Pulled Chest Muscle

[Tylegn]

Here's my Problem, on the right side of my chest muscle (almost under where the arm pit is) a sharp pain shoots through the right side of my chest when I land from jumping, or from my stride when running. It is also sore to the touch. These are the only times it hurts. I went through my normal chest routine with out any pain. What can I do to heal this? I just got hired by the Sherrif's office and need to take the Physical Agility Test. I will pass the test no problem but, I want to make it as painless as possible. Please o' please help!!!

[dquenzer]

Unfortunately there is no quick cure.  In the short term, to get over the pain of doing your test, I would take 3 ibuprofen twice a day.  This will reduce inflamation and also any pain.

Also you might consider a chest wrap to help support the muscle.

These are all short term solution.  Healing will only occur over time (3 to 6 weeks depending upon severity).

[Tylegn]

Thanks for your advice, I will do that.

[toph]

Hi, i am into lifting and working out, and i rock climb all the time.  The last year almost, i have done nothing as far as working out.  I recently got back to college and last week, i started to lift(chest)... and i rock climbed the next 3 days in a row.  For a couple days after my chest was killing me and now the pain is gone, but my entire chest and half of my abs are all swollen up.  I dont know if i pulled my chest badly or what, but i was wondering if you could help me figure out what this is and if it will go away.

thanks toph

[dquenzer]

What do you mean by your chest and abs swollen up?

A severe tear could cause blood to pool.  If that were the case you would see bruising over time.

If it is a tear complete rest is in order.  I mean you can't do anything for nearly 8 weeks.

[jelloman]

Hi
I recently injured my chest muscle working out, close to the armpit. Its a dull pain and someone suggested to me its a muscle tear. I hope a very minor tear. I mostly feel it when I flex. I have had it for the last 2 weeks. I have been massaging it as well as applying heat to it.

If anyone can tell me what else can I do to speed up recovery and how long does it last. Can the size of tear be somehow checked?
Did anyone else have a similar injury?

thanx

[dquenzer]

Tears come in various forms and degrees all of which take a different time to heal.  Technically all muscle pulls are tears, but severe tears are when muscles sever.  There can be bruising and swelling.

Typically a muscle strain/tear that is not serious will take about 3 to 4 weeks.  A more severe tear where there is bruising etc. might take up to 6 to 8 weeks.  The most severe tears may need surgery to reattach the muscle back together.

The best thing to do is simply nothing with that muscle for at least 2 weeks.  Then to start very slowly IF there is no pain.  Pain is a signal NOT to continue.  Some slight discomfort might be acceptable if it seems the muscle recuperates well.  However the possibility of reinjury is there, so one must be careful.

The rule of thumb is before any exercise apply heat and after apply ice, then heat.  This will help to some degree, but  there is really little to do other than rest.  Some apply electrical impulses to stimulate blood flow.  Some have tried acupuncture.  However most of the time it's just time.

[jelloman]

Hi

Thank You very much "dquenzer". This info is very helpfull.

all the best to you

[jelloman]

Hi

Thank You very much "dquenzer". This info is very helpfull.

all the best to you

[kickbox gal]

I was curious, I think I pulled my chest muscle on the left side while in training to become a kickboxing instructor.  Is that possible since no weights are involved?

[shawty23]

hi i lift weights and about a month ago i start feeling a bad pain on the left side of my chest around the top part of the chest and a pain in my back like around the shoulder blade and a little bit up and the pain hurts me when i touch it,take a deep breath, or even sneeze or cough it hurts very bad.the pain waz so severe i decided to stop lifting after 2 days after the pain started so i waited about 7 days and the pain was completly gone so i waited 3 more days and started workin out again, after 4 days of very light workouts the pain was back and even worst then before so now here i am in my second week of doing absolutly nothing the pain is not that bad but its still there and i still feel it when i take deep breathes but thats mostly the only time when i feel it. i have iced it some but thats it. how long should it be before i can beable to workout, or should i go get an mri or what do you suggest. please help me.

[40 going on 20]

I was just doing some tricep dips and (didn't warm up, I know) however at one point it felt like my chest overextended outward and popped and now it hurts when i take medium to deep breaths just to the right of the middle of my chest. I can spread my arms out with no pain but when I breath or turn my head to the left or right over my shoulder I am feel discomfort.  I work out regullary and do chest at the gym with weights once a week that is why I am in such shock at this injury and concerned.. please advise.

[backfire_arsenal]

Well i need help. I have a really bad cough and somehow the docter said that i have pulled a chest muscle from all the coughing i have been doing. Do you know anything to help it as i am in pain when i breath and cough.

