Torn bicep - advice needed!
Discussion
I think that I have the symptoms of a 'serious' tear in my bicep. I have been suffering shoulder pain for a couple of weeks and have laid off lifting and just been doing stretching. I have already booked to see a physio/chiro on Monday as it does not seem to be improving - but just now I have noticed that there is a large bump on my bicep, the appearance of bruising and it feels less 'solid' above the bump. A quick Google shows these symptoms as typical, the bump being due to the rolling back of the muscle.
Should I drop everything and visit the GP urgently, and seek a referral? I understand that an operation might be necessary to reattach it, but how urgent is it to get anything done? Other than avoid working the muscle of course.
I'm a bit worried about this. I don't want any permanent damage if I can help it!
TIA
Should I drop everything and visit the GP urgently, and seek a referral? I understand that an operation might be necessary to reattach it, but how urgent is it to get anything done? Other than avoid working the muscle of course.
I'm a bit worried about this. I don't want any permanent damage if I can help it!
TIA
Slink said:
sorry no help, but how the hell do you rip your bicep so the muscle has folded back in the middle?
unless it was torn by, i dunno, you trying to grab a bus ???
I've just Googled and it is quite common apparently. I guess it is my age; I must not have warmed up enough before training.unless it was torn by, i dunno, you trying to grab a bus ???
It isn't the muscle that rips, but the tendon holding it to the bone. Might have been fraying for years. I had a shoulder repair Jan 2010, and have had on and off pain since then. Guess I should have pushed for more advice.
Seti said:
I had similar but no 'bump'. Something tore within the bicep which effectively rendered the arm useless, and I'm sorry to tell you this, for almost two years. I couldn't resist any downward pressure on the arm however light.
I visited a physio a few times who massaged it and carried out some basic acupuncture. Neither of which seemed to help.
I'd recommend going to see a doctor asap - something I should have done.
Looks like there are partial and full tears. Partial tears are difficult to diagnose and have no bump. Complete tears, where the tendon breaks away from the bone completely, usual show the bump. I visited a physio a few times who massaged it and carried out some basic acupuncture. Neither of which seemed to help.
I'd recommend going to see a doctor asap - something I should have done.
It looks like I will need surgery if I want to have any strength in the arm again - assuming mine is a complete tear, which is looking increasingly likely. I just don't know how quickly I need to get it operated on.
Nuts, pants and bo770x.
Thanks for the reply!
My consultant said much the same about my proximal rupture, and was really blasé about it. He is more concerned about rotator cuff damage, which may be a part cause.
He also said that I would experience only a 10% loss of strength. He did say, though, that if it had been your injury he would immediately repair it. However, my GP told me that different surgeons will give totally contradictory advice!
But again, thanks- you have cheered me up somewhat! And yeah, the weird bulge looks bloody funny.
My consultant said much the same about my proximal rupture, and was really blasé about it. He is more concerned about rotator cuff damage, which may be a part cause.
He also said that I would experience only a 10% loss of strength. He did say, though, that if it had been your injury he would immediately repair it. However, my GP told me that different surgeons will give totally contradictory advice!
But again, thanks- you have cheered me up somewhat! And yeah, the weird bulge looks bloody funny.
I have no idea about loss of strength, as I haven't really experimented with my arm. There is a huge psychological barrier at the moment, knowing that the bicep is not attached properly and that if the other proximal tendon, or the distal, goes I'm somewhat buggered! No apparent loss of range of movement.
I think I am too body aware for my own good, as I still feel queasy about the arm and don't like even looking at it yet.
And to ask another question, I have no idea what precipitated the injury. I have had shoulder(rotator cuff?) Pain for the last three or four weeks, so have not been to the gym in that time. I had noticed a reduction in pain and just happened to notice it when I looked in the mirror.
I was chatting to a guy over the weekend, whose long head let go when he was using a screwdriver. He said there was immense pain, which I didn't experience at all.
I am still bemused by the fact that the consultant was so matter of fact about not fixing the damage and that I should just carry on as usual. It just feels wrong....
Of to see a biomechanics man tomorrow, to have a long chat about the possible why's and wherefores, and how to maximise my chance of prevention of further similar injury.
I think I am too body aware for my own good, as I still feel queasy about the arm and don't like even looking at it yet.
And to ask another question, I have no idea what precipitated the injury. I have had shoulder(rotator cuff?) Pain for the last three or four weeks, so have not been to the gym in that time. I had noticed a reduction in pain and just happened to notice it when I looked in the mirror.
I was chatting to a guy over the weekend, whose long head let go when he was using a screwdriver. He said there was immense pain, which I didn't experience at all.
I am still bemused by the fact that the consultant was so matter of fact about not fixing the damage and that I should just carry on as usual. It just feels wrong....
Of to see a biomechanics man tomorrow, to have a long chat about the possible why's and wherefores, and how to maximise my chance of prevention of further similar injury.
I'm having an ultrasound in a week, and I'lldiscuss and MRI with the consultant when we look at the results.
