Elbow/Bicep injury help

mdfanatic1980

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
May 8, 2016
Messages
130
Location
Abilene, TX
I'm hoping someone can help me with this. I was bowling a week ago and while releasing the ball, heard a small pop, followed by excruciating pain. I couldn't move my arm, or even hold a cup of coffee. I've iced and heated and now have some range of motion back in my arm, but the pain is still there. My bicep never rolled up and looked awkward, no bruising anywhere, some swelling right at the bottom of my bicep. I still can't hold my rifle with this arm alone. It's right there in the crease of your arm; the little tendon/muscle that you can feel in the crease.

Should I go in and spend $$ on this, or just give it rest? The pain is in the crease of my left arm and if I were to turn a doorknob left, I feel it. I can't flex my left bicep without feeling it either.
 

pigman

FNG
Joined
Dec 3, 2023
Messages
2
I tore my bicep in that location a few year ago- complete tear. It rolled the bicep up and there was massive bruising. Required surgery to repair the bicep. I am no doctor, in fact barely graduated high school. With that qualifier, I think you either strained or partially tore the bicep/bicep tendon. If it were me I'd see a doc, but it wouldn't cost me too much so ymmv. Good luck.
 
Joined
Jan 30, 2019
Messages
730
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Wisconsin
Definitely see a doctor. And do it soon, time is not your friend. If it is a complete tear, the muscle will begin to shrink, and never stretch far enough to reattach it, if you wait too long.
 
Joined
Sep 28, 2018
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Thats a bicep tear. Get to a repair specialist ASAP.. your family Dr. is not suited to fix it. You'll waste more time going to them and doing their rigamarole than if you just go to a orthopedic surgeon right away. They will order a MRI so they can see how bad the tear is. My ortho had me in surgery within 2 weeks of injury
I say ASAP because you don't want the loose tendon to start fusing to stuff it shouldn't.
 

jmez

WKR
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Jun 12, 2012
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Piedmont, SD
Go to an orthopod right away??? Where do you live? 6-8 week wait to see one here. They can get you in 4 weeks to see a PA.

Sent from my moto g power 5G - 2023 using Tapatalk
 
Joined
Dec 13, 2023
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Agree with the others. Unusual that you wouldn't see a "popeye" deformity or bruising, but if you have pain or weakness with the movements you're describing, in the area you're describing, you want to get that taken care of sooner rather than later. The repair failure rate increases the further out from injury you get. Wishing you the best!
 
Joined
Sep 28, 2018
Messages
2,216
Location
VA
Yes, it was a distal tendon bicep tear. Had to go through the insurance referral process debacle, and have surgery planned for this Friday.

Man.... Thats a long lapse between diagnosis and surgery.. Hope it goes well for you.

They'll likely give you a nerve blocker which decreases the need to give you opiates for pain. They said it was supposed to wear off in 12-18 hours.. Mine took 40 hours. Your arm is gonna be swoll up like a balloon post due to inflammation. Don't forget to ice

The Dr. did NOT tell me this next bit; I found it out on my own post surgery. Buy yourself some collagen powder and bone pills. Collagen will assist the body in fusing the repaired tendon. The bone pills will aid the bone in regenerating. Basically they're going to cut through your forearm, drill into radius or ulna and pin the tendon in place. So your body is going to need the collagen supplement, calcium and minerals to regenerate the tendon and bone post surgery

These are highly bio available

Vital Proteins Chocolate Collagen powder at amazon
 
OP
M

mdfanatic1980

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
May 8, 2016
Messages
130
Location
Abilene, TX
Yes, the doctor said we're at the end of the window and success rates diminishing by the day, but he still thinks we can get it done. I'm ready to get it behind me.


Man.... Thats a long lapse between diagnosis and surgery.. Hope it goes well for you.

They'll likely give you a nerve blocker which decreases the need to give you opiates for pain. They said it was supposed to wear off in 12-18 hours.. Mine took 40 hours. Your arm is gonna be swoll up like a balloon post due to inflammation. Don't forget to ice

The Dr. did NOT tell me this next bit; I found it out on my own post surgery. Buy yourself some collagen powder and bone pills. Collagen will assist the body in fusing the repaired tendon. The bone pills will aid the bone in regenerating. Basically they're going to cut through your forearm, drill into radius or ulna and pin the tendon in place. So your body is going to need the collagen supplement, calcium and minerals to regenerate the tendon and bone post surgery

These are highly bio available

Vital Proteins Chocolate Collagen powder at amazon
 
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