Torn distal biceps tendon

[mje]

I am 38 years old, 150 lbs, and weight train and exercise.  I am in very good condition.  Two months ago, however, I completely tore my distal biceps tendon at my left elbow while improperly lifting some drywall at my construction job.  At the time I didn't realize the extent of the injury.  I iced it, rested it, and after a few days gradually began using my left arm again.  A few later a friend encouraged me to see an orthopoedic surgeon.  He recommended an MRI.  The MRI showed a complete tear. I decided to have surgery to repair the tear.  However, since the injury was approximately two months old, the surgeon would have to insert the biceps tendon to the same insertion as the brachialis muscle, since too much time had passed and the biceps tendon had already begun to atrophy.  The surgery was supposed to have been today (8/16/05) except when I went in for my pre-op appoinment yesterday, the surgeon, after physically examining my arm, said that my biceps tendon had scarred down and healed almost exactly where he would have inserted it surgically.  Doing the surgery, according to him, could not improve what has already been accomplished naturally.
Is that really possible?  No additional MRI was recommended to verify that the tendon has indeed healed correctly.  Should I insist for another MRI?  At mt original consultation he did mention spontaneous healing by scarring down, so the idea is not foreign to me.  But I have been using my arm extensively over the past 5 weeks since I first met with the surgeon and had my MRI.  Can it heal in that amount of time?

[buckvanzandt]

Did you ever get any additional info on this?  What's your status now?  I was diagnosed today with distal biceps tendon rupture, the injury occured 4 weeks ago.  I'm very athletic and want to make sure to regain 100% use of my arm.  Thanks.  -Buck

[kirei04]

In general, these don't generally get repaired surgically because patients do get functional use out of the arm after injury (with the scarring/healing)...it just tends to look strange (like a higher, rounder bicep)

[gabes]

I am 68,in better than average condititon and have torn my left bicep tendon all the way down to the radial tuberosity.Too late to operate. Does anyone know if pain will ultimately go away and will it affect my ability to play golf as that is the arm which pulls through and receives the impact of the club hitting the ball. Thanks for your input.

[4x4guy]

A friend of mine who is 60 and in great shape and is a weight lifter and eat right has a diagnosis of torn bicept.  The doc will not do surgery due to his age and told him that the tenden will never re attatch.  Are there any other options or avenues you could inform us of so he can get full use of his arm again?

[live4fitness]

A friend of mines husband had sx when his tore/ruptured. Now his sx was I think a week later. I would always go and have a second opinion if they won't due what you are asking.

My huband tore/ruptured his pec last year and had sx a week later. I made the appt. the day after the tear. The dr said he had never seen anyone with such a fresh tear. He said people usually wait a week or two. we did not want to wait. He had a good recovery and is back in the gym. But my husband use to bodybuild and said he might like to go back to it one day.

[alncoramdeo]

I have a pain on my right shoulder blade, "medial border " I have no idea what it is  does anyone know?

[sdm992]

I would tell your friend to get a second opinion.  If your 60 yo friend is still active and he wants to resume normal athletic activities than he will need the surgery sooner than later!!! Is it a distal tear or a proximal tear? If it is proximal (near the shoulder) then they usually don't repair those because the biceps are attached in two places proximally.
I am 42 y/o and I tore my right distal tendon in October '06 and just tore my left distal biceps tendon in July  '07!!(Dr said this was very rare)  I had the same surgeon repair both tendons and he did a great job.  I am almost back to normal with the right arm and am using my left arm quite a bit and lifting 5 lbs with it after only 7 weeks after surgery.
My ortho surgeon said that it is important to get the injury repaired within 3 weeks or so for optimal results.  If you wait longer than that you may need a tendon graft and/or your range of motion may not be as good, as your tendon will retract further up your arm the longer you wait.
Hope this helps.

[fsa123]

hey mje, just wondering how your arm is doing after all this time?