No, it isn't distal which I hear is a more significant injury. It is long head proximal.
I went to the gym yesterday and did some light pull down and rowing exercises. No pproblems or pain, other than from the rotator cuff which will also be scanned. But I was too scared to go anywhere near body weight for the pull downs. I stopped at about 45kg.
The head of the bicep feels weird - sort of thin at the front, I guess, where the long head tendon should be.
I wonder what the course of treatment would be for, say, a serving soldier. Would they repair it or accept the 10% loss of strength?
No, it isn't distal which I hear is a more significant injury. It is long head proximal.
I went to the gym yesterday and did some light pull down and rowing exercises. No pproblems or pain, other than from the rotator cuff which will also be scanned. But I was too scared to go anywhere near body weight for the pull downs. I stopped at about 45kg.
The head of the bicep feels weird - sort of thin at the front, I guess, where the long head tendon should be.
I wonder what the course of treatment would be for, say, a serving soldier. Would they repair it or accept the 10% loss of strength?
996 sps said:
I personally would just wait for the MRI, that'll be your gold standard diagnosis, then they'll plan your treatment accordingly.
Do you mean physiotherapy treatments, or consider surgery? I only ask as my Consultant seems to have dismissed the knife out of hand. He said that he could be argued into it, but sees absolutely no point.Liokault said:
I think thats what they do now. I saw 3 doctors because I really thought I would see a huge lose of utility in my arm, all three really resisted my insistance that I have the tendon reattached.
What swung it for me in the end was talking to the surgeon who would do the op. He said he would do it if I really wanted it done, but that there was a huge risk of it lettibg go again, getting infected (aparently about 10% get infected (or some such, it was a while ago now)) and the huge recovery time with the arm totally imobile.
He also quoted lots of cases where similar injurys went un rectified and the guys carried on as normal. Some of the cases he quoted were of active firemen etc etc.
Over all I'm glad I didnt have the op to reatatch, it really dosent detract from life, strength loss is unnoticable.
Well, I think I am coming to terms with living with it as-is. I have seen a chiropractor who can't add much value to this part of the proceedings but has banned me from any upper body work until (a) he sees the results of the ultrasound, and (b) he has started work on me.What swung it for me in the end was talking to the surgeon who would do the op. He said he would do it if I really wanted it done, but that there was a huge risk of it lettibg go again, getting infected (aparently about 10% get infected (or some such, it was a while ago now)) and the huge recovery time with the arm totally imobile.
He also quoted lots of cases where similar injurys went un rectified and the guys carried on as normal. Some of the cases he quoted were of active firemen etc etc.
Over all I'm glad I didnt have the op to reatatch, it really dosent detract from life, strength loss is unnoticable.
Apparently my shoulder movements are FUBAR, making my scapula wobble all over the place. I'm sure there is a technical term but that is the gist of it. So I have to work on fixing the scapulas in place. I'm engaging all the wrong muscles, so buggering with the position of the rotator cuff. Again technical terms apply!
Anyhow, looks like I will remain as Mr. Monocep and have a fair bit of corrective work to do to prevent continued damage to rotator cuffs and tendons.
Note to self: a gung ho attitude to working through pain is not necessarily the best thing to do..... Bit late, but there it is. I wonder if I would have listeneed to that advice 30, or even 20, years ago?
Lordgrover; I haven't yet. I just tried to though, from the phone, and think that I may have managed to send just an empty email! I will try when at a laptop.
996, that is a good question. To be honest I am not 100% aware of the difference. I did see a physio when I first had my shoulder operations back in 2010 and she did get me doing the scapula setting exercises - but, she didn't stress how important they were and how long I should do them for. The guy I have just visited is part of a practice that looks after Bournemouth FC and he works alongside a physiotherapist, also looking after the footballers.
I am assuming professional integrity here, I know, but I would think that the chiro will hand me on to the physio, his partner, if appropriate.
What do you think? What would be the main benefit of a physio compared to a chiro in fixing the scapula and correcting shoulder movement?
996, that is a good question. To be honest I am not 100% aware of the difference. I did see a physio when I first had my shoulder operations back in 2010 and she did get me doing the scapula setting exercises - but, she didn't stress how important they were and how long I should do them for. The guy I have just visited is part of a practice that looks after Bournemouth FC and he works alongside a physiotherapist, also looking after the footballers.
I am assuming professional integrity here, I know, but I would think that the chiro will hand me on to the physio, his partner, if appropriate.
What do you think? What would be the main benefit of a physio compared to a chiro in fixing the scapula and correcting shoulder movement?
Interesting replies, thanks. These guys come highly recommended and as I say deal with professional footballers; Bournemouth FC and one is ex Millwall). The physio is also well qualified according to their website, but I see what you mean about the level of chiro qualification.
I have an appointment on Monday, and I will consider what to do before then. I think that maybe I am a very trusting soul, although with my body perhaps I should be less so!
I have an appointment on Monday, and I will consider what to do before then. I think that maybe I am a very trusting soul, although with my body perhaps I should be less so!
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