Is it DOMS in the chest or something different?

valleyvalley28.01RPOriginal post

20d ago

I've been experiencing problems when working on my chest. I can push myself to failure on every other muscle group, but when I really go for it with my chest, it feels like I strain something every time, and I'm sore for days. My current chest routine, which I got from a friend, includes 3 sets of Dumbbell chest press aiming for at least 8 reps (only using 34kg weights), 1 warm-up set, and 3 sets on the Pec deck up to 107kg, though I limit my range of motion when it goes over 86kg. I also do 3 sets of cables for upper and lower. By this point, I'm exhausted (I also include bicep workouts in between chest sets). Is this just DOMS, or could it be something else? I don't have issues with any other muscle groups and can consistently increase weight or reps except on chest day, which makes it less enjoyable than it should be.

19 replies

rogerl13.3RP

19d ago

Are you using steroids?

valleyvalley28.01RP

19d ago

I'm currently on 150mg of test e. I’m hypogonadal and have tried low doses of npp before. Just testing the waters, that’s all.

geraldc31.85RP

19d ago

Try reducing the volume; keep it short and focused. If you’re that sore, you might be causing unnecessary muscle damage. The soreness is definitely due to the chest being a weak point for you. Once that soreness subsides, gradually add more sets. Take enough rest days and ensure you're consuming clean calories, aiming for at least 7g of protein per pound of body weight and complex carbs.

geraldc31.85RP

19d ago

That’s TRT, my friend.

valleyvalley28.01RP

19d ago

I guess it is, but I’m not doing it under a clinic or doctor anymore, so calling it 'TRT' doesn’t feel accurate since I control my dosages now.

geraldc31.85RP

19d ago

Some pretentious guy with a degree doesn’t need to sign a paper for it to count as TRT.

valleyvalley28.01RP

19d ago

Thanks for the advice. I really value when people take the time to respond.

geraldc31.85RP

19d ago

Don’t hesitate to cut your chest workouts down to 5 sets, especially if you’re training to true failure. That’s sufficient. Allow yourself time to adjust.

valleyvalley28.01RP

19d ago

Thanks, man! At least now I know what to call it. Blasts are still an option, but I need to refine the basics first.

geraldc31.85RP

19d ago

Absolutely. You’re taking the smart approach.

rogerl13.3RP

19d ago

I would definitely recommend working on increasing your overall volume. Just remember to do it slowly and safely. You won’t see much improvement with such low volume. If your joints are bothering you, consider lowering the weights significantly and focusing on very slow eccentrics (8-10 second negatives and at least 45 seconds per set). This approach will be gentler on your joints and pump a lot of blood into your pecs, giving you a huge pump.

chrisj6311.31RP

19d ago

Why not start with push-ups or a flat barbell for warm-ups? Dumbbells isolate a lot, so you might be putting too much stress on the target muscle too quickly. If I skip the proper warm-up for my chest, I feel a pulling sensation in the lower outer part of the pec, near the armpit. Especially if I stick to isolation exercises without warming up properly. The muscle pulls and feels like it might tear if I keep pushing. When I do warm up, I don’t experience that at all.

valleyvalley28.01RP

19d ago

Thanks again for the input. Just out of curiosity, you asked if I was on steroids earlier; did I post in a steroid section or something? I’m not very savvy with new forums, etc. Appreciate the wisdom.

rogerl13.3RP

19d ago

You’re on a steroid forum. Plus, your bio mentions self-TRT and beyond, like you’re steroid buzz light-year or something. So, I was just curious.

valleyvalley28.01RP

19d ago

That’s exactly where the discomfort is. Mostly in my left pec, but it has happened in my right one before too. I'm motivated for chest day based on your input; I have a new goal now! Less pain, more gains, haha.

valleyvalley28.01RP

19d ago

Totally makes sense—buzz light-year? That’s getting updated; not sure why I put that in there, haha.

chrisj6311.31RP

19d ago

Yeah, my left side feels the same. It can happen on the right side too. The positive side is that you can really feel your chest muscles working hard. The downside is that it can easily lead to tearing if you don't warm up properly. I sometimes feel a pulling pain in my chest even when I'm just taking a shower or reaching for something too quickly. I weigh over 260 pounds, so there's a lot of reaching involved, lol.

valleyvalley28.01RP

19d ago

Wow, dude. Are you doing a full-body stretch for a glute injection? I have to, and I'm guessing I'm about 100 pounds lighter than that.

chrisj6311.31RP

19d ago

A glute shot could definitely do that. A shoulder shot would be even worse. I mainly go for quads now and occasionally my pecs. Sometimes I hit the hip/ventro area too. I’ve given up on the full cheek shots, lol.