Bicipital tendonitis is an injury that most often occurs in athletes who lift weights or use their arms and shoulders repetitively. The injury occurs to the tendon where it meets the bicep muscle. Most pain can be felt in the front of the shoulder above the armpit. Because bicipital tendonitis is often misdiagnosed as a rotator cuff injury, it is important to be aware of the symptoms.
Shoulder Aches and Pains
Since bicipital tendonitis occurs at the top of the bicep where the muscle meets the tendon, most people experience the pain in their shoulder. Whether resting or moving the arm, bicipital tendonitis will cause a dull ache in the shoulder and upper arm. This often gets worse over time without proper care. Some sufferers of bicipital tendonitis also experience shoulder weakness and stiffness.
Radiating Elbow Pain
In extreme cases of bicipital tendonitis, pain will radiate from the shoulder down to the elbow. This is particularly the case with those who got the injury from lifting weights. With repetitive lifting of heavy weights, the stress and motion can damage the tendon not just at the top of the bicep but all the way down to the elbow as well.
Pain While Sleeping
Those with bicipital tendonitis experience painful symptoms while they sleep. This is especially the case for side sleepers. When they lie on the injured arm or shoulder, they often wake during the night from extreme pain. If experiencing this type of pain, stay sleeping on the uninjured side until healed.
Pain While Lifting
Lifting objects uses the bicep muscles. Since bicipital tendonitis is an injury of the tendon connected to the bicep muscle, any lifting with that arm can cause pain. In fact, biciptal tendonitis can get worse with repeated lifting, increasing the amount of pain and the duration of the injury. Let your injured shoulder rest and either use the other arm to lift something or ask for help.
Pain While Raising Arms
Those with bicipital tendonitis will experience painful symptoms when they lift their arms above shoulder level. Even without holding something, just the weight of the arm and the movement of the injured tendon can cause sharp and extreme pain. This pain will likely prevent adequate arm movement and hinder some physical activity.
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