Muscle Tears and Scar Tissue

[littlemack]

Was wondering if anyone has had experience with muscle or tendon ruptures and scar tissue. I tore my right pec about a year ago at the musculotendonous junction and the doc went in and reattached it. I've now got an egg size mass where the pec tendon inserts near the bicipital groove and it runs along the side of my arm. It doesn't bother me when lifting and is more aesthetic than anything. I've been doing a lot of manual labor/house remodeling work and when I come home at night that area of my arm is slightly red and warm to the touch. Its fine the next day and the inflammation goes away by the morning. Someone mentioned good experiences with A.R.T.? Is it possible to break up this kind of scar tissue?
Thanks!
-Mack

 

[Jake LaMotta]

littlemack, how long after your surgery were you sore in the arm for? I had my surgey 3 months ago and my bicep area is still sore when I do certain things. Not to mention every now and than I get sharp stabbing shooting pains in my bicep area. Is that normal for 3 months post op?

 

[TeamZ]

I tore my Achilles and it took 2 years for the swelling and lumps to go away after surgery, never had any pain just swelling, Now I tore both triceps and that was a different story, both were partial tears, the first one always hurt but I was tuff and worked through the pain for about a year and a half when it really started to hurt, went for an ultra sound and a big lump of scar tissue was hardened on the tendon, so I had surgery, when they went in, they found the scar tissue had calcified (turned to bone) I had a hunk of bone 1 1/2'' long 1'' wide and 1/2'' thick growing in my triceps tendon, they removed it and all is fine now, the doc said it was because I wouldn't back off and let it heal, so when my left tendon got a partial tear 6 months with out training and it's perfect, thank GOD I have one of the best surgeons around! Tris are fine toy cant even tell except for the scar on the right elbow, but my right calf is visibly smaller because the Achilles was a complete rupture, the tendon rolled up like a window shade!

Rest if you can if it hurts while working it STOP, if it is only lumpy and swollen it will take a while for the scare tissue to model back into form!

 

[mikeheavypecs]

Tricep Rupture

Hey TeamZ,
I had tricep reattachment surgery 4 months ago. Reading your reply made me wonder how would i know if my tendon scar tissue had calcified? I have a small fairly soft knot on my tricep tendon but my ortho surgeon says that my tricep is healing well. I am only up to 25 lbs for tricep pressdown (cables). I think more so it is mental as far as going up in weights. I am constantly worried that I will tear/detach/rupture it again. How was your recovery? did you lift more than 25 lbs in 4 monhts? Just want to know if my progress is behind or just about normal.....

Thanks man!
MikeHeavypecs

I tore my Achilles and it took 2 years for the swelling and lumps to go away after surgery, never had any pain just swelling, Now I tore both triceps and that was a different story, both were partial tears, the first one always hurt but I was tuff and worked through the pain for about a year and a half when it really started to hurt, went for an ultra sound and a big lump of scar tissue was hardened on the tendon, so I had surgery, when they went in, they found the scar tissue had calcified (turned to bone) I had a hunk of bone 1 1/2'' long 1'' wide and 1/2'' thick growing in my triceps tendon, they removed it and all is fine now, the doc said it was because I wouldn't back off and let it heal, so when my left tendon got a partial tear 6 months with out training and it's perfect, thank GOD I have one of the best surgeons around! Tris are fine toy cant even tell except for the scar on the right elbow, but my right calf is visibly smaller because the Achilles was a complete rupture, the tendon rolled up like a window shade!

Rest if you can if it hurts while working it STOP, if it is only lumpy and swollen it will take a while for the scare tissue to model back into form!

 

[TeamZ]

I was STUPID! I didn't take it easy when it hurt I popped a few more naproxen, It wasn't a complete tear just a partial, so I took it easy for about 2 months, then went at it, again young and stupid! Also it's hard not to indirectly use your Tris with any upper body work, had I been smart I would have stayed light for about 6 months kept my direct work sets to 2-3 and let the indirect work keep the triceps from atrophying!
with my Achilles after 3 months of PT I was ready to start slowly building back up in poundages, I was always worried about re injuring it but in the end it turned out stronger! listen to your Dr. go slow and light for at least 6 months and do allot of passive stretching, you'll be glad you did! As for the little knots I think thats normal I had them for 2 years my doc said it was the internal stitching and tissue growing over it, keep stretching SLOWLY that will help keep the hard scar tissue from forming!

Good luck!