I tore my long biceps muscle from the shoulder while leaving the blocks at Nationals on Sunday. It is what is called a "proximal" (by the shoulder) tear of the "longer" of the two biceps muscles. If it were a "distal" tear, where the biceps attachs near the elbow, the standard course is surgery to reattach. This is not always the case with a proximal tear. I just saw an orthopedic surgeon who recommended no surgery for my tear. I will seek a second opinion as I have a two week window if I want to have it surgically reattached.
My reason for posting is to ask if anyone has had a proximal (shoulder end) biceps tear. What did you do? I want to maintain swimming at an intense level and am not sure how much is lost if I do not have surgery. And I understand that even with surgery there are no guarantees of complete recovery.
Any information about a biceps tear and treatment would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Greg Shaw
I have learned a few things about this injury and it seems that an athlete can perform at a very high level with a biceps tear/separation of the long bicep muscle. Rich Abrahams has accomplished some of his best swimming with this condition and if anyone is interested in reading about athletic accomplishments with this injury I suggest you google "John Elway biceps tear" and see what you get. He won two super bowls with a biceps tear in his throwing arm.
I have learned a few things about this injury and it seems that an athlete can perform at a very high level with a biceps tear/separation of the long bicep muscle. Rich Abrahams has accomplished some of his best swimming with this condition and if anyone is interested in reading about athletic accomplishments with this injury I suggest you google "John Elway biceps tear" and see what you get. He won two super bowls with a biceps tear in his throwing arm.
