Pec Tear Rehab

[M3RK]

This is over two years after the initial injury while decline bench pressing 285 until failure. My left pec cramps up, is sore, and uncomfortable after moderate activity, and feels awkward and does not get the pump that the right pec does.

I had an MRI one year after the injury, as I thought it was not serious and would heal itself. The MRI showed no tear by report, as the tendons were intact. I also had ultrasound done to my left pec, and this did not show a tear either, but did show an excessive amount of scar tissue around the muscle and tendon. I saw 3 different well respected orthopedic surgeons about this, one who was so certain there was no tear that he suggested I see a psychiatrist, one who said there appears to be a partial tear but it is too late to operate, and the final said there appears to be a partial tear, but since the MRI showed the tendon was intact, the tear was in the muscle-tendon junction and muscle cannot hold a suture. So they all agreed that surgery was not an option and it should heal well on its own.

I got a 4th opinion from Dr. Anthony Schepsis who is the most well respected pec tear surgeon in the world. Since he is in Boston and I am in Atlanta, I mailed him my MRI's and pictures, a video, and a patient history about my injury. He contacted me saying that I had a partial tear at the musculotendinous junction, and said that if I wanted to perform at 100% again, surgery would be the best option.

I revisited two of the previous orthos that I had seen with this information and they still agreed that I should not go forward with surgery. Considering the costs of surgery, and the fact that I just graduated college, am jobless, and without insurance, surgery does not appear to be an option. I would really like to visit Dr. Schepsis, but considering the other doctors all recommended against it, this seems most logical to deal with this conservatively.

Does anyone have any advice for me on how to build my pec back up and decrease the amount of discomfort I am experiencing while exercising it? Over two years away from the gym has made me go insane. My pec does not appear to be THAT bad off as it is partially connected. While most pec tears require surgery, I know that Eddie Guererro had a pec tear, never had surgery, and continued wrestling. I don't even care about bulking up anymore, I am more concerned about function and decreasing discomfort.

Any advice would be helpful.

Thanks,

Rob

[simlot123]

This is over two years after the initial injury while decline bench pressing 285 until failure. My left pec cramps up, is sore, and uncomfortable after moderate activity, and feels awkward and does not get the pump that the right pec does.

I had an MRI one year after the injury, as I thought it was not serious and would heal itself. The MRI showed no tear by report, as the tendons were intact. I also had ultrasound done to my left pec, and this did not show a tear either, but did show an excessive amount of scar tissue around the muscle and tendon. I saw 3 different well respected orthopedic surgeons about this, one who was so certain there was no tear that he suggested I see a psychiatrist, one who said there appears to be a partial tear but it is too late to operate, and the final said there appears to be a partial tear, but since the MRI showed the tendon was intact, the tear was in the muscle-tendon junction and muscle cannot hold a suture. So they all agreed that surgery was not an option and it should heal well on its own.

I got a 4th opinion from Dr. Anthony Schepsis who is the most well respected pec tear surgeon in the world. Since he is in Boston and I am in Atlanta, I mailed him my MRI's and pictures, a video, and a patient history about my injury. He contacted me saying that I had a partial tear at the musculotendinous junction, and said that if I wanted to perform at 100% again, surgery would be the best option.

I revisited two of the previous orthos that I had seen with this information and they still agreed that I should not go forward with surgery. Considering the costs of surgery, and the fact that I just graduated college, am jobless, and without insurance, surgery does not appear to be an option. I would really like to visit Dr. Schepsis, but considering the other doctors all recommended against it, this seems most logical to deal with this conservatively.

Does anyone have any advice for me on how to build my pec back up and decrease the amount of discomfort I am experiencing while exercising it? Over two years away from the gym has made me go insane. My pec does not appear to be THAT bad off as it is partially connected. While most pec tears require surgery, I know that Eddie Guererro had a pec tear, never had surgery, and continued wrestling. I don't even care about bulking up anymore, I am more concerned about function and decreasing discomfort.

