Reoccuring Pain in Righ Bicep

[trikydik]

A couple of weeks ago, I tweaked my R bicep. At first I thought it was tendon pain... was isolated to the inside of my elbow at the joint.
Now it extends up into the bicep. It affects my warm up and initial first couple of exercises... however after a while the pain goes away until after I am done.

On a scale of 1-10 non exercise like at night when I sleep, it is a 3 or so...the first 30 minutes of weight training, it is a 5-7... then fades out until after I am done.

Any ideas??

[wicked442]

Do you do barbell curls alot vs dumbells?
I had this prob same area. It hurt to the touch on the bone inside elbow. I used ice and rested it for about a week. I think it was from over use.

[BG]

Be very careful with this. Could be tendon damage or muscle damage where the tendon connects. I tore my bicep off, its never benn the same...not even close.

[wicked442]

Be very careful with this. Could be tendon damage or muscle damage where the tendon connects. I tore my bicep off, its never benn the same...not even close.

Did you tear it at one time or was it bothering you and you lifted anyway,then it happened? I ask because i have had this pain more than once and aftet rest it goes away.

Dont mean to hijak your thread op.

[hellomycognomen]

I developed similar pain on my left biceps from doing slow negatives.

I had pain when pronating and supinating my hand and my tendon felt sore to the touch.

It wasnt a 5-7 pain more like a nagging soft always there uncomfortable pain.

It took a whole month to go away. I did nothing for the whole month.

It sucked ass but I didn't want to risk a distal biceps tendon tear.

A tear would be devastating. Best to go light or avoid aggravating exercises. Better safe than sorry on this issue IMO.

-Cheers

[trikydik]

Started out as a pin point nuisance pain at the interior elbow... now has made its way up into the bicep.
Like I said though, after about 30 min of training the pain goes away until after I am done...

Probably nature's way of saying, hey you middle aged man, what fvck you doing?

[BG]

Did you tear it at one time or was it bothering you and you lifted anyway,then it happened? I ask because i have had this pain more than once and aftet rest it goes away.

Dont mean to hijak your thread op.

At once, not over time. But you could be weakening it and then something big could rip it off. Look at Slimshady, he did it picking up a tv.

[wicked442]

At once, not over time. But you could be weakening it and then something big could rip it off. Look at Slimshady, he did it picking up a tv.

Mine has been feeling good for a while. I really pay attention to it more. I have an arm wrestling comp in July,so im training for that and hoping it stays healthy. Thanxs for your input BG.
I

[wicked442]

Started out as a pin point nuisance pain at the interior elbow... now has made its way up into the bicep. Like I said though, after about 30 min of training the pain goes away until after I am done... Probably nature's way of saying, hey you middle aged man, what fvck you doing?

Im with ya on the middle age thing. Didnt used to have little pains like this 10 yrs ago.

[hellomycognomen]

Like I said though, after about 30 min of training the pain goes away until after I am done...

Pain could be going away due to many issues such as surge in endorphins and the like.

Does your tendon hurt when at rest if you push on it?

At once, not over time. But you could be weakening it and then something big could rip it off.

Yup^^^^

That's why I didn't want to risk it.

At the time when I had the pain I was looking at all kinds of videos. I was paranoid.

Did you have the tendon tear or the bicep muscle tear? Did you need to get surgery? How long recovery?

[trikydik]

2 weeks later and I still have the same pain in my right bicep. Uncomfortable when I curl my arm even asleep.

In the gym, I cannot do any curls, chest press, bench press... even fly is uncomfortable...

This sucks!

[trikydik]

if you look at the inside right elbow.... Put your finger in the middle...there is a tendon just to the left middle...that is the one that is uncomfortable...

[hellomycognomen]

That the distal biceps tendon my friend. But as long as you can still stick your finger underneath it and feel it your good, ie its still there and attached!

Take your workouts easy man last thing you want is for it not to heal. Like BG said about his tear, right now yours is injured/inflamed basically in a weaken state and if you push yourself too hard it might snap.

As far as why your bicep itself hurts is strange to me unless you ripped it a little and at the same time aggravated the tendon?

When I had the tendon pain I stopped everything, it sucked ass but you dont want to take the risk on this one. Lay low man that's my recommendation.

[hellomycognomen]

Only time I've seen the tendon tear was on people doing heavy deadlifts, so i dont think dumbbell curls will rip it off but working out your arms will most certainly delay healing.

And it could give on you if doing bench so the danger factor is also there.

[trikydik]

sucks cause I can only really do tricep without pain....

[hellomycognomen]

That's weird I would think any flexsion/extension would cause pain.

[BG]

Yup^^^^


Did you have the tendon tear or the bicep muscle tear? Did you need to get surgery? How long recovery?

Tendon tore off the bone. I could push on the bottom of my bi and see the tendon wiggle like a snake.

[30blue03]

Most likely the where the tendon inserts into the medial elbow. High chance of risking a bicep tendon tear. See a physical therapist with a sports medicine background, they can look assess body mechanics as this pain can come from a variety of reasons that would leave your bicep tendon over working and straining. The tendon is most under force during the eccentric phase of contraction, generally rest and then light eccentric training to re-strengthen the tendon. People often neglect tendon strength. Often cross-friction massage to help align the new scar tissue being formed, ice-cup massage to help clear out metabolic waste. If this doesn't make sense to you see a sports med therapist, if it does make sense you will be able to address it yourself.

