Worst case: partial tear, best case: strain, sprain, cramp

freaker · 08-01-2002, 12:25 AM

Bad news for me, I may have torn my left pec, bicep, internal rotator, or front delt tonight. Trying to keep up with the Jones(lakevillethor's 430 pound bench), I was benching. I told myself if I got 315 for 7 reps and could get more, I'd max 405. I maxed 405 like it was nothing, so I figured I'd go for 415 which would have been a new personal best. My left pec was contracting real hard after I got it off my chest and I think I felt a few strands pop. One of my spotters also said he heard something pop. I had my spotters pull it off me, but my left pec was swolen as hell and it looked like the outer area right under the arm was missing a few strands. I haven't had it looked at professionally yet, but I think it's a partial tear. Everything else feels fine, but my left pec is sore as hell and I can't really flex it. I'm including some pictures my roommate took of me so you can see what it looks like. It really doesn't look that bad, but you might notice that it's swolen and that the area right under my arm that runs into my shoulder and bicep is kind of sunk off the tendon. It's my watch hand. I've been icing it on and off and the swelling has gone down in the chest. I'm now thinking the tear is in my inner bicep becasue even though I can flex it, it looks elongated and smooth where it meets my chest and front delt at my underarm while my right inner bicep is sharp and has a peak. The swelling in the underarm area may have gotten worse and there are some red dots around that area now. My roommate went to bed so I can't get any new pictures, but I have one he took of me a few hours ago. If anyone has ever had a similar experience or really think they can tell what's up from looking at the picture, let me know.

freaker · 08-01-2002, 12:26 AM

Here's a close-up of the left side.

wl270 · 08-01-2002, 01:16 AM

ouch!

pacman · 08-01-2002, 03:32 AM

So what happens now? Do you just 'keep of it' for a while or.. ?

Smackdown · 08-01-2002, 10:14 AM

you a powerlifter? why do you care about numbers so much?
you wanna be big stick to that 315 for 7 reps, try to get 10 next time. **** the big bench. 1rm leads to injury, do it once a month tops. sorry to sound like a dick but if you wanna be a house forget 1rm or thatll happen. do 375 for 4-6. youll be house for sure with that.
i like to max out but i hold off because i dont want to injure myself, i hope you are okay. im sure youll be back at it soon enough. forget what other ppl do. compete with yourself unless you are at a powerlifting meet.

hope you are okay.

Ice Man · 08-01-2002, 02:09 PM

I'm not saying its not ripped or doubting that it hurts but in all honesty it doesn't look too bad

freaker · 08-01-2002, 10:09 PM

I haven't powerlifted since I was 15, but I was thinking about it since I was pretty strong and you don't have to diet. Part of being a house for me is being strong. I work out more to be strong than to be some kind of pretty boy or even to be big. I actually hadn't tried to max out in a year and a half. In fact, I hadn't put more than 315 on the bench in a year and a half, but after 315 was so easy(I could have easily done 8 reps and possibly 10), I knew I could get 405 so I did. And since 405 was so easy, I figured what's 10 more pounds. Obviously 10 more pounds was a lot. I had a chiropractor look at it today and he said it may just be some nasty microtears and the only way to figure out if it's a real tear is to get an MRI. My dad, who is a doctor, looked at it too. He said even if it is torn, there's nothing I can do and it will heal up in time. The chest is less swollen now and the bicep is less swolen and red instead of bluish. The red dots have gotten worse though and my dad said that's indictative of some kind of muscle damage. I definitely won't be doing anything for the upper body on my left side for a while, I guess I'll be doing legs and cardio for a while, at least I can hit those hard. If I had it to do over again, I would've just done 365 for 4 reps or something like that, but I guess I had to learn the hard way. Maybe I'll change my signature to **** maxing, I don't want to be a cripple.

Smackdown · 08-01-2002, 10:44 PM

cool, maybe cause you didnt try max in so long it was a shock.
who knows, hope you recover soon. good numbers though.
keep up the good work.

