Pec Major Rupture (Check out my injury)

[knucklehed]

Hey man

Here is what I know.... I ruptured my pec about a year ago. I wanted to get into surgery immediately but had to wait 10 days. I found a well qualified sports orthopedic surgeon who has had much experience with this type of injury having worked for both the Colorado Rockies and the Denver Broncos.

He stated this: It is best that tese types of ruptures repaired as quickly as possible to avoid shortening of the muscle and excessive development to scar tissue. This ensures the quickest recovery/least physical therapy etc. However he did say that he has performed very successful pec repairs beyond 6 months.
I cannot determine from the picture where the detachment took place. However it appears that it may be where the tendon inserts to the humorous. This would be best case, and would still be very repairable. I suggest you get an MRI and find a good surgeon to determine what options are really available.
Best of luck

KH

 

[Deepsea]

Here is what I know.... I ruptured my pec about a year ago. I wanted to get into surgery immediately but had to wait 10 days. I found a well qualified sports orthopedic surgeon who has had much experience with this type of injury having worked for both the Colorado Rockies and the Denver Broncos.

He stated this: It is best that tese types of ruptures repaired as quickly as possible to avoid shortening of the muscle and excessive development to scar tissue. This ensures the quickest recovery/least physical therapy etc. However he did say that he has performed very successful pec repairs beyond 6 months.
I cannot determine from the picture where the detachment took place. However it appears that it may be where the tendon inserts to the humorous. This would be best case, and would still be very repairable. I suggest you get an MRI and find a good surgeon to determine what options are really available.
Best of luck

KH

That's definately the best news I've heard lately. I live in Colorado so I would very much appreciate getting in touch with this orthopedic surgeon. Is there any way I could possibly get a name of the gentleman you are referring to.

 

[oldfella]

Deepsea, it has been a year! There really will be little that can be done. i do not give people false hope. You have waited too long. Sure they can attempt a reattachment but it would be a waste of money and time at this stage. One full year of having that pec sitting where it is and it has atrophyed beyond the point of stretching. Sorry bud but this is a fact. Our bodies can only go so far. Hell 2 weeks was too long to do something about it. You can still enjoy gym and sports. You will only be limited in some things. Make the most of what you have!! I need to ask you out of curiosity, why didn't you go and get this fixed when it happened?? And if a doctor told you when it happened that it couldn't be done then he should be sued for malpractice!

 

[Deepsea]

Refer to my first post with the picture. The doc originally told me it was probably just residual pain from a dislocation. At the time the swelling was bad and that's all that was said. I thought it was possible that it was just a dislocation because I had never felt one before. And as far as sueing the doctor for malpractice.. That can't happen because he was a military doctor and you can't sue them regardless of what happened. Even when I first found out that it was a pec major the doctors even at that point said it was not fixable. The doctors I went to sucked, that's pretty much all there is to it.

 

[knucklehed]

That's definately the best news I've heard lately. I live in Colorado so I would very much appreciate getting in touch with this orthopedic surgeon. Is there any way I could possibly get a name of the gentleman you are referring to.

You bet, here is his information:
I think you have a shot even though it has been a year. Give his office a call.


Dr. Michael Curtin Sports Medicine Specialist,
Intermountain Orthopedics
Boise, Idaho, 83706
208/383-0201

here is a short Bio I found:


Dr. Curtin earned his undergraduate degree from Yale University and his medical doctorate with honors from the University of Utah. He completed his orthopaedic surgery residency at the University of Utah and an orthopaedic sports medicine fellowship was completed at the Steadman-Hawkins clinic in Vail, Colorado.

Prior to joining Intermountain Orthopaedics, Dr. Curtin's orthopaedic practice was in Denver, Colorado where he served as the orthopaedic team physician for the Colorado Rockies baseball club and as a limited consultant to the Denver Broncos football team. His practice concentrates on the evaluation and treatment of athletic injuries of the shoulder, knee and elbow.

Dr. Curtin continues to serve as an orthopaedic consultant for the Colorado Rockies, despite the fact he has relocated his practice to Boise. In February, 2002, he acted as Director of Athletic Medical Services for Alpine Skiing, Snow Basin venue, for the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympic Games.

 

[Deepsea]

Thanks Kuncklehed

You're awsome Knucklehed. Thank you very much. This information is very very appreciated.

 

[Bio]

Good luck DeepSea! I hope this doc can get you fixed up and on your way!!

 

[lynx]

Oh that sucks. I hope there is something that can be done. Best to you on your fitness endeavors.

 

[gtj220]

It would still be of value in my opinion if he could get some measure of cosmetic work done, if it will never be fully functional at least it will look better and help with the obvious self image issue anyone would have with an injury like that. Good luck bro and keep us informed!!!!

