Torn bicep or ruptured bicep tendon - I am devastated!

Just a complete rupture of the distal bicep tendon. The distal tendon connects the bicep to the elbow/forearm. Doc said clean off the bone, too!

Similar injury has been suffered by Martin Brodeur, Bob Sanders, Triple H, Matt Serra, Dorian Yates, Tom Platz, and Batista. Not as common as tearing the proximal head, which is by the shoulder and often treated without surgery.

 

No performance enhancing drugs here, but given 20 years of weight training, it's likely the initial damage was caused there.

This injury is more common for men over 40, which again may be the culmination of years of damage. It is also more common amongst bodybuilders / athletes using performance enhancing drugs because the strength if the muscle grows disproporionately to that of the tendon.

In my case, one wrong move and snap! Recovery so far hasn't been bad, but I've got months to go

 

Well - I am now in a hard cast for 2 weeks. I am 1 week post-op, the Doc said I am doing great.

My surgery was scheduled to be 1 hour, 2 incision method. However, as I had a ton of scar tissue, it took him 2 hours, and he improvised a single incision on my forearm, and attached the tendon with an anchor - basically a screw into the bone.

This surgeon came highly recommended - he was previously part of the Philadelphia Eagles physician team, and has many years experience. He was very confident describing the work he did, and also noted that I am an aggressive healer.

I'll start PT right after my 42nd birthday (2 weeks). That may last 10-12 weeks, depending on my progress.

The cast is heavy and itchy, but I got it in a nice ominous black color, so it does look cool

 

Thanks man- I am trying!

 

See here - thing weighs a ton and at an awkward angle (I'd say 120 degree angle)
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Indeed, but with one wing, I can't ice both of them

Actually, one pec is flexed, the other is relaxed due to my "babying" the left arm. It's amazing how you fear the possibility of the tendon unattaching - virtually impossible, but a normal feeling many that have this surgery feel.

 

Zack - thanks for the kind words. I had been told (and can confirm) that the psychological effects are worse than the physical.

I have little to no pain, but I am frustrated by the arm being restricted, not being able to exercise, etc. Plus, I have fear of returning to BJJ lest I do this again!

I have SERIOUS respect for athletes that come back from big injuries. Pitchers post-"Tommy John" surgery come to mind. I will return, but it's going to take time to get my "head in the game"!

 

Cast comes off 10/26 - my 42nd birthday!

Definitely psychological - it's not a common injury when compared to broken bones, etc. That being said, you are absolutely right - it's going to be as good as new! The Dr. said I should have NO issues, and that he saw no reason to stop BJJ.

I really respect this Dr., and his comment was the catalyst to get me thinking about it. Before that, I was convinced I was done, but I will definitely roll again!

I saw the arm prior to the cast (soft cast was on for 1 week prior to the hard cast) - it was white and wrinkly for sure!

 

Well I had an interesting day today! I am 20 days post-op, and it's my 42nd birthday. Keeping with that theme, I received a few "gifts" today:

First "gift" was removal of the cast. Dr. said everything looks GREAT! Stitches are dissolvable, and the bandage over the incision will fall off in the shower.

Physical therapy is scheduled for 3x per week for 4 weeks. Pretty much only stretching and light weights, and he said passive flexion / pronation / supination using my good arm to assist. I have been fitted with the Ossur Innovator-X arm brace, what I call my "Transformer" arm!

Now for the other "gift", this requires some back story. I roll Brazilian Jiu Jitsu - it's how I ruptured my bicep tendon. About 3 weeks before I ruptured the tendon, I caught a nasty fungal infection on my wrist. I saw a dermatologist, and it was treated. Cleared up just in time for my surgery, but I still let my Dr. know it was there. With 3 weeks in a cast (1 week soft, 2 weeks hard), the fungal infection came back with a VENGEANCE. No wonder my wrist was so itchy! I am really upset over it, but I made a follow up appointment for the dermatologist to get it cleared up for good.

Doc told me there's very little chance I will re-injure the surgically repaired arm. He implied that the repaired arm will be better than new. However, he said many people are predisposed to this type of injury, and bilateral ruptures have an elevated incident rate in people that have suffered this injury on one arm.

He also described my bicep "like a pencil". Holy crap it looks like a kid's arm! I have pretty big arms, I literally have one big gun and this skinny, atrophied, bony thing...bummer! My wife laughed - it looks WEIRD! He said in 3 months it will be back to normal size, and that atrophy is normal and expected.

First therapy session will be this Thursday, followed by a battery of medical visits on Monday (Dermatologist, then PT) - I feel like I've been abducted by aliens!
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Yes the fungal infection will go away - but it's a little skeevy...and I'm a germ-a-phobe!

I agree that 3 months with light PT is optimistic. But muscle has memory, so I do expect it to return, just needs time.

The good thing is I can move my arm - it's free now. What's strange is that the range of motion is limited - the PT is needed to regain it.

 

Had my first physical therapy session yesterday. Basically an evaluation of my range of motion at this point - some interesting results. All movements noted below are done passively by the physical therapist, not under my power:

Straightening my arm: not great, if I can get my arm to 160/170 degrees normally, I am probably at 140-150 degrees.
Bending my arm: Pretty darn good - almost normal range
Supination: Not terrible. Passively, maybe 80% of the normal range
Pronation: Sucks. Worst movement I had! Probably 50% normal range!
Wrist: Normal, some light stiffness
Shoulder: Some tightness, basically normal
Grip: Nearly as bad as pronation. Where my good (but weaker arm) rated 103 lbs. (46.7 kg), my injured (dominant) arm was 35 lbs (15.8 kg). As point of reference, 45-50 kg is average, Anything less than 39 kg is poor. So 15.8 kg is basically a child in terms of grip!

All in all - not bad. Mildly concerned about the pronation, but I guess that's to be expected first session. PT said at this point I should NOT be actively using the arm - even for flexion / pronation / supination with no resistance. I have some exercises to do at home, and I resume therapy next week.

Thus begins the third part of my journey towards recovery!

 

Thanks - I appreciate that! I am geared up to recover and get back in action!

 

5 weeks post-op, and in my first week of physical therapy. First session was fairly easy - some soreness, but no real issues other than some swelling, particularly on my ring finger, which I am told is normal.

Between the PT and my home exercises (as recommended by PT), my supination and pronation has made significant progress already! My flexion range isn't improving as fast - I can get my arm almost fully extended straight, but not so much up to my chest.

I am not too worried at this point. Things are progressing. I've been far less reliant on my "Terminator" brace - use it only when out or driving short distances.

I have another session tonight - looking forward to it!

 

Thanks man, great advice. I've had the benefit of a great team (both surgeon and PT associated with major sports franchises, and highly recommended), so I am definitely listening to their guidance. ROM is absolutely the current goal - it's amazing what 3 weeks in a cast will do to mess that up (on top of the surgery)

Tonight was a tough night - they stretched me good! Very sore now, but in a strange way, I am digging it.