Bicep Issue

[HuskerDocCo]

@HuskerDocCo @ThomOsborneMD

well if this opee would stop whalin away on his wiener every 3 hours his bicep wouldn’t have any issues BELLCHH!

 

[Kaladin]

well if this opee would stop whalin away on his wiener every 3 hours his bicep wouldn’t have any issues BELLCHH!

The Book of Counsel, Chapter 4, Verses 15-18

15 And lo, a man did speak in haste, saying, “If this one would cease from his ceaseless toil and refrain from his indulgence every three hours, his strength would not falter.”

16 And he spake with a loud voice, “Verily, the toil of the flesh, when unchecked, bringeth forth weariness and weakness unto the body.”

17 For his hands were ever occupied in unholy labor, and his bicep, though mighty, did suffer.

18 And he cried out, “BELLCHH! Let wisdom reign and temperance guide thy ways!”

Amen.

 

[alt f4]

 

[jaihawk]

Finally got around to having an MRI. They called with the results today... No idea what all of this means but have a meeting on Monday with an Orthopedic Doc to go over it. I'm guessing surgery...

FINDINGS:
Osteochondral structures: No significant elbow effusion. No significant marrow edema proximal radius or
ulna. No significant marrow edema within the distal humerus. No fracture.

Tendons: Mild triceps tendinosis. Brachialis tendon is intact. There is moderate to severe biceps tendinosis
with moderate surrounding tenosynovial fluid low-grade partial-thickness tearing of the distal biceps tendon.
No high-grade or full-thickness tear. No significant tendon retraction.

Medial structures: Ulnar collateral ligament is intact. Mild medial epicondylitis. Focus of low signal at the
anterior and superior margin of the common flexor tendon this apparently calcific. No radiographs available
for comparison.

Lateral structures: Radial collateral ligament lateral ulnar collateral ligament. Moderate lateral epicondylitis
mild superficial fraying and minimal interstitial tearing. No high-grade or full-thickness tear.

Soft tissue/other: No significant elbow effusion. Normal fat within the cubital tunnel. Ulnar nerve is
unremarkable. No muscular edema or atrophy.

 

[tman87]

Finally got around to having an MRI. They called with the results today... No idea what all of this means but have a meeting on Monday with an Orthopedic Doc to go over it. I'm guessing surgery...

FINDINGS:
Osteochondral structures: No significant elbow effusion. No significant marrow edema proximal radius or
ulna. No significant marrow edema within the distal humerus. No fracture.

Tendons: Mild triceps tendinosis. Brachialis tendon is intact. There is moderate to severe biceps tendinosis
with moderate surrounding tenosynovial fluid low-grade partial-thickness tearing of the distal biceps tendon.
No high-grade or full-thickness tear. No significant tendon retraction.

Medial structures: Ulnar collateral ligament is intact. Mild medial epicondylitis. Focus of low signal at the
anterior and superior margin of the common flexor tendon this apparently calcific. No radiographs available
for comparison.

Lateral structures: Radial collateral ligament lateral ulnar collateral ligament. Moderate lateral epicondylitis
mild superficial fraying and minimal interstitial tearing. No high-grade or full-thickness tear.

Soft tissue/other: No significant elbow effusion. Normal fat within the cubital tunnel. Ulnar nerve is
unremarkable. No muscular edema or atrophy.

I tore my distal/lower biceps tendon on my left arm twice. Tore my proximal/upper biceps tendon on my right arm once.

All were complete tears. Distal complete tears are a more complicated surgery - they bore a hole through your foream bone and suture a piece of cord to your remaining tendon, then pull that through the hole and anchor it with a piece of metal. Proximal tears are easier to repair.

You don't have a complete tear, which is a good thing. However, I had no symptoms or warnings when I first tore my distal/lower tendon the first time. Nor did I have any symptoms or warnings for my proximal/upper tear on my right arm. Having played college football, then have been a contractor/builder for many years, the best guess is simply lots and lots of higher intensity use as the reasons. They really don't know.

