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When Can One Work Out After Injuring Left Pectoral Muscle?
Question: I injured my left pectoral muscle bench pressing on Monday. There was no bruising. I had full range of motion. I've been icing it ever since. I had discomfort in the area for 36 hours. I went to an urgent care clinic on Tuesday. The Doctor said my tendon was strong and it said could not tell if strain is a small area or bigger area. In any case, he said it was a minor strain and he recommended that I don't train upper body for two weeks. He said I can still train legs (not squats). He also said I should take 800 mg of Ibuprofen for two weeks.
I already bought 200 mg of Advil prior to my visit. I started taking that but I'm having a hard time stomaching it.
The pectoral pain is now gone. I'm happy about that.
My questions are. With the pain gone is safe to go back and train my upper body sooner? Or I am just fooling myself. (Two weeks feels like a long time even though it's not.) Also, is it necessary to keep taking the Ibuprofen. Even at the lower dose it's bothering my stomach.
I already bought 200 mg of Advil prior to my visit. I started taking that but I'm having a hard time stomaching it.
The pectoral pain is now gone. I'm happy about that.
My questions are. With the pain gone is safe to go back and train my upper body sooner? Or I am just fooling myself. (Two weeks feels like a long time even though it's not.) Also, is it necessary to keep taking the Ibuprofen. Even at the lower dose it's bothering my stomach.
Brief Answer:
best to wait the 2 weeks
Detailed Answer:
HI, thanks for using healthcare magic
If the pain is completely gone then you do not have to continue the ibuprofen.
If it does return, it indicates that the inflammatory process has not completely abated and you need to continue the anti inflammatory pain medication a little longer (at least another 2 to 3 days).
If you are not able to tolerate the ibuprofen, you can use another member of this class of drug eg naproxen, aspirin, cataflam
In terms of the physical activity, even though the pain in minimal, it would still be best to restrict your activity as suggested.
It is unlikely that the source of your pain has completely returned to normal though you are pain free and this means that it would be prone to re injury or aggravation of the present injury.
I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions
best to wait the 2 weeks
Detailed Answer:
HI, thanks for using healthcare magic
If the pain is completely gone then you do not have to continue the ibuprofen.
If it does return, it indicates that the inflammatory process has not completely abated and you need to continue the anti inflammatory pain medication a little longer (at least another 2 to 3 days).
If you are not able to tolerate the ibuprofen, you can use another member of this class of drug eg naproxen, aspirin, cataflam
In terms of the physical activity, even though the pain in minimal, it would still be best to restrict your activity as suggested.
It is unlikely that the source of your pain has completely returned to normal though you are pain free and this means that it would be prone to re injury or aggravation of the present injury.
I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions
Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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