Once a bicep is torn,
it unfortunately will not reattach itself to the bone and heal on its own
. There are, however, a variety of treatment options available depending on the severity of your injury and whether it was a partial or complete tear.
How long does it take for a partially torn bicep tendon to heal?
It takes
about 3 to 4 months
for your biceps muscle to heal. You may be able to do easier daily activities in 2 to 3 weeks, as long as you don’t use your injured arm. Most people who work at a desk job can return to work in 1 to 2 weeks.
Can a torn bicep tendon heal without surgery?
Most people can recover without surgery from a shoulder or bicep tendon tear
. The pain from a biceps tendon tear can resolve itself over time and minor arm weakness may never bother the patient.
What does a torn bicep feel like?
The most obvious symptom will be a
sudden, severe pain in
the upper part of your arm or at the elbow, depending on where the tendon is injured. You may hear or feel a “pop” when a tendon tears. Other signs that you may have torn a biceps tendon can include: Sharp pain at the shoulder or elbow.
How do you heal a torn bicep tendon?
- Ice. Apply cold packs for 20 minutes at a time, several times a day to keep down swelling. …
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications. Drugs like ibuprofen, aspirin, or naproxen reduce pain and swelling.
- Rest. Avoid heavy lifting and overhead activities to relieve pain and limit swelling. …
- Physical therapy.
Can you lift weights with a torn bicep?
After we give the biceps tendon enough time to heal to the radius bone you start physical therapy. Once you have completed your therapy, most patients are capable of returning to full activities — including sports, jobs with heavy lifting, and weight lifting.
What happens if a torn tendon is not repaired?
If left untreated, eventually it can result in other foot and leg problems, such as inflammation and
pain
in the ligaments in the soles of your foot (plantar faciitis), tendinitis in other parts of your foot, shin splints, pain in your ankles, knees and hips and, in severe cases, arthritis in your foot.
How do you check for a torn bicep?
- a “pop” or tearing sensation when the injury happens.
- warmth around the injury.
- swelling.
- bruising.
- pain or ache at the injury site, and throughout your arm (usually severe at first, and may get better over a few weeks)
- arm weakness.
- difficulty turning your palm.
Is a torn bicep an emergency?
Distal biceps tendon ruptures
almost always need urgent surgical repair
as the patient may lose significant functioning of the affected arm [8]. This patient was correctly diagnosed with a long head biceps tendon rupture.
Should you wrap a torn bicep?
I advise patients
to avoid compression
because it can be difficult to wrap the shoulder and if you wrap the elbow incorrectly, it can result in hand swelling.
Is distal bicep surgery worth it?
Surgeons seem to agree that the benefit of surgery is
a little more supination strength
, with flexion strength returning close to normal with or without surgery. An untreated rupture causes less deformity than with proximal biceps rupture
What exercises can I do with a torn bicep tendon?
- Active elbow flexion and extension: Gently bring the palm of the hand on your injured side up toward your shoulder, bending your elbow as much as you can. …
- Biceps stretch: Stand facing a wall (about 6 inches, or 15 centimeters, away from the wall).
How do I know if I have a torn bicep distal tendon?
Signs and symptoms of an Rupture of the Distal Biceps Tendon at the Elbow may include:
Pain, swelling and/or bruising in the front of the elbow
.
Weakness in the affected arm when bending or twisting the elbow
.
Inability to feel the tendon
and/or seeing the biceps muscle belly pull up towards the shoulder.
Can you exercise a torn bicep?
Raise your injured arm out to your side and place the thumb side of your hand against the wall (palm down). Keep your arm straight.
Rotate
your body in the opposite direction of the raised arm until you feel a stretch in your biceps. Hold 15 seconds.
Can I workout with a strained bicep?
While the injury is healing, however, you can perform exercises to keep your should and
bicep flexible
and your muscles strong. This exercise helps you maintain your vertical range of motion while your tendon heals.
Can physical therapy help a torn bicep?
Raise your injured arm out to your side and place the thumb side of your hand against the wall (palm down). Keep your arm straight.
Rotate your body in the opposite direction
of the raised arm until you feel a stretch in your biceps. Hold 15 seconds.
