Possible bicep tendon tear

intensed · Jan 3, 2023

I have no swelling or brusing two days after the incident. I was moving a king size mattress, when I went to pick up the underside, it shifted over extending my elbow, I heard two pops almost like someone loudly cracking their knuckles. Went to urgent care, told me to ice and use compression sleeve, and would refer me to a doctor. Pain is pretty bad, hard to use arm for weight. Bicep looks somewhat normal, hard to flex. The pain resides in the elbow region. Anyone have similar experience? Best to get MRI?

Fly Ricky · Jan 3, 2023

intensed said:
I have no swelling or brusing two days after the incident. I was moving a king size mattress, when I went to pick up the underside, it shifted over extending my elbow, I heard two pops almost like someone loudly cracking their knuckles. Went to urgent care, told me to ice and use compression sleeve, and would refer me to a doctor. Pain is pretty bad, hard to use arm for weight. Bicep looks somewhat normal, hard to flex. The pain resides in the elbow region. Anyone have similar experience? Best to get MRI?

I tore mine in a similar fashion. I was moving a bed with a mattress on it and the side of the frame slipped out of the head board yanking my arm down as it was supinated. The sound like knuckles cracking was the tendon tearing. Go get an mri, if you are going to have surgery it's better to do it quickly. I was back lifting upper body 2.5 months after mine.

grizzly978 · Jan 3, 2023

intensed said:
I have no swelling or brusing two days after the incident. I was moving a king size mattress, when I went to pick up the underside, it shifted over extending my elbow, I heard two pops almost like someone loudly cracking their knuckles. Went to urgent care, told me to ice and use compression sleeve, and would refer me to a doctor. Pain is pretty bad, hard to use arm for weight. Bicep looks somewhat normal, hard to flex. The pain resides in the elbow region. Anyone have similar experience? Best to get MRI?

I had a similar situation a while back from boxing and over extending my bicep/elbow. Didnt hear a pop but it was painful. Mri came back with nothing and said it was a strain.
Definitely go get it looked at pronto.

marssel · Jan 3, 2023

intensed said:
I have no swelling or brusing two days after the incident. I was moving a king size mattress, when I went to pick up the underside, it shifted over extending my elbow, I heard two pops almost like someone loudly cracking their knuckles. Went to urgent care, told me to ice and use compression sleeve, and would refer me to a doctor. Pain is pretty bad, hard to use arm for weight. Bicep looks somewhat normal, hard to flex. The pain resides in the elbow region. Anyone have similar experience? Best to get MRI?

Sounds like a tear get it looked at asap the faster the care the easier and more effective the recovery is bro

qbkilla · Jan 3, 2023

Sorry to hear hopefully surgery and PT will get you back where you were. Hear tons of guys tearing biceps moving furniture.

When my family and friends ask me if I can help them move furniture the answer is no. I tell them there are people out there that do that for a living support them vs asking me because ",guys who lift weights should be excited to help move furniture."

marssel · Jan 3, 2023

qbkilla said:
Sorry to hear hopefully surgery and PT will get you back where you were. Hear tons of guys tearing biceps moving furniture.

When my family and friends ask me if I can help them move furniture the answer is no. I tell them there are people out there that do that for a living support them vs asking me because ",guys who lift weights should be excited to help move furniture."

Yea most of the IFBB guys you hear injured like 85% are outside the gym. To the moving point everyone wants us to help move, do all the heavy shit, And do it for free like wtf

MrWhisper · Jan 3, 2023

qbkilla said:
When my family and friends ask me if I can help them move furniture the answer is no. I tell them there are people out there that do that for a living support them vs asking me because ",guys who lift weights should be excited to help move furniture."

Lol…I’ve moved 5 times in the last 12 years. I was under 40 then. Not looking forward to moving any more furniture and full home out to full home move in again but I know it will happen 1-2 more times before I retire.

