Your biceps are strong upper-body muscles, but they’re not indestructible. And the tendons that hold the muscle in place — connecting it to bones in your shoulder and in your elbow — can become irritated or even tear. When that happens, you’ve suffered bicep tendonitis. The good news is that there are non-invasive treatment options available. See your injury doctor in New York at New York pain management for an exam and the most appropriate remedy to stop your pain.
Bicep tendonitis occurs when you have an inflammation or irritation of the long head of your bicep tendon in your upper arm. This strong, cord-like tendon attaches the muscles of your biceps to your shoulder bones. Since your upper biceps tendon is so strong, tendonitis usually means you may also be suffering from other shoulder conditions, such as:
Symptoms of Biceps Tendonitis
A top pain management doctor in Manhattan can determine if your pain is due to bicep tendonitis, a torn bicep tendon or cervical radiculopathy, as the symptoms are similar for all these conditions.
Your biceps or shoulder may also hurt while sleeping or trying to sleep, especially if you lie down on that side. Movement also becomes restrictive, and you may have trouble lifting your arm or reaching for something. Sometimes, you can also develop bicep instability that can cause palpitations or a very audible snap or pop in your shoulder. Immediate biceps tendonitis treatment by a pain doctor at pain management center New York can prevent further shoulder injuries and pain. Emergency appointments are available if necessary.
Reasons for Biceps Tendonitis
Wear and tear are the main reasons for bicep tendonitis or a bicep tendon tear. As you grow older, the tendons and muscles in your biceps start losing their flexibility and weaken. Simple things like getting the coffee mug from the top shelf can become painful.
Another cause is the repetitive movements you do in certain sports like swimming, gymnastics, tennis, golf and shot-put. You can get a shoulder sprain or strain easily from overuse. Consulting an experienced sports injury doctor in New York any time you feel a twinge of pain minimizes your risk of bicep tendonitis.
Finally, jobs that require you to lift or carry heavy objects on a daily basis can strain your bicep muscles. Other jobs that call for repetitive motions, such as painting or carpentry, can also cause biceps tendonitis. Have any shoulder pain or elbow pain looked at immediately to prevent it escalating to a torn bicep tendon.
Diagnosing Your Biceps Tendon Pain
Your best-rated pain management specialist in NYC has to find out what’s caused your biceps tendonitis and how severe it is before you can receive any bicep tendonitis treatment. The doctor starts by discussing with you where exactly the pain is and when you first felt it. Tell him if you have any medical conditions, even if you think it’s not related. During your physical examination, your physician tests your shoulder, arms and biceps.
To correctly diagnose your condition, you may have to undergo different tests, including x-rays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or an ultrasound. A top pain management doctor in Manhattan often can determine a diagnosis from the images produced by these tests. If more testing is needed, specific tests may be required — such as Yergason’s test or Speed’s test — both of which test your biceps for pain and flexibility.
Bicep Tendonitis Treatment
When your pain is mild, you can try resting your injured biceps, but you should still have it checked out to make sure it won’t get worse. The specialist at pain management clinic in Midtown may suggest a few simple stretching and strengthening exercises once your pain has subsided. This often helps restore your mobility and simultaneously strengthen your shoulder.
If your pain is more severe, you may be better off trying some non-invasive treatments that are available at Pain Management NYC. Shoulder injections or elbow injections may help with the pain. A trigger point injection or a nerve block can temporarily eliminate or reduce your pain, if your physician recommends it. Your NYC pain specialists create a personalized treatment plan for your bicep tendonitis. Come in for an evaluation.
Leon Reyfman, MD, is a top-rated, best-in-class interventional pain management doctor. He is a nationally recognized pain relief specialist and is among the top pain care doctors in New York City and the country. He is an award-winning expert and contributor to prominent media outlets.
Dr. Leon Reyfman has been recognized for his thoughtful, thorough, modern approach to treating chronic pain. He has been named a “top pain management doctor in New York” and one of “America’s Top Doctors™” for advanced sports injury treatments. Among other accolades, he was voted by peers as a “Castle Connolly Top Doctors™” and “New York Super Doctors™”. Dr. Leon Reyfman was a part of the medical team at the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.