OUCH ! Relocation of my Bicep .... and other fun stuff .....

[ArkRescue]

So I am known to be the independent sort that doesn't like to ask for help. A few years ago I ended up in surgery for over-using my arm/shoulder and I thought that was bad. Not! I overdid it even worse this time and not only sustained another labrum and rotator cuff tear, I also almost completely ripped my bicep attachment off also.

So I had surgery almost 2 weeks ago to correct the newest (and hopefully the last) surgery to my right arm (I am right-handed so life is difficult now)). The surgeon at my last follow-up appointment draws a diagram for me to show how he relocated my bicep attachment, and he shortened my bicep in the process of the reattachment. Has anyone here had their bicep reattached and shortened? If so, can you share any pros or cons to that please.

The surgeon warned me that either I lighten up and stop abusing my body, or I may not be fixable the next time. Hmm, so now I am thinking .... I guess I'm not 25 any more, oh well.

"The biceps tendon is the attachment of the biceps muscle to the bone. The biceps muscle is named because there are two tendon attachments (therefore, "bi"-ceps) in the shoulder, and there is also a tendon attachment of the muscle below the elbow. The biceps muscle is important both in bending the elbow (flexion) as well as turning the forearm upwards (supination). Biceps tendon tears can diminish the strength of these movements, and can also cause a deformity of the biceps muscle. "

This is what I found online about it: http://orthopedics.about.com/od/surgicalprocedure1/qt/Biceps-Tenodesis.htm

 

[slotpuppy]

You need to lay off the kama sutra and go back to missionary.

 

[warneckutz]

So I am known to be the independent sort that doesn't like to ask for help. A few years ago I ended up in surgery for over-using my arm/shoulder and I thought that was bad. Not! I overdid it even worse this time and not only sustained another labrum and rotator cuff tear, I also almost completely ripped my bicep attachment off also.

So I had surgery almost 2 weeks ago to correct the newest (and hopefully the last) surgery to my right arm (I am right-handed so life is difficult now)). The surgeon at my last follow-up appointment draws a diagram for me to show how he relocated my bicep attachment, and he shortened my bicep in the process of the reattachment. Has anyone here had their bicep reattached and shortened? If so, can you share any pros or cons to that please.

The surgeon warned me that either I lighten up and stop abusing my body, or I may not be fixable the next time. Hmm, so now I am thinking .... I guess I'm not 25 any more, oh well.

"The biceps tendon is the attachment of the biceps muscle to the bone. The biceps muscle is named because there are two tendon attachments (therefore, "bi"-ceps) in the shoulder, and there is also a tendon attachment of the muscle below the elbow. The biceps muscle is important both in bending the elbow (flexion) as well as turning the forearm upwards (supination). Biceps tendon tears can diminish the strength of these movements, and can also cause a deformity of the biceps muscle. "

This is what I found online about it: http://orthopedics.about.com/od/surgicalprocedure1/qt/Biceps-Tenodesis.htm

Skip the surgery and do PRP... It's legit.

 

[mamatutu]

Sorry to hear about your injuries, Ark. My husband has a torn rotator cup from too many years of baseball; playing and coaching. He has been getting therapy, and doc suggested surgery. Husband hasn't decided yet if he is getting it, or not because he would have to give up his running for a good amount of time.

I have an idea what you are going through, and hope it all goes well for you, and you have a good recovery.

 

[warneckutz]

sorry to hear about your injuries, ark. My husband has a torn rotator cup from too many years of baseball; playing and coaching. He has been getting therapy, and doc suggested surgery. Husband hasn't decided yet if he is getting it, or not because he would have to give up his running for a good amount of time.

I have an idea what you are going through, and hope it all goes well for you, and you have a good recovery.

prp

 

[kwillia]

Skip the surgery and do PRP... It's legit.

I'm thinking in the least you should have her press her injured shoulder against her monitor and swing one of her cats by the tail over her head with the other arm so you can at least get a CAT SCAN image before you diagnose over the internet...:shrug:

 

[warneckutz]

I'm thinking in the least you should have her press her injured shoulder against her monitor and swing one of her cats by the tail over her head with the other arm so you can at least get a CAT SCAN image before you diagnos over the internet...:shrug:

Whoops

 

[slotpuppy]

i'm thinking in the least you should have her press her injured shoulder against her monitor and swing one of her cats by the tail over her head with the other arm so you can at least get a cat scan image before you diagnos over the internet...:shrug:

groan

 

[Misfit]

I'm thinking in the least you should have her press her injured shoulder against her monitor and swing one of her cats by the tail over her head with the other arm so you can at least get a CAT SCAN image before you diagnose over the internet...:shrug:

 

[Roman]

I'm thinking in the least you should have her press her injured shoulder against her monitor and swing one of her cats by the tail over her head with the other arm so you can at least get a CAT SCAN image before you diagnose over the internet...:shrug:

 

[ArkRescue]

I'm thinking in the least you should have her press her injured shoulder against her monitor and swing one of her cats by the tail over her head with the other arm so you can at least get a CAT SCAN image before you diagnose over the internet...:shrug:

LOL

 

[ArkRescue]

Skip the surgery and do PRP... It's legit.

