Bruised/fractured sternum what can I do?

[jennyferraynor]

I was maxing out on my bench press and got half way before failing and the barbell came down on my chest. Before my spotter grabbed the bar there was a sharp stabbing like pain in my inner chest. I knew something got messed up badly and I believe it to be a fractured/bruised sternum. It has a been a week and I can't even press a 15 pound dumbbell without a lot of pain in the area.
What can I do besides resting completely? I can't stand the thought of not lifting for months as it is a big part of my life currently. I don't want to lose any of my gains that I worked so hard for. Any advice or input is greatly appreciated!

 

[darrenG10]

Currently bruised wrist but strap it up as I can train around it thankfully..


You though Nothing you can do but rest it’s all our life but you said it best you can’t move lift without pain and a sternum involves twisting moving breathing

Sadly

What I can say is
don’t ego lift ever again
grip the bar with all fingers wrap your thumb around a bar and never not grip a bar plus you’ll be stronger with a full grip

 

[Functional Fitness]

I'd go to A&E for something like this as an Xray, CTscan. MRI, will be needed to see the true extent of the damage. It's okay to rest a torn muscle and repair it naturally but broken bones are a different matter entirely. If you've really snapped your sternum or a rib cage insertion you will need a surgical procedure to fix it.

 

[Kompany4]

I feel your pain mate, can’t imagine how painful it must be if it is fractured.

I dropped a 40kg dumbbell on my sternum once (don’t ask me how) and mine wasn’t even bruised, on the surface anyway but damn that was painful.

Took absolute months to go away and reduce the pain, you won’t want to hear this either but I had to stop lifting entirely for ages.

Every breathe I took felt like a heart attack it was that painful.

Rest and go and get it checked over mate.

Best of luck