“Bicep tendon?”
Recently, I experienced a sharp, electric-like sensation in my right bicep while contracting the muscle. I had a heavy backpack on and my 5 year old son in my left arm, while raising from a seated position, on an inclined railcar using a vertical support "pole" to stand. I'm concerned that I've damaged my distal tendon. I am not really sure how to perform the 'finger hook test' but I do think the main tendon is not a total tear. However the area between my forearm and the actual bump of my bicep seems swollen and the tendon appears to almost sit closer to the flesh of my arm.
Full range of motion is good, but my strength does feel diminished, I've been careful to not push things. I used to do strength training and have just weeks prior to my injury left a pretty physical job. I have had tendonitis in this arm in the past, but up until the injury the tendon had not been a problem for months, maybe almost a year. I don't want to start training this arm without some advice. I have not seen a physician for 20+ years...yes I understand your disgust. Will this heal or am I doomed to girlie man land?
Full range of motion is good, but my strength does feel diminished, I've been careful to not push things. I used to do strength training and have just weeks prior to my injury left a pretty physical job. I have had tendonitis in this arm in the past, but up until the injury the tendon had not been a problem for months, maybe almost a year. I don't want to start training this arm without some advice. I have not seen a physician for 20+ years...yes I understand your disgust. Will this heal or am I doomed to girlie man land?
Male
4 Answers
You need an MRI of your elbow to make sure your distal biceps tendon is not torn
From your description it is possible you may have torn the Biceps Aponeurosis. This a sheath that helps to keep the Biceps tendon down. If you look in a mirror and contract the biceps and tense the biceps with your arm straight and if the right biceps crease looks elevated, this may be what happened. You can still function, but gently stretch and warm-up before any activity. Without actually examining the injury you should seek out an orthopedic specialist with experience in sports injuries.
It doesn't sound as if you have torn the tendon. If you can feel the tendon, it is at least still partially there. Usually this is treated with rest and stretching, then gentle return to lifting weights.
Jeffrey R. Carlson, MD
Jeffrey R. Carlson, MD
Based on the fact you have good ROM and fair strength it is not a complete tear, however take it easy and allow proper healing. If you are still in moderate-severe pain after 4 weeks from initial injury a MD appointment would be warranted.