Remember its a two joint muscle crossing the shoulder and elbow with multiple jobs such as flexion and supination, so the root cause can be multiple things and professionals should be able to address the biomechanics

[trikydik]

I went to the gym tonight after taking 2 weeks off. Pain is still the same but now I know for sure it is a tendon.
Dr. thinks it may be rheumatoid arthritis which can affect connective tissue. He wants to run a series of MRI shots but that will run me $1500 out of pocket, after insurance. He (and I) do not know what else it can be.
Pain is not getting better, but it is not getting worse. Burns like a sonabitch when I do curls.

[hellomycognomen]

Rheumatoid arthritis would not just appear out of the blue like that, at least I wouldn't think so.

Sounds like a generic answer to a fishing expedition.

But at least with the scanning he should be able to see what is going on.

Let us know the result. Good luck man.

[trikydik]

My doc wants me to start on steroids .. not sure I want to.... they have their drawbacks. - this is kind of a shot in the dark, don't know what is causing it, hope this helps... kind of a thing

I do miss working out my biceps and feeling the pump though...

[30blue03]

Don't think its RA wouldn't recommend spending the cash there unless other signs and symptoms point to RA. RA is a joint pain, usually accompanied with swelling and warmth/redness. Hard to Dx you online, but I'd also suggest avoid corticosteroids at this time because that can weaken tendons and just mask the pain. I'd suggest to seek out a physical therapist, we are professionals at evaluating and treating the neuromusculoskeletal system with the least invasive techniques. Tendon tears take time to heal, much longer than 2 weeks, look at kobe bryants most recent Achilles tear. You may not have a complete tear but even a partial rupture would take time. PT would be a less expensive option and if it isn't a musculotendonus issue they can usually point you in the right direction. Make sure its a sports medicine PT

[trikydik]

RA can and does affect connecting tissue about 20% of the time.

I am not doing any bicep work except cable pull downs which are a back / bicep work out. - Though pull backs hurt as well.
What concerns me, is I am beginning to feel it in the left bicep as well.

[30blue03]

Yes RA can affect connective tissue, you generally need 3 out of 7 specific symptoms. Bilateral pain in common in RA. But other signs and symptoms don't seem to point to RA as in the classic symptoms and the method of onset seems to be specific to the muscle action of the biceps.

RA symptoms would include joint stiffness throughout the day generally morning stiffness is common, redness, swelling/fluid, warmth, and attacking joints bilaterally. If you think you have a few of those symptoms then get a blood test to look for abnormal amounts of rheumatoid factor. RA can be wrongly diagnosed because its similarity to other joint pain but if that's what you think check it out. I'd be interested in hearing the outcome. Hopefully this starts to resolve for you

[trikydik]

MRI = nothing

So my doctor wants me to see a specialist...First time the L word was mentioned... 1% chance, though my luck it is 100%... 30% chance it is RA, 69% chance of they don't have a clue...

So let's recap..
1. Right Achilles tendon sore when straighten foot and debilitating when I jump - Since November
2. Right Medial Epicondyle tendon - painful to bend my arm (though a little less) - incredibly painful to work out the bicep. - Since Feb
3. Left Medial Epiconyle tendon - not painful yet, but beginning to feel discomfort when moved or worked out.
4. Left finger next to pinky - trigger finger (ie inflamed flexor tendon) - since Feb

Makes working out a pain in the ass

[Getlean007]

Rest rest rest

[trikydik]

Saw the Ortho guy this morning....
Thinks achille's tendon is chronic tendonitis.... not much to do there except surgery if I want...
Trigger finger is just that... again shots or surgery

Bicep pain is a different story... Does not believe it is RA, and not caused by over working t... (have not been to gym in over a month)... He believes it is a side effect of the Lipitor. Seems statins can have a a side effect of pain in connective tissue and muscles... So I am off the statin for 3 weeks to see if it gets better....

[lovbyts]

Saw the Ortho guy this morning....
Thinks achille's tendon is chronic tendonitis.... not much to do there except surgery if I want...
Trigger finger is just that... again shots or surgery

Bicep pain is a different story... Does not believe it is RA, and not caused by over working t... (have not been to gym in over a month)... He believes it is a side effect of the Lipitor. Seems statins can have a a side effect of pain in connective tissue and muscles... So I am off the statin for 3 weeks to see if it gets better....

Yup... bad stuff. I dont beleive in the whole cholesterol thing. My doctor wont prescribe me anything but lipitor so I have a BIG stockpile of it and start taking it about a week or two before I have to go in for blood test.

Sucks about the tendonitis, hope you can find an alternative to surgery.

[trikydik]

achilles only hurts when I play basketball... so no big loss there

[trikydik]

6 months later and mostly pain free. Docs put me on steroids and extended anti inflamatories. Still feel some pain when I curl.... but manageable. At least I can start doing chest and arms and back and ... again