Injured!

[ironwill]

Hey guys,
I've been on prrs for about 1 year now and have posted a few threads on here along the way. Of course pretty much right when I swtiched to prrs about a year ago I injured my right bicep area, I think by having sloppy form on WG Pullups just trying to grind out an extra rep. Ever since then I've had to take several 2 week breaks in an attempt to heal - then usually after a few weeks back it flares up again, so I've also spent several weeks trying to "fight" through the pain. But back in September I got hit with the swine flu, which may have been a blessing in disguise because it forced me to take 3 1/2 weeks off, and after that rest my arm felt great and I was able to complete 15 weeks ( with 1 week off after the 1st 9). I thought it was finally healed, but then on my last shcok week I re-injured it doing WG upright rows! All this time (about a year now) I thought it was a bad acase of tendinitis, but I just saw the doc, and she says I have a tear, or maybe several small tears in the MUSCLE (probably brachialis) right where it starts to turn into tendon. I have pain against resistance when flexing arm, mainly when hand is in a neutral (hammer grip) position. I probably can't even curl 10 lbs right now without the pain. Of course we wont know the extent without an MRI, but my insurance is so lousy I'm trying to avoid getting one. Anyway the DOC suggested 12 to 16 WEEKS COMPLETELY OFF! She said if I don't let it fully heal I'll risk completely tearing it requiring surgery!
Of course I did not want to hear this, as I was hoping to be able to compete in my first show here this spring. My wife does work at a chiropractic office now so I have access to electronic stim ulation, and "coldlaser" which I guess some people swear by.
Has anyone else had a similar injury?
Or maybe someone has some suggestions for a speedier reocvery? I just hate to be out so long and lose everything I gained.

Thanks.

[bgben3]

Hey man sorry to hear about your injury. Years ago I had a tear in a muscle in my shoulder. I've been through all the same things you have with fighting the pain. Taking time off here and there, thinking its better then the pain comes back. Been to the Doc, done the MRIs and everything. Delt with this for about a year cause I didn't want to have surgery and take all that time off. But then one day when I was doing DB press and my shoulder gave out and the weight almost came crashing down on my face. I decided to have the surgery. A total of 6 months off from the gym. Then I could go back and start lifting light weight and slowly building muscle again. It took right around a year to fully recover. It has been about 6 years since that surgery and my shoulder has been great. Little pains here and there with the weather changes, I have to do a lot of warming up and loosening up but over all very satisfied and have had some great gains since then. I know it’s not the news you wanted to hear but I honestly don't think my shoulder would have ever healed without the surgery and I would have been fighting the pain for ever which would have held me back from growing and moving forward.

[ironwill]

Yeah, the doc I saw is an arm specialist who's worked with several pro athlete's including John Elway, so I know she has experience, and I'm hoping she's right about just needing a long rest. But if it doesn't start feeling beter soon I'll probably break down and get the MRI. It would also be nice just to have peace of mind and know for sure what's going on.
Thanks for the response.