LexusGS

I posted this in the health and awereness forum but that forums is completely dead.
I injured my chest wall. I have no idea how it happened, but i've had a terrible pain in between my pecs when ever i contract my pectoral/shoulder muscles or move my arms. Has anyone experienced this or what should I do to recover? The pain had been there for about about 2 months now. I've taken off all training because it's too painful to do anything involving weight! Goddamn I don't know what to do, the pain is a few inches above the sternum.

Bakerboy

Yes! If it's what I had it's called costochronditis and I know it's very painful!!! Costochondritis There is not much you can do for it except ride it out. Some people take cortisone shots or pain killers if it's really bad. There is a lot of info/ forums about it on the web. the best thing you can do is see a doctor. I had it for about six months. I switched my diet up to an anti inflamitory diet and it helped a lot. See a doctor. They will likely just say there is nothing they can do but give you pills but it's a good first step- seeing an acupuncturist is another option.

No strength within, no respect without - Kasmiri Proverb

LexusGS

The thing is, I really don't think it's muscle related but I could be wrong. Let say I spread my arms all the way like when you do DB flies and try to srtetch it starts hurting. If I expand my chest out and keep it there for some time it starts hurting again. Is this what you had? Because it's not really painful if I just sit there with my arms close to my sides and relaxed. It is really annoying knowing that it will hurt like a bitch if I were to go back to the gym and lift weights.

fufu

Did you drop a weight on the sternum? This pain came out of nowhere?

fufu's 1337 Journal

Your diet will set you free.

LexusGS

I don't remember "dropping" any weight, that's why I'm so frustrated.

Bakerboy

What I had is not muscle related it was inflammation of the cartilage and bones of the chest wall and ribs. Does the pain radiate to the left side of your ribs or just the sternum?

No strength within, no respect without - Kasmiri Proverb

LexusGS

It's actually more to the right side but I definitly feel it on both right and left side. It fluctuates lets just say. The pain is more towards the inner chest

Bakerboy

It sounds a lot like what I had. Do you get acute attacks (of sharp pain) or is it just a constant dull pain? Look up costochronditis and read the symptoms. I would get it looked at by a doctor. Out of ten, ten being the most painful how painful is it? Are you taking anything for the pain?

No strength within, no respect without - Kasmiri Proverb

LexusGS

It's definitly not a dull pain. It's only during certain movements. For example, a couple of weeks ago I tried to do a lat pulldown with a very light weight and just extending my arms out like that and expanding my chest out gave me the pain. The pain itself I must say is very slowly healing. About a month ago, I would get it much more often and it hurt like crazy. Now I still definitly have pain but it is less severe then it used to be (knock on wood). Scale of 1-10, i'd say it's about a 4-5 but it's enough to keep me from doing the things that I love doing.

Bakerboy

I hope it gets better. It may be something different than what I had- for me even to push a door open was excruciating, a pushup impossible. Just take it easy and if gets worse see a doctor.

No strength within, no respect without - Kasmiri Proverb

ab2al2

it may be similar to my experience. i went too low on dips or something and it felt like someone smashed my sternum in. i asked my mom (a nurse practitioner) and she said that i strained the ligament in my chest, it apparently runs right there or something. anyways it was very painful for me and i experienced it all the time. it got especially bad if i put lots of pressure directly onto my sternum area.... anyways its gone now. i just had to lay off the exercising for a while.

LexusGS

Same for me man, I remember weeks ago shoveling the snow... When the snow got real heavy and you had to use ur whole body to push it forward, I just had to step back because it was causing tons of pain. A pushup.... I bet I can't do that either right now. Thanks for the kind words, I hope it gets better too!

LexusGS

Yeah, im not exercising at all anymore because I want to recover asap. Funny thing is I never do dips... but im sure many different things can cause what im going through.