Off-Topic Bicep Long Head Tendon Rupture

[Pete Henry]

Has anyone had this go? Bad form and too much dumbbell weight meant my Bicep Long Head Tendon decided to give up on me last week and I had it confirmed as a full rupture with a scan this week. I'm seeing the consultant again tomorrow and pushing for the surgery to reattach as soon as possible, but I was wondering if anyone had experience of this injury and have they managed to continue training if they didn't have the surgery?

Any experiences would be appreciated.

 

[Steve Freides]

@Pete Henry, heal fast.

-S-

 

[Pete Henry]

Cheers Steve, I'm racking up the injuries now I've got past 50. It's all about lessons learned and bad form on Bicep Curls, remind me not to 'cheat' to get the sets completed in future

 

[Steve W.]

Has anyone had this go? Bad form and too much dumbbell weight meant my Bicep Long Head Tendon decided to give up on me last week and I had it confirmed as a full rupture with a scan this week. I'm seeing the consultant again tomorrow and pushing for the surgery to reattach as soon as possible, but I was wondering if anyone had experience of this injury and have they managed to continue training if they didn't have the surgery?

Any experiences would be appreciated.

Yes, I tore the long head of the biceps (proximal) as well as the suprapinatus while playing basketball. I had surgery to repair the rotator cuff, and the surgeon tried to repair the biceps tendon at the same time, but evidently it was too frayed and/or retracted to be repaired.

I don't really have to make any accommodations for it when training or playing sports. I'm a little weaker in certain positions and directions and I occasionally and unpredictably get a brief painful spasm when holding or lifting something with my arm bent (in more or less the curl position). I can't recall it ever happening during training or sports, but most often when lifting something into or out of the car.

And my arm does look a little funny.

 

[Pete Henry]

Thanks Steve, that gives me some hope. My initial view is that I want to be referred for the operation to repair but it sounds like you are managing ok with just the short head attachment. What weights are you lifting for bicep curls (or equivalent) and are you managing chins / pull ups?

And I can live with the funny looking arms although it has destroyed my dreams of looking like a 60 year old Captain America

 

[Steve Freides]

Cheers Steve, I'm racking up the injuries now I've got past 50. It's all about lessons learned and bad form on Bicep Curls, remind me not to 'cheat' to get the sets completed in future

If you're at all interested, @Pete Henry, take a look at the USAWA rule book - there are quite a few varieties of curls. I counted 5 with a barbell and 2 with dumbbells just now. http://usawa.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/RULEBOOK-10th-Edition.pdf and then you can just use your browser to search on the word "curl".

I thought of your post because the very first one listed is the "Cheat Curl." It's followed by "Cheat Curl, Reverse Grip," and then two "Strict Curls," again one regular and one reverse grip. A bit later there are 2 dumbbell curls. The Cheat Curl is actually a cool lift - you deadlift the bar, and then must keep your knees locked as you curl it up, but you can use all the "body english" you want other than that to complete the lift. The Strict version is more like a traditional curl.

-S-

 

[Pete Henry]

Just an update one this one, went to see the specialist yesterday (btw big shout out for the UK NHS, in the space of two weeks since I did it, I received triage, x-ray, consultation with trauma / fracture generalist, ultra-sound scan, further consultation with generalist and consultation with shoulder specialist).

The upshot is that cosmetically it won't be perfect and the bicep will bunch towards the elbow, it will still be able to operate normally without the op to reattach. The specialist said that for sports or cosmetic needs he's happy to do the op but it really isn't needed and there is discussion in the medical community as to what the long head tendon is actually for - there doesn't appear to be a direct purpose. He left the choice up to me and said he wouldn't attach the tendon to the shoulder point, he would either attach to the humorous or the pec (yes the pec!)

All in all i'll leave it for the meantime as there is no pain, he recommends mobility is kept up and 6-8 weeks rest from heavier weights but it should be ok from that point. Any future issues can be dealt with then and he left the doors open.