Post by ivandrago on Sept 20, 2009 12:47:34 GMT -5
Mr. W & Gang,
I made a post about a year ago referring to and narrating/documenting my distal biceps tendon rupture; I thought I would reiterate that injury and see if any new ideas or plausible new diagnosis thoughts might bubble to the top. The issue I am facing is after seeing three 'renowned' surgeons and having two separate MRI's focusing on my shoulder and my elbow interior - no one knows anything decisive or specific. As rare as it might be to have a doctor shrug his shoulers, shake his head, and actually fess up to the three hardest enunciated words in their profession "I don't know," I have accomplished that fleeting feat thrice, haha!
Over a year ago now, during the mid-summer of 2008, I was doing Hammer Curls (alternating) to the sternum, with a neutral grip unassisted by wraps, with 70 pound dumbells. Unfortunately my detailed recollection of the events are slightly blurred by the fog of time, but I am certain it was during that set there was some type of incurred injury in my left arm - to which the severity would grow over the following weeks, then peak at the highest pain level, and then somehow descended from any feelings of pain when at rest or even while lifting if I use certain hand/wrist positions to alleviate or redistribute direct stress on my bicep. (I have no pain now, but for the initial proceeding 2-3 months after the injury I had very noticeable pain, although NO bruising or discoloration surfaced, and the pain was very isolated to the tendon's epicenter where the insertion to bone exists). One doctor theorized tendon swelling and over-stress (basically a glorified version of tendonitis) so I went through 4 weeks of sonar therapy, which showed no signs of healing. Another doctor believed it to be bursitis, and inflmmation had accrued beneath the tendon at the point of insertion, so I no longer had a stable foundation in order to stabilize my bicep and contract the muscle into a full squeeze.
Today, I am still unable to perform certain isolation exercises that stimulate my left biceps on a high level, independent of any assisting surrounding muscles; for example, my bicep is most exposed when palm is facing up, so barbell curls are impossible, as well as other secondary bicep stimulation exercises such as UNDER-HAND bent barbell rows.
I have gone through a short circle of theories myself, inclusive of a tendon tear higher up in my rotator, which then translated into a perceived injury at my insertion point of the distal tendon at the bottom tie-in between bicep and forearm, that was supposedly ruled out by the 2nd MRI. The first theroy I had that evolved into two ideas, was the most overt prognosis, of tearing/partially rupturing my distal biceps tendon and separating it from the bone causing my primary overwhelming sympton: I CANNOT FLEX MY LEFT BICEP. Yep... absolutely no measurable flexion strength exists in my left bicep - BUT, for over a year now, I have remained doing deadlifts, shrugs, and even curls as long as I never exceed 40 pounds and warm up enough.
So, I cannot perform a front double biceps, but, I still have 100% grip strength, and I am able to retain functional strength and even avoid 99% of pain while in the gym now...
Has anyone ever heard of something similar to this? As the condition becomes chronic and I become more frustrated, I plan on seeking out an appointment with a surgeon from the Cleveland Clinic, so I can hear the diagnosis from one of the World's most prominent surgeons.
I made a post about a year ago referring to and narrating/documenting my distal biceps tendon rupture; I thought I would reiterate that injury and see if any new ideas or plausible new diagnosis thoughts might bubble to the top. The issue I am facing is after seeing three 'renowned' surgeons and having two separate MRI's focusing on my shoulder and my elbow interior - no one knows anything decisive or specific. As rare as it might be to have a doctor shrug his shoulers, shake his head, and actually fess up to the three hardest enunciated words in their profession "I don't know," I have accomplished that fleeting feat thrice, haha!
Over a year ago now, during the mid-summer of 2008, I was doing Hammer Curls (alternating) to the sternum, with a neutral grip unassisted by wraps, with 70 pound dumbells. Unfortunately my detailed recollection of the events are slightly blurred by the fog of time, but I am certain it was during that set there was some type of incurred injury in my left arm - to which the severity would grow over the following weeks, then peak at the highest pain level, and then somehow descended from any feelings of pain when at rest or even while lifting if I use certain hand/wrist positions to alleviate or redistribute direct stress on my bicep. (I have no pain now, but for the initial proceeding 2-3 months after the injury I had very noticeable pain, although NO bruising or discoloration surfaced, and the pain was very isolated to the tendon's epicenter where the insertion to bone exists). One doctor theorized tendon swelling and over-stress (basically a glorified version of tendonitis) so I went through 4 weeks of sonar therapy, which showed no signs of healing. Another doctor believed it to be bursitis, and inflmmation had accrued beneath the tendon at the point of insertion, so I no longer had a stable foundation in order to stabilize my bicep and contract the muscle into a full squeeze.
Today, I am still unable to perform certain isolation exercises that stimulate my left biceps on a high level, independent of any assisting surrounding muscles; for example, my bicep is most exposed when palm is facing up, so barbell curls are impossible, as well as other secondary bicep stimulation exercises such as UNDER-HAND bent barbell rows.
I have gone through a short circle of theories myself, inclusive of a tendon tear higher up in my rotator, which then translated into a perceived injury at my insertion point of the distal tendon at the bottom tie-in between bicep and forearm, that was supposedly ruled out by the 2nd MRI. The first theroy I had that evolved into two ideas, was the most overt prognosis, of tearing/partially rupturing my distal biceps tendon and separating it from the bone causing my primary overwhelming sympton: I CANNOT FLEX MY LEFT BICEP. Yep... absolutely no measurable flexion strength exists in my left bicep - BUT, for over a year now, I have remained doing deadlifts, shrugs, and even curls as long as I never exceed 40 pounds and warm up enough.
So, I cannot perform a front double biceps, but, I still have 100% grip strength, and I am able to retain functional strength and even avoid 99% of pain while in the gym now...
Has anyone ever heard of something similar to this? As the condition becomes chronic and I become more frustrated, I plan on seeking out an appointment with a surgeon from the Cleveland Clinic, so I can hear the diagnosis from one of the World's most prominent surgeons.
