Biceps Tendonitis?

[ziggyziggy]

A quick question,

Several months ago, I began to feel a sharp pain in the inside of my left elbow when doing pullups, pulldowns and curls. From what I have read here, and in some medical literature, I believe that it is biceps tendonitis. I was wondering if anyone here had experienced this problem, and if it is possible to continue to train the back when you have it. Years ago I had patella tendonitis, and was able to use a Cho-Pat to continue running until it passed. Is there anything similar made to combat pain from biceps tendonitis?

Any suggestions are welcome.

Zig

 

[MikeMartial]

What you are decribing does indeed sound like tendonitis; possibly at the insertion point of the brachialis or the short head of the biceps.

A few years back I had a similar incident, but at the high insertion of the biceps under the front delt. It gradually went away, but I had to downgrade my weight for a while.

You *can* work through it, but you'll have to alter your workout. Either lower to weight, alter the movements, or a combo of both.

Of course, rest is the fastest method, but who really wants to stop working out?

There's no special tensor-type band that I'm aware of for that specific area of the biceps. You can try an elbow-sleeve of tensor material, probably available at most pharmacy or drug stores. Might work, but probably won't provide enough tension.

Don't forget the ice; it's a lifesaver, especially for chronic inflammation.

 

[ziggyziggy]

Thanks MM. Anyone else know about a tensor strap to help with biceps tendonitis, and if so, where I could purchase one?

Zig

 

[perp69]

That sounds like the same thing I am going through right now with my left arm. I made a post about it a couple before this one. It felt like one hell of a bad cramp or something and hurts like a mother when I put stress on it. I was just coming off clen and then it happened the next day so I thought maybe it was related somehow. I am trying not to use it at all. How long does it take something like this to go away?

 

[ziggyziggy]

Well, I am officially desperate for a solution as this cast has eliminated my ability to do cardio, and I don't just want to do pressing exercises. After doing some research, I think that I am going to try two things to speed recovery.......

1. Going to order 5 Weilab FASTT patches from healthdesigns.com and give them a whirl.

2. Already ordered a magnetic elbow support from BIOflex Medical Magnets. Having a background in theoretical and applied physics, the science behind it looks sound.

I'll post effects and results as I use these products.

Zig

 

[ziggyziggy]

Well, I am officially desperate for a solution as this cast has eliminated my ability to do cardio, and I don't just want to do pressing exercises. After doing some research, I think that I am going to try two things to speed recovery.......

1. Going to order 5 Weilab FASTT patches from healthdesigns.com and give them a whirl.

2. Already ordered a magnetic elbow support from BIOflex Medical Magnets. Having a background in theoretical and applied physics, the science behind it looks sound.

I'll post effects and results as I use these products.

Zig

OK, the FASTT patches I ordered are not here yet, but after 2 days with the BIOflex product, I have a bit of feedback.

It is less of a support than a cover. However, I did notice an increased sensation of warmth, above what I would have expected with the cover alone. If the physics principles behind this product are correct, and I believe that they are, then the two concentric magnets in the support are in fact mildly increasing blood flow to my left elbow. As tendons are poorly supplied with blood and nutrients, this should be slightly increasing that poor blood flow and helping to mildly speed recovery.

As I continue to wear it at work, and at night while I am sleeping, I expect to have more feedback in the next few weeks.

Zig

 

[Saint V]

I have the exact same problem ziggy. This will not go away over night for you. I've been dealing with it for several months now. The fastest way to heal it is to stop using it until it is better. Or you can be a dumbass like me and just keep on keeping on and deal with the pain every workout.

Peace

 

[ziggyziggy]

saint,

I am definately resting it, just seeing if anything will marginally speed up the recovery.

Zig

 

[Ozz2001]

I havent found the perfect cure yet,but i do know dont do pullups or dumbell rows next day after biceps...I tryed taking days off made it worse. Now i been doing this to work it out.Sit take to dumbell in hand let them hang down and move your wrist left to right seems to help speed up healing for me.Might be a good idea to do this after your workout too..Hope this helps someone

That sounds like the same thing I am going through right now with my left arm. I made a post about it a couple before this one. It felt like one hell of a bad cramp or something and hurts like a mother when I put stress on it. I was just coming off clen and then it happened the next day so I thought maybe it was related somehow. I am trying not to use it at all. How long does it take something like this to go away?

 

[ziggyziggy]

I'm gonna have to give that a try. K to ya when I recharge.

Zig

 

[anthrax]

Anti inflammatories willfasten recovery if it's really a tendinitis (and I think it is)

I got one years ago and it's still bothering me from time to time

 

[anthrax]

BTW, what's the theory behind magnets/magnetic fields?

 

[Rex]

I was just diagnosed with bicep tendonitis in my right shoulder. The arm hasn't been hurting for a good 3 years, but I figured use was to blame for it. Eventually it go to the point where I couldn't do pull-ups [worth 1/3 of our PFT score] so I went to get it looked at in October '04. Meds, rehab, rest, and time did nothing for it.

Decided to hold out until hockey season ended before I went back into medical for it. Ortho gave me a shot of cortisone and told me to come back in a month if it still hurts, but to keep using the arm to gauge the effectiveness of the shot.

4 days later the shot wore off and I'm in worse pain. I have to get a bicep tenotomy in a few months. Going to cut the fucker loose basicly. I'm looking for pics of the surgery to get an idea of what to expect. No dice so far though.

My best friend's dad had it in the elbow where you're explaining it. He held out, and it got to the point where he couldn't move his arm above 90 degrees. He got surgery last Nov. He can use it again, but says he doesn't have full strength like before he injured it, but it's better than living with the pain and immobility.

 

[perp69]

I havent found the perfect cure yet,but i do know dont do pullups or dumbell rows next day after biceps...I tryed taking days off made it worse. Now i been doing this to work it out.Sit take to dumbell in hand let them hang down and move your wrist left to right seems to help speed up healing for me.Might be a good idea to do this after your workout too..Hope this helps someone

Thanks for the tip. I will have to try that because I rested it for a week but that doesn't seem to be doing the trick. Right when I think it is feeling better I do something to stress it (like just unscrewing a salt shaker today)and it acts up again. How long does it take to heal?

 

[ziggyziggy]

BTW, what's the theory behind magnets/magnetic fields?

Every cell in your body, including red blood cells have a very weak electrical charge due to electrolytes in and around them. A magnetic field will cause charged particles to accelerate, creating eddy currents, and increasing blood flow in the region that the magnet is in.

Here is a quote from a Muscle and Fitness article that I read a few years ago that explains it without going into the serious math geekage that I was about to put in here.

According to a recognized expert on biomagnetism, Ted Zablotsky, MD, new research over the past five years has pointed to three specific actions of static magnets on blood vessels. “First, we’ve seen a slight liberation of heat as the ions separate. Second, the ions crisscross back and forth between north and south poles of the magnet. Third, small eddy currents occur in the bloodstream, just as the eddy currents in a river push the banks outward. These effects collectively contribute to widening the blood vessels to allow more blood to pass through,” he says.

I have been to a few symposiums that Dr. Zablotsky has spoken at, and he makes a compelling case when you run through all of the math.

Hope this helps.

Zig

 

[anthrax]

Thanks Zig,
That makes sense, at least on the paper

BTW, do you feel any better?