Bicep Detachment Surgery

[Viggo51]

Well this year just keeps getting better and better! Last week while placing my motorcycle on the center stand I heard an audible pop and tear. Like a small child I refused to look at my arm for a few moments, it was my right arm (I’m right handed). After x rays and a MRI I got the news “distal bicep tendon detachment”. Going to have surgery Monday. Anyone have this surgery, how was your recovery/rehab? How soon were you playing bass again?

 

[Gsnorgathon]

Best of luck to you and a speedy recovery! I'm happy for my sake to report I've got no experience whatsoever with that. But it sounds gnarly as [expletive deleted].

 

[Stumbo]

Well this year just keeps getting better and better! Last week while placing my motorcycle on the center stand I heard an audible pop and tear. Like a small child I refused to look at my arm for a few moments, it was my right arm (I’m right handed). After x rays and a MRI I got the news “distal bicep tendon detachment”. Going to have surgery Monday. Anyone have this surgery, how was your recovery/rehab? How soon were you playing bass again?

Sorry to hear about your condition. Just curious, how is something like that repaired? What does the doc say about recovery time?

I had knee surgery awhile ago and it took sometime to get going again. Take it slow and make sure you recover properly to reduce chances of future problems. Good luck.

 

[Viggo51]

Well the repair involves grabbing the loose tendon (it retreats as the bicep bunches up) then wrapping the loose tendon with sutures, they then drill a hole in one of forearm bones (radius) then they fish the sutures through the hole then “ratchet down the tendon and bicep” it’s a day surgery but it’s months of rehab, months in a sling, with recovery of 6 months to a year.

 

[Indiana Mike]

A coworker just had it done. 16 week recovery time.
healed just fine

 

[JohnMCA72]

I was at a baseball game when that happened to (Texas Rangers 3B) Dean Palmer. Biceps rolled up like a window shade, & it was obvious by the look on his face that it wasn't pleasant, probably on several levels. As I recall, he recovered but was never the same as a player. For somebody who isn't a pro athlete, it probably wouldn't matter as much.

 

[bassdude51]

Crap! I/we are sooooo sorry! Good luck with the surgery!

 

[Viggo51]

Thanks for the support! Had Surgery yesterday afternoon and now in a splint for 9 days until my next ortho appointment. Having a friend come over to help set up my keyboard so I can have some kind of musical outlet, work on my key bass skills! Who knows maybe this will inspire some creativity? No gigs anyway

 

[Lex P.]

It happened to my left arms bicep several years ago. I was shoveling gravel and tried to redirect the throw with my left arm by rotating my wrist. Your bicep controls arm rotation. Ripping sound indeed! Surgery was successful though the recovery was long. Listen to everything the doctor says. No lifting! Following the PT is very important. To this day my bicep aches at times and my left inner elbow area looks a bit deformed compared to my right arm. But I can do push-ups, play bass and shovel gravel. Though I’m very careful about having a smooth swing without rotating!

 

[Gefilter1001]

I just joined "The Club" we got this.....

 

[buldog5151bass]

I had something similar (torn bicep, torn rotator cuff). It took a year for full recovery.

Listen to your doctor on your limitations. There will be days you feel good. That does NOT mean you won't re-injure it if you push too hard (ask me how I know).