Any advice would be helpful.

Thanks,

Rob

Dude where do you see a pec tear? Believe me you do NOT have a pec tear. I have torn both my pecs and they are deformed on both sides even with surgery. You need to reevalute your routine get back in the gym and stop whining. I garauntee I have 10 times more pain and injuries than you do and I'm still in the gym everyday training heavy weights

[pbenson27]

Check out my blog on pec tears i think it will help.

pectearpbenson.blogspot.com

[jepitt]

How did you tear your PEC again??? Or think you tore your pec?? Because I don't know if its torn or not.

[locust17]

This is over two years after the initial injury while decline bench pressing 285 until failure. My left pec cramps up, is sore, and uncomfortable after moderate activity, and feels awkward and does not get the pump that the right pec does.

I had an MRI one year after the injury, as I thought it was not serious and would heal itself. The MRI showed no tear by report, as the tendons were intact. I also had ultrasound done to my left pec, and this did not show a tear either, but did show an excessive amount of scar tissue around the muscle and tendon. I saw 3 different well respected orthopedic surgeons about this, one who was so certain there was no tear that he suggested I see a psychiatrist, one who said there appears to be a partial tear but it is too late to operate, and the final said there appears to be a partial tear, but since the MRI showed the tendon was intact, the tear was in the muscle-tendon junction and muscle cannot hold a suture. So they all agreed that surgery was not an option and it should heal well on its own.

I got a 4th opinion from Dr. Anthony Schepsis who is the most well respected pec tear surgeon in the world. Since he is in Boston and I am in Atlanta, I mailed him my MRI's and pictures, a video, and a patient history about my injury. He contacted me saying that I had a partial tear at the musculotendinous junction, and said that if I wanted to perform at 100% again, surgery would be the best option.

I revisited two of the previous orthos that I had seen with this information and they still agreed that I should not go forward with surgery. Considering the costs of surgery, and the fact that I just graduated college, am jobless, and without insurance, surgery does not appear to be an option. I would really like to visit Dr. Schepsis, but considering the other doctors all recommended against it, this seems most logical to deal with this conservatively.

Does anyone have any advice for me on how to build my pec back up and decrease the amount of discomfort I am experiencing while exercising it? Over two years away from the gym has made me go insane. My pec does not appear to be THAT bad off as it is partially connected. While most pec tears require surgery, I know that Eddie Guererro had a pec tear, never had surgery, and continued wrestling. I don't even care about bulking up anymore, I am more concerned about function and decreasing discomfort.

Any advice would be helpful.

Thanks,

Rob

I know this is late but I had the same injury. Exactly the same. I waited too long to have it checked and had surgery and was told it was too late and that the tendon and muscle tissue was scarred if I can remember. I just wanna ask you hows your pec and have you been to that specialist pectoral sports doctor?
Its been a year and my pec still hurts and cant bench no were near my previous weight. I can't do dips nor flies.

[M3RK]

I know this is late but I had the same injury. Exactly the same. I waited too long to have it checked and had surgery and was told it was too late and that the tendon and muscle tissue was scarred if I can remember. I just wanna ask you hows your pec and have you been to that specialist pectoral sports doctor?
Its been a year and my pec still hurts and cant bench no were near my previous weight. I can't do dips nor flies.

****ing ****, man. My left side is ****ed. So much weaker and pain in my shoulder and pec cramps. I can't workout like this. My balance is ruined. I don't know why it doesn't look as obvious as others, but my left pec has like 15% of the strength the right side does. Maybe it is nerve damage or something in addition. No one was ever able to help. I even saw the doc in Boston not that long ago. He said he couldn't do anything because it atrophied too much. Depressing. ****ed my life up pretty bad.

Good luck. There are some people without surgery that have managed and buff dudes with Poland syndrome, but I guess I'm just a pussy. I can't do it. Physically and mentally exhausted from it.