Smackdown · 08-01-2002, 10:45 PM

heh see you changed your sig. nice.

freaker · 08-03-2002, 01:32 AM

I think this'll be the last injury update for a while. I've finally got a decent range of motion back and I feel like I might be able to do a few pushups although I'm laying off chest entirely for at least a few weeks. I figure I'll be able to put 135 on the flat bench in a month and then I'll just take it from there. Hopefully I'll be back to repping with 315 by November or January at the latest, I hear those minor tears heal pretty quick. The red spots along the tendon are turning blue and the left bicep is blue as hell, but the swelling has gone down and I can see the peak on the inner bicep. I took a whole roll of pictures over the last few days, so I'll probably just put those pictures up once I develop and scan them. I'd definitely say I tore some outer chest, but it's just a few strands so I'm sure the remaining muscles will pick up the slack over time the same way my right front delt did for the wrestling injury I had when I was 15. Then again, maybe I'll never be able to go heavy again and will shrivel up to 140, actually 160 and all lower body because I can still leg press heavy. So much for weighing 220, having 20" arms, benching 430, or military pressing 275 for reps this year. About the only way I'm going to press more than lakevillethor anytime soon is if I start doing one-arm presses with my right hand. So, howmucha one-arm press.

Big Daddy Shane · 08-03-2002, 01:56 AM

All the best with your recovery mate. I'll be happy when I reach a 315lb bench for two reps!
It sucks learning the hard way though!
From this, I'm never going to try one, two, or three rep maxes.
BDS

Deejay_Spike · 08-03-2002, 08:59 AM

i love maxin'....

but hell, i'm a powerlifter, phuck i actually HAVE to max out!!

BigTraps · 08-03-2002, 11:01 AM

I HATE it when people say maxxing is stupid for bodybuilders. It's a GREAT idea because then you can start to do math and figure out higher percentages of weight to work with. After I'm done doing a city-wide powerlifting meet this winter I'm gonna only max on Dead Lift and Bench, nothing else - only go for 4 rep maxes at the most.

kas · 08-03-2002, 01:11 PM

I would take a lot of time off, so get plenty of rest (at least 5-6 months) and lay off your upper areas (pecs, lats, delts, arm, etc.). It may not seem fun now, but later on you will thank yourself. There is no point in rushing, because you have a lifetime to lift and train. I would definitely have an MRI done, if you have not already done so, but that is my opinion. Good luck.

Mat187 · 08-03-2002, 02:30 PM

A friend of mine had a similar accident, but he was using dumbbells, he tore outer pec, it became blue looked so gross....i think you just might have put alot of pressure on yyur pec, but not enough to rip it, if u had ripped it, it would be blue or near blue color. Just ice it, and stay off any pec exercise for at least 2 weeks bro.

Just my 2 cents...

Take care and wish u a fast recovery,

Mat187

irpker · 08-03-2002, 06:54 PM

That's what my hip muscle looked like after I felt a nasty twinge when doing squats.
The damn gym floor was uneven by about 2 inches.

It still hasn't gotten better and ocasionally hurts.
Stretching has helped, but it's not 100% yet.

freaker · 08-08-2002, 01:58 AM

I definitely tore my left pectoral muscle. It's pretty obvious now that the swelling has gone down. I can't even run now because the impact really bothers it. It also feels really weird whenever I extend my arm away from my body. I definitely think it's going to take quite a few months to heal. Anyway here's a pic.

irpker · 08-08-2002, 08:08 AM

Did you see your doctor already? He can recommend you to an orthopedic surgeon if it deems necessary.

danbo · 08-08-2002, 09:06 AM

Nasty looking bruise you got there. Let's hope it heals quickly!!!! We're all rooting for you.

Dan

Macattack · 08-08-2002, 09:14 AM

Wow thats nasty lookin i wish you the best for a recovery.

guess its a lessen for the rest, we push and push and something one days is bound to happen, i just am back from ventral hernia operation and was off 1 month, and now am back slowly getting back to where i was but much much more careful, i sinch down my NEW weight belt with every excercise and suggest you others do the same. I see so many guys working out and no belt, oh well live and learn......

Fudog1138 · 08-08-2002, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by irpker
Did you see your doctor already? He can recommend you to an orthopedic surgeon if it deems necessary.

