I have a complete Distal (near elbow) bicep tendon tear and am leaning toward surgery. Anybody have this done and what was the outcome? I am 50 and very active so it looks like I will get this done soon. Thanks in advance.
Bicep Tendon Tear
- Thread starter hoghunter
- Start date
if you're 50 and active, get it fixed---for sure. needs to be fixed within 10-14 days, ideally, so the tendon does not retract. get it done by someone who's comfortable doing the surgery (a hand/elbow specialist, or shoulder/elbow specialist--not a general orthopedic surgeon), as this is not a very common injury and surgical technique is crucial to having a good outcome.
follow postop instructions and don't be too aggressive too early with your activity. you'll lose 50% of your elbow flexion strength if you don't get it fixxed---its a no brainer
follow postop instructions and don't be too aggressive too early with your activity. you'll lose 50% of your elbow flexion strength if you don't get it fixxed---its a no brainer
Read above.
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i tore a muscle in my quad area about 12 years ago. completed ripped off the bone and retracted and balled up at the top my leg. I asked the doc if I should get surgery. Doctor told me dont' worry about it that it wouldn't affect anything. That was one time I wish I hadn't listened to the doctor.
How does one tear the tendon exactly?
The distal biceps always tears under a forced eccentric contraction. The biceps muscle contracts while undergoing an uncontrolled lengthening. Picture doing a biceps curl with a weight that is far too heavy. As the weight forces your arm down the tendon tears.
Someone drops a box that's too heavy and you try to catch it. Oddly, this injury never happens in women---never
Thanks for the replies. Just got back from the doctor and I will have the surgery done once I screen one more doctor and choose the best of the bunch. One dr actually said not to have it done but I look like a freak with a Popeye looking arm on one side...not. I'll roll the dice...Miss a couple of weeks of work (office) and then 2-3 months of pt if I'm lucky.
They usually don't lift with enough weight to cause damage :shrug:
Good thing, because they need their strength in the kitchen
epper:
That doesn't sound fun at all.
I wouldn't recommend non-operative treatment at all. Find a hand/elbow specialist and go for it. The pt is a pain in the butt, but you should make a complete recovery if you follow directions.
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And this doctor, did he look like Groucho Marx?!? Wonder how many patients that one killed. :nonono:
Definitely get it repaired ASAP or you'll never be the same again. I've torn a couple things in my time and have always elected surgery to correct, but unfortunately waited longer than I should've and paid with discomfort and weakness till it was fixed. Always remember, if something breaks, something else has to bear the weight and work harder to account for it. :beer:
I've torn my long and short head bicep tendon (at the shoulder). Luckily they weren't full tears (mid-high level 2) so surgery wasn't necessary. I still needed PT and to refrain from bearing weight for nearly 3 months. Definitely sucked, but it could have been worse.
Get the surgery. If it is a tear I have to believe it hurts?
I ripped my bicep muscle right off the bone, didn't even hurt. Sounded like someone tearing a towel. Took about 9 months after surgery for the pain doing things went away completely
I ripped my bicep muscle right off the bone, didn't even hurt. Sounded like someone tearing a towel. Took about 9 months after surgery for the pain doing things went away completely
I tore a tendon in my shoulder about 10 years ago. I didn't have medical insurance since I was in college.
It took a few months for the pain to go away. My strength has never returned and it still hurts.
I say get the surgery asap.
It took a few months for the pain to go away. My strength has never returned and it still hurts.
I say get the surgery asap.
I heard that's a painful one, good luck with the recovery
Budddy at the gym tore bicep just like you did. Had surgery about 3 weeks later and returned to the gym 2 months later. I believe he said it was 6 months before he was back to his competition lifts.
I have had my distal bicep torn. It was torn 80% and comp took forever to get it fixed. They attach these little things that almost look like harpoons to your bone and attach the torn parts to them with stitches. I have a scar thats 5" in length on the inside portion of my forearm at about a 45 degree angle to my wrist.
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