Help with mysterious pec muscle atrophy

[erock502]

Slowly over about 15 years my pec muscle as been receding in the medial area near my sternum. My ribcage shows where there was once muscle. I thought it could be a pinched nerve interfering with the connection. I went a neurologist and had the nerves tested they found nothing. I had a MRI of my neck nothing was abnormal I went to chiropractor he was mystified. Ive googled it and found very little and Im not sure what to even call it. Any help would be appreciated

I'm new to BB.com and posting in forums. Im hoping to connect with anyone that has advice or experience with this problem of mine.

Thank you!

3 pictures over 15 yrs attached

[JerseySeed]

Have you been losing strength in that pec as well or is it just visually shrinking in size?

[erock502]

Have you been losing strength in that pec as well or is it just visually shrinking in size?

So far it seems like the muscle is strong. Ive never had a strong bench press, Im using 65's on dumbell bench. I think my tricep is compensating.

[erock502]

Anybody?

[BetaGamma]

Its been a while since your post so I'm not sure if you will get this.

I too have been experiencing the same thing. Ping me back and I'll send you details of what seems to be the cause.

[craigzulus]

Its been a while since your post so I'm not sure if you will get this.

I too have been experiencing the same thing. Ping me back and I'll send you details of what seems to be the cause.

I have exactly the same problem except its a little worse than those pics.
I did have a pretty decent full chest but over the past 5 years or so,esp the last year its gotten worse.
From the sternal muscle on both pecs suffering atrophy and continuing to do so,the outta pec is fine and full on both pecs.
I cant find anything on the net that gives me any idea what could be the cause of this but its proper getting me down.
Any ideas please ?????????

[strangewings79]

Hi guys! So so relieved to finally after years of searching for a similar case, see that I am not alone. I have been training the best part of 20 years and when I started my chest was normal. the last 12 years my left pec has receded very similarly visually to how Erocks pics look. Mine is a little worse and its got to the point where people are noticing through my clothes and friends are laughing and I am VERY Very self conscious of it. I dont even feel comfortable bare chested in front of my gf. I went to the drs a few times and they all seem miffed. One suggested it is nerve damage and the nerves are literally wasting away. They were as confused as me. I can’t see how this can possible be fixed without some crazy surgery. It plays on my mind everyday and as its only getting worse I really need to find some kind of way to deal with it .Would love to hear if yo guys have had any luck finding out more info. I am registering at a new doctors today and will bring it up there and see if they can shed any light or theory on this seemingly very rare and bizarre case. Cheers!

[strangewings79]

Hello there! I commented on this thread earlier, would love to hear from you as I have the same condition and its horrible!

Its been a while since your post so I'm not sure if you will get this.

I too have been experiencing the same thing. Ping me back and I'll send you details of what seems to be the cause.

[Davidasutton]

It started with the left pectoral muscle and it has now affected the right. Almost all of my pectoral major is absent, leaving a large void in the center of my chest showing my ribs. This has progressed over the last 4 to 5 years with no trauma. No doctor can tell me what it is and I've had a MRI of my neck and chest with no findings.
I am still in search of an answer.

[HungHoang]

Yes I have the answer, I had this condition when I was 21 and now I'm 41 and my right pec has totally wasted away now, non-painfully which was quite odd.
I believe that it is caused by too much posing in the mirror where I held my breath and forced my chest out - almost daily. A piece of muscle is nothing more than a piece of protein tied at 2 ends, rather like an elastic band. Given the fact that I didn't give the myscle enough rest and my chest (the skeleton excluding muscle) increased from 36" to 42" probably didn't help. i.e. those elastic bands just gently went pop pop pop over the course of my life. But I don't weight train anymore, I do more football... I've gained some fat on my chest to fill out the cracks so it doesn't look too bad now. So my advice is to never overwork the muscle and rest often and eat to protect the muscle fibre... It's just an elastic band... any elastic band can snap...

[401Delta]

Yes I have the answer, I had this condition when I was 21 and now I'm 41 and my right pec has totally wasted away now, non-painfully which was quite odd.
I believe that it is caused by too much posing in the mirror where I held my breath and forced my chest out - almost daily. A piece of muscle is nothing more than a piece of protein tied at 2 ends, rather like an elastic band. Given the fact that I didn't give the myscle enough rest and my chest (the skeleton excluding muscle) increased from 36" to 42" probably didn't help. i.e. those elastic bands just gently went pop pop pop over the course of my life. But I don't weight train anymore, I do more football... I've gained some fat on my chest to fill out the cracks so it doesn't look too bad now. So my advice is to never overwork the muscle and rest often and eat to protect the muscle fibre... It's just an elastic band... any elastic band can snap...