[rkramer807]

On 11/19/07 I ruptured my distal bicep and forearm tendon. After an MRI and surgical consult, they felt that surgery is not the best way to go. Because they feel that I still have a good portion of my tendon holding the rest of the bicep in place. Two Orthopedic's surgeons agreed on this. I on the other hand am not comfortable with this response. Not that I want surgery but I am an avid weight lifter and a SWAT Supervisor. My job has high demands, (Rappellling, Fast Roping, Handling heavy equipment. etc...).

Do any of you agree with this course of action. The surgeons said that to operate means a high risk having to cut through healthy tissue and that they could not gaurantee that the Tendon would be healthier after the surgey.

I am confused. Everything that I have read says that if you want full function of the arm that surgery is the way to go. The surgeons feel that it's better to get full functionality from the arm and that I just lift lighter weights.

Any suggestions or comments would be great. My time is short.

[buzzy48]

I seperated my right tendon and bicep from my shoulder in march. It's a workmans comp and they didn't want to fix the problem. They said I'm to old 59. When I finally was able to get another opinion. The Dr said if we could have operated in the first couple weeks I could have fixed it. To much time has passed now. The problem I really have is dealing with the cramping of the torn bicep in my uper arm that is unberable. I can't work out to build up whats left in my arm to get on with my life. Thanks buzzy48

[mike1010]

This is for rkramer807. I had an injury two months ago doing biceps curls and MRI showed a partial tear. Same thing: Ortho surgeon said don't operate, second surgeon said the same and so did sports medicine guy. My arm now is almost back to normal -- still some pain when I used it, but less every day and strength is coming back big time.  Except for biceps training, I'm back to doing my normal upper body routine, with all the weight I used before, including for bench press, shoulders, triceps, etc.  For biceps i started just recently, light weights,but little by little increasing. Doc says it will be near normal. This is all a hell of a lot better than what I have read about the surgery --- three months of no use at all, muscle atrophy entirely, and up to year of getting it back to where it was, and it still never looks or feels the same.

[cmczar]

I ruptured my right distal bicep tendon 3-07. I had surgery 2 weeks after. My surgeon botched the surgury when he ran the tendon over the medial nerve instead of under it. MAJOR complications. My right hand and arm was pretty much paralized and was EXTREMELY painful. I had a second surgury done a month later to repair the mess. 7 months later I am about 90%, half of my hand is still numb.
Here is the kicker... on 12-25-07 I ruptured the left one lifting a heavy trash can that was buried in the snow. Surgery is scheduled 1-4-07 by a totally different DR.
My point to you Rkramer is if you really dont need the surgury do not take a risk of severe complications. Be careful of how you lift thing from here on out and I bet you will be OK.Good luck to you!
FYI i am 40 years old.

[randy_m]

I had a complete tear of left distal bicep three year ago. Had surgery about three weeks after tear. I would say I am 100% back to normal.  No side effects at all. I am 48 now.

[fsa123]

if my other biceps tendon ruptures I will definitely not have the surgery...my ruptured arm seems fine and i don't notice any difference except when turning a screw driver but thats it...
no big deal..

[iamtgo3]

First thing I have to say about Biceps Tendon Repair Surgery is find a specialist if you insurance allows it. I had an original surgery done with a general ortho. He used a screw to reattach my Biceps Tendon. I then developed heterotrophic ossification (calcium build up) between the radius and ulna in my upper forearm. This did not allow for me to pronate or supinate my hand. This was not then diagnosed correctly and I went in for a manipulation under anasisia.  After that with x-ray the doctor then seen it was a calcium build up. I then had a follow-up surgery to get rid of the calcium build up only to have it form again. After that I ask for a second opinion doctor a specialist in the field that specialized in such an injury. I went for my consultation and he said in not so many words we will do it our way (the correct way). We will reattach the bicep by drilling a hole in the bone and attaching it with heavy duty sutures. Since this surgery I so far have almost full range of motion and am getting my strength back. It has only been a month in a half since the surgery but I am feeling great now a 100% improvement from the first doctor.
I guess what I can offer from this is find out how the surgeon is going to fix your injury with screws or sutures and the side effects of that surgery. Like developed heterotrophic ossification (calcium build up) between the radius and ulna in my upper forearm. Also find out if you can see a specialist first. After my year in a half bout with this darn thing I wish I would have seen a specialist up front. Also take it easy during rehab and allow for the time to heal. It will come back if done right. Don’t rush yourself and iff you are in Illinois check out University of Chicago.

