Laid Up

Things on my end were rolling smoothly along until I suffered a Grade II Pectoralis strain in training.  My arm was extended in an arm-bar, I felt a tearing (literally could feel my muscle tear and it wasn't pleasant) and I yelled.  Everyone asked if I was OK, I quickly answered and then got up, managed to drive home while my chest spasmed and then headed to the emergency room.  The doctor examined me, gave me a sling, Valium, Ibuprofen and some instructions.  I had to wear the sling for three days, no use of my arm and a referral to the Ortho if there wasn't improvement after the three days.  Thankfully after the allotted time it felt a bit better, as in I was able to move it without pain or spasms, but not good enough to train.  I had no strength in that area and pain when I lifted anything heavier then a remote.  If you were visually comparing each side my chest and are looking at my pec running from its top to my shoulder you can see one side is a bit smaller/thinner and when you feel that area, you notice that one side is thinner as well.

For the first two weeks, I rested my chest, researching ways to rehabilitate it and trying not to go crazy.  By research I mean I talked to a few people who had torn muscles in the past and asked what they did to recover and also searched through all kinds of articles online regarding this injury.  From everything I have read the average recovery time for a torn pec is between 2-6 weeks.  Putting everything that I learned about the injury together, I came up with a general idea of how to comeback from it.  For starters, increase my protein intake and keep an eye on my diet as well as my sleep both of which will speed recovery.  Secondly, begin using an EMS Unit to stimulate blood circulation and to help strengthen to the muscle.  And finally strengthen up the muscle around the tear with light exercise gradually progressing toward rebuilding the torn muscle with exercises involving bands and cables.  One of my teammates gave me some information about peptide injections, and I am still reading and researching about them before I give them a shot (pardon the pun)

When first injured I was pretty optimistic, initially thinking maybe two weeks, however I rapidly realized that it isn't going to happen and it will probably be closer to 6 weeks or more before I am back to full contact sparring.  Some of the mobility has returned and my pec isn't as sore as it was, but dynamic movements still cause discomfort and my strength isn't close to 100%.  I started some light drilling this week, which was a struggle because I was really trying to protect my chest, but at least I was back on the mats.  

Lately I had getting a bit down about the injury.  It's not that I haven't been injured before, but with this particular injury I can see what is wrong and I realize that it's going to take a little bit of time and effort to rebuild what isn't there anymore.  Sometimes I forget that that I'm not a kid at 37 and don't bounce back like in the past.