Partial Pec Tear surgery - Page 3

str8flexed · #41 03-11-2008, 12:27 PM

Just got back from the ortho with my MRI results.

The tear is worse than anyone thought. It is a full thickness tear of the pec major at the muscle-tendon junction (worse than tearing the tendon off the bone). Surgery is definitely a priority now to make sure I regain full function. The recover period is 6-12 months and will require me to have my arm in a sling for about 4 weeks after the surgery. The part that I am most bummed about it my right side will atrophy big time right before my wedding in May and I'll look like absolute crap for it and the cruise. I know it might seem like it's not a big deal but I really wanted to be in good shape for my wedding and my first cruise. But at least it's going to get fixed.

The ortho did say something funny, he said "the fact that you have no complained about pain that much, only it being 'uncomfortable' just tells me that you have a ridiculous tolerance to pain". LOL

-Layne

bulldog21 · #42 03-11-2008, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by str8flexed

Just got back from the ortho with my MRI results.

The tear is worse than anyone thought. It is a full thickness tear of the pec major at the muscle-tendon junction (worse than tearing the tendon off the bone). Surgery is definitely a priority now to make sure I regain full function. The recover period is 6-12 months and will require me to have my arm in a sling for about 4 weeks after the surgery. The part that I am most bummed about it my right side will atrophy big time right before my wedding in May and I'll look like absolute crap for it and the cruise. I know it might seem like it's not a big deal but I really wanted to be in good shape for my wedding and my first cruise. But at least it's going to get fixed.

The ortho did say something funny, he said "the fact that you have no complained about pain that much, only it being 'uncomfortable' just tells me that you have a ridiculous tolerance to pain". LOL

-Layne

I am really sorry to hear about this Layne...

The good thing to this is that you caught it early and that you are getting it repaired ASAP which is good.

As you know about 9 years ago I had three surgeries on my wrist over a year span and had either stitches, cast, splint or was doing intensive rehab for another 10 months after a years worth of surgeries....I can tell you first hand that it is hard watching yourself atrophy but at the same time every day for the better part of two years I thought about being able to go back and train and come back better than I was before...

Knowing you I am sure that will be the case for you as well...

ironmudd · #43 03-11-2008, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by str8flexed

The part that I am most bummed about it my right side will atrophy big time right before my wedding in May and I'll look like absolute crap for it and the cruise. I know it might seem like it's not a big deal but I really wanted to be in good shape for my wedding and my first cruise. But at least it's going to get fixed.

Keep your head up dude. I got hit by an old lady in an '85 Cadillac less than a month before my wedding and had to go to Maui with broken ribs and ringing in my ears. You just do what you can to make the best of it in the gym. Trust me, you'll still have a great time. You may not look as good in the pictures as you expected, but you'll look back on it as one of those bumps in the road that you overcome along the way and it makes the journey that much more rewarding in the end. Those who adjust well to adversity become champions. A year from now you'll be back better than ever. Hope everything goes well with the surgery.

BigAnt · #44 03-11-2008, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by str8flexed

Just got back from the ortho with my MRI results.

The tear is worse than anyone thought. It is a full thickness tear of the pec major at the muscle-tendon junction (worse than tearing the tendon off the bone). Surgery is definitely a priority now to make sure I regain full function. The recover period is 6-12 months and will require me to have my arm in a sling for about 4 weeks after the surgery. The part that I am most bummed about it my right side will atrophy big time right before my wedding in May and I'll look like absolute crap for it and the cruise. I know it might seem like it's not a big deal but I really wanted to be in good shape for my wedding and my first cruise. But at least it's going to get fixed.

The ortho did say something funny, he said "the fact that you have no complained about pain that much, only it being 'uncomfortable' just tells me that you have a ridiculous tolerance to pain". LOL

-Layne

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Ok, we got concrete news, it will all be ok, you got a strong mind!

