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distal bicep tendon tear, complete

(14 discussions)

I have suffered a complete tear to my distal bicep tendon. The procedure to repair it involved attaching my tendon to a flat piece of stainless and drill a hole in my forearm and pass the of steel thew the bone and then rotated to align parrellel to the bone. I am concerned with my PT so far, it does not seem to be agressive at all ie. move it around in the water once in a tub and some in a pool. Please advise on the progress of this type of rehab and a time table of events for PT and lifting. Thank You

14 comments

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    9 10

    I also had a complet tear – distal bicep. I don’t think I will undergo the repair operation. What physical therepy should I be doing?

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    9 10

    Dave, be patient, prom only for six weeks. Active only no resistance for a few more. The one attachment has been known to tear up to one year.

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    9 10

    I had sugery to repair a partial tear at the elbow. Now I have heterotopic bone growing where the doctor inserted pins in the bone. This is preventing me from turning my wrist. I am suppose to have another surgery to remove the boney growth. My question is what can I do to prevent this heterotopic bone from forming again after the surgery?

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    9 10

    I also had a complete tear, and as a nurse and a martial artist I was not interested in the loss of strength I was told to expect. However, with the surgery I developed a heterotopic ossification that leaves me virtually unable to rotate my wrist. It’s been a very frustrating time. I found I couldn’t straighten my arm initially. I started to meditate standing each day, and for the time I was meditating the arm was first in a sling, then I was holding my hand, then I just let my arm hang loosely. In a month, I was able to straighten my arm without pain. The mental distraction and focusing on relaxing the muscle helped – just dangling the arm watching TV didn’t have the same effect. this gave me the full motion without ripping the tendon off again. After a month, I was doing slow overhead swordcuts, first with my hands empty, then using a two pound wooden sword SLOWLY, not fast and hard with a sharp movement. I worked my way up to 100/d, starting at 1 and going up one rep each day. I also did a type of steel palm training which involved basically shaking my arms for an increasing number of times each day. Unfortunately, as soon as I had the splint removed my forearm was frozen with my thumb pointing straight at my elbow joint. One surgery to excise the extra bone growth has not has a lasting effect and the bone growth is recurring. I had refused to get radiation treatment before, but now I’m having to leave all options open.
    All of the range of motion exercises I did were very basic and light, with a very gradual increase in reps. I can actually do some things stronger than my friends who just do their regular martial arts training. I can hit harder with my good arm than I used to be able to. However, with very little wrist range of motion I can’t return to train in Aikido in the foreseeable future and possibly not ever.If you have full range of motion, just keep moving, and don’t get frustrated to the point you go hard and do something stupid. The range of motion is important, but hard stretching and strength training too soon will leave you needing more surgery and risking more complications.
    Good luck

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    9 10

    Same thing happening to me now. One surgery to excise the bone growth I spent on high dose indomethacin, getting headaches and diarrhea every day for a month. I was offered radiation therapy, which is successful but I had seen it cause cancers and bone degradation to the point of the bone breaking very easily. I refused the radiation last time, but with the growth recurring despite a well irrigated wound, use of bone wax, indomethacin and a JAS splint I don’t see myself having many options if I chose to do this again. I was told by a surgeon this week that a joint replacement would likely fail in three years or less and not necessarily correct the issue. I’ve been told that I have to be careful in the meantime as I can’t type without compensating with my shoulder and there’s alot more pressure on the wrist with many activities too. With the one joint paralyzed, other joints now compensate and can get damaged more easily. I’m getting an MRI and then I’m seeing a surgeon in the next few weeks but his last note was that he didn’t see a good option for me. Do you have any numbness or tingling in your hands? Do you have any motion at all?
    I notice most sites talk about “life style modification” following this. That sounds more like suck it up than I really want to hear.