[sbest80]

I am in the same boat as all of you! Can't lift nearly close to anything before my injury and it sucks! Thing was, I never got the pain or swelling when it happened. The pain occurred 2 days after lifting very heavy. I was in the gym for 2.5 hrs. and I thought that was why I was in pain. Little did I know that I tire my pec. Now my situation is that I can't afford surgery so I am going to hope that it will heal on its own. At first I could only bench the bar...could barely go a push-up at Crossfit but now I'm pressing 2-25lb plates for 6 reps, 3 sets. I optimistic that I'll heal, but all I hear is that surgery is the answer and you guys have been suffering for years? Thats crazy! Please anyone who knows of healing 100% without surgery, please speak up!
SB

[dbpaddler]

Not a big poster but just strained/tore my left pec yesterday and was doing some google searching. I'm actually in orthopedic sales and have seen quite a few soft tissue repairs around the shoulder. Also had a full labral tear on the same side about 7 years ago with surgery and about a 95% recovery. Got me back to paddling and racing at a fairly high level so I can't complain.

I teach Bodypump classes and went a little heavier on the chest track Thursday morning. Was a bit tight and sore on the left side Friday and Saturday. Have had that before and it hasn't been a big deal. Got asked to do this grit games competition last minute Saturday afternoon. Grit is Les Mills' answer to crossfit. So one of the exercises was plyo pushups with a bench, alternating side to side, one hand on the bench one on the floor. Was flying through the first five and on the sixth it felt like someone shot me with a small cannonball and something felt all squishy and moving around my chest to shoulder area with pain down my bicep. I shot right up looking for the person that hit me until I realized what had happened and added up the tightness to the exercise and realized what I probably did. The bicep tendon is still attached (no fun trying to fish that back up if that had happened), but my left pec now looks like a boob as it seems to have released from the top left side. Oddly, no bad bruising, just swelling.

I called one of my docs, and said he'd see me Monday at 8am and most likely order an MRI. For now I popped it in a sling, icing every few hours and taking Naprosyn/Aleve. Should know more tomorrow. Reminds me of my post op feeling after my shoulder repair. Aches and throbs like crazy. Thankfully the pain tolerance is pretty high. Never resorted to percs when I've had them prescribed. If you're trying to avoid them, try taking two extra strength tylenol and three to four motrin every 4-6hrs. For me it keeps things down to a dull enough throb and ache I'd much rather deal with than the side effects of the narcotics.

[Nitrogenetic]

****ing ****, man. My left side is ****ed. So much weaker and pain in my shoulder and pec cramps. I can't workout like this. My balance is ruined. I don't know why it doesn't look as obvious as others, but my left pec has like 15% of the strength the right side does. Maybe it is nerve damage or something in addition. No one was ever able to help. I even saw the doc in Boston not that long ago. He said he couldn't do anything because it atrophied too much. Depressing. ****ed my life up pretty bad.

Good luck. There are some people without surgery that have managed and buff dudes with Poland syndrome, but I guess I'm just a pussy. I can't do it. Physically and mentally exhausted from it.

i know that feel man...

[dbpaddler]

I think the big problem here was waiting one year after the injury to do anything about it. I went and searched through a lot of threads on various forums and seem to find a similar mindset. People downplay the severity of it. Oh it's just a strain. I'll take it easy for a bit. And things don't really get better. Then you wait to the point where the tear has scarred down and the muscle has atrophied a bit and you're pretty much never going to be 100%. Depending on the severity of the tear, physical therapy will only do so much. If you have a minor tear, treatments like PRP (spinning down your own blood to get a platelet rich concentrate that is injected to stimulate healing), stem cells or amniotic fluid can often promote healing when combined with physical therapy. But anything more severe and surgery is most likely the only option. Also depends on where the tear is, bone to tendon, tendon to muscle or in the belly of the muscle.

Bottom line is time is not your friend in getting this seen and taken care of. Very sorry to see things not going well for some.

[Conneuron]

Know this is a super old thread but I have the same injury. Did any of you ever get better?