VLog Week 1: Recovery Following Distal Bicep Tendon Rupture Surgery 

I am having my surgery tomorrow. Thank you for the video series. I will follow them weekly as I go through this too

Thanks for taking us along the recovery road, this will be a great resource to many people. Wishing you a speedy and successful recovery brother, stay strong!

Having surgery in 3 days this is the best info ive found so far

Hope you heal up quickly man, looking forward to updates.

Just had this very surgery 3 days ago. Arrived for surgery at noon and was home by 4:30 the same day. Surgery went well. Haven't taken one pain pill. No pain unless you try to twist the wrist. I go tomorrow to get the wrapping off and possibly the stitches out. My elbow was drilled into and what they call a "button" was used to reattach the tendon

Tuesday I'm going to surgery for bicep tear, I'm glad you did this, cause like yourself I went straight to RU-vid to see if anyone recorded themselves, and bam, there you are. I'm very obsessed with training, calisthenics. Was performing a move called flag, but I attempted to do it on a icy day, anyways, I'm worried about recovering, I worked super hard eat right, and now I must start all over again.

Thank you for a great and informative video. I had the same surgery a week ago. My tendons were shredded so I am still in alot of pain. Pain meds help but I have found Ice throughout the day to be a big help as well.

thanks for the video. I'm two days post surgery. I'm feeling the same, arm angle is the same, as are my abilities. Your vid put my mind at ease. Cheers.

this quite old by internet standards but having just had my surgery eleven days ago this is very helpful. I'm still in the splint they put on and won't get that off for another few days. they didn't say anything about an adjustable splint like yours, but they aren't that forthcoming about what I can expect. it actually annoying that I'm learning more about what to expect from RU-vid than the doctors. ;-) thanks for posting!

This popped up in my list so I checked out. I would assume you're all healed up, but would have to check your follow-up vlogs. Had my surgery at the end of January 2021. I was fortunate as I didn't fully tear the tendon, but as you said it was a loud rip. Since it was a partial tear, I didn't experience the "Popeye effect". I also oddly didn't have any pain or loss of motion range. My wife thought I ripped my pants when she heard it! Hearing that sound, I knew surgery was in my future. Anyone reading, I'm 3 months post surgery, movement gained a little faster than projected, strength still getting there. My biggest issue so far has been numbness in my arm - this can happen from either swollen tissue healing or the surgeon hitting the LACN (lateral antebrachial cutaneous nerve). Most of the numbness is gone, but be aware if you experience. It does make me more aware of not straining or lifting too much yet - everyone is different but healing time is projected for 6 months to a year for full recovery. Best of luck to anyone who has to endure the procedure.

Hi Ben... Following this as ruptured bicep & had op 2 days ago. Really helpful as in exactly same place you were in this week 1 video... But had almost a 4 week wait for surgery & set at 90 degrees. Well done for pushing through...

THANKS FOR POSTING THIS. I JUST FOUND OUT TODAY THAT I TORE MY TENDON AS WELL AND I'M SO WORRIED ABOUT HEALING, REHAB AND GETTING BACK TO WORKING OUT. I WILL DEFINITELY FOLLOW YOUR JOURNEY. WERE YOU WORKING OUT AT ALL DURING POST OP? IF SO, WHAT KINDS OF THINGS WERE YOU DOING? I WANNA KNOW WHAT'S DOABLE LOL

Hey Ben! I am very grateful for your vlog on your recovery from distal biceps tendon repair surgery. I suffered a similar injury in November of 2017 and unfortunately (due to what I know to be a very poor General Physician) I was not referred to a sports medicine orthopedic surgeon for almost 3 weeks. An MRI was scheduled and my diagnosis was finally confirmed. The original surgeon did not feel at all qualified to perform my surgery since we were then at the 4 week mark. Although we have loads of elbow, arm and hand surgeons here in the States it took some time to find one who is especially qualified (and willing to attempt) the repair so late in the game (once a great deal of scar tissue had developed and my biceps tendon had fully retracted deep within my upper arm). Sadly my surgery took extra-long, approx 2.5 hours and I suffered a great deal more pain than you initially reported. That being said I am now 2 weeks post-op and I am looking forward to your entire series so that I will hopefully recover well and someday be even just one half of the outrageous specimen of manhood you are! ;) Thanks so much for your generosity and willingness to help others. Fondly, Brandon. EDIT: I initially (and quite accidentally) stated my injury was in 2016 when it was, in actuality, Nov 2017. :/

I had bicep tendon repair surgery on July 20, 2017. Today, 7/28/17, I had my sutures removed. Recovery has been a breeze so far. I took a 2 mile walk the day after the surgery. I began driving 5 days after the surgery.

