DUE TO DUMBELL FALL.. ANY WAYZ...
I AM HAVIN PAIN OFF AND ON THIS INJURY IS 2 YRZ BACK..
I CAME TO KNOW 3 WEEKZ BEFORE THAT ITZ A ROTATOR CUFF INJURY..
DR SAY NOT TO LIFT ..WILL TAKE 6 MONTHZ --- 2 YRZ TO RECOVER...
TRAINER SAYZ ITZ FINE KEEP GONING AVOID OVER HEADZ.. GO WILL LOW WEIGHT...
I GOT REALLY PUZZLE AND WAS OFF FOR 2 WEEKZ:-( FROM GYM
NOW WHAT I AM DOING IS
LOW REPZ LOW WEIGHT ..
AGAIN FROM THE START .. SPECIALLY SHOULDER AND BENCH PRESS...
NOT PRESSING TILL THE END ..
NOT DOING FREE ROOD DOING SMITH MACHINES...
ALL DOW MY CASE IS DIFFER .. MAY BE IT WILL HELP U...
GOOD LUCK...
WILL PRAY FOR U

[m4gs]

bump

[Stacked7]

bump

[bionic Redneck]

IF you are still able to do push - ups without any pain then consider that as a blessing and start doin them right away...
you can do those three Hand variations : Normal / Close / Wide

to hit the Upper Chest : Elevated push ups'
and for lower chest : Dips

Yes you can build a Descent chest with push up alone.. Build up to 45 reps / 3 sets

you can start off with Bent knees and then Full body if you experience any trouble

[AutumnalPark]

Did you have any rehab after the injury? Is that just how the muscle healed? Has it been imaged at all??