Tore Pec/ Need Advice

[Nat]

Hey brothers,

Need some help! I am not to happy right now!

Was making some of my best gains ever during my bulking periond and was at 260 about 10%bf with my next show around November and today I tore my pec.

I cant explain how this feels! Its is like all the hard work is gone with just one mistake in the gym. Just want to cry!

Anyway I wanted to ask you guys a few questions and any advice/help/encouragement would be appreciated.

1. How long does it take to heal from something like this after surgery?
Anyone with any experience with this kind of injury?

2. I was in the middle of a cycle how would you guys recommend coming off?
Just normal PCT or taper down, any advice would be helpful.

3. I was thinking about still trying to train legs or whatever I can, do you guys have any training recommendations considering this kind of injury?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Hope these questions dont sound to stupid just need to talk to other brother who understand the discouragement of such an injury.

And I will be back!!

Peace guys

 

[upeccmi]

I feel for ya....
I partially tore my pec many times over the years. I am assuming you fully tore it and it rolled up, if so see your Dr ASAP and insist on the surgery, it won't be the same if you don't. I have some partial indentions in both pecs when I flex but not too bad (my competition days are over so no biggie). I am getting over a broken ankle (7 months ago) and am just starting to train legs again (it was real bad). Anyway, if you only partially tore it and then you will be lucky and use the experience to lighten up the weights and "feel" the workout more. I use to do sets with 525 lbs years ago, now much much lighter and higher reps and more strict and at 41 I am still growing.
I would say go to the doctor, see what they say and if you need surgery, then start PCT then, if no surgery, depending on the severity and your age I would just take a couple weeks off (wait until you are fully healed)
Good Luck!

 

[Nat]

I feel for ya....
I partially tore my pec many times over the years. I am assuming you fully tore it and it rolled up, if so see your Dr ASAP and insist on the surgery, it won't be the same if you don't. I have some partial indentions in both pecs when I flex but not too bad (my competition days are over so no biggie). I am getting over a broken ankle (7 months ago) and am just starting to train legs again (it was real bad). Anyway, if you only partially tore it and then you will be lucky and use the experience to lighten up the weights and "feel" the workout more. I use to do sets with 525 lbs years ago, now much much lighter and higher reps and more strict and at 41 I am still growing.
I would say go to the doctor, see what they say and if you need surgery, then start PCT then, if no surgery, depending on the severity and your age I would just take a couple weeks off (wait until you are fully healed)
Good Luck!

Thanks for the response bro. I will be seeing my specialist tommorrow. I am not sure to what degree I tore it, but I know I tore something. There are some lumps on the top left of my pec and it looks like something happen to the bi pec tie in. Will know more tommorrow. But it sounds like from what you said that if it is a partial tear you can be back in a few weeks (man I hope that is the case). Anyway thanks alot for your reply it means alot right now!

 

[Ashop]

Hey brothers,

Need some help! I am not to happy right now!

Was making some of my best gains ever during my bulking periond and was at 260 about 10%bf with my next show around November and today I tore my pec.

I cant explain how this feels! Its is like all the hard work is gone with just one mistake in the gym. Just want to cry!

Anyway I wanted to ask you guys a few questions and any advice/help/encouragement would be appreciated.

1. How long does it take to heal from something like this after surgery?
Anyone with any experience with this kind of injury?

2. I was in the middle of a cycle how would you guys recommend coming off?
Just normal PCT or taper down, any advice would be helpful.

3. I was thinking about still trying to train legs or whatever I can, do you guys have any training recommendations considering this kind of injury?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Hope these questions dont sound to stupid just need to talk to other brother who understand the discouragement of such an injury.

And I will be back!!

Peace guys

see a surgeon and have it repaired.

 

[Nat]

see a surgeon and have it repaired.

Thanks Alin! I am going to have the surgery as soon as possible.

Means alot coming from one of my heroes on this board!

Peace

 

[Force245]

recovery is dependant on many factors.... how bad was the tear [minor or complete], where the tear occurred, tendon from bone, muscle from tendon, or muscle from muscle. Also how your recovery ability is.

as far as the cycle, can't help you, but common sense would say to pct off and live to fight another day. you will recover and come back.

I have had a major tear, muscle from muscle near the tendon insert [worst place in my opinion] my recovery was nearly 9 months, but it still affects me mentally today. the shape also sucks..

I have had two minor tears which only took about a month to recover from.

See your specialist, have an MRI, and I wish you the best and hopefully it is something minor. How is your bruising and swelling.

In this case I would hope for the best, but expect the worst.

 

[knucklehed]

Ouch!

I tore mine muscle from tendon, had surgery 9 days after, and 16 weeks until released to begin light lifting. It has been almost 2 years now. I came out pretty well, but have fairly noticable deformity when lfexed. I've got most of my functional strenght back, but no longer do heavy benching. After 3months of training i was able to handle 100lbs dumbells on flat and incline bench comfortably but wont go heavier.
Good luck

 

[Nat]

I am getting ready to go see the specialist this morning. Thanks for the replies
guys.

As of now I have a little black and blue bruise on my inner bicep pec tie in.
Not to big but just enough to know something is wrong. My pec is also a little swollen. Looks like something is tore in my inner bi because I have a bit of deformity there. I felt it and press up against it but couldnt feel anything.

Well as soon as I know anything I will let you guys know

Peace

 

[BrooklynBB]

Hope you get better quick Nat.

How exactly did you tear it?

 

[Nat]

Just found out it was a partial tear! Good news!

I learned a great deal from this experience. I will never take my lifting
lightly again. Guys it is simply not worth the risk! Do everything right with
good form and make sure you all warmed up.

