The most obvious symptom will be a sudden, severe pain in the upper part of your arm or at the elbow, depending on where the tendon is injured. You may hear or feel a “pop” when a tendon tears. Other signs that you may have torn a biceps tendon can include: Sharp pain at the shoulder or elbow.
Can you move your arm with a torn bicep?
When you tear your bicep tendon at the elbow, your other arm muscles will compensate, so you’ll still have full range of motion. However, your arm will most likely lose strength if the tendon is not repaired.
Can a torn bicep muscle heal on its own?
Once a bicep is torn, it unfortunately will not reattach itself to the bone and heal on its own. There are, however, a variety of treatment options available depending on the severity of your injury and whether it was a partial or complete tear.
Is a torn bicep an emergency?
Distal biceps tendon ruptures almost always need urgent surgical repair as the patient may lose significant functioning of the affected arm [8]. This patient was correctly diagnosed with a long head biceps tendon rupture.
What happens when a bicep ruptures?
A distal biceps tendon tear can cause the muscle to ball up near the shoulder. Bruising at the elbow is also common. There is often a “pop” at the elbow when the tendon ruptures. Pain is severe at first, but may subside after a week or two.
How do you know if you’ve torn your bicep?
Symptoms of bicep tear or strain
Weakness in the shoulder. Bruising on the upper arm. Inability to move or rotate your arm. Change in the look of the bicep in the upper arm (it may look popped out)
How do you fix a torn bicep?
Distal biceps tendon ruptures typically require surgical fixation to restore range of motion and strength to the elbow. This procedure is an open surgical procedure which can be performed on an outpatient basis. The goal is to reattach the tendon to the radius bone using either sutures or anchor with sutures.
How do you treat a ruptured bicep?
Treatment
- Ice. Apply cold packs for 20 minutes at a time, several times a day to keep down swelling. …
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications. Drugs like ibuprofen, aspirin, or naproxen reduce pain and swelling.
- Rest. Avoid heavy lifting and overhead activities to relieve pain and limit swelling. …
- Physical therapy.
How long does it take to recover from a torn bicep?
It takes about 3 to 4 months for your biceps muscle to heal. You may be able to do easier daily activities in 2 to 3 weeks, as long as you don’t use your injured arm. Most people who work at a desk job can return to work in 1 to 2 weeks.
How painful is a torn bicep?
The most obvious symptom will be a sudden, severe pain in the upper part of your arm or at the elbow, depending on where the tendon is injured. You may hear or feel a “pop” when a tendon tears. Other signs that you may have torn a biceps tendon can include: Sharp pain at the shoulder or elbow.
How do I know if I have a torn bicep distal tendon?
Signs and symptoms of an Rupture of the Distal Biceps Tendon at the Elbow may include: Pain, swelling and/or bruising in the front of the elbow. Weakness in the affected arm when bending or twisting the elbow. Inability to feel the tendon and/or seeing the biceps muscle belly pull up towards the shoulder.
What happens if a torn tendon is not repaired?
If left untreated, eventually it can result in other foot and leg problems, such as inflammation and pain in the ligaments in the soles of your foot (plantar faciitis), tendinitis in other parts of your foot, shin splints, pain in your ankles, knees and hips and, in severe cases, arthritis in your foot.
Is distal bicep surgery worth it?
Surgeons seem to agree that the benefit of surgery is a little more supination strength, with flexion strength returning close to normal with or without surgery. An untreated rupture causes less deformity than with proximal biceps rupture. Surgery adds a scar and does not entirely prevent deformity.
What exercises can I do with a torn bicep tendon?
Biceps Tendon Injury Exercises
- Active elbow flexion and extension: Gently bring the palm of the hand on your injured side up toward your shoulder, bending your elbow as much as you can. …
- Biceps stretch: Stand facing a wall (about 6 inches, or 15 centimeters, away from the wall). …
- Biceps curl: Stand and hold a 5- to 8-pound weight in your hand.
Can I still workout with a torn bicep tendon?
In the case of a complete tear of the long head tendon, the short head tendon will allow you to continue using your biceps muscle. However, it can cause cramping and fatigue of the arm that may become worse with time.