I just did the same thing. At the time of injury. I felt a pop that radiated through my whole body and my Bicep knotted up I just had a MRI today and am having Surgery on Monday February 22nd. I'm hoping everything goes good for me as it did for you. Watching your video let me know what to expect. Thank-you for sharing.

Did you have an anchor technique or did they use an endo button great information. Having my surgery Tuesday I’m confused on which is the best procedure

I hope you get fast rehab .. could you do triceps and shoulder dumbbell exercises and push ups bench dips with out affecting you injury

I thi k I've just ripped mine today, doing heavy gardening. Arghhh. I've tred to hook theme te Don and can't find it and I can't flex my bicep. There also seems to be a gap in my arm where the muscle used to be by the inside elbow. Self diagnosis till tomorrow. Thanks for this video, made me feel better that the NHS sorted it. I've seen some say that it's an non essential, elective surgery but I thi k I'd want it. I've jyst started trying to shift a lot if weight and I was 10 weeks in to a training regime. Thus is a huge setback How much movement did you have BEFORE the surgery?

I'm 2 day's out from surgery myself. Only took 3 hydro's as I hated how it made me feel, plus after researching the drug I was done. Been managing pain with aleve and the herb turmeric 1500 mg daily for pain and inflammation management. I get out of the rigid cast and sling in 4 day's then go into the brace. I popped my tendon while doing wide grip pull up's palms facing forward. The tear was 50%, guess I got lucky on that. But the repair was still the button attachment to the bone. The suck factor is kind of high right now. My concern is how to safely workout around the injury and not end up significantly weakened on the left side of my upper body. Plus not injure anything else. I will check out the rest of you video's concerning your recovery. Thanks for posting your VLog on the injury. Sorry it happened to you and anyone else. It sucks for awhile.

Hi, I had the same surgery two days ago. Which was exactly two weeks from rupturing the bicep. My operation was at eight o clock in the morning. I was in the recovery ward having a coffee and sandwich at 11.30 home by 1300 I took Panadol for 24 hours. My biggest problem was trying to sleep at nights. I remove the sling when sitting and sleeping. I took a shower day two but find it hard to wash and clean teeth with non predominant hand. Like you my movement and strength has gone. Not sure how many weeks til I can get decent strength back. Good luck

Had mine done 4 days ago with endobutton my had is swolled can barley touch my finger and thumb together, how long did you swelling last in your hand

Rest up Ben and get better soon

hello ben. i am currently going through the same recovery process. you me mentioned in one of your vlogs that you had a program that you used to work around the injury, even though you did mention it was extremely limited, could you forward me on this workout please

How long were you guys out of work after the surgery? Just curious. I have mine done this Wednesday and was just wondering how long peeps were out of work. Hoping not long.

Greatly helps, thansk ben!

I ruptured my bicep tendon and confirmed it with a MRI. What's interesting there was a small strand still attached. Thirteen days later I was having surgery. This is a same day surgery unless there are problems. Upon arrival they prepped me for surgery. The put a complete nerve block in my shoulder which completely numbed my entire arm. This is a very weird feeling, it's like a completely dead piece of meat. They put me under general anesthesia and a little over two hours I was awake in the recovery room. I tolerate anesthesia well and woke up feeling great. My arm was placed in a cast which ran from about my wrist up to about half way up my bicep. The cast was only half a cast and my arm was covered in a kind of padding gauze type material. They completely wrapped everything with elastic Ace bandages. The nerve block was left in my arm with a little bottle constantly feed medication so the block stayed in place but slowly disepated over about 48 hours. After that I pulled out the line in my shoulder which was painless. I was able to remove the Ace bandage and cast so I could take a shower. Only a little bit of water is allowed to go over the incision which itself is only about two inches long in the center of my inner forearm from the elbow bend towards the palm of my hand. Pain is almost zero as long as I keep it at 90 degrees. Since I'm right hand and the tear is the right bicep I've quickly found out that the little things you do on a daily basis are almost impossible. I have Percoset for pain and ice the arm for swelling. I got the cast off in about 10 days then I'll be in a brace of some type. I'm a bodybuilder so this is pretty depressing but I'm confident I'll come back stronger.

Tips on prevention?

Every time it's either preacher curls or mixed grip deadlifts

Wish for a rapid recovery and I'm wondering, to get back on track will you do occlusion training as you can train with lower weight.

How many kilos were you curling?

