Popeye Bicep

[Tuppence55]

Well I’ve gone and torn it now, quite literally😩 I have managed to tear the tendon to my bicep and now have the biggest bicep like Popeye. It looks very perculiar. It was incredibly painful. When it happened but has settled down. On reading up on why it may have happened it seems being on steroids can be a contributory factor. I was swotting blue bottles when it happened and over extended my arm rapidly ( that will teach me). So it is a lesson learned that I can’t do what I used to without the risk of hurting myself. I feel such an idiot 🥴

[Kaaswinkel]

As a physiotherapist I have seen a lot of” older” people with this . It is the long head of the biceps muscle in the arm that becomes detached and then comes down as you describe as Popeye. Initially there is pain, and often bruising, then the symptoms settle down. Not much u can do to prevent it happening, and yes, prednisone weakens tissue, but a lot of us walk around with Popeye biceps without ever having touched prednisone. Not to worry all will be well, after the pain settles do start using the arm, otherwise your arm will overall get weaker, and the strength of the muscles will decline...use it or loose it. Succes!

[PMRpro Ambassador]

OUCH!!!! You won't be the first to end up in a state because of overenthusiastic movements.

Gently does it!

[Thelmarina]

Please don’t feel bad! I brush against a table, fall off a stool ( don’t ask - I swear it wasn’t due to gin! 😉) and spend valuable time mopping up the inevitable grazes as my papery skin immediately crumbles up. I don’t learn but also get assaulted by furniture... the truth is that with the combination of the effects of Pred and Lockdown/isolation/anxiety I am convinced part of our brains become numbed. We respond naturally and because of the above have consequences we don’t deserve. Popeye is a better role model than Olive Oil, keep off the spinach and you’ll be fine 😀xx