When will you schedule the surgery?

shoot1 · #45 03-11-2008, 01:55 PM

At least you know what it is and have a plan to deal with it. It was pretty obvious there was a tear from your pictures, but I'm surprised its so large too.
At your wedding you'll be in a big tux.
Go on a northern cruise

BodybuildingUniverse.com · #46 03-12-2008, 12:05 PM

Layne, just curious regarding your video clips...why all the maxing out if you're a bodybuilder? Think that leaves you more open to injury?

str8flexed · #47 03-12-2008, 04:49 PM

I was training for a powerlifting contest later this year.

I've heard of guys tearing their pecs on warm up sets though. This was nothing I had not done before. To be the best you possibly can you have to push yourself, I pushed myself everyday as hard as I possibly could because I knew I didn't have great genetics or symmetry or structure. But I knew the one thing I could control was working harder than the rest of my competition. So that's what I tried to do, everyday.

On that note: I just got back from the surgeon. Again, I have good news and I have bad news.

The good news is this guy is a great surgery, he did surgeries for the chicago bears and I really like him. My insurance will also most likely cover the surgery as well.

The bad news is this pec tear is a worst case scenario pec tear. He actually thinks some of the tearing is in the muscle belly itself and is unrepairable. He is not even sure that surgery will help it at all but the only way to find out is to get in there and see. This is the only chance I've got to get this thing better and so I have to take the risk.

I appreciate everyone's comments about my work ethic and how hard I work, but I'm afraid hard work is not going to bring my pec back to health or shape. That is out of my hands at this point and that is the hardest part of this whole thing.

I appreciate everyone's support.

-Layne

Aaron · #48 03-12-2008, 06:12 PM

I'm sorry to hear about the extent of the injury, truly saddened to hear this. I was lucky that my tear was along the length of the fascia running with the fibers, unlike yours. Your surgeon is right, attempting to reconnect the fibers is akin to sewing wet kleenex back together. Like I said before, I know how deblilitating injuries can be, give me a bump if you need to talk or anything. Just shoot me a PM.

naturalguy · #49 03-12-2008, 07:09 PM

Sorry to hear it Layne. One thing I have learned about you over the years is your resolve. You will overcome this.

Ironman1536 · #50 03-12-2008, 07:55 PM

Man Layne sorry to hear all of that. From the pics it just looked minor most people look all purple, and nasty. We wish you the best recovery your a warrior man this will not stop you!

pittorthodoc · #51 03-12-2008, 08:07 PM

Layne,

The surgery WILL help. See my article in MD next month... by chance, it covers the topic of pec ruptures.

Best wishes... contact me if you have any questions.

Victor

str8flexed · #52 03-12-2008, 08:15 PM

Thanks guys and thanks Victor. The surgeon really seems very good and I think he was just trying to make me realize my pec will never look like 'new' again which I've already made piece with. As long as it just gives me some functional improvement and by chance some cosmetic improvement, I would be very happy with it.

Thanks everyone.

ShaneGiese · #53 03-12-2008, 08:20 PM

Hey Layne,

Sorry to hear about the injury. You definitely push yourself harder than most and sometimes injuries are almost unavoidable in a hard-training athlete. Best of luck with your recovery!

Shane

Tirek04 · #54 03-13-2008, 04:10 PM

Hey Layne, sorry to hear about this.

Just stay positive. I hope you have a speedy recovery and the rehab goes well.

gdiesel12 · #55 03-17-2008, 08:52 PM

Damn Layne, I hate to hear about shit like this, especially when it happens to good people. Luckily, you're a smart cookie and have the heart of a lion. This will be a mere bump in the road for an iron warrior like you. I always say, "Be proud of the chipped teeth, the broken bones, the stretch marks, the scars and the injuries... They are proof of a life lived to the fullest." You're in my thoughts brother and you'll weather this storm and be a stronger man for it. Peace, G

shoot1 · #56 03-18-2008, 11:40 AM

If a muscle belly is torn, is there anything that can be done? Victor?
Say someone had a tear only in the long head of their triceps, but the tendon attachment is good and the rest of the muscle is ok. I assumed it would scar and heal, but what if your left with a functional deficit?
Chris Cormier tore his tricep and it looks like its in the muscle belly but didn't have anything done. Now he said it is better but functionally, it is not what it used to be.
I tore my bicep at the distal attachment (along with many other people), and now that it is repaired, I notice virtually no difference, it functions and feels great...near 99%of what it was.

