My chest is killing me.

Bigger Stronger Leaner Competitive Bodybuilding
1

Started months ago with a little pain during dips which started to build - gave dips a rest for a while but the pain kept getting worse. Stopped lifting for 2-3 weeks, pain still kept getting worse. Tried dips again a few weeks ago and it was sheer agony. Even light benching causes pain now, particularly at the bottom of the eccentric and even more so at the point on which I release the bar after the last rep. Now even just rolling over in bed sometimes causes pain. (Had sternum xrays and they were fine)

My physio has located the problem (in my intercostals) but seems puzzled. Nothing seems to be working. Now she’s talking about sending me for a cortisone shot - this hardly seems like a solution to me, more like a case of “Hmm … dunno what that is, let’s sweep it under the carpet”

I’ve been doing a bit of a google and not getting a lot of info - This site below is about the best I’ve found - I’m experiencing at least half the symptoms listed. (Especially pain from twisting my torso & sneezing)

http://www.spineguys.com/health_conditions/midbackpain.asp

I am of course hesistant to self disagnose via the internet but would just like to get some input - ANY input - from anyone with a clue.

I’m sure a muscle imbalance is (at least partly) to blame for the problem and I’m addressing that - but even though it may prevent it from getting worse, I’m not so sure it will cure it.

Any suggestions? I’m considering seeing a chiropractor or maybe trying another physio but don’t really want to throw more money away either.

Thanks in advance.

2

  1. An ART practitioner might be able to help you.

  2. Exactly WHERE do you feel the pain? Is it in your chest, shoulder? Is it upper outer chest, lower chest? Anterior delt area, posterior delt area? Is it in your upper arm? No one can tell you much of anything except recommend ART without knowing where you feel the pain.

3

Woops … it’s clearly located in the centre of my chest, ie the sternum.

Been wondering about active release therapy for a while but not sure who actually practices it here in australia - no one (seems to) call themselves an ART practioner here so I figure it’s either performed by someone else (such as a chiro or physio or osteopath etc) or it’s given another name here.

4

d23, this might be a stab in the dark, but im guessing the pain is in the intercostals, ie chest, prob inner…

5

Maybe you have an injured costal cartilage. I’ve had this a couple of times and it can be quite painful. It takes a very long time to heal.

The costal cartilage connects the ribs to the sternum.

6

I had a similar thing happen to me when I first started dips. I took a few weeks off, and slowly worked them back into my training. If I start to feel the pain again, at the bottom I believe, when you start to rise. I’d just quit the set, and try them next week when it’d be time again. Slowly I built up to where ti doesn’t hurt.