Pinched nerve in neck and pec atrophy.Finally back in the gym lifting but need advice

[PistolPete33]

I've been plagued with a pinched nerve in my neck which has caused major issues with my strength. This has been going on for several months and I haven't been able to do any lifting until the past few weeks. I was seeing a chiropractor and still doing Martial Arts training but couldn't do any weight. Anyways, things are much better now and I'm back to lifting. When the pinched nerve was at its worst I couldn't even do any pressing motions. I could barely do pushups because of the weakness this caused. Now that things are getting better I can do bench presses and pressing motions again but I've gotten really weak with it. My right pectoral muscle has atrophied quite a bit and is soft to the touch. My left pec is solid.

I'm sure the lowered strength is a combination of the chest atrophy and the pinched nerve but I'm curious what you would recommend being back in the gym. Should I keep the pressing movements light and just focus on form while slowly adding weight back each week. Keep things moderate (this is what I've been doing) and just trying to feel the contractions etc. Or, should I just try to go as heavy as I can while still being safe?

I'm looking for things long-term so if my bench pressing has to suffer for the next few months it's not the end of the world so long as I'm making improvements.

Thanks in advance.

[PistolPete33]

Anyone???

[SidVicious77]

What do you mean by a pinched nerve in the neck? Do you have spondylitis or a prolapsed disc where the vertebrae are compressing the nerve or do you mean you have something like a trigger point/tight muscle that flares up?
Either way I'd recommend both a) exercising and stretching your neck from all four angles to strengthen it and b) focus on your form while benching to make sure you aren't straining your neck, even if it means keeping your weights lower than you'd like.
Also if it is spondylitis, maybe take some time off from the weights to get that sorted out.

[nafnlaus]

first of all i would like to warn you about chiros and their neck therapy, more and more deaths are being linked to their neck cracking, lawsuits are showing up globally for this cause.

have you ever had the neck brace which relives pressure of the neck? it might help you, ortheopedic surgeon might have some advice for therapy

[Spawned]

I had a compressed nerve caused by a herniated disc. It caused a serious reduction in strength and constant source of pain. I my neck fused and am starting my come back. Long road but feels so much better.