A relative of mine didn't go to the doctor about her arm injury until it was too late to fix it, and she has an arm that doesn't work well anymore.

In my case, how else can a torn muscle be fixed WELL if not via surgery. I get that maybe the cuff and labrum tears (smaller) maybe could have been handled differently but once you're in there, fix it all. I certainly didn't want a floppy bicep that would have been useless to me. Some things just need to be repaired. I was in pain and couldn't use the arm or sleep.

 

[warneckutz]

A relative of mine didn't go to the doctor about her arm injury until it was too late to fix it, and she has an arm that doesn't work well anymore.

In my case, how else can a torn muscle be fixed WELL if not via surgery. I get that maybe the cuff and labrum tears (smaller) maybe could have been handled differently but once you're in there, fix it all. I certainly didn't want a floppy bicep that would have been useless to me. Some things just need to be repaired. I was in pain and couldn't use the arm or sleep.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Platelet-rich_plasma

The tendon in my elbow was almost completely torn and I think if I went to a local doctor in St Mary's it'd either be a cortisone injection or surgery. Saw a specialist in Waldorf who referred me to a Dr in Georgetown who did the PRP. I was slated to be out of the gym from 6-8 months before really getting back to it, I was back in the gym in 3 or so and almost 100% by the middle of the 4th month.

The injection was painful but it's well worth it. No surgery, back in the gym in half the time and it really worked for me.

 

[Chasey_Lane]

My husband has a torn rotator cup

Solo cups are fairly cheap -- he should be able to get plenty of new ones.

 

[warneckutz]

Solo cups are fairly cheap -- he should be able to get plenty of new ones.

They have a variety of colors, right? More than just red?

 

[Chasey_Lane]

They have a variety of colors, right? More than just red?

Indeed they do!!

 

[warneckutz]

Indeed they do!!

Winner, Winner! Chicken Dinner!

 

[Hannibal]

Are you saying you've already had the relocation/attachment surgery? What exactly are you looking for opinions on?

When I came out of college (I used to pitch), I had my second shoulder surgery (torn labrium, rotator cuff, blah blah blah). After going through rehab, I got back into lifting (medically cleared). After probably only my second or third trip to the gym, I decided to play some basketball after lifting. While playing, I swiped at the ball trying to steal it from my opponent. When I did this, I head AND FELT a loud pop in my upper right arm. I can't say it was painful but I certainly noticed it. When I looked down, I had a bulge rest just above the crease in my arm. I had no idea what it was but it didn't feel right and certainly didn't feel good. I walked over and went to pick up my gym bag and when I "curled" my arm to pick it up - the pain damn near dropped me to my knees. It was excruciating. I went to the front desk to ask for ice (no idea why) and the person up front was a bit panicked as I had both a knot down by the crease of my elbow - I also had a depression in the upper part of my arm below my shoulder. Given that I was in good shape back then - there was a very big disparity between my arms at this point. It was obvious.

Went to the docs the next day and he determined that I tore my biceps tendon from its attachement to my upper arm. There are two heads of the bicep (each with its own attachment) and I tore one. This caused the one part to collapse (think a rubber band normally under tension now has no tension) and go slack. It more or less contracted down to its attachment point by my elbow.

I was offered two options: 1) Do nothing. While it would never fix itself, the physical look of it would be improved with time. My strength would be slightly reduced (he said I would have about 80% of overall strength). 2) Have surgery where they would go in, grab the loose muscle, pull it up and reattach it to the shoulder (by coring out a hole, inserting the tendon and physically securing it). I would then have to do a good bit of rehab.

I opted to leave it alone. At that point, my playing career was done and I had no reason to lift as much/hard as I had. A 20% reduction in strength in that arm wouldn't impact my day to day life and could be offset by compensating with other things (chest, back, shoulders, etc). To be honest, after just coming back from a hard surgery and a LONG rehab, I just couldn't stomach another surgery.

It's been over 10-years now and don't regret that decision. The asthetics of it are pretty much non-existant. I can point out the hollow area in my upper arm on occasion to mess with people. It can be easy to see when you flex. The perk, the bicep of my right arm knots up a hell of a lot better now and looks pretty good - even for only having half of it left.

 

[ArkRescue]

Are you saying you've already had the relocation/attachment surgery? What exactly are you looking for opinions on?

To see what to expect now that it's done. I am not going to be able to afford frequent and/or long term PT, so I need to learn as much as I can to help myself recuperate and get as much from what I have left now. I will speak to the PT folks about what I can do on my own, and go back to PT at intervals for measurement of my progress and more help with the types of exercises to go forward with for the next phase of PT.

I guess the fact that my relative ended up with reduced use of her arm scared me, so now as soon as I KNOW I have a serious problem, I go to my orthopedic surgeon to get evaluated, and if it continues, I get a MRI to see how extensive the problem is.