Torn Bicep

[Capt. America]

After my RC surgery I had a partial tear where it meets the shoulder, tried to come back a bit too fast. Got a cortisone shot and 2 weeks rest. It still bothers me a bit but like the RC, straight bar barbell exercises seem to aggrevate it so everythings dumbells and ez curl bar.

[dcraiga]

A year is a very good estimate by your Dr. I went through it in 2005 and it was right at a year when I resumed lifting my normal weight etc. Don't push too fast, recovery is important, it is weak right now and takes time to heal and gain strength. Still great you are stay so active!!

[fredgul]

Originally Posted by leodegranz

Had my surgery two days ago. The tendon was 50% torn.

i had same 50 % rupture in my left biceps tendon. what kind of surgery you had ? i have still retraction around an inch. is your both arm looking same or your biceps rolled up a little as mine ?

[leodegranz]

Sorry Fredgul,


I haven't logged on in a while. I opted for the single incision with the bioabsorbable screw. Basically they snipped the tendon, reinforced it and screw it down into the bone. Initially I had a little numbness around the incision, but at five months it has completely returned. I've been cleared to resume exercising, and have even done a few pull-ups. I'm happy with the results, and I'm easing back into the exercises.

I didn't have any retraction, but the arm was weaker with lingering pain. I waited a few months prior to the surgery to see if it would get better, but it didn't.

[wild1poet2]

it's been over a year since I posted in this thread. Funny reading it cuz I sound confident that I had rehabbed the injury. I have a prtially torn distal bicep tendon. I see my surgeon tomorrow. I think I tore it more over the holidays. Hurts pretty bad now when I do pull ups, shrugs and curls. Deadlifts aren't bad but it feels like something is ready to snap. Definitely inflamed. If I need the surgery I'll do it but I'm nervous about the long recovery and whether I'll just re-tear it a year from now with heavy lifts.

Post surgery, anyone know how soon I'll be able to shift a car or ride a motorcycle let alone lift a heavy weight?

[leodegranz]

Sorry to hear about it...


The "robocop" brace will prevent you from riding your bike while you've got it on. My current car is an automatic, and I can't even imagine trying to shift in the early weeks. It was a pain in the ass just dealing with the automatic in the brace.

On the plus side, I only stopped lifting during the first week. I kept my sanity by doing unilateral dumbell exercises with my left arm, assisted pull-ups, leg press, etc. I was cleared to lift weights and even attempt pull-ups at the five month mark. It's now six months, and I've managed to do sets of three to four pull-ups.

I have no regrets about the surgery, and I'm very happily and cautiously ramping back up.

[JRT6]

Originally Posted by Capt. America

After my RC surgery I had a partial tear where it meets the shoulder, tried to come back a bit too fast. Got a cortisone shot and 2 weeks rest. It still bothers me a bit but like the RC, straight bar barbell exercises seem to aggrevate it so everythings dumbells and ez curl bar.

I don't curl that ofter anymore but when I do I raise the bar to my forehead and that seems to take a lot of pressure off my shoulders.

[zipp0]

Originally Posted by fredgul

i had same 50 % rupture in my left biceps tendon. what kind of surgery you had ? i have still retraction around an inch. is your both arm looking same or your biceps rolled up a little as mine ?

Do you have retraction after the surgery? I had surgery 3 1/2 months ago using the endo button method and I now have about a 1- 1 1/2 inch gap between my bicep and my elbow crease. I'm worried that this means I've partially retorn it somehow. Although it is possible that the Doctor just didn't tension it properly (although I'm not sure which is worse) Anybody have any ideas?

[JoeFab]

I partially tore mine at the shoulder. Doc recommended surgery, I said no. In about 6 weeks it was OK to work out and has subsequently become much stronger.

I tore it playing raquetball of all things. It hurt like you cannot believe for about 30 minutes, I thought I was gonna piss myself.

Anybody who goes through this, I can certainly empathize.

Photos not for the squeamish!

[merlins_ego]

Im 50 and have been training for almost 30 years .. but it so happens i tore approx 1/3 of my bicep muscle off helping a mate moving house ! .. lol .. these things never happen when you expect i.e. pulling some massive weight in a preacher !

The pain is quite intense in that first instance ... and in my case i didn't tear tendon , i tore the actual bicep muscle itself .. no surgery can be done for this type of injury as muscle is like tissue paper to sew .. hence your left with whatever scar tissue forms .. not pleasant !

Anyway .. i share your pain boys !

[iwanttobebieve]

I am a 47 yr old female athlete. I went through bicep tendon surgery 7wks ago. I had then accidently retore it. a week ago. I want to have the surgery again. I have heard it is not necessary because that tendon is not necessary. What do you think I should?

[JonnyStead]

Originally Posted by iwanttobebieve

I am a 47 yr old female athlete. I went through bicep tendon surgery 7wks ago. I had then accidently retore it. a week ago. I want to have the surgery again. I have heard it is not necessary because that tendon is not necessary. What do you think I should?

Um - there arent many unnecessary parts of the body - and I dont think tendons are one of them. I'd get it looked at.

[boathead]

not a torn bicep, but i did have a torn bicep tendon surgically repaired in january. oddly, i had no clue. i thought i simply had an effed up shoulder.

9 months later, it still bothers me. and this is without working out, which may or may not have been good. am only starting back, and too early to tell if it will be a benefit or detriment.