Have you been doing any ring dips/muscle ups/CF-style burpees in training recently?
Member
Hurt myself benching
Rip, this literally happened about 40 minutes ago, and I have no idea if it is serious or something that will fade in a couple of days. I have included a picture with some labels because I know it is important to be precise: http://i.imgur.com/bxIqY.jpg. Sorry that this is long, but I didn’t want to leave anything out.
I’m at the gym doing my TM Intensity Day…finished squatting, and get started on the bench press. I was attempting a PR triple at 265 (I missed the 3rd rep last week). Coming out of the bottom of the first rep (which didn’t seem all too difficult, and I think I had the strength for two more), I felt an abrupt “snap” in my upper arm, labeled exhibit “A” on my shitty picture. I don’t think my form was any different than normal, but I suppose the bar could have been an inch or two higher up on my chest. Anyway, I was able to get the weight up, paused for about 5 seconds at the top to see if the pain would fade, and it didn’t, so I re-racked the bar. I quickly massaged it for about five minutes to see if the pain would subside, but it didn’t, so I packed up my bag and headed home because I’ve tried to do too much with injuries before and REALLY regretted it.
So about 20 minutes after it all happened, I had the ice pack under my arm. Driving home, it was uncomfortable, but not throbbing or anything. As I move my arm into the bottom of the bench position (which I assume is “stretching” the area), the pain increases significantly...the pain also spreads a bit to the upper/outer pec area and lower down on my arm (both labeled “B”). I’m so concerned just because the “snap” happened all of a sudden, which made it feel like it may have been a tendon issue or something…but, really, I have no idea what kind of injury this is. I’d really appreciate any advice you can give me.
TMPHBITEU
Have you been doing any ring dips/muscle ups/CF-style burpees in training recently?
Member
None of the above. I did dips until about 6 months ago, but stopped doing them due to a deep pain in my stern that they were causing for some reason. Now, my only push work is benching, pressing, and a few sets of tricep assistance per week (which is more like isolation work).Originally Posted by Mark Rippetoe
It is now 12 hours later...I'm almost positive that the initial pain was to my coracobrachialis, but the pain is more in the pec minor area now. It was not discolored this morning.
TMPHBITEU
Just see how it develops over the next couple of days, and if it does not resolve quickly, you may need a diagnosis.
Member
It has now been just over 24 hours. There is no discoloration. The pain is at about the same level it was at this morning, which is worse than it was in the couple hours following the actual injury last night...it has gotten particularly worse along the upper pec minor. This is not encouraging.
I'm sure you recommend that I continue icing it for the next couple of days, but would you suggest using your ibuprofen protocol of 800 mg, 4-5 times per day?
Also, I figured on waiting until until Thursday or so to assess the damage and potential make appointment...1) do you think it could get worse if I wait this long (3 days) and 2) I really don't even know who I should be making the appointment with, since just talking to my primary care physician would pretty much be a waste of time...what kind of specialist?
Sorry for the 3 questions, and thank you for your time.
TMPHBITEU
This is an orthopedic situation. Find a surgeon with some non-geriatric sports-population credentials. Go ahead and make the appointment.
Member
I will keep you posted, thank you.
Should I do some heavy ibuprofen dosing for now?
TMPHBITEU
Until we know what happened, there probably isn't a therapeutic benefit to the anti-inflammatory, and it may interfere with surgical pre-op recommendations in the event they want to repair something. Just use acetaminophen for pain.
Member
Noted, I figured it would be as much. The pain isn't very bad at all until I pull the arm in (as if I were tucking my arms to bench), so I don't need anything to mitigate the pain. I won't be able to make an appointment until at least this weekend, and even then I'm still searching for someone with some decent credentials...I'm hoping that I see some positive progress by then.
Anyone else on the board who may have had something similar, please feel free to chime in.
Member
I'd let it rest another couple of weeks, but that's just me.
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