Hi mate, I've just had this operation approximately a week ago. I've still got numbness in my thumb and 2 fingers, is this normal? Getting worried 👎

Do you think 20 days after injury is too late? I was supposed to have surgery tomorrow day 14 but didn’t get ekg in time so now they’re talking next week. Ugh.

Just had mine done, thank you for the video. It’s been few years since you had the surgery, have you gained full movement and strength on the left arm?

Ben what do you and or your doctor think caused it? Did you have any pain or inflammation in your elbow or arm before the injury? Think it was lack of recovery... Form...

Ben, I had distal biceps surgery about a year and a half ago and I have since started working out. They used the Endo button technique to repair my biceps. I work my biceps but I’m scared to death to re-injure the bicep. What weight do you usually curl on your repaired arm? I’m having a hard time finding anything on the Internet about the strength of the repair. Thanks

Identical to me. 3rd rep preacher curls and heard a sound like tearing a cotton shirt and I could see the muscle separate. No pain though.

In going into surgery in the morning

I had this surgery 4 months ago and still feel some pain when I'm in the gym working out with light weights. Will this eventually go away in the months to come?

Had my surgery 3 months ago. Loosening a lug-nut changing a tire and it snapped. I have full extension and working on strengthening now. My arm was 1/3 the size of the good arm. My problem is I still have numbness from wrist to incision on inside of arm. My surgeon has never seen it before. It's normally on outside of forearm if u have numbness. He just chalked it up to irritation from surgery. said he had to move a lot of stuff around. I don't think he knows what caused it or if it will come back. He presented it as a case study to other surgeons but I'm not sure I will find out anything until my 6 month checkup. Anyway..it hurt..it's fixed. Just numb still...

I tore my distal bicep tendon moving a large step ladder at work. It started to fall to one side and I tried to arrest its fall with my left hand. Felt it go like bubble wrap being popped. I went to the ER and the on-duty doctor reckoned it was just a muscle tear, so I didn't do anything about it. But it just didn't feel right so I went and got an ultrasound after 2 and half months had passed, and that's when I learned it was a total rupture. The ortho surgeon I got said he couldn't guarantee he'd be able to re-attach it until he opened me up, but in the end he was able to. He had to dig it out from all the scar tissue so I have a longitudinal 13 inch scar running down the inside of my arm. I was in a sling for a month after the op and then did physio for 2 more months after that. I was slowly able to get full extension, which is awesome, but the muscle is tiny and weak by comparison.I also have nerve damage that gives me weird tingling on the back of my hand, but that should slowly disappear. I try to do exercises when I can, but having small kids it's tough to find the time. I'll try to be more diligent going forward. I'm not a meathead, so I'm in no rush to get to the gym to bust out reps, but I also don't want this to affect my lifestyle in the future. Anyway, just thought I'd share my story.

dude that sick i hope u feel better after 2.5 years ! i have a rupture in my biceps since 27 days and its out of action since that day the Doc said if i spent 6 weeks and the pain continue they will put my arm into the magnetic resonance imaging device in case i got a ruptured tendon ahh

Hey are you there

this is great. I just had the rupture. would you consider NOT having the surgery? I'm torn. (40 years old, jiu-jitsu practitioner)

Ben, curious to how heavy you were training when the injury occurred.

Hope you make a prompt recovery man.

Yes I had a massive rupture and to drill hole and 4 arm to re anchor. Hurts like h***. Had to go through 3 braces to find one that would actually fit a 21 Inch arm.try ARYSE Range of motion brace. A guy tried it out in the warehouse said it fit around his legs so it should fit my arm and it did.

You were a fool for trying to lift so heavy. Locking out even with a 10kg dumbell is a no no when it comes to preacher curls let alone a 40kg plus barbell in your arms.

I had to wait 5 fucking weeks for my surgery. Tendon shortened so they had to give me an achilles tendon allograft from a cadaver. Today is 3 days post op. I'm already stressing cause I'm sure my bicep is gonna look like shit. Now all 4 imbs of mine have had surgery lmao. My competing days have been over awhile, but now idk how well I'm even going to be able to train anymore. Oh well...at least I still have all my limbs. There's always someone who has it way worse.

Nightmare injury for sure!

Did you recover 100%? Still no issues 7 years later? Hey at least you didn't tore both at once like this guy: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-4tG4mhkbi4I.html

You should take down this entire series. It’s a disservice to proper rehab, the fact it’s popular shouldn’t outweigh the fact it provides little to no value to anyone who’s suffered this injury. Or put a warning up and link to your update vid where you admit you completely fkd your rehab and have likely reduced your arm’s functionality % forever.