Torn Bicep?

[TexasCanesFan]

Don't know exactly yet. Think it is long head tendon torn from shoulder

I just had a MRI with contrast about 2 weeks ago looking for the exact same tear in my shoulder.

My Ortho said 3-4 month recovery to get fully cleared.

He ended up finding a SLAP tear (labrum) and a 25-50% rotator cuff tear, plus a minor tear in the long head.

No surgery. Started PT last week.

I don’t think he expected me to have several different tears and the long head is more of a bad strain that anything.

[slayr]

I’d recommend getting in as soon as possible it it’s torn. The longer you wait the more the muscle wants to stay ‘contracted’, typically yielding a bit tougher recovery.

[Beargrasstx]

I tore mine and recovery time was 3 months after surgery before being cleared to lift weights again. Standard 12 weeks by a Dr. for tendon to fully graft back to bone. Surgery was a plate and 2 screws to secure tendon back down to bone. Then it has to graft back for full recovery on its own.

Dr. Holt I believe in Clear Lake area did my procedure.

[Beargrasstx]

I’d recommend getting in as soon as possible it it’s torn. The longer you wait the more the muscle wants to stay ‘contracted’, typically yielding a bit tougher recovery.

YEP and harder for dr to find tendon with his finger and pull back up which will lead to a longer scar and more damage

[Vargas 1695]

Full distal repair here. It was loud pop. Get it checked out soon if you can. Mine is pretty freaky now with the stretching noises and popping sounds with every workout. Fifteen years post surgery I only feel a small difference in strength between arms.

[txjustin]

I tore the distal part of my bicep. Was still attached so I went PRP injection route about 4 months ago. I am pain free and working out back and bicep again, granted lighter weights.


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[Daniel32]

I tore my left distal bicep tendon.

I had the surgery and would do it again in a heart beat. The orthopedic surgeon told me you don't have to have surgery but you will never recover to 100% again. The tendon effects the supination and pronation movements. So if you work with your hands a lot I would recommend it.

Recovery time is 3-4 months. I was driving after a week, and stopped wearing a brace after 3 weeks I was cleared to lift weights again after 3 months and other than some minor discomfort the pain level wasn't bad at all. That being said this happened to my left arm, and I am right hand dominant.

[BrandonA]

I had mine surgically repaired. Tore my bicep and tendon. Had mine done in July and was bow hunting 2nd week in Nov in Kansas

[NWhunter]

PA in orthopedic surgery here. As long as we are dealing with a proximal biceps rupture (long head of biceps tendon), it all depends on age and activity level to me. Myself at age 38 who enjoys working out and elk hunting, although I would think about going the non operative route and leaving it as is, I would likely be happier with repairing it. If I were 70, no doubt I would leave it alone. I give my patient's the pros and cons of surgery and let them decide.

Cons:
"Popeye deformity" biceps looks bunched up. Not an issue for people with fat arms or no vanity

decreased supination strength and endurance. There should be no loss of elbow flexion (bicep curl) either way

some will have some cramping with more vigorous biceps activity as described above

Pros of surgery

no popeye deformity

no cramping chance

fully restored supination strength and endurance

Cons of surgery:

all risks of surgery including but no limited to:

anesthesia

neurovascular injury- the musculocutaneus nerve is 10 millimeters medial to the torn tendon, and if this gets damaged then you will have significant level of dysfunction in the arm/hand permanently. Although, relatively low risk, I am sure there are a small number if instances of this yearly across the country with this surgery.

infection

All things equal, if you want it fixed, you should do it sooner than later. I have worked with surgeons that wanted to fix it quickly and others that said you had 6 months. If I were to fix mine, I would rather have if fixed quickly.

[NWhunter]

A distal biceps rupture is an entirely different injury. For most, these all should be repaired.

[duckhunter175]

Proximal tendon tear here- was a rupture and not complete detachment-- went non-surgical route and it still took quite a bit of time to heal as well as PT.

Heavy lifting days are over- and for whatever reason a straight barbell bench press causes issues compared to a dumbell-- beats me.

I have no doubt a full tenodesis will be in my future at some point (39 now, injured at 34).

[Beargrasstx]

Forgot to add mine was a distal tear on my dominant right arm- I don't remember much, other than 3 months after surgery I could lift weights again. I was 34 or 35 when it happened at work on nights. I went to the company Dr. the following day, told him I heard/felt a pop and showed him the muscle deformity...However, he didn't think it was torn or needed an MRI, so he told me to come back in a week and see him for follow up. Granted, I have a high tolerance of pain and have torn my ACL before. I know what it feels and sounds like to have a significant tear.

I went back a week later, lots of bruising/coloring happened during this timeline. He did some manual test on movement in which I wanted to literally smash his head in from pain he was causing me. He then decided to get an MRI done, finally got that done and showed complete tear.

Had surgery quickly scheduled as it has been a week and half at this point or 2 weeks (memory fuzzy here) Had the surgery at the 2 week or 3 week mark and Dr. Holt explained that my muscle was retracted far up my arm and he had to make a bigger cut and search with his finger to find the tendon. He almost gave up and surgery would have been a failure, all this to say, don't wait too long! I didn't wait by choice but because of dumb company doctor and my own lack of understanding of timeline significance with this injury.

[DamonJ]

Million dollar question..

Have it surgically repaired or roll with it.

Fromt hose with experience, if I have I had surgery no later than Mid May, how long before I am back slinging arrows. I have always been a fairly quick recovery type.

[duckhunter175]

Million dollar question..

Have it surgically repaired or roll with it.

Fromt hose with experience, if I have I had surgery no later than Mid May, how long before I am back slinging arrows. I have always been a fairly quick recovery type.

If you have a tenodesis then I would not plan on bowhunting this season-- don't sacrifice long term recovery for a single season... Mine (non-surgical) happened in April and it was close to the next April before I really felt comfortable drawing back (and I had turned my DW down to 60lbs).

However- I haven't had any issues since then; I've found and become comfortable with my limits and feel like I made the right choice for longevity.

[Daniel32]

Million dollar question..

Have it surgically repaired or roll with it.

From those with experience, if I have I had surgery no later than Mid May, how long before I am back slinging arrows. I have always been a fairly quick recovery type.

Pending no set back or anything. You'll be 100% by mid September. By August you'll probably be able to start drawing back some, but I'd take it easy. From personal experience I felt fine after 2 months, but I didn't try to over do it as I didn't want to set myself back any and start over. That was the hardest part is "feeling" 100% but knowing you're not 100%.

My surgery was in November 2022 and I was lifting weights in February 2023, and back to my normal routine by March 2023. Other than some minor discomfort lifting weights at the beginning (mostly bicep curls) I've been good.