Recovered from Injury but Extremely Weak in Chest Press

[subseven]

Hi Guys,
I am guessing that some people here have experienced something similar and can share observations/ideas.

I have experienced a nerve inflammation/pinch whereby -as far as I can tell- the nerve bundle feeding the right arm (brachial plexus, probably) was pinched. As a result, I could not work my right triceps, shoulder and, for the most part, chest. I also had severe pain in my right triceps and shoulder for around two weeks
I have tried to describe the problem here    http://www.mindandmuscle.net/forum/42034-do-i-have-nerve-damage

For a while now (over a month) the pain has completely gone. My triceps, which I had believed the most harmed muscle, is also catching up slowly but at a somewhat steady pace.
However, I am incredibly weak in pressing movements. Especially chest presses (flat, incline, decline...) are all very weakened. I had attributed this to triceps weakness but my pressing strength is catching up much more slowly than my triceps strength. Also, shoulder press is not as compromised as chest presses.

As far as regaining pressing strength, what can I do other than continuing to do presses carefully and slowly? When I try to press the weight, my right shoulder (the entire shoulder area) feel super weak. However, I can still do laterals with a good chunk of weight... Really puzzled which specific muscles are the problem here

Thanks

[WOOO]

this run on post did not present a clear question to me so here's my reply:

[subseven]

this run on post did not present a clear question to me so here's my reply:

here is my question, quoted from the initial post:
As far as regaining pressing strength, what can I do other than continuing to do presses carefully and slowly?

[Tigerblood]

Hi Guys,
I am guessing that some people here have experienced something similar and can share observations/ideas.

I have experienced a nerve inflammation/pinch whereby -as far as I can tell- the nerve bundle feeding the right arm (brachial plexus, probably) was pinched. As a result, I could not work my right triceps, shoulder and, for the most part, chest. I also had severe pain in my right triceps and shoulder for around two weeks
I have tried to describe the problem here    http://www.mindandmuscle.net/forum/42034-do-i-have-nerve-damage

For a while now (over a month) the pain has completely gone. My triceps, which I had believed the most harmed muscle, is also catching up slowly but at a somewhat steady pace.
However, I am incredibly weak in pressing movements. Especially chest presses (flat, incline, decline...) are all very weakened. I had attributed this to triceps weakness but my pressing strength is catching up much more slowly than my triceps strength. Also, shoulder press is not as compromised as chest presses.

As far as regaining pressing strength, what can I do other than continuing to do presses carefully and slowly? When I try to press the weight, my right shoulder (the entire shoulder area) feel super weak. However, I can still do laterals with a good chunk of weight... Really puzzled which specific muscles are the problem here

Thanks

I would go see a chiropractor. Just stop your training until then, it's better to be safe than sorry.

[King Shizzo]

I would go see a chiropractor. Just stop your training until then, it's better to be safe than sorry.

Good advice.  Was going to say the same thing.

[SF1900]

[GettingBig]

Stop any upper body training man.

Trust me it wont heal if you keep stressing the nerve/muscle.

Sorry i didnt read if you did an MRI or not ? Better you seek a doctor asap.

Good luck and get well soon man.

[doriancutlerman]

Get an MRI, STAT.  And emphasize that nothing like this has ever happened to you before for insurance purposes; otherwise, they might try to fuck you with that "pre-existing condition" clause.

From the MRI you'll know where to go.  It's possible a chiro can help you, especially with the benefit of an MRI.  I had a similar problem, but only my right side pressing strength was affected.  Plus, the pain originated somewhere in my upper back (around the teres minor area, I'd guess). 

I did NOT have insurance and simply couldn't afford an MRI.  About all I could do was see a chiropractor.  He thought he had the problem diagnosed with an X-ray, but he didn't help all that much.  He was shocked when, after about two months of treatment, my right side pressing strength was still fucked.  The L/R disparity is about gone now, but that's over ... damn.  Almost 1.5 years later.

[BIG_STI]

I got really bad tennis elbow 2 years ago after making my PB bench (440lbs) it was so bad on my left side I thought it was torn. They measured my left side strength v right on a machine. The Left side was 3x weaker than the right after the injury, took 5 months or rehab to get back to 80%. 

[2good4u]

i had a c4 c5 disk herniation which also was pinching the nerve running down the back of my arm,
my left arm got considerably smaller then my right and i went to the neurosurgeon who recommended
surgery right away due to the fact i had lost strength in that arm as well as size, any pressing movements
i could not do, and i could no longer flex my left chest muscle. he told me they would have to go threw my
THROAT for the surgery because the spine is closer to the throat.

surgeon went in took the disk off the spine replaced it with a piece of plastic or something, decided that the
c5 herniation was not causing a problem and left that alone, glued my neck back together gave me a neck
brace to wear for 3 weeks and pain stopped almost immediately resumed back at gym after neck brace came
off very light took maybe 6 weeks to feel comfortable lifting a little heavier again.

but if they recommend surgery get it don't put it off, changed my life...i lived with that nerve impingement for almost
6months.

[WOOO]

i agree with other poster... see a doctor

[MAXX]

where is the nerve inflamation/pinch?

if it is in the back it's most likely a herniated disc pressing on you nerves and can only be helped by removing the disc and fusing or replacing with rubber disc.

[Moen]

See a doctor as in a neurologist or neurosurgeon, not a chiropractor pseudo-doctor. Hope this helps 

[badlad]

Subseven - I pinched the nerve in my right elbow - excruciating pain for about two weeks then it went away but over the enxt eight months or so I started getting progressively weaker and numbness in my hand. I left it and carried on. It is now about five years later, post surgery - nerve transposition, and my hand is still numb but at least not getting worse but it has left me basically with massive strength and stability imbalances that pretty much cannot be corrected. If you want my advise - get fully checked out by someone who knows what the hell they are doing. I went to a sports specialist in hands and elbows (and shoulders). I think I know what you are talking about in terms of the strength loss - there maybe no pain at all but it is almost as if someone has just removed half your muscle - like there is just nothing there. What happened in my case is that now when  I train I have to make allowance for the imbalance and try to build up strength in other muscle groups. problem being is that now I have problems with both shoulders, trap issues etc. Basic dumbell curls are almost impossible and often times I have to do crazy little flick movements at the top end of motions just so I can even up what I'm doing on the other side of my body. Like 75% of ROM is fine then there is just nothingfor the last 25% so have to cheat it up which means putting other parts of my body as risk.
Get specialist, I mean proper specialist advice and assessment. Don't muck about -  get it sorted.

[LittleJ]

Around 6 months ago I had sharp pain in my left delt when I done any pressing. It was like someone was tightening a clamp in my shoulder.

This exercise definitely helped mine, after doing it felt like it had been opened up and "freed".

That looks painful