VLog Week 2: Recovery Following Distal Bicep Tendon Rupture Surgery 

All these years after the post im sat with my cast on watching this to get some idea of the road ahead. Thanks man. 👍🏻

I just tore my bicep a few days ago and scheduled to have surgery next week. I just want to say thank you for making these videos and putting yourself out there and being vulnerable. I know that had to have been a very difficult thing to do, but I wanted to let you know those of us going through the the same thing are very appreciative and grateful for it. I hope all is well.

Going through this myself. Thanks for chronicling.

Tomorrow I find out whether I'll need this surgery. Thank you so much for this info.

11 days post surgery now. Thank you for this guide. Preacher bench seem to be a big common denominator.

I would go ahead and start training the one arm. I remember reading a study that had training groups training single ligaments. Even though they only trained one side it increased the number of motor neurons and connective fibers even in the non-trained side; hence once you're able to start training your left arm again it should not be as weak. I will try to find the study and post it.

The size difference is not noticeable at all mate. Glad your recovery is going well! Do you have any tips for prevention?

Thanks for sharing my op is next friday

Hi Ben, thanks for the videos. I’m going in for my operation next week (same as yours). It’s my right arm and I’m right handed... in your opinion, how soon before I can write? Also, I’m a photographer and have a photo job 3 days after. My left hand will be holding my camera, and my right hand will only be pressing the shutter button. Do you feel this will be manageable? Thanks in advance, Ben Ryan.

My surgery was on on the 10th. so im 21 days since they fixed it. As for your comment about working out only one arm. I say go for it. Im not in the great shape all round that you are. and in a total of 35 days from my rupture, to getting it fixed and then now. Ive lost over a inch compared to my good arm. But I just read and noticed after testing what I read. Working out slowly benefits our healing. Because by keeping blood flowing to other body parts we are working. It also sends blood to the body part that we are not working. Which in turn, delivers all that our torn muscle needs, without the lifting that can harm our bad arm. And like all the nutrition we put into our bodies. Its thought to help deliver the nutrition to the healing muscle. If any of that makes since. For me Im going for steady fast walks that wont shake my arm, Light 15 pound Single arm Kettlebell swings. Because I know I can do smooth steady swings with my right arm. And maybe some moderate Dumbbell weights. What do you think?

It really helps me. I'm going in for surgery in the morning and you're easing my fears and worries

thanks for advices

We all screwed up I’m pretty sure you got the anchor technique done instead of the EndoButton I have a huge regret taking me twice as long to recover and a lot more pain. Did you have the EndoButton or the anchor?

i am now 10 days into my rehab following operation. I have numbness in my thumb . Is this something you have experienced

I had forearm pain as well. Felt like it was in the bone but went away and got better over a few weeks.

Ben how was your hand after? My hand has been incredibly sore. My thumb I can hardly move.

Did you ever go to physical therapy ?

Hey man, I'm going through this right now. Two weeks post- op. The thing I'm most worried about is re-injury. I can't seem to get any information about the actual strength of the repair procedure and what the tendon can endure. I've slept with the articulating splint off for a couple nights just because the swelling is more painful than the actual injury. The physiotherapists struck the fear of god into me when I booked my first session saying that I might have torn it already. Dr.'s and Physio's need to be very careful with the words they choose, being that injured/sick people are very susceptible to the power of suggestion from people "in the know" and I believe their words can positively or adversely affect recovery. Anyway, I'm going to check out your other videos and I hope you're back up to strength by now. Oh, and I wouldn't be too self conscious about what people think.....99% of them don't give a shit what you look like.

You should train the good arm and actually do whatever you can do. Studies have shown that even without training the opposite side there is a carry over in muscle size by actually working out the good arm. Bizarre I know but the studies have shown this to be the case.

Going through this now, have watched your first video too. I'm only 4 days post-op, and I was never offered a cast / brace, I'm just in a sling like the one you have in this video. I'm scared that I've done too much already, because, to shower, I rest my arm high up on a ledge, and I wonder if I shouldn't have ever raised it that high. I raise it up again to put a jumper on, and now I'm scared that I've moved too much. How would I know?

Hi Ben, I tore my distal bicep tendon and had surgery to reattach it about 2 and a half weeks later. I left my arm in the sling for only 2 days and forced myself to move it and stretch it, after 7 days post op, I can say I could pretty much do everything as normal except load more than 5kg on it which sent mild pain through my elbow, I'm old school and I went to the opposite extreme of what my surgeon told me and started using it, I never had any swelling at all in my arm or hand and from the first day I used a stress ball and squeezed non stop all day and even to the point where I would go to bed and fall asleep squeezing it,I wanted blood circulating at a higher rate than normal in my arm. it's been 11 days post op and I can honestly say it feels like it's 95%, My secret is that I started pre loading my body 2 weeks before surgery with calcium and vitamin D tablets and also victim C tablets twice a day, 1 week from surgery I purchased Tribulus supplement and take it every night before bed. I have seen my surgeon yesterday (10 days post op)and he is baffled as to how quickly I had regained so much motion and strength so quickly, in saying all this I'm definitely not over using my arm and although I'm not using a sling I walk around with my hand in my pocket as a bit of support.

Thanks man. I torn my tendon. FUCK

my scar goes the other way