My Car Wreck Story...

[FatTrainer]

When I was fifteen I wrecked a fast car and almost died. Somehow to everyones surprise I didnt even break a bone. They feared broken colar bone, shattered back, and torn aorta. Everything came back clean. The worst of my injuries (known to me at the time) was the third degree friction burn on my chest from the seatbelt. They gave me a neck brace, said I had minor whiplash, treated my burn and sent me on my way the next day. Rare occurence from the trauma floor. As I got older and aquired a job 5 years later at the YMCA I began lifting weights. Right away I noticed slight constant aching in my shoulder and arm. Sometimes to my hand. I ignored it and kept working out getting down to 9 percent body fat. 153 5'10". However at this point I noticed a CLEAR difference in my left shoulder size compaired to my right. I lifted lots of barbells and dumbells at the time. My back was a little smaller on my left side trap and rhomboid. In all cases each side was equally as strong. Also I created a larger triceps on my left arm due to shoulder compensation on bench press. Now that I have worked in a gym for 7 yrs I have a better understanding of muscles. I had an MRI on the shoulder and they said it has so much scar tissue they couldnt do surgery because if they removed the tissue to repair the ligiments and tendons there would be nowhere for them to attatch anything basically my shoulder would fall off and I should be greatful I have any use let alone can train and have full movement of the joint. I understand that some inbalance occurs however it is significant in my front deltoid. It grows but not nearly as much as my right. I have done all the prehab rehab stuff and am finding slight success in using body rows and weighted chins exclusively for back only performing pushups and no other weight training. But its only helping the size difference in my back, not my shoulder. I am not in shape anymore. 5'10" 210 25% body fat, but am attempting to get back in the swing of weights. Im very ocd and this inbalance drives me nuts! I have also been using foam rollers. I hear lots of scar tissue crackling in there!! Any suggestions?

 

[Yanick]

Really sounds like you should be grateful to have full functionality of your shoulder. I'd say keep rolling it out but if a surgeon didn't want to go near it after visualizing it, then I'd be weary of what some BBer's tell you over the internet.

I'd say be happy you can train, do what you can to balance out the strength differences and stay pain free. Sometimes you just have to play the hand your dealt, and your's isn't so bad.

You could also probably try and find a physical therapist that is knowledgeable about weight training and have him work with you. I'm sure there are things you can try to get those muscles firing appropriately. I have very little knowledge of that stuff though, maybe Patrick will see this and chime in with some helpful info.

 

[quadluver]

You should go in and have the scar tissue removed because, regardless of any training regimen you plan to implement, you're going to (if you have not already) develop arthritis.