Manchild · #57 03-18-2008, 02:55 PM

Layne-

I am terribly sorry to hear about this. However, you are young and you're more determined than most ahtletes. You had all the potential in the world to do great things with your life and in the sport of bodybuilding prior to this setback and YOU STILL DO AFTER THIS SETBACK.

all this is, is a good story to laugh about 10 years from now. Its nothing more then that.

You still are going to do great things, and make an impact. Keep your head up, and listen to the stories everyone has posted about their experiences with such "setbacks" and their full recoveries.

Hell I think even Arnold S. had knee surgery or something and was out for like 6 months, then came back to win the Olympia.

No worries my friend, the light at the end of your tunnel is still brighter then ever.

Keep us posted.

pittorthodoc · #58 03-18-2008, 03:36 PM

Hey John! How are ya? This very question was addressed by the lab that I worked in while in Pittsburgh during residency. Here is an abstract from the study done back in 1999 before my arrival to Pitt. Basically, suture repair of a ruptured (lacerated in this model) muscle reduced scarring and functional deficit. In bodybuilding this is great, but the scar on the skin may be distracting too!

Suturing versus immobilization of a muscle laceration. A morphological and functional study in a mouse model.Menetrey J, Kasemkijwattana C, Fu FH, Moreland MS, Huard J.
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA.

Muscle laceration remains a difficult problem for orthopaedic surgeons. Despite many studies related to the muscle's ability to regenerate after muscle degeneration, very few reports are available regarding structural and functional recovery after skeletal muscle laceration. We developed an animal model of muscle laceration in mice, where the gastrocnemius muscles were reproducibly transected. We compared the effect of a surgical repair versus a short period of immobilization (5 days) on the muscle healing. The natural course of muscle recovery was monitored at several points after injury using histologic, immunohistochemical, and functional testing. In the injured muscle, we observed a high number of regenerating myofibers and development of fibrotic scar tissue. Suturing the lacerated muscle immediately after injury promoted better healing of the injured muscle and prevented the development of deep scar tissue in the lacerated muscle; conversely, immobilization resulted in slower muscle regeneration and the development of a large area of scar tissue. Tetanus strength 1 month after injury was 81% of control muscles for the sutured muscles, 35% for the lacerated muscles with no treatment, and 18% for the immobilized muscles. Based on this study, suturing a muscle laceration with a modified Kessler stitch results in the best morphologic and functional healing.

kaizenro · #59 03-18-2008, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shoot1

If a muscle belly is torn, is there anything that can be done? Victor?
Say someone had a tear only in the long head of their triceps, but the tendon attachment is good and the rest of the muscle is ok. I assumed it would scar and heal, but what if your left with a functional deficit?
Chris Cormier tore his tricep and it looks like its in the muscle belly but didn't have anything done. Now he said it is better but functionally, it is not what it used to be.
I tore my bicep at the distal attachment (along with many other people), and now that it is repaired, I notice virtually no difference, it functions and feels great...near 99%of what it was.

Sounds like you lucked out and got the Vince Taylor Bicep Tear. ha

Best of luck Layne! Hey, at least you have a great lady by your side before AND after the surgery!

str8flexed · #60 03-19-2008, 12:46 PM

posted this on my blog

First off an update on my injury, on Friday morning, I had a surgical repair performed on my right pectoral muscle. The surgeon said, that the surgery went better than he expected. Now begins the recovery. My right will imbolized for at least ten days after which I will slowly start trying to regain the use of my arm and the flexibility and strenght in my muscle. The time table for my complete rehab is approximately one year. I want to thank everyone for their support and rest assured that if there is any way that I can return to 100% I will find it. If you choose to e-mail me during the next two weeks please understand that my e-mails will be brief responses and likely delayed.

thanks everyone for all the support & advice