Bicep muscles are located on the front of the upper arms, connected by tendons to the bones of the arm and shoulder, enabling movement. A tear in the bicep tendon can be extremely painful and often requires surgery and an extended recovery period. Such tears may result from sudden trauma, like a slip-and-fall or car accident, or even from twisting the elbow or shoulder awkwardly. If you’ve suffered this injury due to someone else’s negligence, contact our experienced North Carolina personal injury lawyers today to understand your legal options.
Biceps Tendon Tear Symptoms
A biceps tendon tear can occur at the shoulder or elbow and can be complete or partial. A complete tear means the tendon has torn away from the bone, while a partial tear is still attached.
Commonly, a tear causes severe pain in the upper part of the arm or at the elbow. You may hear or feel a “pop” when a tendon tears. Additionally, you should look out for
- Sharp pain in the shoulder or elbow.
- A bruise that appears on the upper arm or forearm near the elbow.
- A feeling of weakness in the shoulder or elbow.
- Trouble rotating your arm.
- A change in the contour of the front of your bicep in the upper arm.
Treatment
Treatment is slightly different depending on the location of the tear. However, in each instance, if you believe you have suffered this type of injury, seek immediate medical attention.
Shoulder tears are painful, but arguably less severe than those of the elbow. This is because other muscles and attachments between the arm and shoulder enable the arm to move. While the tear is healing, patients are advised to apply cold packs, rest, and attend physical therapy. However, tears at the elbow frequently require surgery to restore normal function. Once the tissue is torn, it cannot heal on its own, although other arm muscles can help retain a sufficient range of motion. Tears at the elbow need immediate medical attention and swift repairs.
Physical Therapy
It may take three months or even more of physical therapy for a surgically repaired tendon to heal completely. In some cases, complete recovery can take up to a year, but most people regain their range of motion and strength more quickly. Physical therapy will focus primarily on strengthening exercises to rehabilitate your tendons and begin restoring motion to your shoulder and elbow. The main goal of physical therapy is to regain the range of motion that was lost due to the tear.
Representation for Bicep Tendon Tear
If you or someone you know has suffered a torn biceps injury due to another person’s negligence, contact Maginnis Howard’s personal injury attorneys.
Maginnis Howard’s lead personal injury attorney, T. Shawn Howard, is experienced in handling biceps tendon tear cases. He will fight to make sure you receive adequate compensation for your injuries.
You can contact the personal injury attorneys of Maginnis Howard at (919) 526-0450, through our contact forms, or through our convenient live chat. We represent clients across the Carolinas from our Raleigh, Charlotte, and Fayetteville offices.
