Arm hurts to extend -right below bicep

[sweetbecky]

I can't straighten my arm without it hurting. It feels like something is pulling hard on a tendon or ligament. When I bend my arm, it feels fine.

I hadn't worked biceps directly in probably 2 weeks, so I probably overdid it. But my bicep workout was on Saturday - this is Wednesday. Had a bit of normal soreness Sunday, but yesterday it really started to hurt.

What's going on?

edited to add: After my run yesterday I was able to straighten my arm while walking and it felt okay, like it just needed some blood flow. But I sit at a computer all day at work, so my arm is constantly bent. When I got up and tried to straighten it, it hurt to the point where I couldn't extend it completely.

[deserusan]

Where exactly is the pain.........and is it dull or sharp?

[sweetbecky]

It's right in the crook of my elbow, on the inside (palm up side). It feels like an extreme stretching that is painful, I don't want to fully extend at all, but it's not sharp or dull.

I'm thinking tendon or ligament... I don't know whether to keep it bent for a while (like the achilles tendon, you actually take pressure off it and not stretch until all pain is goine) or try to lengthen it as much as possible.

Hurts a lot in the morning after I wake up. I'm trying not to bend my arm while sleeping, but it seems kind of impossible.

[brutalfinn]

Dude... sounds like you just worked your brachialis pretty hard. Take it easy.

[deserusan]

Did you do anything that would have stressed your arm while it was fully extended which could have caused hyper-extension (bending the arm in the opposite direction)?

[sweetbecky]

Did you do anything that would have stressed your arm while it was fully extended which could have caused hyper-extension (bending the arm in the opposite direction)?

nope...

[deserusan]

nope...

Well it sounds like you somehow strained your distal bicep tendon. Have you ever had tendonitis?

[sweetbecky]

Well it sounds like you somehow strained your distal bicep tendon. Have you ever had tendonitis?

nope. I've had bursitis from overuse in both knees, but never any tendon/ligament problems. This feels entirely different.

I was able to lift higher reps on Saturday. I normally can curl 15's no more than 6 reps, maybe 2 sets, but I was able to do 8 reps 3 sets before moving down to 12's (btw, I'm a girl).

[deserusan]

nope. I've had bursitis from overuse in both knees, but never any tendon/ligament problems. This feels entirely different.

I was able to lift higher reps on Saturday. I normally can curl 15's no more than 6 reps, maybe 2 sets, but I was able to do 8 reps 3 sets before moving down to 12's (btw, I'm a girl).

Is there any inflammation or pain when you touch the area?

[Uriel_da_man]

It's probably a microtear gone bad in the brachialis. Happens to me all the time on my hamstrings. It'll go away in a week or so, just let it rest.

[sweetbecky]

Is there any inflammation or pain when you touch the area?

nope, none.

[deserusan]

nope, none.

I'm out of questions ..........I'd recommend laying off most pulling exercises for a little bit to it heal.

[sweetbecky]

I'm out of questions ..........I'd recommend laying off most pulling exercises for a little bit to it heal.

I think I'll just do gentle stretches when it feels good, but not force anything. Basically I'm going to treat it like an achilles tendon strain. Hopefully it'll just be a few days.

[Flex500]

It's right in the crook of my elbow, on the inside (palm up side). It feels like an extreme stretching that is painful, I don't want to fully extend at all, but it's not sharp or dull.

I'm thinking tendon or ligament... I don't know whether to keep it bent for a while (like the achilles tendon, you actually take pressure off it and not stretch until all pain is goine) or try to lengthen it as much as possible.

Hurts a lot in the morning after I wake up. I'm trying not to bend my arm while sleeping, but it seems kind of impossible.

a strain of the distal biceps tendon is one of the most common injuries in sports/weightlifting. A tear of the distal biceps is the MOST common muscle tear in the upper body with athletes and weightlifters.

You probably just over did it but I would wait until it calms down before you hit back or arms again. Just ice it down and GENTLY stretch it. It should get better rather quickly