Bicep Tendonitis
Diagnosis & Treatment
Dr. Pamela Mehta, MD
Orthopedic Surgeon, San Jose
Table of Contents
What Is Bicep Tendonitis?
Bicep tendonitis is a condition of the tendon of the bicep muscle. It occurs when the tendon becomes inflamed or irritated. This increases the chance of biceps tendon tear or damage to the rotator cuff tendons. It’s sometimes known as biceps tendinitis or biceps tendinopathy.
Repetitive overhead motion and sudden heavy lifting can cause bicep tendonitis. Athletes who take part in sports with repetitive upper body movements should be aware of this condition. If ignored or not treated correctly, it can lead to being out of action for months.
Your biceps, or biceps brachii, are the muscles on the inside of your upper arm, between your shoulder and elbow. These muscles function to flex your forearm (bend at the elbow) and turn over (supinate) your hand.
Your biceps start as a single muscle mass at the elbow, then split into two “heads” – the long head and the short head. Each of these “heads” ends in a tendon which attaches to your scapula (shoulder blade).
Biceps tendonitis is the inflammation of the tendons of your bicep muscle, usually the upper (long) head of the biceps. At first, this tendon becomes irritated with some pain associated with the inflammation.
If the process continues, the tendon sheath (covering) can become thickened. If not treated, it can lead to a complete tear in one of the bicep tendons. This causes a “Popeye” deformity which looks like a bulge in your upper arm.
Symptoms of bicep tendonitis include:
- Pain and tenderness at the front of your arm near the shoulder
- Increased shoulder pain when lifting your arm above your head
- The feeling of your shoulder “catching” when you move your arm
- A “snapping” sound in the shoulder on arm movement
Distal Biceps Tendonitis
Distal biceps tendonitis is inflammation of the bicep tendon at your elbow. This is rarer than proximal biceps tendonitis (inflammation of the tendons at your shoulder).
Distal biceps tendonitis has similar causes to proximal biceps tendonitis. However, the symptoms will be felt in the lower part of your upper arm, near your elbow.
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Causes of Biceps Tendonitis
Biceps tendonitis is often caused by repetitive movement. It frequently occurs in sports such as golf, tennis, swimming, and baseball. It can also occur when lifting heavy objects during weightlifting or manual labor.
Bicep tendinitis is more likely in older people, as your tendons weaken with wear and tear.
It is important to differentiate this condition from other shoulder conditions associated with overhead motion, such as:
Diagnosis
Shoulder pain has several different causes that can mimic each other. If you’re suffering from any of the symptoms above you should visit an orthopedic surgeon. Your orthopedist will examine the shoulder joint to look for:
- Shoulder weakness
- Reduced range of movement
- Signs of shoulder instability
- Movements that cause pain
When you visit us at Resilience Orthopedics, Dr. Mehta will order appropriate imaging. This might include an x-ray, ultrasound, and/or MRI to determine the cause of your pain.
X-rays look at the bones and assess for signs of shoulder arthritis and other problems. Ultrasound and MRI take a closer look at the joint such as its muscles, tendons, and cartilage.
Treatment
The good news is that, for most cases of bicep tendonitis, treatment is simple. You must see an orthopedic doctor for treatment as early as possible. Delay in treatment can increase the recovery time for biceps tendonitis. There’s also a chance of complete biceps rupture. In both cases, you will require more intensive treatment and sometimes shoulder surgery.
Simple measures for biceps tendonitis include:
- Rest, and avoidance of heavy lifting or overhead movements
- Painkillers including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications
- Cold packs applied at the site of your pain
You can also start to heal your biceps tendon using gentle exercise. Check out our blog posts on the top 6 exercises and stretches for bicep tendonitis.
If your inflammation isn’t responding to these simple measures, Dr. Mehta will suggest further interventions to settle the inflammation in your bicep tendon. This might include:
- Physical Therapy
- Cortisone Injections
- Other Joint Injections
The recovery time for bicep tendonitis is generally around 6-12 weeks. This depends on how severe your symptoms are and how you respond to treatment. Shoulder pain will start to improve after a few weeks. Following complete recovery, you are likely to regain full function of your shoulder and biceps.
Sleeping with bicep tendonitis can be frustrating due to the pain you feel while sleeping on your side. We have some specific advice and tips for this in our article on how to sleep with shoulder tendonitis.
Surgery for Bicep Tendonitis
Surgery is sometimes required for severe cases of biceps tendonitis. This can also be suitable for people who aren’t responding to non-surgical treatment. Non-response is often due to associated conditions in your shoulder. Complications such as rotator cuff tear or shoulder impingement can impact recovery.
If you have suffered a partial or complete tear of your bicep tendon, you likely need surgery to repair it.
Dr. Mehta is skilled in non-invasive shoulder surgery, known as arthroscopy. Dr. Mehta will make a small incision over your shoulder and insert a camera to look at the tissues of your shoulder. Shoulder arthroscopy results in smaller scars and a quicker recovery time.
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What Shoulder Services Do We Offer?
Shoulder Pain Assessment
Shoulder Pain is frustrating and can impact both your sleep and your mental health. Dr. Mehta is a shoulder doctor and can diagnose your pain, offering various surgical and non-surgical treatments.
Shoulder Surgery
If your shoulder condition is severe, or nothing you have tried has helped, Dr. Mehta can advise you on the options for surgery. She is a shoulder specialist and can offer expert opinion and care.
Treatment of Shoulder Conditions
Frozen Shoulder
Frozen shoulder makes your shoulder stiff and can make movement painful.
Bicep Tendinitis
Bicep tendonitis causes pain in your upper arm and can lead to a bicep tendon tear.
Shoulder Impingement
Shoulder impingement makes it difficult to raise your arms above your head.
Shoulder Bursitis
Shoulder bursitis gives you a tender shoulder and makes it difficult to sleep.
Rotator Cuff Tear
Rotator cuff tears can occur during sports and make overhead movements difficult.
Dislocated Shoulder
Shoulder dislocation causes a disformed and painful shoulder and can be recurrent.
Shoulder Separation
Shoulder separation is a sprain in the AC joint near your shoulder.
And Many More!
Dr. Mehta offers diagnosis and treatment of all shoulder conditions and can offer her specialist opinion as an expert shoulder doctor.
Call Us On 408-559-3888
or Send a Message.
