Bicep tendonitis...anyone?

[Centurion07]

Anyone have any experience of it?

I been what I would call "seriously" weight training since the end of last summer and am now starting to see some real results which is why the following is so annoying.

In the last 2/3 weeks I've developed bicep tendonitis in my left arm so it REALLY limits the kind of upper body stuff I can do. The pain is also somehow there whilst doing chest work as well?!

So, does anyone have an idea on recovery time and any ideas on what kind of upper body stuff I CAN do?

Yes I know I can use Google but I'd rather get some personal perspectives on it.

[goldblum]

There are two bicep tendons that attach at the shoulder, the short and the long head. Of the two the long head of the bicep tendon is the one weightlifters most often damage. Is this the tendon you've injured?

[balders118]

Tendonopathies really are a PITA injury to have. Recovery time can vary significantly as it's an overuse injury so it depends how bad the effected area is, and how well you rest it. If you continue to aggrivate it, it will not get better. In terms of what exercises you can do it's simple, if it's painful don't do it-you will just prolong the recovery time.

[Centurion07]

goldblum said:

There are two bicep tendons that attach at the shoulder, the short and the long head. Of the two the long head of the bicep tendon is the one weightlifters most often damage. Is this the tendon you've injured?

It's distal bicep tendonitis, so basically the forearm. Probably caused by me doing dumbell bench presses but twisting the dumbells as I bring them up together. Also I switched to hammer curls from preachers & introduced deadlifts into my workouts 2/3 weeks ago.

As I read on another site though, at first you don't realise what it is so just keep working out thinking you'll beast it away. By the time you realise what it is the damage is done.

[goldblum]

Centurion07 said:

It's distal bicep tendonitis, so basically the forearm. Probably caused by me doing dumbell bench presses but twisting the dumbells as I bring them up together. Also I switched to hammer curls from preachers & introduced deadlifts into my workouts 2/3 weeks ago.

As I read on another site though, at first you don't realise what it is so just keep working out thinking you'll beast it away. By the time you realise what it is the damage is done.

Uh-huh OK. Did that one myself hooking a heavy bag years ago.
Most likely to be the hammer curls that did the damage...just too much work/too heavy.
There's plenty of exercises you can still do for upper body but you need to keep the elbows as straight as possible. Dumbbells rather than bar for chest. Pullovers etc... .
The injury won't heal until you rest it though so plan a month off some time ahead, get in a supply of anti-inflammatories, and don't go crazy anymore. Best thing if you take a summer holiday would be to stop training the week before and start physio and anti-inflammatories, a good two weeks in the sun then another week when you get back.

[Centurion07]

goldblum said:

Uh-huh OK. Did that one myself hooking a heavy bag years ago.
Most likely to be the hammer curls that did the damage...just too much work/too heavy.
There's plenty of exercises you can still do for upper body but you need to keep the elbows as straight as possible. Dumbbells rather than bar for chest. Pullovers etc... .
The injury won't heal until you rest it though so plan a month off some time ahead, get in a supply of anti-inflammatories, and don't go crazy anymore. Best thing if you take a summer holiday would be to stop training the week before and start physio and anti-inflammatories, a good two weeks in the sun then another week when you get back.

When the pain became a bit more apparent I switched to doing straight-arm back stuff but as I said there's still some degree of pain there even when doing chest work as well.

I'm basically going to stop that kind of workout now as I'm training for a Tough Mudder in June so need to get on the treadmill a lot more. Would have just been nice to continue at least a basic upper body workout at decent weights alongside the cv.

[goldblum]

Centurion07 said:

When the pain became a bit more apparent I switched to doing straight-arm back stuff but as I said there's still some degree of pain there even when doing chest work as well.

I'm basically going to stop that kind of workout now as I'm training for a Tough Mudder in June so need to get on the treadmill a lot more. Would have just been nice to continue at least a basic upper body workout at decent weights alongside the cv.

Yeah yeah but at least you have something else to concentrate on/train for. Take the opportunity to let the tendon heal properly, your run may be a blessing in disguise. Look at the positives, lol.

[Geoff Stilwell]

Very painful or can be. I saw my Osteopath and after a couple of visits right as ninepence.

[smashy]

Im in the middle of doing this and its easing

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC341407...


This can bed in and last for months and when you think its better you start lifting heavier weights and it goes again.

As a last resort something that will deffinitely work is shockwave therapy but its expensive (hence last resort)

http://www.shockwave-therapy.co.uk/

Edited by smashy on Tuesday 18th March 18:43