We get calls every day from hard-working people who have been injured on the job in Illinois. One injury we help with every week is a biceps tendon tear. It’s a really common injury.

Tendons connect muscles to bones. The biceps tendons attach the biceps muscle to bones in the shoulder and elbow. If a person tears the biceps tendon at the shoulder, they might lose some strength in the arm and experience pain when they turn their arm from palm down to palm up.

There are partial biceps tendon tears and complete biceps tendon tears. Partial tears do not completely sever the tendon, while complete tears will split the tendon into two pieces. Torn tendons often begin by fraying. Then, as the damage gets worse, the tendon can tear completely.

There are two primary causes of work-related biceps tendon tears—injury and overuse. Some examples include:

• Lifting or catching a heavy box or object, as well as repeated lifting.
• Falling hard on an outstretched arm.
• Repeating the same shoulder motions, especially with overhead activities.

There are many symptoms of biceps tendon tears. They may include:
• Sudden, sharp pain in the upper arm.
• A pop or snap that you can hear.
• Weakness, pain, or tenderness at the shoulder or elbow.
• Trouble turning the palm of your hand up or down.
• Bruising from the middle of the upper arm down toward the elbow.
• Biceps muscle cramping when using the arm.
• A bulge in the upper arm above the elbow with a dent closer to the shoulder, called “Popeye Muscle.”

Some people with a biceps tendon tear can still function at a high level. They may need basic non-surgical treatments like ice, rest, anti-inflammatory drug, and/or physical therapy to relieve symptoms. However, others with a biceps tendon tear may need surgery. After surgery, it may take three months or more of physical therapy for the healing to be complete. It’s not uncommon for a biceps tendon injury to start as mild and progress to needing surgery when you continue to do heavy duty activities at work.

If you have suffered a biceps tendon tear at work, whether it was due to overuse or a specific injury event, you should be entitled to workers compensation. Workers comp will help ensure that you get the right treatment, that 100% your medical bills get paid, and that you are compensated for your time off of work.

And of course when you are better and done with your medical care, you are entitled to a settlement. That amount depends on how badly you are injured, how much money you make, your age, how well you recovered and other factors. Serious injuries can be worth several hundred thousand dollars.

We help with bicep tendon injuries everywhere in Illinois. If you would like a free, confidential consultation with an attorney, call us any time at 888-705-1766.