Author Topic: Ruptured bicep tendon :( (Read 12095 times)

mrcharly-YHT · « **Reply #25 on:** 21 January, 2016, 10:51:31 am »

I wouldn't bother with reconstruction now. If I'd been offered it 25 years ago, probably.

Wouldn't mind some of the bone chips being removed. They float around and sometimes stick in bits painfully.

caerau · « **Reply #26 on:** 21 January, 2016, 11:04:09 am »

Well that sort of thing is why I had a second operation last September. I had a bone spur removed plus they did an arthroscopy to 'check it out'
It checked out to be 'fucked' (I believe that's the technical terminology).

This is why (if I'm not repeating myself now) I'm not keen on just leaving things be with the arm. I have enough borked joints already thanks.

T42 · « **Reply #27 on:** 21 January, 2016, 11:09:58 am »

Quote from: Caerau on 20 January, 2016, 07:48:46 pm

Quote from: T42 on 20 January, 2016, 05:51:43 pm
WRT cycling: my right shoulderblade is held in at the back by two perished rubber bands and a dollop of spit. I can push well enough but pulling hard, lifting weights or even holding a thickish book brings on pain in about 30 seconds. However, cycling involves mostly leaning on the bars, which in turn involves the triceps a lot more than the biceps. Even if you never regain full strength in the biceps I don't think you'll have any great problems.

Thanks for that T42, that is a comfort, albeit sorry to hear about your shoulder. Mostly I was/am concerned about two things.
1. Braking, I don't want a weak hand on my front brake when descending (maybe hydraulics is a thing to think about)
2. Long term imbalance issues - I'm sure my 8 km commute is going to be OK, but what does an imbalance do to your back over -say- a 600 km audax?

Having said that, you have certainly made me feel more confident, particularly on point 2.

I also like maintaining my bike and would like to continue - a poor ability to use a screwdriver (>50% power drop in supination) doesn't sound handy

My hands are still fine, and I had no pain on PBP. That being said, end of September I had a one-hour tussle with a shutter that wanted to fly away in the wind, and that's torn things a bit more. Since then I do have a bit of pain but I'm due a series of physio sessions which might take care of it. Failing that, there's lots of paracetamol at the chemist's.

That's a thing, though: once it's weakened you have to be careful because it'll probably stay vulnerable - one of my quads is a bit dodgy that way. But I still reckon you'll be OK on the bike.

Eccentrica Gallumbits · « **Reply #28 on:** 21 January, 2016, 12:27:28 pm »

Quote from: Caerau on 19 January, 2016, 08:33:59 pm

Hi, just wondering if anyone has any experience with this?

Discovered today that an off on my bike last Friday has caused a ruptured tendon in my right arm (yes, right handed, woohoo!)

I've been first told I need surgery to reattach it, then they've rescinded this advice as the risks allegedly outweigh the benefits. I'm kind of wondering if the reported 50%ish loss in strength ( https://www.shoulderdoc.co.uk/article/704 ) from basically losing the entire muscle is going to permanently affect my ability to cycle... $:-\$

Any knowledge around?

My dad ripped the long head of his biceps off playing squash in the mid-late 80s. The muscle all bunched up under his skin and he had one arm like dad and one arm like Popeye. He left it too long before he saw anybody about it for surgery to be an option, so they sent him to physio. The physio did manual muscle testing and realised his bad arm was still stronger than her good arms and sent him away.

He'll be 70 in 3 weeks and he's still mountain biking.

IJL · « **Reply #29 on:** 21 January, 2016, 01:02:39 pm »

Quote

My dad ripped the long head of his biceps off playing squash in the mid-late 80s. The muscle all bunched up under his skin and he had one arm like dad and one arm like Popeye. He left it too long before he saw anybody about it for surgery to be an option, so they sent him to physio. The physio did manual muscle testing and realised his bad arm was still stronger than her good arms and sent him away

This injury is to the other end of the Bicep, long head ruptures are the most common and cause less problems, the tendon at the proximal end of the bicep divides and if the long head ruptures the short head survives and leaves good function, at the distal end of the bicep there's only one tendon so its all or nothing

caerau · « **Reply #30 on:** 27 January, 2016, 08:48:29 pm »

Well I went to the hospital yesterday and kicked up a fuss (politely) - my GP told me just to go back to casualty and ask to be seen again.

