Pulled a chest muscle today

[Josh]

Kinda bummed out over it because I couldn't do much after it happened. Was doing bench press, and got a couple good sets out after my warm up. Then went for a third set, and on the way down on the first rep, it really pulled. It didn't hurt to push it back up, but anything that tugged on it afterwards was bad news.

I don't know what exact muscle it is, but it seems to be almost along the side of left half of my chest. Almost along the ribs. But if I pull or twist my neck around certain ways, I can feel it tug down there too. Flexing my pecs doesn't have any affect on it, it's only when it's pulled. Also if I apply a lot of pressure to it, it will hurt (eg: lay down on my belly with chest pressing into a bench or floor, or preacher bench with chest pressing into the bench.)

I am just wondering what you all do in this situation. Should I take tomorrow off completely? I was able to get in some triceps after it happened today without affecting it, and some legs (figured I'd do something while my room mate was finishing up.) I have a feeling I should probably just let everything rest, but it's hard to accept that I don't get to do deadlifts tomorrow if that's the case. I guess I really won't know until I see how it feels tomorrow, but I just wanted to check in with you guys to see what your experiences were like. Is there a certain amount of time I should let pass before I try working that area again to be safe, or do you just go by how it feels?

Thanks,
Josh

[Hatebreed]

Sounds like your serratus or intercoastal muscles, I would try some light lifts on your next workout, if there is ANY sign of pain I would take a week break or at least work other muscle groups.

I once hurt my wrist and worked through it, cost me two months of bench presses, although I could still do curls and extensions. I would have been better off with a week break and having gotten back on the horse shortly thereafter.

[Josh]

Thanks, Hatebreed. Unfortunately, I don't think I'll be working out at all today. It feels a bit worse this morning.

[gustavo77]

Thanks, Hatebreed. Unfortunately, I don't think I'll be working out at all today. It feels a bit worse this morning.

Rest bro...don't f**k it up more...

[AlladdinSane]

Ditto. Do not train for a bit. Go to a good chiro or some other qualified ART specialist.

[Josh]

I am feeling a little concerned about this injury today. It was getting slightly better each day all last week, but then when I woke up today it ended up being worse than ever. Worse than the first and second day of last week even. I just woke up with it. If I take a deep cough or a sneeze, it's extremely painful. If I take a deep breath with normal posture, it hurts on the inhale once it gets deep enough. If I slump over so there is no pulling on my chest whatsoever, I can inhale all the way without feeling any pain. It's all over my pec now too instead of just in the serratus anterior region. If my pec is in a relaxed state, I can massage it pretty vigorously without causing any pain. I am wondering if it's possible that I injured something other than a muscle.

I was a minor hypochondriac many years ago, so of course I've been looking all over online trying to make sure I don't have things like a collapsed lung or pleurisy so I don't end up worrying myself into a trip to the ER for an x-ray to make sure. I have just noticed now that if I give myself a strict upright posture and forcefully inhale deep through the pain, I can get past it to a point where the pain subsides and I can inhale just a little bit more. Then I exhale, and hit that pain point again (though it's not as strong as on the inhale,) then it goes away once I exhale more.

Not really sure what I'm trying to say with all this. Just thinking out loud, I guess. Do you guys have any advice for me? I'm wondering if I should just keep resting it or go see a doctor.

Thanks,
Josh

[Hatebreed]

Getting worse before its getting better? Get to the doctor asap.

[AlladdinSane]

Sounds like it could be as simple as having a rib out of place. It's happened to me before with a similar description as
Then went for a third set, and on the way down on the first rep, it really pulled. It didn't hurt to push it back up, but anything that tugged on it afterwards was bad news.
And I can see sleeping in a bad position aggravating an out of whack rib more than a f'ed up muscle.

I went to my chiro (he's kinda like God, but does a lot more to help) and he knew right away what was up and adjusted me. Felt great immediately.

Just a thought...

[St]

Go see a RMT for some active release,or some deep tissue massage.

[Josh]

I've just been continuing to rest it for now to see what happens. It's gotten much better over the last couple days. Doesn't have me worried anymore. Still gives a nice sharp shot of pain if I sneeze, but that's only once or twice a day. I'm expecting to be in pretty good shape tomorrow. Might even go in today to at least work on some legs and triceps or something.

[Josh]

Okay, so it's been 3 weeks since this first happened now. The last week or so, the pain's been almost completely gone, but there has just been a small amount left that won't subside constantly reminding me that I hurt it. It's not in my chest at all anymore. Doesn't hurt when I sneeze. Just a bit along the side close to my back. So close that I get confused sometimes and think it's in my lat, but I'm pretty sure that's just me getting confused.

I tried some bench pressing on Friday, and didn't go past 115. I took it really slow. I think I could have done more, but I had this mental block worrying me that I would pull it again or make it worse. It's still just the same though. I did feel the exact spot "flashing red" in my mind while doing the downward movement of the bench press warning me to be careful. It doesn't seem to be affecting anything else anymore. I still dead lifted 185, and was doing lat pull downs, barbell preachers, and a bunch of other things at my normal weights.

So I'm not in any chronic pain or anything. I'm just wondering what I should be doing with it at this point. Do you guys still think I need to go to an RMT or anything else like that? Should I rest it more? Should I just keep getting back into it? Is working it what it needs? I found the nicest feeling I've had on it is doing a lat pull down with that smaller triangular shaped bar. The kind done in this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoTHosQO80s ... when I let it go back up, and I get that stretchat the top, it pulls that sore muscle in a nice way and feels good.

I guess being new to all of this, I tend to get impatient, and think my body should be healing faster. So I'm just wondering if it's normal to take this long for it to feel totally normal again.

Thanks,
Josh

[big_luse]

Im gona bet that you strained/partially tore your pec minor. Does it hurt to pull your should forward and down? Keep in mind that as some muscles respond to injury by weakening, phyisologically the pecs respond to trauma via shortening. Before you start going hard again a few sessions of deep tissue massage, some stretching, and maybe even a few days in the pool would probably be a good idea. Before benching even maybe try girlie style pushups @ inclines, declines, and flats nice a gently just to get some blood going back into the area and to keep the nerves awake.

If it sounds like I know alot about this subject it because I do- I wrecked my pec and tried to trained through it for about 6 months and basically turned my chest into a mound of dennervated scar tissue. Stay patient ... a few extra weeks staying away from chest excersises is a small price to pay in the big picture. KEep the tris and shoulders active though, so when you go back to training they are capable of picking up the slack to protect the pec to begin with.

[St]

I will say this again,when you go get a massage form a RMT you will be in the gym the next day,and just as strong,fuk this bed rest crap,spent 45.00 for half hours see what they say.

[Josh]

I will say this again,when you go get a massage form a RMT you will be in the gym the next day,and just as strong,fuk this bed rest crap,spent 45.00 for half hours see what they say.

I'm gonna do it!