 

[CrateBone]

Ruptured Pec tendon

Deapsea

I had the exact same injury in last Nov. Went to 2 differnet docs that weren't very familiar with the injury. I wasn't comfortable with the doc so I bailed out of the surgery the day before, because he told me that in some cases you can rehab it and gain some strength back. (other muscles would be recruited) Basically, for the last several months I've been working out light bench. Not over 135.

I just went to another doctor that I was referred too to see if it could still be fixed because it feels so weird when I'm lifting and my shoulder has been bothering me a bit. It really only looks deformed when I flex. He told me that I should have come sooner and that he's not sure how much benifit I'd get out of Surgery now, but that I should still be able to bench. he said there would be a 4-5 in scar too and said it would be real hard to find the tendon now, which is probably balled up under my nipple. He thought that I currently have a torn Labrum(shoulder) injury that was really preventing me from lifting and sent me for an MRI which I had on this past Tuesday. I have my follow up appointment this coming Monday 11-5. I'll keep you posted.

Anyway, that day, I went in and put 225Lbs on the bar just to see if I could do it. Surprisingly, my chest was able to handle it with out pain other then just the unusual feeling which I'm beginning to get used to. All along I've been afraid to even try it. Now, I have no plans to even try to go up in the 400 lbs where I was when I got injured, but i'll be happy if I can rep out with 225. Bench is the only lift that is really effected by my injury.

I'm really anxious to see what my new MRI looks like as I'm hoping he says he can fix it and I will regain almost full strength, but if not i'll be satisifed with No pain and 225lbs reps.

 

[Deepsea]

Deapsea

I had the exact same injury in last Nov. Went to 2 differnet docs that weren't very familiar with the injury. I wasn't comfortable with the doc so I bailed out of the surgery the day before, because he told me that in some cases you can rehab it and gain some strength back. (other muscles would be recruited) Basically, for the last several months I've been working out light bench. Not over 135.

I just went to another doctor that I was referred too to see if it could still be fixed because it feels so weird when I'm lifting and my shoulder has been bothering me a bit. It really only looks deformed when I flex. He told me that I should have come sooner and that he's not sure how much benifit I'd get out of Surgery now, but that I should still be able to bench. he said there would be a 4-5 in scar too and said it would be real hard to find the tendon now, which is probably balled up under my nipple. He thought that I currently have a torn Labrum(shoulder) injury that was really preventing me from lifting and sent me for an MRI which I had on this past Tuesday. I have my follow up appointment this coming Monday 11-5. I'll keep you posted.

Anyway, that day, I went in and put 225Lbs on the bar just to see if I could do it. Surprisingly, my chest was able to handle it with out pain other then just the unusual feeling which I'm beginning to get used to. All along I've been afraid to even try it. Now, I have no plans to even try to go up in the 400 lbs where I was when I got injured, but i'll be happy if I can rep out with 225. Bench is the only lift that is really effected by my injury.

I'm really anxious to see what my new MRI looks like as I'm hoping he says he can fix it and I will regain almost full strength, but if not i'll be satisifed with No pain and 225lbs reps.

Definately keep me posted bro. I wish you the best of luck with your injury.

 

[anaheim]

Im new to this board but Ive had a prob. similiar to yours.I ruptured my tricep last year,to make a very long story short I went thru seven docs before I could find someone to help me.Keep in mind that I WAS ALMOST 4 MONTHS POST INJURY by the time I found someone to help,well past the so-called window of opp. for a positive outcome on the surgery,which they say is six to seven weeks.The first doc was cool,very honest and told me it could be repaired, but he did didnt feel confident doing it himself.He referred me to specialist at rush who told me it wasnt ruptured at all just some nerve a little nerve damage he siad,WTF- nerve damage?I heard the fucker tear,and lets not forget the Xray report conf. total ruptured by no less then 3 radiologists that I was holding in my hand.After seeing more docs and getting even more pissed off,one doctor took one look siad thier was nothing anyone could do and walking off,a powerlifter friend of mine refered me to some docs who deal with athletes.I had to take a trip to ohio of all places but Im almost 5 months post-surg. and well on my way to a total recovery.One week out from my surgery I tore my medial head of the biceps while doing some light training they siad it was due to the imbalance in the muscles putting more strain on the bicep because it was compensating for the torn tricep.It gets even better
next while the doctors are probing my bicep with mini cam they notice some holes in my rotator cuff so in the end I had all in one surgery my tricep repaired my bicep repaired and my rotator cuff repaired!
Get it repaired,their are people out their to help you! I had three surgeons work on me all at once and they did a unbelievible job.I know what you are going thru and it fucking sucks.

 

[K1]

I would definitely get some other opinions from competent surgeons.

I agree......

