Source
r/bodybuilding•
ChefSmooth

Have any of you sustained long term injuries?

Last year, whatever tendon connects to my sternum started to hurt along with my collar bone joint at the top of the sternum. It has gotten slightly better, but I can still injur it slightly when I turn around or roll over funny in while laying. I can still bench but it doesn't feel as solid as it used to.

Has anyone had any experience with long term injuries like this. I have taken 6 months off because of a new job situation and the discomfort has not gotten any better. I've tried lighter weights to try and ease back into it and after a few months I've had no reasonable progress.

I'm starting to question what a doctor could do for me.

Posted Jan 27, 2015, 3:20 AM UTC

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[deleted]•

Have you actually seen a doctor? If not, do so. Specifically an orthopedist or someone with a background in sports medicine. If you've taken 6 months off, of course things are going to feel less stable than you're used to.

I'm currently dealing with a herniated lumbar disc, 4 months off from all lifting (seriously. I wasn't allowed to pick up my 12lb cat) and just starting to ease back into it with an empty bar. Lots of physical therapy, some cortisone shots, and a hell of a lot of patience. It's not easy, mentally or physically, to handle a long term injury, but you just have to suck it up and deal.

TL;DR doctor up.

2
lovehandles666•

I had to get spine surgery because I got hit by a car. It put me out for about 2 years before I got back all my strength. See if there is a corrective surgery your doctor can recommend or maybe get a second opinion from a doctor that isn't contracted to a hospital.

1
Wings_of_pain5-10 years•

Same here, got hit when I was 14 but didn't have insurance so no surgery. Now that I'm 21 and played football and lifted heavy thought my teens, my doctors have told me that because I already had a narrow spinal canal, that my back is pretty fucked. Looking back though I just didn't want to miss out on those experiences. I'm looking at surgery to correct three level herniation in the next 3-4 months :(

2
lovehandles666•

Good luck man. You'll be surprised how easily and smoothly it will go over. Not sure what you're getting done but I had a microdiscectomy and a laminectomy and I was walking with minor post-op pain, but otherwise, pain free, that night.

1
timofay2-5 years•

dislocated knee cap, fractured tibia, MCL/Hamstring/Patellar tendon avulsions (Ligaments didnt tear, but rather ripped off of the bone)

i had to take lots of time off doing legs, and still have mobility issues. i was in the gym hitting upper body almost everyday with physical therapy for my knee though.

i think first things first you need to get proper physical therapy. It took me months to get back flexibility in my knee but you have to rehab properly in order to want to train properly again

1
Sacawine•

It's worth it to see a doctor. It's not as simple as "whatever tendon connects"; it sounds more like a problem with the joint between your collar bone and sternum itself. There are two ligaments from each collar bone to the sternum (plus ligaments to the first rib and one between the collar bones), and damage to any of these could explain the joint's instability. It could be damage to the cartilage disk between the bones. It could be an anterior dislocation, for which there is a procedure called a closed reduction that can put it back into place. Bottom line, it won't necessarily spontaneously improve.

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ChefSmoothOP•

You sound like you know a bit about the specific area. The 'bulge' that the collar bone joint makes at the base of the neck is smaller on the effected area than the normal one . Does this stand out as something specific maybe? Then again I'm not sure if they were the same size to begin with.

1
Sacawine•

It probably makes a true dislocation less likely. Besides, I think the pain would be more severe if that was the case. Possibly a moderate sprain that could benefit from wearing a strap for a while.

1