The lead nurse treated me like I was coming down in judgement on everybody's professional integrity. Actually I just wanted to see someone (as opposed to hearing second hand from a registrar over the phone) who knew what they were talking about.

As it happened I eventually managed to see the lovely doctor who had originally sent me to ultrasound only to have gone home by the time I had returned and waited at the reception in the trauma clinic for over and hour. She too had wondered where I had gone that day.

Anyway, she reassured me that my assigned surgeon is very experienced and that nothing had been decided when I espoused my concerns. My appointment next week is not too late and that this is essentially elective surgery, not considered an emergency. She agreed with my figures of a 50% loss in strength in supination etc and agreed that surgery was certainly recommendable when I explained my concerns regarding my cycling (particularly with regard to maintenance and - as I think now - with regard to changing a tyre at the roadside).

I retain my feelings about second opinion though. When I had ligament reconstruction in Dundee in '98 the operation I had was *very* different and much less imposing than the one the surgeon in Southampton (where I initially was being treated) had suggested.
The contrast was massive - Southampton surgeon - knee tendons grafted onto ankle - requiring 6 months of full leg plaster and a year of
physiotherapy
- Dundee surgeon - refixing shortened ankle ligaments to bone - required one month of half leg plaster (two weeks
of which were a second - lightweight - walking plaster) - most definitely preferable.

sojournermike · « **Reply #31 on:** 27 January, 2016, 11:06:33 pm »

I hope this will lead to a good outcome.

I would be more than a bit upset with the registrar

Quote from: Caerau on 27 January, 2016, 08:48:29 pm

Well I went to the hospital yesterday and kicked up a fuss (politely) - my GP told me just to go back to casualty and ask to be seen again.

The lead nurse treated me like I was coming down in judgement on everybody's professional integrity. Actually I just wanted to see someone (as opposed to hearing second hand from a registrar over the phone) who knew what they were talking about.

As it happened I eventually managed to see the lovely doctor who had originally sent me to ultrasound only to have gone home by the time I had returned and waited at the reception in the trauma clinic for over and hour. She too had wondered where I had gone that day.

Anyway, she reassured me that my assigned surgeon is very experienced and that nothing had been decided when I espoused my concerns. My appointment next week is not too late and that this is essentially elective surgery, not considered an emergency. She agreed with my figures of a 50% loss in strength in supination etc and agreed that surgery was certainly recommendable when I explained my concerns regarding my cycling (particularly with regard to maintenance and - as I think now - with regard to changing a tyre at the roadside).

I retain my feelings about second opinion though. When I had ligament reconstruction in Dundee in '98 the operation I had was *very* different and much less imposing than the one the surgeon in Southampton (where I initially was being treated) had suggested.
The contrast was massive - Southampton surgeon - knee tendons grafted onto ankle - requiring 6 months of full leg plaster and a year of
physiotherapy
- Dundee surgeon - refixing shortened ankle ligaments to bone - required one month of half leg plaster (two weeks
of which were a second - lightweight - walking plaster) - most definitely preferable.

caerau · « **Reply #32 on:** 28 January, 2016, 02:46:45 pm »

Ah, to be fair it was not his fault that a rogue patient was still waiting in reception after the clinic had finished, I think he was trying to do his best for me. I now know from Tuesday that they only have clinics in the morning so I'd have had to come back the next day for a best outcome (for me). I think I'd given the strong impression that I didn't want an op as I was vociferously upset about the prospect of another one so soon after my last. Despite finally choosing to go for it I think he thought I'd be happy not to - I'm not.

Nor do I blame the receptionist - he may well have said 'go and tell the nurses you're here' rather than what I heard which was 'I will tell the nurses you are here' - entirely possible (and likely) I misheard.

The main fault I think is that the NHS assumes the patients just 'know' the system when they don't.

What you really need is a doctor with a good bedside manner to talk to you and that I finally got.

