A set back? Sucks getting old

[Herman Munster]

I know this is an injury rant and should be posted elsewhere, I’m not really looking for a reason or solution – just looking to vent. I finally get things in order and feeling great; my AI dosing is dialed in, at the advice of people here I switched to TRT @ 2x EW (love it), I just received a batch of India’s finest HCG and I am hitting the gym 4-5 days a week with a mix of cardio and weight training. I am losing weight, gaining strength and looking forward to the upcoming softball season (Softball – yes I am middle aged).

AND THEN TODAY!!

I was on my 3rd warm up set on the smith machine flat bench when I felt three quick and sharp tears/strains/pops in my right peck. The pain is high and along the outer portion where it connects under the arm pit area. The whole area is swollen, painful to touch and cramping like a mutha, no bruising yet, I suspect it is on the way. I guess we’ll see what tomorrow brings; I have no idea if it is completely torn (surgery) or just a bad strain/partial. I have been icing it and hoping for the best.
Anyway; I bitch about doing cardio – flat out hate it, time to love it, this should advance my BF% loss. DAMN!
Thanks for listening.

[HRTstudent]

Good luck man... take it slow on the recovery, whatever it may be from.

[KZRSOIZE]

Speedy and safe recovery....

[lovbyts]

That sucks and I fully understand. Setbacks suck. Ive been nursing and trying to get over a shoulder injury for a good 9 months now. Hopefully yours is just a strain and not a tear since you were still warming up. Keep us updated

[yannick35]

10 years for me...... but getting a lot better now

[zaggahamma]

sorry to hear bro

get advanced on your cardio have movies and music and you'll breeze thru it

[SEOINAGE]

That sucks and I fully understand. Setbacks suck. Ive been nursing and trying to get over a shoulder injury for a good 9 months now. Hopefully yours is just a strain and not a tear since you were still warming up. Keep us updated

Yeah lets hope this is the case. Crazy how you can hurt yourself on a warm up or doing something considerably minor, I injured my back on warm ups a long time ago, but luckily it wasn't major. Ice is your friend, but sure you knew that.

[APIs]

Welcome to middle age lol. Our muscle fibers are just not as flexible anymore. Feel the area to see if there's any indentation in the muscle/conective tissue. That will tell if you've actually torn any muscle fibers. It's likely just a pull or slight tearing of surface fibers. If it was a complete tear, you would have known it. The pain would have been awful followed by intense bruising of the area. I have the same problem with my left pec. I pulled mine the last two times I've maxed on flat bench. I've faced the fact that I need to get a bench shirt for any benching over 350 now ;-(. Would suggest you start a regimen of Advil (Ibuprofen) for seven days. I take two 400 mg doses per day for a straight 7 days to help with inflamation. I then stay away from benching for at least 2 weeks & then work back into it gradually. Good luck!

[doc w]

If u are at all convinced I have torn pec I would get it checked out. Of u get out longer than 6 weeks it may not be repairable

[Herman Munster]

At this point I am thinking it is a minor tear/strain, there is slight bruising at the Bicep but that it is minimal. I don't feel any indentations and or see any obvious voids. My only reference to pain and bruising from a muscle tear was a Bicep tear a few years back, that required surgery, the bruising was from wrist to shoulder - pretty dramatic. With this not so much, I do plan on getting it checked out, might be 2-3 weeks, I am having health insurance issues.

Thanks all for the responses and advice.

[brazey]

Herman, how long have you been doing benches on a smith machine? IMO that is not a good exercise unless you are just doing a lockout/partial. For a full range of motion though it keeps you from using your normal strength curve, setting you up for injuries.

[Herman Munster]

That's a real good point, the answer is just recently, the last few weeks. My new gym does not have a flat bench/power rack or straight bar. Now that you mention it and I think back on it, I do remember the bar landed high on my chest, well above my nipple line. But it was a relatively light weight, I decided to just push through it with intentions of adjusting my position next set.

This is even more frustrating - I know better than that.

Thanks

[SEOINAGE]

That's a real good point, the answer is just recently, the last few weeks. My new gym does not have a flat bench/power rack or straight bar. Now that you mention it and I think back on it, I do remember the bar landed high on my chest, well above my nipple line. But it was a relatively light weight, I decided to just push through it with intentions of adjusting my position next set.

This is even more frustrating - I know better than that.

Thanks

WOAH get a new gym.

[Herman Munster]

i travel a bit for work (domestic) this gym is a chain that reciprocates between each site, I can stop at lunch, during my travels etc.. You sacrifice for convenience

[bass]

man i feel your pain, it sucks getting old! if its swelling up most likely its a muscle tear, lets hope thats what it is. wishing you a speedy recovery bro.

[hankdiesel]

i travel a bit for work (domestic) this gym is a chain that reciprocates between each site, I can stop at lunch, during my travels etc.. You sacrifice for convenience

got to be planet fitness

[JD250]

a gym without a flat bench? Go easy bro, get it checked out, I've learned the hard way what happens when your too "tough" to go get an injury checked out, take care of yourself.

[Herman Munster]

Is planet fitness and intend on seeing the doc, need to wait until my insurance is resolved. Pic is 3 days from initial event.