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| TANSTAAFL |
About a week ago I was pushing my folding hand truck into my basement after work. Neighbor called my name and I turned sideways to see what they needed. Right hand was still on the cart. I felt a sudden sharp pain in my bicep. No pop but noticed a couple days later the muscle didn’t come as far down my arm and the bruising was spectacular. I don’t have a lot of pain but the arm is weak for lifting. Since I work on Spect, Pet, and Ct machines I need the arm as close to normal as I can get. I went to the urgent care, and ended up at the VA. Over the last week I’ve had X-rays, ultrasound, and an mri. Today they said I have a complete distal tear of the right bicep tendon and are working on scheduling surgery at the VA or duke depending on OR availability. Just looking for some pointers on what to expect or at least how it was for you. I let work know I’ll be out potentially 4-6 months after surgery based on what the Ortho doc said. Luckily they have decent short term disability insurance. And I have to work out why I am feeling guilty over letting coworkers down. And why my body is falling apart at 52. Thanks in advance. | ||
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| Member |
I tore my bicep muscle back in 2009 or 10 trying to pickup my motorcycle after it tipped over. I had surgery about a month later and recovery took a couple months from what I remember and I had to wear a brace for a while. The first month or so after the surgery I had no strength in my right arm, couldn't even turn the ignition on in my car. My recovery was 100% and I didn't suffer any loss of motion or strength in my right arm. Not a fun experience and fortunately no permanent damage. | |||
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Member |
I tore the tendon that goes from the bicep tendon to the forearm in the gym, doing heavy curls. Same as you, distal bicep tendon. My ortho informed me traditional surgery would be to put a screw in it, to reattach it, and it would never be the same again. I elected for the 2nd option, stem cell injection. Stem cells healed it 100% in about 10-11 months. The stem cell injection was quite painful but it worked. What am I doing? I'm talking to an empty telephone | |||
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| If you're gonna be a bear, be a Grizzly!  |
I did mine last fall cutting firewood. Doc told me that unless I was an athlete, surgery would probably not be the route to go. I elected to not have surgery and let it heal on it's own. A year later, I have a full range of motion and some minimal loss of strength. Doc told me probably no differently than if I had the surgery but just longer to heal. My bicep does look weird now though. Just a ball at the bottom of the muscle. Here's to the sunny slopes of long ago. | |||
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| Loading the wagon |
I have now torn both of mine, with about 2.5 years between.Neither time was I doing anything very strenuous. It's about a 3 month rehab. | |||
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| Member |
Go with Duke and the stem cell if you can. | |||
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Member |
In ‘11, I was at an air show where the USMC had a booth. They gave out prizes for those who could pump out 20 pull-ups. I told my wife and daughter I’d like to give it a try. After signing the release form, I made my attempt. I was hanging for a second before I was going to start, preparing myself to zip through them. On my first pull, I ripoff my left bicep. My wife and daughter saw me, and knew something was wrong. A few days later, I had it reattached. After a long while of having my arm strapped to my chest, I finally had the bandages removed. It was terribly atrophied, and I was fearful I was going to reinjure it. A short time later, I started PT. The first thing there, I had to submerge my arm into hot wax for a while. Afterward, I began flexing, strength, and twisting therapy. PT was miserable, but I was able to go back to work on the street after many sessions. Even so, I had lost confidence in my abilities since I was still fearful I would reinjure it. I will never try to hang again, let alone any pull-ups, but I can curl weights. My arm looks funky, but I’m sure I won’t be further negatively effected while I continue my retirement. Retired Texas Lawman | |||
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Member |
My wife had that, but it was Proximal. _________________________ | |||
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| Villebilly Deluxe |
I had the same tear in my left arm from a fight at work. As far as ortho surgeries go, it wasn’t too bad. I had the screw repair. Took about 3 months to rehab but I’d say it’s as good as it ever was. This happened when I was in my mid forties. Best of luck to you. | |||
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| Member |
Im scheduled for surgery January 14th, bicep 75% torn, tricep 50% torn. Trying to take off a flat tire that was air wrenched on. Also severe arthritis in the elbow and trigger thumb on that hand. My orthopedic doctor, who has done six other fingers and the other thumb already, says he’ll do the thumb at the same time as total recovery time for the thumb is only six weeks so since I’ll be out of service anyway it makes sense. At least I have three weeks to practice left handed. | |||
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| No ethanol! |
I detached my bicep playing softball while going for fly ball at grass level on the run. Glove acted a a lever at full extension. Anyways.... I had it reattached with outpatient surgery 6 years back w no issues after healing. I'm glad I did that. If that is your elective, doing it as soon as possible is reccomended. ------------------ The plural of anecdote is not data. -Frank Kotsonis | |||
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| TANSTAAFL |
Thanks for sharing. I’ve been pretty nervous about this because at work I need to be able to lift things that weigh a decent amount sometimes. They told me I’d be likely to have about 60% of my normal strength if I didn’t get the surgery. And closer to 90% if I have surgery, so it was a no-brainer to get the surgery. They have me scheduled for surgery on the 31st at the VA. Not sure where else the surgeon works, my pcm works at Duke and the VA. | |||
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Member |
Preacher curls - last set, heard a pop and my biceps withdrew up into my shoulder. MRI confirmed complete tear of the bicep tendon off the forearm. Even though I'm 68 and could 'live' with it, I opted for surgery. Surgeon drilled a hole thru radius, pushed my thick tendon (his words) thru the hole, affixed it with a button and added a screw for further attachment - knowing I would go back to lifting. 2 months recovery and I was back to move lighter weights. 4 months in and I was almost back to normal. During surgery they cut the superficial nerves on the underside of my forearm - so no feeling there anymore. All in all, back to full strength after 1 year. Hardest part was learning to do things with my left hand that the right was responsible for... | |||
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| TANSTAAFL |
Update, I had surgery on New Year’s Eve. Had follow up with the orthopedic surgeon today. She said it was the hardest one she’s ever had to do that didn’t require a graft. Apparently i had a lot of scarring because I’ve had a lot of small tears over the years. And she speculated that the last bit of it let go the night that I had pain in the basement. I was in a sling for a couple of weeks. Since then, I’ve been in a range of motion brace doing passive exercises. My doc is being very conservative in the treatment plan. Fingers crossed things go well because I really have been very not comfortable with just sitting around. I’ve been working since I was a kid. I’ve never taken this much time off. She did at least clear me to start doing some basic walking for exercise so I can get out of the house. I’ve had about enough of Netflix and reading and I love reading. | |||
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Drill Here, Drill Now |
Glad to hear you're on the mend Ego is the anesthesia that deadens the pain of stupidity DISCLAIMER: These are the author's own personal views and do not represent the views of the author's employer. | |||
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| Member |
Other than the scar all the way across the inside of the elbow joint, I don't have any issues. At the time my surgery was done (2012) they sewed it up with 19 stitches -- I understand that they use much smaller incisions now. To avoid the scar tissue, I do have blood drawn from my other arm. Pragmatism: the relentless pursuit of seeing things as they really are. | |||
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| Member |
Good to hear it went well. I’d get a cheap TENS unit off Amazon and freeze that thing as often as you can take with ice. What am I doing? I'm talking to an empty telephone | |||
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| Member |
Glad it went well. Once I fully recovered I noticed one bicep looked different than the other - different attachment point. Back to full strength and mobility though. | |||
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