[madnotmad]

i used to run miles everyday for over 10yrs+  but the last 5yrs slowed right down and piled the weight on, a m8 of mine said col you need a run m8 so we went on one of our hard runs with steep hills we used to do, whilst running up one of those hills felt a pain in chest and it hasnt gone now  for nearly 2months  down the road ? been doctors had ecg or whatever not had a heart attack thank god ,but it dont rule out angina he said !! as i just turned 40 , but i feel it more muscle as hurts more when i turn round sit scrunched up etc , ....could i pulled a muscle with rapid arm movements whilst trying to get my large frame up hill??

[Maykayla]

Recently while liftting weights I felt a sharp pain on the middle of my chest discomforting enough to get me to drop my weights.  This took place on Friday and on Saturday I continued to feel the sharp pain especially when I take a deep breath - when I pull on anything and bend down .  I called my doctor and described the above and she suggested I take advil and discontinue weight lifting for some weeks until the symtoms are gone but said I can continue with cardiovascular work-out.  For a moment I thought I was experiencing a heart attack, I went to an online doctors check for symptoms website and it suggested I seek medical attention.  I felt a little bit at ease after I spoke to the doctor on call for the weekend shift.

[Ash1205]

Hello

I recently lifted a heavy television to the floor bending as i did it. Since then i have had a slight discomfort in my chest near my rib cage on the right hand side. The pain is not severe and comes and goes during the day, i think i have pulled a muscle but it has been here for 5 - 6 weeks now and i am getting concerned??? I havent taken anything for it which may explain the recovery time ?? i have no other symptoms which makes me think it is a muscle pull or tear

[bubita]

hello,  since a couple  of months ago I have been feeling like tear, discomfort,  in my   right chest, & under arm. It is not bad but it is there, I think is due to  yoga exercises  I started to  do with more strenght, like plank pose or chaturanga, where a lot of strenght is used by  the hands and arms. Hopefully  is that  and nothing bad, but I  am thinking to go to my  dr. so I can get an X ray  or some kind of exam.  any suggestions? thank you............

[tresflip]

i was punched in my pectoral last week and on wednesday i had physio for my back, i think the physio pressed to hard on my chest and now my pec really hurts, if i cough it hurts if i take a deep breath it hurts and if i use my arm to get up from sitting it hurts, so my question is, is it just inflamed and what can i do to help it repair?
Thank you

[ccm4007]

Hi
i have had chest pains now for a few months, been to the doctors and was told everything was o/k and that it could be muscular pains in which i was given anti-flam tablets for, these have not helped any. the pain is worse now esp if i press on my chest but the pain is only in the centre, does anyone know what this could be or what i need to do.
thank you

[live4fitness]

My husband ruptured his pec off the humurous (bicep). He said he felt a snap and had no strength on that side. I met him at the er (what a joke that was). When we got home we looked at it. The side with the rupture was real full and his bicep looked weird and small. Went to an ortho the next day and he said this is the tear you want because he could repair it. That week we starting to see bruising on the inside of the bicep area.Had sx the next week. Took about 6 months for complete recovery. the dr said he would not be able to lift heavy for a while like at least a year. This past May he partcially tore the other side. the dr said he thinks he was over compensating due to the other tear. The dr said you will never be able to lift heavy again unless you want to completly tear the muscle. This was located between the nipple and under arm area. There was some bruising and I beleive it was in the arm pit area. so my husband still workes out but lifts much lighter and is very paranoid.

[johnwowts]

2-3 years ago i lifted for the first time. I benched a lot of weight and the next morning  i woke up with no joke a serious boob... only one side though.... i was sore on both sides, no pain whatsoever related to a tear or any bruising. Now i'm 22 and three years have passed and my left pectoral msucle is really big comapred to my right and is even more so when i lift for chest. the swelling goes down a little when i stay off of it but if i work out chest it is seriously noticable, almost scary.

[grogan]

During training I fell while running; A co-worker fell on top of my while i was on my stumach on my right side. I have no pain on my right but I have severe pain in my right pectoral area that is exaggerated with breathing and more with a cough.
How should I handle this? I hate hospitals but need answers.

[grogan]

Correction; I have no pain om my right side but have severe pain on my left side.

[grogan]

Please anyone with suggestions on how to fix or assist with my problem.

[football player 32]

i play football and during one of my games i think i pulled my muscle  behind my buttuck down to the back of my keen and i need to no how can i get back on the field fast.