I pulled my pec because I was being an idiot. I took 2 weeks off because of the flu bug that was going around and was eating well and gained about 5lbs on my off time.

Felt really good and thought I would really push myself in the gym. I figured all my muscles would be replemished and I would be as stong as heck.

Well I was strong but my body wasnt ready for it. On my fourth set of benth press with 405 I felt something tear around rep 5 at the bottom of the movement. After doing some reading this sounds like a very common thing.

This left me a big scare and believe me I will never take my lifting for granted again.

Peace

 

[muscledoc1]

see a surgeon and have it repaired.

NOT ONLY THAT...I HAD IT TORE(75%),3-YEARS AGO HAD A SURGERY TO REPAIR IT.NOW....MAKE SURE THAT THE SURGEON WHO IS DOING IT DID THAT PROCEDURE BEFORE A FEW TIMES!!!!!-NOT ALL ORTHOPEDIC SURGEONS DEALT WITH THAT TYPE OF INJURY.DID YOU TEAR IT FROM THE MUSCLE?OR IT SNAPED?(TENDON).EITHER WAY,THE BEST RESULTS FOR A GOOD REPAIR IS IF YOU DO IT ASAP!!!(IN THE NEXT WEEK OR TWO,JUST TALK TO THE SURGEON AND EXPLAIN TO HIM THAT YOU NEED IT DONE ASAP BECAUSE ITS YOUR CAREER,AND YOU DONT WANT TO WAIT MUCH LONGER),IM SURE ITS ALL BRUISED SO JUST ICE IT FOR NOW,I KNOW HOW YOU FEEL(KEEP HEARING THAT TEARING NOISE IN YOUR HEAD...THE MOST HORRIBLE FEELING I HAD,IM REALY SORRY)-BUT IN THE LONG RUN,IF THE SURGERY WENT WELL WITH A GOOD REPAIR-YOU'LL BE BACK TO WHERE YOU WERE NOW IN A YEAR AT THE MOST.AS FAR AS AAS,PCT(HCG,NOLVA...),AFTER THE SURGERY(A MONTH OR SO AFTER)-DO SOME GH ED,IT HELPS A TON!!!-GOOD LUCK AND KEEP US INFORMED.

 

[muscledoc1]

Just found out it was a partial tear! Good news!

I learned a great deal from this experience. I will never take my lifting
lightly again. Guys it is simply not worth the risk! Do everything right with
good form and make sure you all warmed up.

I pulled my pec because I was being an idiot. I took 2 weeks off because of the flu bug that was going around and was eating well and gained about 5lbs on my off time.

Felt really good and thought I would really push myself in the gym. I figured all my muscles would be replemished and I would be as stong as heck.

Well I was strong but my body wasnt ready for it. On my fourth set of benth press with 405 I felt something tear around rep 5 at the bottom of the movement. After doing some reading this sounds like a very common thing.

This left me a big scare and believe me I will never take my lifting for granted again.

Peace

OH..OK,I SHOULD HAVE READ THE WHOLE THREAD I GUESS....WELL THAT IS GREAT NEWS,JUST A VERY GOOD LESSON TO LISTEN TO OUR BODY.

 

[inoverdrive]

Hope you get better soon.

 

[ironserenity]

What a Relief!​

I'm so glad to hear that it is just a partial tear. I did this last year multiple times because I was being an idiot and not letting it heal. Hurt like an absolute bitch when it happened, turned black and blue for 1.5 wks, tghen started to lighten up. Don't be fooled by feeling okay, regardless, stay away from bench for a while! It might be time to utilize the floor press technique so you don't have this problem in the future! Wishing you a speedy recovery bro!​

 

[thebrick]

Nat... glad to hear it wasn't as bad as what could have been! I tell you, it only takes something like this to let you know that when we push too hard, sometimes bad things can happen and set us back for a long time. Speaking from my own experience, our determination in the gym can be our worse enemy. These days I am focusing more on the mind/muscle connection instead of just pushing more and more weight. I have been getting some great workouts using that approach too.

 

[James]

Flat bench is the devil.

Sorry to hear about this Nat... I wish you a speedy recovery, you'll be back lifting again in no time.

 

[lestatgear]

Sounds like we're going through the same thing. I tore mine about 7 weeks ago. Luckily, it was a partial as well. Saw the specialist, had an MRI, all that stuff. Doc told me to rest it for 4-6 weeks and then 6 weeks of working back up very slowly. I did it the same way you did. I had the flu for like 2 1/2 weeks. First day back, I worked up to 380 lbs. on the bench and heard the tear on the first rep. Had the black and blue, etc.

I took off for 5 weeks and am now in my second week back. My first day back I benched 115 and did 135 this week. I will continue to work up chest weights and sets gradually over the next additional 4 weeks. Also, i dropped all my weights for all upper body parts in half and am working up gradually as well. I didn't want to strain it while doing back, shldrs, etc. either.

So far, it's feeling good. I actually have to force myself to hold back.

 

[Nat]

Thanks for all the responses it is much appreciated.

This is what makes this forum the best!
Not only are we like family but we all relate to each
other.

Anyway I am happy to take off a couple months instead
of a year. I am now hoping to get right back on schedule when
I am healed and hopefully I will be ready in Decemeber.

Thanks again guys!

Peace

 

[Force245]

I am glad to hear that it is only a minor tear. From experience, during your recovery, go get lots of deep tissue massages to break up any scar tissue and you will come back great after all is said and done. About one a week, yes it will get expensive, and hurt like freaking hell, but it will be worth it. I ignored this advice and it took a long time to heal and recover. get rid of the scar tissue and heal faster.