[Edit] - Reading back on this thread - (a) boy do I repeat myself - sorry and (b) boy have I chilled out in a week, that registrar has gone from being class1 NME to nice man - I think the latter is more realistic

chrisbainbridge · « **Reply #33 on:** 29 January, 2016, 09:59:41 am »

So what decisions have you made?

caerau · « **Reply #34 on:** 29 January, 2016, 10:20:07 am »

None for definite yet. Pretty certain I want the operation to fix my tendon - but I'll see what the surgeon has to say on Tuesday.

Beginning to get a semblance of reasonable function back to my arm today - at last. Managed to actually eat my breakfast using a knife in my right hand

Well I had to put it down half way through but that's nice progress. Two days ago I could barely hold a pen.

caerau · « **Reply #35 on:** 02 February, 2016, 04:30:44 pm »

Well that all turned into a storm in teacup.

Saw an arm and shoulder specialist surgeon - he was extremely professional, told me all the pros and cons with straight facts, told me he was happy to operate - or not -as I chose. I chose yes and he fully understood when I told him I was worried about arm and hand weakness on long distance rides, plus maintenance - he's a cyclist too - told me about his carpal tunnel problems so clearly he *really* is.
Has done this op more than 50 times too so I am very pleased with my allocation of surgeon.
A shame the initial stages of getting through this process were non-ideal but that's all over with now.

All good -will happen in the next two weeks - will have been taken out of audax for a full season more or less by the time it's all over but I already knew that really so, not the 2016 season I'd have chosen, but shit happens.

Am looking forward to getting my arm back in full working order in about 4-5 months.

Canardly · « **Reply #36 on:** 02 February, 2016, 04:36:27 pm »

Sounds very promising, all the best with this.

T42 · « **Reply #37 on:** 02 February, 2016, 04:57:06 pm »

Good news. I hope it all goes well.

andyoxon · « **Reply #38 on:** 02 February, 2016, 05:04:48 pm »

Good news caerau.

hellymedic · « **Reply #39 on:** 02 February, 2016, 05:15:54 pm »

Sounds good. Hope all goes well!

caerau · « **Reply #40 on:** 02 February, 2016, 06:02:45 pm »

Thanks

mrcharly-YHT · « **Reply #41 on:** 02 February, 2016, 06:21:15 pm »

caerau · « **Reply #42 on:** 02 February, 2016, 07:26:00 pm »

Supplementary question. Should probably have asked the surgeon this but have any of you ever heard of this happening to a cyclist before?
It rather seems to me to have the smell of a freak accident.

It's more an injury that happens to weight-trainers and people who lift heavy stuff for a living as far as I can tell.

sojournermike · « **Reply #43 on:** 02 February, 2016, 08:54:25 pm »

Good news. Hope you make a speedy and full recovery.

Never heard of this injury before, but would have assumed it was correlated with heavy weights and steroids! Sound a bit like misfortune.

caerau · « **Reply #44 on:** 02 February, 2016, 09:25:32 pm »

That's exactly right, steroid use can contribute to tendon malnutrition I think I read somewhere.

Yeah I think it's just massively bad luck, I shall not fret too much about redoing it - though I shall be getting some ice-tyres for the future, I've been down on ice 3 or 4 times now - last year I had a bad crash at 25 mph but got away with just a cut knee. I have been humbled by this.

caerau · « **Reply #45 on:** 02 February, 2016, 11:47:53 pm »

Ooh ooh. My surgeon is only honorary surgeon to the Welsh Rubgy Union and Cardiff blues.

That is so awesome - almost worth the injury

http://www.nuffieldcardiffandvale.com/knee-clinic/knee-consultants/u/61/desc/mrrhyswilliams/

T42 · « **Reply #46 on:** 03 February, 2016, 07:37:53 am »

Better that Mother Brown's, then.

caerau · « **Reply #47 on:** 03 February, 2016, 10:08:54 am »

$:-\$ Kind of suggests a certain level of expertise surely. And experience (lots of it also)

caerau · « **Reply #48 on:** 11 February, 2016, 08:28:56 pm »

Well it's done.

Feck it hurts now

Will be worth it - currently on a Tramadol night

sojournermike · « **Reply #49 on:** 11 February, 2016, 10:42:31 pm »

Quote from: caerau on 11 February, 2016, 08:28:56 pm

Well it's done.

Feck it hurts now

Will be worth it - currently on a Tramadol night

Glad for you, and sympathetic.