Will be interested to hear what your doctor says about this once you meet with him/her. But not having a full tear or tear-off from the bone is a good thing. You may need to manage/watch how you use your biceps/arms from now on. I will never have the same strength I had, but I can function normally since the surgeries. I am more careful with heavier weights now than before the tears.

 

[jaihawk]

I tore my distal/lower biceps tendon on my left arm twice. Tore my proximal/upper biceps tendon on my right arm once.

All were complete tears. Distal complete tears are a more complicated surgery - they bore a hole through your foream bone and suture a piece of cord to your remaining tendon, then pull that through the hole and anchor it with a piece of metal. Proximal tears are easier to repair.

You don't have a complete tear, which is a good thing. However, I had no symptoms or warnings when I first tore my distal/lower tendon the first time. Nor did I have any symptoms or warnings for my proximal/upper tear on my right arm. Having played college football, then have been a contractor/builder for many years, the best guess is simply lots and lots of higher intensity use as the reasons. They really don't know.

Will be interested to hear what your doctor says about this once you meet with him/her. But not having a full tear or tear-off from the bone is a good thing. You may need to manage/watch how you use your biceps/arms from now on. I will never have the same strength I had, but I can function normally since the surgeries. I am more careful with heavier weights now than before the tears.

Funny that you mentioned that surgery, as I just watched a video about it and was wondering if they might have to do that if it was enough of a partial tear. Hasn't gotten any better over the last 6 months unfortunately.

 

[tman87]

Funny that you mentioned that surgery, as I just watched a video about it and was wondering if they might have to do that if it was enough of a partial tear. Hasn't gotten any better over the last 6 months unfortunately.

Yeah it's a fairly complicated surgery. My first surgery didn't last (not sure why - but i think the cord they sutured to my remaining tendon tore loose) so they had to do it again. I also watched multiple videos on how they do it, as my surgeon told me it was a more involved surgery and I should watch what they actually do. The upper tendon surgery is not as complicated, nor is the recovery as long (still need to recover of course).

A person can get by with only 1 of the 2 biceps tendons attached/not torn, but you'd lose half or more of your strength. Also, my bicep muscles were warped badly from both injuries pre-surgery, due to not having tendons pulling the bicep muscle to its normal position. Not only did I not want to try to function as a contractor/builder with half or less strength in my bicep (plus I am very active and didn't want to be gimped that way), but I didn't want a deformed bicep muscle either.

Do your research, and obviously listen to what your doc says. For me, the surgeries were a no-brainer for several reasons. For some (older folks or those that don't need full strength and/or don't care about a deformed looking bicep muscle), they opt to just live with it. 6 months with no improvement is a long time, and it sounds like this issue could effect you negatively for many years if not life.

 

[jaihawk]

Yeah it's a fairly complicated surgery. My first surgery didn't last (not sure why - but i think the cord they sutured to my remaining tendon tore loose) so they had to do it again. I also watched multiple videos on how they do it, as my surgeon told me it was a more involved surgery and I should watch what they actually do. The upper tendon surgery is not as complicated, nor is the recovery as long (still need to recover of course).

A person can get by with only 1 of the 2 biceps tendons attached/not torn, but you'd lose half or more of your strength. Also, my bicep muscles were warped badly from both injuries pre-surgery, due to not having tendons pulling the bicep muscle to its normal position. Not only did I not want to try to function as a contractor/builder with half or less strength in my bicep (plus I am very active and didn't want to be gimped that way), but I didn't want a deformed bicep muscle either.

Do your research, and obviously listen to what your doc says. For me, the surgeries were a no-brainer for several reasons. For some (older folks or those that don't need full strength and/or don't care about a deformed looking bicep muscle), they opt to just live with it. 6 months with no improvement is a long time, and it sounds like this issue could effect you negatively for many years if not life.

