Bicep tendinitis

[isabel]

Does anyone have experience with this? I've been having a lot of pain with overhead movements and push-ups for a couple of months now. A friend is having surgery for this in January and my pain and symptoms are consistent with hers. If you have/had it, can you tell me about about the pain, what caused it, and how it was diagnosed and treated? I know I need to get in to see a doctor, but I don't want to pay for an MRI right now. Ugh.

[hannahb]

A lot of shoulder injuries present the same. That being said pain with overhead and push ups could be tendinitis. If it is, I would recommend ice and anti inflammatories to begin with. And rest. Tendinitis is an overuse injury and in the shoulder most often a result of a muscular imbalance. I would see an MD. If he/she thinks its tendinitis they probably aren't going to order an MRI right away anyways. They may recommend a course of physical therapy.

[Susie]

I had chronic bicep tendonitis for years as late high school/college swimmer. It especially flared up if I trained too much fly. (I did fly, IM, and mid-distance free.) There was never a solution, I think there rarely is for tendonitis. It's an inflamed tendon; I'm not even sure what surgery would fix? The treatment I'm familiar with is that you rest it, you take NSAIDs, you ice it... if you're in PT you might do ultrasound. For me, I had to work to strengthen opposing muscle groups to reduce pressure on that spot. Those things allowed me to keep swimming, but there's no magic wand.

[emilyinchile]

I've had tendinitis in a couple places and have had sonograms (ultrasound? eco? can never remember what we call it in the US when it's not for a baby) to diagnose, so that may be a quicker and cheaper option vs. an MRI. Treatment has always been rest and the option of PT, so I'd take a break and focus on stretching/icing and then build up to exercises.

[isabel]

Thanks everyone. That's basically what I've been hearing and reading. I iced last night and will take it easy on my arms for the next couple of weeks. I am happy to hear that it sounds like it can be managed without completely giving up everything I'm doing. I really appreciate the feedback!

The surgery she is having is basically to reattach the tendon to another part of the bicep. It alleviates the pressure/pain on the tendon. From what I understand, it works really well, but you're still susceptible to recurrence.