The OP is experiencing atrophy, not a muscle tear or separation, so it is very highly unlikely that it is caused by posing in the mirror, etc. It does sound like a nerve issue, though, as a muscle fiber will experience complete atrophy if it doesn't ever get a signal to contract, which seems to be the issue in this case, since there was no record of pain/injury and it occured over a period of time.

[FunctionalFLEX]

It sounds like your proprioception could be off causing less muscle activation thus utilization of the pec during training. Have you tried any myfascial work on it? You could do some self techniques or see a specialist

[Ivymantled]

I can't post links because I haven't made 50 posts, but if you search on Youtube for a channel called Nick's Strength & Power and the word 'Steinerism', he has three posts discussing the condition, named after the wrestler Scott Steiner, whose chest has atrophied from the center outwards.

In one of the posts on this subject, a doctor with some experience in this area gives his opinion about the cause.

[Dr.Mabuse]

It looks like a detachment of the pectoralis major from the sternum. A muscle tear, thats slowly progressing over time. No pain and no swelling is involved. You can see the part of the muscle that still connects to the sternum and the retracted/torn parts of the muscle in the lower half of the pectoralis major.

The german bodybuilders Markus Ruhl and Matthias Botthof experience the the same problem. Unfortunately, there seems to be no solution for this problem.

The cause for the tear could be linked to tendinosis, where chronic overuse and insufficient rest leads in the long term to a change(degeneration) of the collagen structures.

[User8675309]

[Davidasutton]

Same muscle atrophy from center out. It started on left and now both sides.....

[Smokie315]

hi i believe im suffering from this issue.. could you help me out

[dan31huch]

I tore a muscle in my back (unsure which one because all my physio/orthopaedics keep saying it's different ones). I'm also experiencing some pectoral atrophy but mine is because it's getting no opposition from my back due to the tear (or possibly nerve damage who knows). If you've already investigated your chest and come up with nothing, have your specialist check your back and shoulder muscles. If they're wasting too, the damage might be else where.

[dan31huch]

On your pics your trapezius looks like it's atrophying also so it could be your back, who knows.

[knurl]

This appears to be degenerative muscular atrophy caused by peripheral neuropathy. The neuropathy appears to be caused by something caused Morgellons. Morgellons is unrecognized by the medical community and if a person were to claim it to a doctor the doctor would not be permitted to acknowledge it as an actual condition. The doctor would be required to follow what he has been taught and would consider your problem as the result of some other degenerative condition.

Morgellons appears to be a regulatory weapon designed by those of the weak and upper(hidden) class. It has been said to have been designed in recent years. There are videos all over the internet of snakelike fibers that resemble parasitic worms and of colored fibers typically red, white, and blue(likely no coincidence).

It causes mental disorder and has been classified as a delusional condition by the medical community. If you attempt to explain this to your doctor- whether he is a good one or not understand that he can state only what he is permitted to, not that he likely doubts what he has been taught, or he would no longer be permitted to practice it. That means that his common sense is permitted to go only as far as he is not personally liable, that means covered by his establishment and his license. If he were to diagnose you with something that he currently believes his establishment to have classified as a fictional and delusional condition, then it would be unlikely for him to receive cooperation and he could possibly lose his medical license- leaving you to simply find another doctor.

However this is also visible in Scott Steiner, The Undertaker, and others. Notice that Brock Lesnar has placed a tattoo in this area and Matt Hughes has always had a gap in this area also. I would suggest cooking all of your food to high temperatures, also to treat the muscle condition possibly Cryotherapy and maybe a TENS unit to revive the nerves in that area. You should look into this, it appears that cold damages or inactivates some of the intrusive 'fibers'.

The morgellons(system?) appears to be designed to create a profile of each person, tracking what you do every day and appears to rank people according to their comparison with one another. They(who might not be the government specifically) appear to be concealed in the modern age at least as much as the mafia in the 1940s. It does not appear to be necessarily exclusively an American problem but possibly an international one, designed to closely track and influence public opinion, designed for New World Order ideals. Ironically, Pro wrestlers appear to be the first to exhibit this condition blatantly. It is unclear why Professional Bodybuilders have not exhibited the same degenerative traits as the Pro Wrestlers recently have.