I need to hire people but I’m too cheap.

intensed · Jan 4, 2023

Thank you for all the replies and kind words, its a great feeling that I'm not the only one that has dealt with such a depressing accident. Just sucks when you can't train, my emotions start to get the best of me, the gym is my safe place makes me sane. I hate being sidelined from the gym. I had pectoral major tendon snap on me in my mid 20's and that was a rough 6 hour surgery, and took nearly 6 months to move any weight. I was in a very depressed state, what got me through was training legs 3x per week, I learned at least focusing on something gave me relief. Meet with the specialists tomorrow, and will keep everyone informed.

Thanks

qbkilla · Jan 4, 2023

MrWhisper said:
Lol…I’ve moved 5 times in the last 12 years. I was under 40 then. Not looking forward to moving any more furniture and full home out to full home move in again but I know it will happen 1-2 more times before I retire.

I need to hire people but I’m too cheap.

It's One of those risk vs reward. The reward if you do it yourself is you save $$, the risk is a torn bicep. I'll hire people every time. And if any friends need help moving, the answer is no.

Ruhlfreak55 · Jan 4, 2023

As an anecdote, my full tear didn't bruise at all. Only bruised after surgery.

marssel · Jan 4, 2023

Ruhlfreak55 said:
As an anecdote, my full tear didn't bruise at all. Only bruised after surgery.

How fast were you in surgery post tear

Ccook33 · Jan 5, 2023

intensed said:
Thank you for all the replies and kind words, its a great feeling that I'm not the only one that has dealt with such a depressing accident. Just sucks when you can't train, my emotions start to get the best of me, the gym is my safe place makes me sane. I hate being sidelined from the gym. I had pectoral major tendon snap on me in my mid 20's and that was a rough 6 hour surgery, and took nearly 6 months to move any weight. I was in a very depressed state, what got me through was training legs 3x per week, I learned at least focusing on something gave me relief. Meet with the specialists tomorrow, and will keep everyone informed.

Thanks

Agreed with everyone here about the mri ASAP and if needed get surgery right away. If it’s not torn and you want something to help with the pain and inflammation, message me and I’ll send you a bottle of my full spectrum muscle cream.

intensed · Jan 5, 2023

Did a ultrasound of the area and determined I indeed ruptured my bicep distol tendon, he could see a large hematoma in the bicep. Off to get a MRI and see the surgeon next WED. My bicep did not roll up but thinks it's holding on by a thread. I'm starting to get brusing in the forearm area.

Ccook33 · Jan 5, 2023

intensed said:
Did a ultrasound of the area and determined I indeed ruptured my bicep distol tendon, he could see a large hematoma in the bicep. Off to get a MRI and see the surgeon next WED. My bicep did not roll up but thinks it's holding on by a thread. I'm starting to get brusing in the forearm area.

At least you know now. Message me bro!

Ruhlfreak55 · Jan 5, 2023

marssel said:
How fast were you in surgery post tear

like 5 days or something close to that.

xpoc · Jan 5, 2023

Distal biceps detachment playing softball on Dec 2. It was unmistakable. Biceps hanging like a sad defeated soldier and almost a nauseating feeling when I tried to flex it. Surgery performed Dec 8. I am now 4 weeks post-op. Arm still immobilized and shrinking faster than a drunk guys wallet at a strip club. I can't even start range of motion rehab for 2 more weeks, then I start resistance (bands) after 4 months. I am told I should be close to normal in 9 months. It is depressing, but I am enduring.

joos23 · Jan 8, 2023

I tore mine at the elbow. Took 6 months for recovery. My doctors success rate is crazy high, due to the long recovery. I actually got released at 5 months. I did my own pt last 4-6 weeks. My therapist was awful and wouldn't hardly rehab it, so I got pissed and did my own thing. The first 4-6 weeks is the worse. Trying to figure out how to sleep and do things with 1 arm. I used my feet alot to hold things to open what i needed. Just got to think outside the box.