Help with mysterious pec muscle atrophy

[F3D]

Experiencing something similar here with right sided pectoral atrophy. Pretty much cut off from sternal head... only clavicular left

https://forum.bodybuilding.com/showt...post1600985541

[wilddeuceeh]

Just wanted to keep this thread alive because it took me forever to find and it seems like there are others looking for answers. I'm currently 53 and in the last few years noticed a big gap in my chest. I can't say for sure when it first started, although I know I definitely didn't have it as a young adult (when I was working out all the time and posing in the mirror). The interesting thing is that my chest exercises (e.g. bench) have always been very weak and so I'm wondering if (a) there's a connection and (b) whether I've had whatever this is forever (maybe just not as bad) which affected my strength in chest exercises. My chest looks pretty much like Steiner's, a big horseshoe flat space between the chest muscles I do have. I've asked my doctor about it and he has no answers. He said there is no concern since it's not causing me pain or affecting mobility etc.

I do have some lipomas in my chest area and I wonder if that has affected the muscle growth.

If anyone has found any more information on this, including any way to address the issue, let me know!

[KierB]

Hi all, over the past 6 months I have got the exact same issue in my right pec. It has got exactly like the top image exposing the sternum bone.

The doctor seems to be clueless and has referred me to never specialist. I’m 21 and have trained for the best part of 4-5 year, then suddenly this happens. Want to keep this alive incase I get any answers for seems to be an undiagnosed injury. Frustrating!

[anotherworld]

Can it be hormonal? I might suggest getting a blood test done.

[umop3pisdn]

It's pretty devastating to the aesthetics, something all bodybuilders aim for. It's crazy that it happens gradually with no pain and no doctors or specialists can understand why. At this stage it seems the only way to avoid it from getting worse, if you have it, is to stop training chest completely?

Would be interested for those who suffer from this to list their chest exercises also. It could make sense that heavy dumbbell flies could cause snapping and retraction of the chest fibres attached to the sternum.

[KierB]

I did not even know this was a thing until it happened in the last 6 months!

My chest exercises would consist of bench presses, incline bench presses, dumbbell flies, dumbbell presses, dips, and cable variations. I have trained for give or take 5 years and had a real stunt when COVID was around, so I had no gym. This has happened on my return to the gym, and it's funny you mentioned I would fly heavy dumbbells, and I thought this could be the cause... I used to fly up to 26kg per dumbbell. I weigh around 78kg. Out of all the exercises, this seems the most likely. In the new year, I got into the habit of doing 100 press ups every other day for a good few months, and I have a feeling this could have something to do with it also. For now I have stopped training chest completely and train all other body parts with occasional swimming. I’ve also just started playing golf again and can feel my right pec (affected one) let’s say twinging at the top of the swing, like the fibers fluttering it’s hard to describe. Feels really strange.

I'm still waiting to see the nerve specialist next week to see if I can progress. Pain, as when I mention it to people, it’s only your chest, blah blah. As a gym goer, losing your pec is the worst! As I said, I’m 21 and willing to have surgery if possible, if anyone can diagnose it. I will keep this updated if anyone comes looking in the future. 

[umop3pisdn]

Do you have any before and after pics? Perhaps it's not as bad as you think. Either way I'd stop with the 100 press ups a day and give your chest time to recover after exercise. Also I'd go a lot lighter on the flies and keep to strict form.

I don't think there's any coming back from this injury once the damage is done. So your best bet is preservation if you're prone to it.

[KierB]

Thanks for the reply dude. I’m focusing on other body parts for now to try take my mind off it until I see some specialists. I’m also worried of this happening to my left side which is putting me off training chest. I’m just hoping there’s a possible fix… but if not I’ll just have to get over it! It’s a shame none of the other guys in this forum with the same issue are active… I’d be interested to see if they ever found a solution. Just can’t get my head around how I’ve happened to pick up what seems to be a very rare injury. On the bright side, at-least it’s not painful

I’ve tried to include some images that I have of the before and after but I don’t have enough posts to insert links… typical! For reference it looks just like the images on the first post of this forum. Sternum exposed, only most noticeable if the pec is tensed as it bunches up like steiners (wrestler).

Hopefully I can get some advice soon on wether to keep lifting on chest or not so I can proceed with what’s best.

[KierB]

Okay so I went to see a nerve specialist, who said from his initial diagnosis he does not think it is nerve related given normal function in right arm etc. He then referred me to shoulder surgeon (Common for pec tears). When I went in for that appointment he had a look and said he had only seen one case like this in his career… and advised me to just “carry on with your life” said there was no surgery available even if I had a scan confirming the tear. Said that there is no tendon etc to stitch the missing muscle back on over sternum. Not the best news given my chest is now f**ked at 22 years old. Thought I would leave this here if anyone comes across it in future all though very rare apparently! No pain still as of now and continuing as normal but maybe only 40% on chest workouts, probably never fly again.