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Biceps tendon tear as a symptom of PMR

Posted by orangecat @orangecat, 2 days ago

Hello all. Just ending my 5th week on prednisone (3x5mg daily.) About 2 weeks ago strong pain returned in my left bicep (my original problem start area.) About 2 days into the increased pain condition I noticed my biceps tendon bulging out to one side. Visit to PCP identified it as torn (so did an MRI.) It seems that the prednisone can't prevent degradation in this area from progressing to a full on tear with bulge and pain/weakness? I see rheumatologist in two days. I don't anticipate a surgical repair but I wonder if this indicates a larger dose of prednisone is needed?

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jeff97 | @jeff97 | 2 days ago

You can do a search on this forum for bicep tendonitis and find quite a few threads that deal with it. I personally have had issues with muscle strains in my legs that I blamed on prednisone, but it seems like quite a few people with PMR have problems with bicep tendonitis.

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1 reply
seniormed | @seniormed | 2 days ago

It seems reasonable to attribute the tear to PMR.
I suffered a tendonitis and tear after I was off steroids.
Have you had a problem with tendonitis elsewhere?
There is a type of rheumatic tendonitis termed Enthesitis that my rheumatologist documented with ultrasound. The rupture is not likely from short term
prednisone treatment. Hoping you can avoid surgery.

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vgen | @vgen | 2 days ago

I was wondering if others out there have the bicep pain. The pain started in my right bicep and went to my shoulder. I could hardly move my move my arm and couldn’t sleep because of severe pain. Orthopedic doctor took x-rays and i was diagnosed with inflammation in my shoulder. He gave me a cortisone shot which worked magic. My pain in shoulder was 90% gone in 24 hours. He dismissed my hip and other body pain. So followed up with my rheumatologist. She diagnosed PMR as cause of bicep and overall body pain. My rheumatologist prescribed old faithful prednisone. Most of body pain gone after 1 year, but still have some bicep pain. My rheumatologist told me to apply Voltaren for the lingering pain. I am trying to strengthen my arm with exercise, but I have been wondering if exercise can actually damage the bicep. Anyone know?

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2 replies
orangecat | @orangecat | 1 day ago

I don't know about the exercise question but I will say that my entire PMR problem started with bicep pain . For myself also the pain was enough to severely limit my use of my arm.

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jerkyjefr | @jerkyjefr | 1 day ago
In reply to @vgen "I was wondering if others out there have the bicep pain. The pain started in my..." + (show)
@vgen

I was wondering if others out there have the bicep pain. The pain started in my right bicep and went to my shoulder. I could hardly move my move my arm and couldn’t sleep because of severe pain. Orthopedic doctor took x-rays and i was diagnosed with inflammation in my shoulder. He gave me a cortisone shot which worked magic. My pain in shoulder was 90% gone in 24 hours. He dismissed my hip and other body pain. So followed up with my rheumatologist. She diagnosed PMR as cause of bicep and overall body pain. My rheumatologist prescribed old faithful prednisone. Most of body pain gone after 1 year, but still have some bicep pain. My rheumatologist told me to apply Voltaren for the lingering pain. I am trying to strengthen my arm with exercise, but I have been wondering if exercise can actually damage the bicep. Anyone know?

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Hi Vegen. Inflammatory issues can strike anywhere. I have found through advise from top docs. Bursitis and tendon issues usually respond to pred and rest well. Day to day issues can be from over exception. Carry a bag full of bottles and cans out of market, will do it every time. If your issue is mostly on your strong side, rest it, lower your carry weight. I have a frozen shoulder since 1985. However, my Ra doc has me now on hydrozycloraquin for general reduction of inflammation, my shoulder pain nearly gone, also much of swelling all over. Ck with your RA regarding same. Good luck.

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susanalka | @susanalka | 22 hours ago
In reply to @vgen "I was wondering if others out there have the bicep pain. The pain started in my..." + (show)
@vgen

I was wondering if others out there have the bicep pain. The pain started in my right bicep and went to my shoulder. I could hardly move my move my arm and couldn’t sleep because of severe pain. Orthopedic doctor took x-rays and i was diagnosed with inflammation in my shoulder. He gave me a cortisone shot which worked magic. My pain in shoulder was 90% gone in 24 hours. He dismissed my hip and other body pain. So followed up with my rheumatologist. She diagnosed PMR as cause of bicep and overall body pain. My rheumatologist prescribed old faithful prednisone. Most of body pain gone after 1 year, but still have some bicep pain. My rheumatologist told me to apply Voltaren for the lingering pain. I am trying to strengthen my arm with exercise, but I have been wondering if exercise can actually damage the bicep. Anyone know?

Jump to this post

I had extreme pain in both biceps when I started prednisone. The pain went away for the first several weeks but now it’s back in just my right arm. I assumed I had strained the muscle doing house/yard work but now I’m not sure..I’m in the tapering stage.

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jeff97 | @jeff97 | 22 hours ago

I went through a period of time where I was straining muscles in my legs very easily while jogging. I also had really tight muscles in my chest so that I couldn't do pushups. This was while I was tapering down from 20 to 10 mg of prednisone. After I got below 10 mg those problems went away.

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groksvaag | @groksvaag | 20 hours ago

I have had PMR for 3 months. When slowly went from 20 prednisone to 15 pain got much worse. On 20 doing well until lifting a suitcase (40 lbs) with right arm. Major pain biceps plus pop. Has slowly improved over about 5 days of ice and rest. Am sure I have a partial biceps tear. Starting on Kevzara in 2 weeks when I get back from vacation

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Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | 19 hours ago
In reply to @jeff97 "You can do a search on this forum for bicep tendonitis and find quite a few..." + (show)
@jeff97

You can do a search on this forum for bicep tendonitis and find quite a few threads that deal with it. I personally have had issues with muscle strains in my legs that I blamed on prednisone, but it seems like quite a few people with PMR have problems with bicep tendonitis.

Jump to this post

Good idea, @jeff97.

@orangecat, here is one related discussion I found using the group search:
- Muscle tears and PMR and/or pred?: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/muscle-tears-and-pmr-andor-pred/

See all: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/polymyalgia-rheumatica-pmr/?search=muscle%20tear&index=discussions

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