Yah bump. Have you got a chance to talk to an Ortho yet?

raprazant · 08-08-2002, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by freaker
I definitely tore my left pectoral muscle. It's pretty obvious now that the swelling has gone down. I can't even run now because the impact really bothers it. It also feels really weird whenever I extend my arm away from my body. I definitely think it's going to take quite a few months to heal. Anyway here's a pic.

damn, you sure did. now it's months of nothing or else you'll **** it up even more. i tore my upper right pec/delt lifting 130's into position for press and i had to chill for 2 months. i had a bruise but nothing like what you've got. sorry.

GDI · 08-08-2002, 11:17 AM

I always hate hearing about stuff like this. I highly recommend you see an orthopedic surgeon ASAP. I'm sure that he would order the MRI and then you will know exactally how bad it is and what you are up aginst for recovery.

Hope it heals up ok.

freaker · 09-01-2002, 04:37 PM

Here's a pic taken 2 week after the tear, the bruises were clearing up.

freaker · 09-01-2002, 04:54 PM

It's been a month since I tore my left pectoral muscle. It really sucks. I went from 205 to 192 and 8.5% bf to 10.4%. That means I've lost over 15 lbs. of lean body mass in a month. I lost 3/4" on my right arm and well over an inch on my left arm. The only good news is that I've gained a 1/4" on my sorry-ass calves so now they're 16.75". Since I'm not working chest, back, shoulders, and arms, I guess I had to put some muscle on somewhere. My pants are getting tight, so I'm probably going to start cutting in the next couple of weeks. I figure if I can't get bigger I might as well be cut. Of course while my pants are getting tight, my shirts are getting lose. It sucks, I'll probably end up being less than 170 by the time I can work chest again. Anyway, here's the pic.

NextBestThing · 09-01-2002, 07:48 PM

All I can say is....damn that really sucks. I do have a question actually when u did the 405 bench, u didnt go straight from 315 to 405 did u? I mean even if 405 was easy its still a huge jump to make for the bench

NextBestThing · 09-01-2002, 07:49 PM

Oh yeh and if u dont mind me buggin ya what kind of cardio/ diet were u on in the first pics because dude your exactly what I want to become and Id appreciate the help

freaker · 09-01-2002, 09:47 PM

I did 315 for 7 reps and could have easily done more. I was definitely warmed up enough after doing 315, I workout HIT and if I wasted time doing weight between 315 and 405 I'd just wear myself out. It is possible that I took too much time between doing 405 and 415 and was kind of cold, but I think it's more due to me not being used to doing the heavy weight as in I hadn't done more than 315 in a year and a half rather than I hadn't done something between 315 and 405 in between. Back in early 2001 I tried doing 420, but never got it. I was able to handle 455 on a negative after missing 420 back then, so I guess it was more that my muscles were used to handling that kind of weight. The funny thing is that my left pec right where it tore felt funny after trying those 420 maxes. It also felt funny more recently when I did shrugs with 125 lbs DBs. As far as my pics, you're talking about my pics from the 2001 Superbody, right?

OneBig20yrOld · 09-01-2002, 11:48 PM

YOU'LL BE FINE, I DID THE SAME THING BUT ON MY RIGHT PEC, AND I TORE A STRECH MARK WIDE OPEN AND HAD TO LEAVE RIGHT AWAY TO GET STICHED, I TORE MINE DUE TO OVERTRAINING, YOU FELT IT GET REALLY HOT AND TINGLY JUST BEFORE IT HAPPENED IN THE AREA DIDNT YOU, THATS HOW MINE WAS, GIVE IT TIME TO HEAL, YOU'LL BE BACK SOON, HOW DO YOU PUSH 405 AND ONLY BE ABLE TO REP 315 FOR 7?? I REP 345 FOR 6 AND HAVE NEVER TRIED MORE THAN 390, SOO DAMN HARD ON SHOULDERS... GOOD LUCK

I grow as fast naturally as my friends do on sauce
bow down to a trim mesomorph

OneBig20yrOld · 09-01-2002, 11:51 PM

dont worry too much, i tore my sartorious muscle located in your groin, so I know what this stuffs about, 6 weeks and it'l be ready to be torn again haha rest and protein!!