Complete tear of distal bicep tendon

behindyou

behindyou

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Well, after years of power lifting I finally did some damage. Preacher curls - heard a pop and then blinding pain. Rt biceps immediately recoiled into my shoulder - MRI says about 3 inches shorter than the other arm. Yeah! Ultrasound - yep, something is wrong. Xray - no bone damage. MRI - next stop, surgery. Reading through the procedure - pretty straight forward - 1 hour tops.

What KILLS me is the 4-6 months recovery - and PT - and a fixed arm brace.

Anyone else experienced this fun and exciting procedure - any thoughts on best way to accelerate recovery?
 
My friend is a PT fanatic and works out like a madman. He's about 5' 6" tall but benches just shy of 500 and is also a cardi beast too. He's done it THREE times. Once was when a 100 pound K9 decided to go one way and he was leaning the other-the other two were in the gym I think. Both arms afflicted. Surgery each time and then one surgery to correct some missed damage (OR he re-injured it by not waiting long enough per docs orders.) He's 57 and lives on anti-inflammatory drugs (both OTC, supplements and maybe Rx?). Just don't be that guy. 😬
 
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Ouch. You had me at the blinding pain part. No, can’t say I’ve had to go through something like that and 4-6 months is rough, but at least it will heal.
 
I’m at the later spectrum than your friend. 66yo (max bench 405). Always very careful with technique. This time pushed for one more rep and that was the mistake. Hopefully surgery this week. And the 4-6 months recovery will be tough but I don’t want to re-injure.
 
You know who never tears their distal bicep tendon? Fat guys eating Cheetos on the couch ;)

I've heard TENS treatment can help with recovery from this sort of thing because it basically makes the whatever twitch with electricity. But I'd talk to a doctor first rather than some meme dispenser on the internets.
 
behindyou said:
I’m at the later spectrum than your friend. 66yo (max bench 405). Always very careful with technique. This time pushed for one more rep and that was the mistake. Hopefully surgery this week. And the 4-6 months recovery will be tough but I don’t want to re-injure.
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Dude. You deserve a hat tip...keeping it real at 66!
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behindyou said:
Well, after years of power lifting I finally did some damage. Preacher curls - heard a pop and then blinding pain. Rt biceps immediately recoiled into my shoulder - MRI says about 3 inches shorter than the other arm. Yeah! Ultrasound - yep, something is wrong. Xray - no bone damage. MRI - next stop, surgery. Reading through the procedure - pretty straight forward - 1 hour tops.

What KILLS me is the 4-6 months recovery - and PT - and a fixed arm brace.

Anyone else experienced this fun and exciting procedure - any thoughts on best way to accelerate recovery?
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To your last statement, I think "planning on discontinuing power lifting" would be a first step.

I had some frayed tendon / bone spurs . They stretched the tendon (or ligament, can't recall which) over the joint and fastened the far end to the bone. That was 20 yrs ago, and it's still tight and occasionally painful. Not as painful as before though (the blinding white light that occurred when I reached back to grab my shoulder harness seat belt, or put my arm in a jacket sleeve.
 
It's a great habit to want to stay in shape, stay strong and all of those good things...... but be realistic on what your body can handle. There is a difference between pushing yourself to improve and going overboard. At younger ages, it's less risky to push yourself harder (go overboard) but as you get older it's usually the opposite.

These is a man named Ronnie Coleman who won Mr. Olympia several times and who knows how many more body building awards. That man is severely paying for it now. This once incredible physically strong/fit super human being is in serious back/hip/joint pain every day. I think he competed at 280 something and his everyday weight was probably 325 or so. In addition to being larger/heavier than what his natural genetics would have allowed , he also pushed some seriously heavy weight that has damaged his load bearing bone structure. I can't imagine the pain that man has in his back, hips, ankles, knees, etc.

Tendons and ligaments just take longer to heal. Do your PT as recommended....... you might be stronger than the average person but work your way back slowly. If you explain your workout situation you might get a referral to a sports medicine doctor who might prescribe you something for the short term that might help you heal a little faster. Just don't get carried away with it.

Good luck and take care of yourself.
 
I got a cortisone shot in my bicep tendon 14 years ago for tendonitis. That sucked out loud on its own. Best wishes with the recovery.

Just had tenex done on my left Achilles about 10 days ago. 4.5 more weeks in a boot for me.
 
my brother-in-law tore his left bicep and the doctor told him:

1. surgery and rehab is not worth it.
2. you can live a full life (lift children) with what he has.
3. stop weight training. the right is sure to tear since it will take the increase. stop.
 
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My brother did this while rappelling, balled up in his chest. He was out of work for 3 months.
 
Tore my left one had surgery Feb 23. Was off from my desk job for a week or so. Fixed arm brace sucked....I recovered fairly quickly...rode. my motorcycle to my last Dr. appointment.
I started a new job in March and was traveling with a 50 lb tool bag plus suitcases. Was a bit tough at first.
 
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behindyou said:
I've heard of BPC-157 - where did you get it. presume oral vs injectable.......
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I don’t know why the link is coming up “you’re being directed”
IMG_0839.jpeg
They have 10%-15% discounts all the time.
I’m getting the 10ml, adding bacteriostatic water for 14 days of 15ml sub Q injection.
I learned about the stuff after my son pushed too hard and tore tendons off of his pelvis.
He was back doing squats in a few months.