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    9 10

    John – interesting comments. I just tore my distel bicep tendon playing in a rugby match yesterday. I have had one Dr. recommend surgery immediately – well, within 7 days of the injury. Was this true in your case? How long is the elbow immobilized? How soon does PT begin? Thanks,Jim

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    9 10

    can I ask if anyone had any warning signs before the tendon actually tore ?the reason I ask, is that I am feeling pain in what I think is the tendon at the elbow joint. it is beneath the bicep muscle. the funny thing is I can can perform bicep excercises, it generally only hurts when I pick something up. I’m pretty scared of rupturing a tendon or bicep muscle…. Please advise, if anyone has anything to add….cheers

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    9 10

    I ruptured mine at the end of July. After two weeks I stoped using the sling and cast. Just held my elbow at 90 under its own power. After three weeks I was passively moving my elbow from 30 to 110. After fourweeks I was doing this both passively and activley. After five I just used my arm normally but not to lift anything. I hope I have not over done it. It feels alright. No pain

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    9 10

    I tore my distal tendon late July, had surgery about 12 days later, repair was two incision, no pins, they sewed it back to the bone. Cast for about 5 weeks. Doctor not the greatest at telling me about rehab, basically just said don’t do anything until three months, then go gradual, said not to bother with physio, but I have no idea how hard to go, it feels ok except a bit of tingling on the top of forearm which seems to be gradually getting better. Pretty happy with surgery so far. Any one know where to get a rehab program?

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    9 10

    Sir,
    I recently tore a tendon in my lower bicep. Not sure of the correct name. It’s on the inside fo my elbow, and my bicep muscle has moved towards the top of the arm. I have mobility but obviously cannot pick anything up without pain. Seeing a doctor tomorrow. Is this the same tendon these messages are about?

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    9 10

    I just got the surgery and have had a cast and sling for 4 days now. When the stiches are removed, will I have to wear a cast? What is to expected after the surgery?

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    9 10

    Tore my right arm distal bicep tendon May 2 and had it operated on May 14. Have been rehabilitating ever since and am currently on a 20# restriction until about Sept 20 when I see the surgeon again for the last time. Surgeon says there is no way to strength train the tendon; however I found a book that states in regards to distal bicep tendon tear Not so sure I understand this exercise and was wondering how to properly do this, plus are there other exercises that will help rehab and strengthen the tendon, post surgery?

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    9 10

    I Ruptred me distal Biceps tendon Jan., I did not have surgery untill Oct 30. The tendon tore two inches above the elbow. A tendon graft was taken from the wrist. 17 mos to therpy, and a repair of the biceps at the shoulder (slap lesion). I was not lifting when I injured the arm. I was wrestling five men when it tore. I lost 65 pounds. There is too much pain when I left so I changed and started using Charles Atlas old program. Wish I had done it sooner. The man weighed 180 pounds and could pull five cars tied together for over a mile. my My buddy tore his about the same time I did but not as bad he still has pain too.

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    9 10

    I TORE MINE LOOSE IN 06 SETTING A DOOR. I WAITED 3 MONTHS TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. THE REPAIR WAS MUCH MORE DIFFICULT BEING DELAYED THAN OF I HAD DONE IT RIGHT AWAY.MY ARM WAS IMOBILIZED FROM MY SECOND KNUCKEL ON MY HAND TO MY SHOLDER FOR DAMN NEAR 3 MONTHS. WHEN THE LAST CAST WAS REMOVED MY ARM WAS BASICALLY PAIALIZED.THERAPY WAS LONG AND PAINFULL. WHEN I THOUGHT I COULD DO AS MUCH FOR MYSELF AS THE REHAB WAS DOING I TOOK OVER ON MY OWN AT THE ADVICE OF MY SURGEN.IF I HAD TO ASSESS MY CURRENT USE I’D SAY I HAVE ABOUT 60% FROM BEFORE THE DETACHMENT. GETER DONE BUD THE LONGER YOU WAITE THE LESS YOU’LL BE ABLE TO ACCEPT FROM THE REPAIR.

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