I will note that they do not want highly muscular male athletes involved in combat sports. Most importantly they do not want to be raising kids to that standard. I'm saying what it looks like I'm saying.

They can track how many repetitions you perform. In other words they want classifications for everyone they can claim. Such as "Real Men lift big". But what about athletes who lift big, and even exhibitionist athletes no less? Who can they claim? Everyone who has enough of a "signal" that is who. If you have enough of these 'fibers" which almost everyone has then they can find you and regulate you. (Athletes with weight classes often fast regularly keep this in mind. This appears to flush some of them out).

And what are these classifications? Things that they believe cannot be potentially out to harm them. Notice the recent emphasis on muscular women in combat sports along with what appears to be the almost overnight and unnatural effort to diminish the participation of what are viewed as muscular or "tough" male combat athletes. Notice anyone in the UFC that actually reminds you of Kevin Randleman, Tank Abbott, Phil Baroni, Mark Coleman, Ken Shamrock? No I dont think so. I don't see a coincidence here. It is obvious that the UFC is close to if not already scripting fights.

They are trying to influence public opinion, they are planning a gradual attack and attempting to obstruct by generational influence first, and starting by the attempted removal of any group that they believe that they cannot regulate once people understand what is going on. (And in the case of Randleman, I do believe that they can also cause heart attacks).

[evro7777]

Hi guys. I have the same problem I am gradually losing muscle mainly from the left chest and now noticed it's moving to the right one. I've noticed it the last 2 years after 15 years of training. I've searched a lot in the internet but can't find what is the real problem causes that and if there is a treatment. I normally have tight left trapezius and weaker left arm. I tried to strengthen my rotators with static isometric movements but nothing seems to be changing and the problem is prolonging. Please if anyone knows something about i would be grateful to you ☺👊

[evro7777]

Hi pal. I have the same problem and wondering if you manage to find out more about it?

[evro7777]

Hi pal. I have the same problem and wondering if you manage to find out more about it?

[S0Jack3d]

it seems long term lifting can result in a lot of negative effects. spinal issues, muscle degradation resulting in physical deformities, enlarged heart......


still better than being a fat ass tho

[richmaier2014]

Slowly over about 15 years my pec muscle as been receding in the medial area near my sternum. My ribcage shows where there was once muscle. I thought it could be a pinched nerve interfering with the connection. I went a neurologist and had the nerves tested they found nothing. I had a MRI of my neck nothing was abnormal I went to chiropractor he was mystified. Ive googled it and found very little and Im not sure what to even call it. Any help would be appreciated

I'm new to BB.com and posting in forums. Im hoping to connect with anyone that has advice or experience with this problem of mine.

Thank you!

3 pictures over 15 yrs attached

I've been lifting since the age of 14 and am now 51 and over the past 4 years have developed the same thing starting with the left pec and then both. Never any noticeable injury or pain associated with the chest or change in chest routine or diet. All other muscles are holding up well so it really is a mystery. I refuse to believe that is is just older age. Haven't consulted a physician yet but plan to. The first pic is from 2014 and the 2nd is from this past April.

[HungLikeJesus]

This is some heavy chit. And just wtf @ the government causing this theory.

[anonymous]

Wow that's crazy,and now I'm paranoid about getting older and acquiring this

Did any of you do a lot of chest supported rows? Could squashing the nerves have caused this?

[MmmWatermelon]

Dayum guys. Freaky chit. Is it genetic?

[bbnemesis]

I have similar end result, but I think whatever damage is potentially done to cause this was very early for me. I’ve never had much strength or size in my chest. I can really only feel the muscle contracting at the top (clavical) and have really nothing in the middle. It doesn’t look that obvious on me because I’ve never had the strength to build a solid chest to start with, but definitely notice the flat chest from the side.

Am interested to know if there is a way to bring the nerves/muscle back to life.

[Marc10101]

Slowly over about 15 years my pec muscle as been receding in the medial area near my sternum. My ribcage shows where there was once muscle. I thought it could be a pinched nerve interfering with the connection. I went a neurologist and had the nerves tested they found nothing. I had a MRI of my neck nothing was abnormal I went to chiropractor he was mystified. Ive googled it and found very little and Im not sure what to even call it. Any help would be appreciated

I'm new to BB.com and posting in forums. Im hoping to connect with anyone that has advice or experience with this problem of mine.

Thank you!

3 pictures over 15 yrs attached

I have the same problem. Did you ever find out what causes it?