I work on heavy equipment and have bouts of tennis elbow on & off for decades. The 157 has made a noticeable difference.
 
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behindyou said:
I’m at the later spectrum than your friend. 66yo (max bench 405). Always very careful with technique. This time pushed for one more rep and that was the mistake. Hopefully surgery this week. And the 4-6 months recovery will be tough but I don’t want to re-injure.
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You are officially older now. Tone it done when you rehab and heal up. 25 year old models don’t want you anyway. 😬

Seriously, it is great that you can do that at your age, but I have found that an enema by a gay nurse helped cure me of the ego that causes those type off injuries. Hope it all heals quickly.

I tore my bicep slightly less than that about 4 years ago. It was still barely attached. I did PT and very slowly resumed normal life. As with all these health things exercise and good food will help.

Be well.
 
I gave up powerlifting at 48 because I thought I was about to tear something.

I was 450 max bench at the time and deadlifting about 650.

But it just wasn’t worth the risk for me. I switched to lighter weights and higher reps. My joints are a lot happier.

I laid out of the gym for almost 2 years and put on about 40 lbs of fat.

I’ve about got all of that off now so I’m going to keep up the cardio and start the high rep weight lifting again.

I’ve lost some of the swole but I’m getting leaner and more cut.
 
Chdamn said:
I gave up powerlifting at 48 because I thought I was about to tear something.

I was 450 max bench at the time and deadlifting about 650.

But it just wasn’t worth the risk for me. I switched to lighter weights and higher reps. My joints are a lot happier.

I laid out of the gym for almost 2 years and put on about 40 lbs of fat.

I’ve about got all of that off now so I’m going to keep up the cardio and start the high rep weight lifting again.

I’ve lost some of the swole but I’m getting leaner and more cut.
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Time to use your wit and wisdom to mess people up instead of pure power. It takes so damn long to recover from injury as you age it makes more sense to avoid it. When you are 20 a torn muscle is a couple weeks. Now it’s months.
 
behindyou said:
Well, after years of power lifting I finally did some damage. Preacher curls - heard a pop and then blinding pain. Rt biceps immediately recoiled into my shoulder - MRI says about 3 inches shorter than the other arm. Yeah! Ultrasound - yep, something is wrong. Xray - no bone damage. MRI - next stop, surgery. Reading through the procedure - pretty straight forward - 1 hour tops.

What KILLS me is the 4-6 months recovery - and PT - and a fixed arm brace.

Anyone else experienced this fun and exciting procedure - any thoughts on best way to accelerate recovery?
Click to expand...
Had those exact surgery in 2020, right before Covid. They told me 1.5 hours, it was closer to 3 or 4 as it had retracted so much they couldn't get it pulled down. They told me I didn't need the surgery, but would lose up to 25% of mobility and strength, said I might have trouble turning doorknobs occasionally...I thought it was very much worth it. Rehab wasn't bad, I started earlier than I should've and it went pretty fast, sometimes painful but pushing it a bit to keep it lose was good. I bought a bunch of the putty to strengthen my arm and grip. I will say I still have numbness on the top of my hand, it's improved...but it was terrible for 3 months. I could put boiling water on it or stab it and not feel anything. Now it's occasionally numb and has tingles in it most often.

Feel free to PM if you have any questions
 
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I did ask my surgeon if i had anything to worry about it happening again. He told me they anchor it back through the bone in your forearm, which eventually makes it stronger. I've never had an issue with it feeling weak or like it would happen again.
 
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Thanks for all the info. Once this surgery is over and rehab is done, I’ll convert to moderate weight and higher reps. Unfortunately I do like the SWOL.
 
Had complete rotator cuff and bicep tendon reattachment surgery plus some other stuff in 2021. Arm was useless had to get it repaired.
Surgery went went well, (had long acting nerve block) after surgery was painful, pain meds helped very little.
Used an ice water saddle/shoulder circulation thing and slept in a recliner for 3 weeks.
Pain gradually subsided over next 5 weeks, Pt was for 4 months. Full use of arm was after 6 months. Now it is least painful part of my body.
 
Dan said:
Had complete rotator cuff and bicep tendon reattachment surgery plus some other stuff in 2021. Arm was useless had to get it repaired.
Surgery went went well, (had long acting nerve block) after surgery was painful, pain meds helped very little.
Used an ice water saddle/shoulder circulation thing and slept in a recliner for 3 weeks.
Pain gradually subsided over next 5 weeks, Pt was for 4 months. Full use of arm was after 6 months. Now it is least painful part of my body.
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Same in 2014 (maybe 2013). Totally agree.
 
behindyou said:
Surgery as an outpatient yesterday. Great support team, surgeon was Chief of Staff at Atrium Musculoskeletal Center. 45 minute under the knife. Feel good, fixed bandage, no pain. Lets hope recovery and PT goes quickly and smoothly.
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Glad you are feeling good. PT is going to hurt, but it’s worth the pain. Make sure you follow their instructions there and while at home and you’ll be good as new in no time.
 
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