torn bicep belly

gstrom

Hey y'all...

Went water skiing for my first te with some drinks In me stupid I know ...fell on a wake with arm stretched and had an "oh shit" moment...stinging burning pain with swelling and bruising...that's gone now I'm 6 weeks out

The orthopedist thinks I just tore the bicep belly (not tendon) I didn't do the MRI because was too expensive..but I did 5 PT sessions and was cleared but still the muscle feels tight...anyone with the same injury ?

gstrom

They wanted to do an MRI but I was healing on my own...I did 5 PT sessions and was just cleared but I am still concerned...the bicep looks different than my healthy one...I am 6 weeks out now...

dchristman

ReallyGottaSki

That stinks
But, beers after skiing
Maybe golf one can get away with it.

Rednucleus

It takes a brave man to confess to the world what many would consider a dumb move! Welcome to BOS, may you heal fully & quickly and get back on a ski soon. As long as you learn from your adventure, all is good!

mmskiboat

I do not have a lot to offer to help but do know that a lot of power lifters, strongmen have torn muscles, they might be a better place to ask for how it heals etc. I would make sure that you take the time to get it healed right and do any PT that is prescribed.

skiboyny

Did the tendon tear from the bone? Probably should have had the MRI if the tendon tears the muscle rolls up and it will look different. You can do well without it but there is a window of opportunity to having it fixed. You are outside that window now. At this point just work on strength as you did at physical therapy.

gstrom

I believe it didn't tear .... Luckily that's why they opted to not do the surgery

gstrom

The tendon that is

BraceMaker

An avulsion (bone breaking off) would heal faster probably. The bulge implies the fibers have slipped once it feels good and it is cleared medically if you want to keep skiing get in board with flow point method and ask them.

Jody_Seal

8 weeks of lifting 12 ounces only.
Did mine in May.

jjackkrash

If you refused the MRI how do you know it wasn't torn? If they are recommending surgery I suspect the professionals think it was torn.

I had a torn bicep tendon and they way I fixed it is with surgery. Bicep tendons don't re-attach on their own. If the tendon is torn you need surgery to repair it and should have already had it.

vtmecheng

Should have gotten the MRI. Also, beer always goes after skiing.

gstrom

Thanks guys he seemed pretty confident it was just a belly tear and no surgery needed but it was probably a grade 2 tear

gstrom

@Jody_Seal ... You tore the belly of your bicep ?..
12 ounces seems light but I guess you don't want to re injure

gstrom

@Jody_Seal ...also , did your arm go through the handle ? I'm wondering if that's what happened to me

rawly

Might want to consider a Goode Power vest for your return to skiing ?? They take the load off of your hands , arms , shoulders and back. I always wanted one for my bad back but kept putting it off until I wanted to ski after my shoulder surgery. I have saved well over the $600 price tag on the epidurals that I no longer get from the pain management doc. There is actually one for sale in another thread. Guys with arm injuries will sell them. Back injury people tend to hold on to them. Good luck with your recovery.

gstrom

@rawly ...yes, that's nifty and definitely would have saved me... but for me it's such a rare occasion to be water skiing ...no one I was with had a lot of experience

MZito

Just had surgery 2 days ago. I completely ruptured the distal bicep tendon playing hockey. Ortho sports physician reset the tendon with 2 good anchor points. He is telling me no skiing this season...all I have to do is rehab for now. I will be looking to to power vest once I get back at it.

Moskier3ev

I had a distal biceps complete rupture. I had the 2 incision fix. Surgery in mid April skied Pan ams in November. [email protected] jumped 128 tricked just under 3k. My suggestion is talk to a physical therapist that will work with your surgeon on rehab. I did a ton of blood flow restriction rehab. Skied in 12 weeks lightly. Increasing to tournament level in 5 months.
Your rehab is the key in my opinion. Never wore a power vest or any special equipment.

MZito

@Moskier3ev good advice & info. I am going to take rehab very serious. what arm did you injure, and what foot forward are you?

Moskier3ev

Left and left.. I did it....jumping. My experience was my surgeon (a sports med ortho) was what the book said on recovery. But as I worked with PT and he met with the surgeon we were able to safely return to a competitive level in 5 months.

MZito

I am left/left as well. My doc, also my ski partner said approx 6 months before I can get behind the boat. I feel left/left is better as this is my "palm down" hand, less torque on my bicep/arm vs palm up.

Moskier3ev

I did a lot of reading on the injury to educate myself on the stages of recovery after surgery. Just make sure you wear your brace all the time everywhere. A buddy of mine re tore his in a minor car wreck holding onto the wheel. After his second surgery it was a year before he could do anything.
Good luck. I have no lasting effects of the surgery and the biceps is normal.

MZito

@Moskier3ev thx for the info. I plan on recovering "by the book"