[jrauseo]

So sorry to hear about your ordeal, but couldn't agree more wrt finding a specialist.  I had a complete rt distal biceps tear 2007-11-14, and went to 3 orthos until I found one who specialized in sports injuries of the elbow.  Today is 40-days post-surgery on 2007-12-05, and I'm curling 15# dumbells, 3 x 20 (pre-injury was curling 55# dumbells for 3 sets of 12), w/full range of flexion, extension, supination & pronation.  Can't quite drive screws with a hand-held screwdriver, but am back at carpentry & am hitting golf balls.  Can't recommend enough that if you're someone with this injury, get it fixed quickly, but find a specialist who does this surgery several times per week.

[Arru]

I suffered a biceps injury about 3-4 months ago while doing curls.  It has progressively gotten worse to where I think I have suffered a distal biceps rupture.  

I basically put this injury in the back of my mind hoping that it would heal on its own and the pain would go away- I was suffering from other health issues which included surgery and have been trying to pay off those medical bills.  

I have an appt. with a orthopedic today.  If torn or ruptured, I am wondering if it's too late for surgery.  

[austinbigwig]

I had a partial Distal Biceps tear about one year ago. I did not know what happened at the time and I regained my strength. Also, there was no biceps deformity. However, about 4 weeks ago after shoveling snow, my arm began to hurt and I noticed a gap between my elbow and biceps. I saw an orthapedic surgeon today and he said it was completely torn, but it was too late to do surgery. Is this true? I've read about using an achilles tendon to re-attach chronic tears. How do I find a good surgeon in the Denver area that would do this?

[billie58]

I  tore a tendon in my shoulder 6 weeks ago.It is described as a full thickness tear 11 x 15mm.  I have full use of all arm movements. I had a Coritsone Injection but I am still experiencing pain and discomfort. Would surgery help or is it needed ?Or will it eventually heal itself ?

[broncos63ss]

Go too Hand Surgery Associates in Denver Co ,  see Doc In Sok Yi M.D

[gwlma08]

Injured distal biceps tendon May 17 07, Surgery performed Dec. 19. 07. It is now May 4 08. Still have pain when using a curling motion and when turning wrist/palm over. Dr. has given me cortizone shot but pain returns after a few days. Isthis normal or should I seek out another Dr.

[Golden_HS_lacrosse]

When ya'll tore your distal were you unable to bend your arm all the way down to your sides?
I was lifting in a gym and a friend of mine was trying to teach me a new curling method (albeit a very incorrect motion that most likely cause this). I didn't notice any pain for the rest of the day just the normal stiffness my arms get after lifting. The followning days I have not been able to even move my arm to all the way down by my side. Is this just a bicep strain, a tendon strain, or a full on distal tendon rupture?

[161615]

Yes my elbow hurt when in extention and especially with weight in my hand.  It also hurt when I tried to turn my hand over.  Suggest you see an ortho who specializes in injuries to the elbow, not a general ortho.  Also suggest you see one as soon as possible as most of the research I have seen suggests that a torn distal biceps should be addressed within two weeks of the injury.  Failure to promptly address this injury can cause  other problems within the joint that can cause complication to the surgery and your recovery. Good luck.

[chris620]

I tore my distal at the elbow Jan. 08 . finally went to the orthopedic in
May08.  Had surgery first of June . Dr. said I was not the normal
patient for waiting so long. He was able to reattach my tendon and ,
7weeks after surgery , having alot of pain in my wrist and hand ,.
Go to the Dr. tomorrow.

Has anybody had any problems with their hand hurting?