Torn Bicep tendon - how to keep gains

[chaps]

Welp it happened, I tore my left bicep tendon practically the last day of my first cycle. I'm into my second week of PCT and I figure all I can do to keep my gains is just eat a ****load, but it sucks cause I'm getting fat. Anyone else been through this have advice on how to get through it?

[Friesian]

Welp it happened, I tore my left bicep tendon practically the last day of my first cycle.

I'm guessing you ruptured the distal (lower) bicep tendon? Is it a complete or partial rupture? If it is complete I'm guessing you'll be going for surgical reattachment.
Personally, I had a complete rupture last year and had mine re-attached. Was in a cast for 4 weeks but managed to actually continue gaining LBM by completing more leg training sessions. I trained legs 2-3 times weekly whilst rehabbing. I'm not saying this will work for you but it may be an option to consider.

[chaps]

Its a partial tear. Whats really killing me is I'm also rehabbing a herniated disc. between my l5 and s1, so heavy compound lifts or most heavy lifts in general are out.

[Friesian]

Its a partial tear.

So it's a tear rather than a rupture? (A tear is muscular, rupture is tendon).

[chaps]

It's not muscular, but the tendon is still attached to the bone.

[Times Roman]

Welp it happened, I tore my left bicep tendon practically the last day of my first cycle. I'm into my second week of PCT and I figure all I can do to keep my gains is just eat a ****load, but it sucks cause I'm getting fat. Anyone else been through this have advice on how to get through it?

many of us have been through similar injuries.

mate,

You are posing the wrong question.

The right question is....

"How do I heal this as quickly as possible, minimizing my rehab time, and that way I can get back in the gym".

(your gains are history mate, sorry to tell you)

once you begin asking the right questions, then you may start getting the right answers.

Good luck!
---Roman

[Friesian]

It's not muscular, but the tendon is still attached to the bone.

Ok, so partial rupture then. I'm sorry to tell you this but you probably would've been better off ripping it clean off the bone. It's gonna be a long route to recovery. That's not to say you won't recover but you gotta be realistic and realistically you're not going to be able to do a huge amount of training for a while.
So like Times Roman said, you need to be working out how to minimize your rehab time and then (slowly) work your way back into it.

[lovbyts]

As said by TR, worry about recovery, not loosing gains.

[chaps]

I appreciate the points you guys are trying to get across, but I'm not so dumb that I think of keeping gains and recovering quickly as different things. Let me rephrase: Does anyone have advice on what rehab works best for getting back to it? I took a week off and managed to do some 1 arm cable curls (with only 5lbs, lowest plate setting) for 30 reps. Supersetting with triceps, I got a tiny pump. I should be ok with this as long as I'm able to avoid pain, right?

[hellomycognomen]

I took a week off and managed to do some 1 arm cable curls (with only 5lbs, lowest plate setting) for 30 reps. Supersetting with triceps, I got a tiny pump. I should be ok with this as long as I'm able to avoid pain, right?

IMO I would consider any tendon tear (partial or complete) a serious injury.

Best thing you can do is go see a doc and have an imagining test done to see the extent of the tear. The tendon and biceps muscle begin to scar and shorten 2-3 weeks after injury so getting quick treatment is a priority.

If you choose non surgical treatment then your focus should be on rehabilitation not necessarily getting a pump.

Rehab would include warm towel 30min, stretches (extension/flexion, pronation/supination) followed by light resistance. Its a long slow process.

[Friesian]

IMO I would consider any tendon tear (partial or complete) a serious injury.

Best thing you can do is go see a doc and have an imagining test done to see the extent of the tear. The tendon and biceps muscle begin to scar and shorten 2-3 weeks after injury so getting quick treatment is a priority.

Actually, I should have mentioned this OP, have you had an ultrasound scan done? If not it is vital you do. Surgery should be carried out within 1 week after injury if possible. It can be done up to a month after by an extremely proficient surgeon. However, any longer than that and you will require tendon grafts from elsewhere on your body.