 

[CrateBone]

MRI & Pec Tear update

MRI showed that I had significant damage to my shoulder as well as my Pectoral Tendon being balled up and located down under my nipple. He said that it also looked like my bicep tendon was not sitting in the groove it should be.

He said that he would scope my shoulder and try to clean it up, but that he might end up having to go in from the front. (open surgury) At which point he will also look to see if he can find the Pec tendon without to much trouble.

He said that he could fix the pec tendon, but that he honestly felt that it was not worth the money and Rehab for what I'd gain back. Plus, he said that it would be so tight at that point, I'd probably tear it away again. He said that I should be able to build the strength back gradually regardless of getting it fixed or not as other muscles would be recruited to do the work. If I was concerned about the look, then he suggested I get an opinion from a Plastic surgen as well. He told me that he has done it for a previous NFL player that insisted on it (10 mo later) and took a piece for a tendon in the guys thigh and made the Pec tendon longer before attaching it, but said that the additional gain would still be minimal plus he now has a 4-5in scar.

I'm scheduling the surgery on my shoulder for the first week in February. With the hope that once he gets in there he realizes that he can fix it easier then expected. it looks like it is going to cost approx $10,000 -12,000 total including all costs plus 6-8 weeks of rehab. My insurance pays 80% so it still costs some money. I'm 34 now and think I shouldn't let these types of nagging injuries go on any longer. There getting tough to ignore....

 

[Deepsea]

MRI showed that I had significant damage to my shoulder as well as my Pectoral Tendon being balled up and located down under my nipple. He said that it also looked like my bicep tendon was not sitting in the groove it should be.

He said that he would scope my shoulder and try to clean it up, but that he might end up having to go in from the front. (open surgury) At which point he will also look to see if he can find the Pec tendon without to much trouble.

He said that he could fix the pec tendon, but that he honestly felt that it was not worth the money and Rehab for what I'd gain back. Plus, he said that it would be so tight at that point, I'd probably tear it away again. He said that I should be able to build the strength back gradually regardless of getting it fixed or not as other muscles would be recruited to do the work. If I was concerned about the look, then he suggested I get an opinion from a Plastic surgen as well. He told me that he has done it for a previous NFL player that insisted on it (10 mo later) and took a piece for a tendon in the guys thigh and made the Pec tendon longer before attaching it, but said that the additional gain would still be minimal plus he now has a 4-5in scar.

I'm scheduling the surgery on my shoulder for the first week in February. With the hope that once he gets in there he realizes that he can fix it easier then expected. it looks like it is going to cost approx $10,000 -12,000 total including all costs plus 6-8 weeks of rehab. My insurance pays 80% so it still costs some money. I'm 34 now and think I shouldn't let these types of nagging injuries go on any longer. There getting tough to ignore....

Keep me informed on how it goes bro. I'm curious to see how it turns out for you. I'm only 26 and already getting tired of having to deal with this injury. Good luck to you and please keep me posted.

 

[Deepsea]

After 5 years of being told that my chest could not be fixed I finally was able to find a competent doctor to take on the challenge. My pec major had completely ruptured in an accident back in Aug 2003. Since then I had been lifting everything but chest due to the injury. I was able to do some light lifts that were controlled like machine bench, but nothing too serious. The reason that doctors said they could not fix it was because of the elasticity lost since the injury. Even if operated on, I was told that the pec major would not stretch back out to the length that it needed to, in order to reconnect it to my shoulder. At Steadmans Hawkins Clinic in Vail I finally found someone willing to attempt the repair. I was given an achilles tendon from a doner in place of my tendon that was injured. The pec major was unrolled as much as it could be, and then attached to the achilles, which was attached to my shoulder with 3 permanent titanium fully threaded screws. The doc currently has me in a sling for the next 6-8 weeks and then 3 months of physical therapy, but I'm confident that the strength will be much better than it was before. I can't wait to get back into the gym, so that I can start strengthening my chest again. It will probably be a little while but I will post before and after pictures of my repair. Just thought that I would share the news. P.S. You guys have to forgive me if this doesn't make complete sense the doctors have me on oxycodone and oxyconton and I feel a bit loopy.

 

[Unholy]

I think it is awesome that you found a doc willing to take on the task. Take it easy and be careful. Best of luck with recovery!

 

[Razer]

Good luck Deepsea..

Glad to hear you found someone to take on the task. Seems they know what they are doing with the achilles tendon and all. I too would have had to have something done, my wife would have gotten envious of my new titty!

 

[Sigmund Roid]

Deapsea, I'd like an update when you are ready.

Your case is very interesting to all of us who train seriously.

Thank you.

 

[thebrick]

Amazing story

Deepsea, I am very, very glad you found a doctor willing to tackle this. Keep focused on the future during these uncomfortable days and PT. I can identify with being immobilized for an extended period of time. Please give us updates… amazing story