Bruised Chest Muscle Fiber

[truste1]

Two Tuesdays ago at practice this kid on my team (biggest, strongest defenseman) crosschecked me in my chest. It hurt, but it wasn't a big deal. Last Sunday it started really hurting to breathe, talk, laugh, move, etc. so I decided to see a doctor. My doctor took an x-ray and did some tests and stuff and said it was basically just bruised muscle tissue and that I should just put heat compresses on it and take advil for severe pain. I can feel the pain pretty much all the time, it hurts mostly when I lay down or move while laying down. I've been taking medicine before practice and that gets me through the warmup run and stuff, but if I get hit at all (even very lightly) I'm pretty much out of commission for awhile.

To give you an idea of how easily this is triggered: Earlier today I took my chin strap off of my helmet, later I had my helmet hanging ont he corner of my closet door and I reached up to reattach the chin strap. I was in extreme pain from doing that (granted a small amount of force is required, but it shouldn't hurt me...)

Basically I want to know if there's anything else I can do to expedite the healing process. Our first game is Thursday and since I play attack/middie I'm sure to get hit some and I want to be able to play more than a few minutes. I've tried just sucking it up but it definitely affects my play (and I've noticed that I don't go in as aggressively because I'm afraid I'll get hit now.)

[LaxBoy92]

I'd just take a pain reliever (tylenol, ibuprophen, or whatever works best) 3 times a day and try not to stress it much at all. If you're feeling pain in it daily, it will take longer to heal. Be sure to take a pain reliever right before your game on thursday, and be careful to not hurt it during the game.

[truste1]

The pain killer doesn't seem to be working much, and my doctor said to only take it when the pain is severe because of how it can be damaging to your liver/kidney/etc. It's right in the dead center of my chest, so I'm thinking it's the stuff that connects the Pectoralis Major.

Should I maybe sit out at practice on Monday-Wednesday? I sat out of the 6v6 on Friday (just did line drills and fast breaks) but that didn't seem to help any.

[stinisonfire]

Dude, muscle tissue breaks and rips all the time, but bruising is a completely different story. Take as much time off as you need. There is no need to rush in when you could rip/tear (which is different that when you build muscle and it rips) the muscle.

[OldGoalie]

I would also try icing it several times a day. When I tweaked a back ligament a year and a half ago, ice really helped expedite the healing process. I tried lying on heating pads, but that seemed to only help temporarily. It wasn't until I started applying icepacks to it several times a day that my mobility increased and the pain dropped off considerably. Give it a shot.

[Diesel4958]

Interesting, Ice first hit up the advil, and then alternate hot and cold. You'l be fine, feel lucky you can move. Also stretch, any movement to warm it up is good. Give it time, you'l heal...

[tomahawks11]

just rest... dont play unless you want it to be hurt even more.... there will be plenty more games ahead for you if you rest, but if you push it, than you might not be able to play at all anymore. just take a break, and rest, and then get back into training when you think it is good enough

[_lax4life_]

I'd say this is an issue you should speak with your doctor about. Not many of us TLFers are experts in the medical field and people could give you false information that could harm you.

[laxcus27]

it sounds similar to what happened to my elbow, every night i would rub some of that Icy Hot cream on it, it numbed the pain for a whiile, and i smelled minty fresh!

[LongIslandLax]

Rest is the most important thing here. Don't strain it or it will never heal properly and you will be out for a longer time.