Question
Greetings,

I am a active 37 year old married male and father of four that has weight trained for the past 23 years. I normally train 5 days a week when time allows. I have been at the current bdy wt of 250 lbs for the past 15 years and I am 6'1". I played college football as a running back.

Here's how the injury occurred... I work for a school system and I had taken my high school class bowling. While I was bowling (which I have not down in ten years or so) I began to put a spin on the ball. As I progressed I gained confidence...Well as I began my next approach with a grip of one finger (index) in the ball hole remaining digits palming the ball. I then rotated my hand with a quick spin from the six o'clock position and released somewhere near the the one to two o'clock position when I felt a pop sensation in the area of the insertion point of my upper forearm/lower biceps area.  (sorry this is so long)

It was quite painful to say the least. I obviously stopped bowling and class was over and returned to the school. When I returned home I iced my arm. Over the days the pain has slowly subsided. There was never any bleeding or bruising-just intense pain. It's been a little over two weeks since the incident. I have noticed my right biceps outer right head with palm up is non existent for the most part. The pain is still there, but minimal. My mobility is seems to be fine. I have started back lifting, but I am very apprehensive at attempting any lifting movement that would require any use of a pull on the said bicep.

Wondering if I should break down and have an MRI or just keep babying the arm until it is fully healed???

Thank You for your time.

Answer
Gary,

Sounds like you popped the tendon completely and the muscle has retracted to some degree.   If you do a biceps curl with your palm facing up does a lump appear above the "non-existent" zone?  The sooner the better for MRI if you did pop it and need surgery.   You can live without the biceps attachment, but if you want full return of strength and function, re-attachment may be your best bet.   I'd recommend MRI and then a consult with an orthopedic surgeon (or two).   Keep in mind that tendons are not vascular structures like muscles, so they don't bleed like a torn muscle does.

'Hope this helps,

Dr. G