I appreciate the feedback. I'm far too active to want to continue with the discomfort and lack of strength, so if they say surgery, it'll be a no brainer for me as well.

 

[tman87]

I appreciate the feedback. I'm far too active to want to continue with the discomfort and lack of strength, so if they say surgery, it'll be a no brainer for me as well.

Good luck man. My guess is they will say surgery optional, your decision. And you gave a lot of info from the MRI, but hell you never know what a doc will say. 6 months is a long time to go with no improvement.

 

[alt f4]

I completely disagree that the distal bicep tendon tear surgery is bad, a tough recovery, or causes loss of strength. It's all about your rehab and the surgeon. I had Dr. Dane Todd and created my own rehab program.

I tore mine deadlifting with an alternate grip. Had surgery March 23, 2022. 5 months later I was back to a 585 lb deadlift. 605 was just after at 6 months post surgery and was the weight I tore it at. Hit lots of 640 to 650 afterwards. No loss of strength, size, mobility, or discomfort. 5 weeks post surgery check up it was back to 90% pre-surgery size. I was 41 when I tore it so out of my prime, but fully recovered to where I was when tearing it.

 

[tman87]

I completely disagree that the distal bicep tendon tear surgery is bad, a tough recovery, or causes loss of strength. It's all about your rehab and the surgeon. I had Dr. Dane Todd and created my own rehab program.

I tore mine deadlifting with an alternate grip. Had surgery March 23, 2022. 5 months later I was back to a 585 lb deadlift. 605 was just after at 6 months post surgery and was the weight I tore it at. Hit lots of 640 to 650 afterwards. No loss of strength, size, mobility, or discomfort. 5 weeks post surgery check up it was back to 90% pre-surgery size. I was 41 when I tore it so out of my prime, but fully recovered to where I was when tearing it.

Yeah, the recovery isn't necessarily bad or long. Longer for the lower than upper tendon. The lower tendon surgery is a lot more involved for what they have to do, which is the main thing.

Glad to hear your recovery was quick and went well! I was back working - well too soon - after my initial surgery. So I agree that the reovery time is not that bad, just have to map it out properly and be smart about it.

I am more careful with both arms since I have had both bicep tendons snap. But being a builder/contractor, there is only so much "careful" one can do at times.

 

[Samkellers_69]

 

[jaihawk]

I completely disagree that the distal bicep tendon tear surgery is bad, a tough recovery, or causes loss of strength. It's all about your rehab and the surgeon. I had Dr. Dane Todd and created my own rehab program.

I tore mine deadlifting with an alternate grip. Had surgery March 23, 2022. 5 months later I was back to a 585 lb deadlift. 605 was just after at 6 months post surgery and was the weight I tore it at. Hit lots of 640 to 650 afterwards. No loss of strength, size, mobility, or discomfort. 5 weeks post surgery check up it was back to 90% pre-surgery size. I was 41 when I tore it so out of my prime, but fully recovered to where I was when tearing it.

I'm meeting with Dr. Siefert. I saw Dane Todd was one of their Doctors. Blast from the past...

 

[Scott Hall]

I completely disagree that the distal bicep tendon tear surgery is bad, a tough recovery, or causes loss of strength. It's all about your rehab and the surgeon. I had Dr. Dane Todd and created my own rehab program.

I tore mine deadlifting with an alternate grip. Had surgery March 23, 2022. 5 months later I was back to a 585 lb deadlift. 605 was just after at 6 months post surgery and was the weight I tore it at. Hit lots of 640 to 650 afterwards. No loss of strength, size, mobility, or discomfort. 5 weeks post surgery check up it was back to 90% pre-surgery size. I was 41 when I tore it so out of my prime, but fully recovered to where I was when tearing it.

I’m not even close to that much DL and I’ll never compete so I’m strapping up anything over 315. Seen too many bad videos of bicep injuries from alternate grip.