Based on the results of your interview, examination, and imaging studies, you can expect a custom care plan catered specifically to you. 

Many people believe it’s best to wait until pain becomes severe, leading them to “put off” or delay treatments.

If you are in constant discomfort, have shooting or stabbing pains, have limited range of motion, or an inability to perform your daily activities, biceps tenodesis may be right for you.

New technologies allow patients with shoulder pain to fully recover and enjoy the benefits of a more functional, pain-free lifestyle.

Prior to surgery, you will typically receive at least 2 phone calls:

1. A hospital registration representative will call to gather insurance and other personal information.
2. A registered nurse will call to review your health history and medication information.

Dependent on your health history, your physician may require:

• Pre-surgical laboratory tests
• X-rays
• Primary care clearance

Pre-operative instructions will vary depending on your physician and the location of your surgery.

Always check with your physician prior to surgery.

Most physicians require patients to not eat or drink after midnight prior to surgery the next day.

Additionally, you will need a designated family member or friend to drive you home on the day you are released from the hospital. Surgical patients cannot drive themselves home.

If you schedule your surgery with a KCOA physician, you can expect the following on surgery day: 

• A receptionist will check you in at the hospital registration desk.
• A nurse will take you back and prepare you for surgery. They will start an IV, prepare the surgical site, and review your medical history and medications.
• Your surgeon and anesthesiologist will visit with you prior to your operation.
• The surgical team will take you to the operation suite for surgery.

Biceps tenodesis is a procedure that treats SLAP tears in the shoulder, a tear at the junction of the bicep’s tendon and the labrum. This procedure is typically performed through a small incision, usually during a shoulder arthroscopy. If the issue is part of a larger shoulder operation, open surgery may be required. 

What happens during open biceps tenodesis?

• Your surgeon cuts into the area where the top of your biceps tendon connects to your labrum. 
• They pull your biceps tendon through the incision and release it from your labrum.
• They drill a small hole in your upper arm bone (humerus).
• Your surgeon uses a suture anchor to push your bicep tendon into the hole in your upper arm bone. This technique is the screw fixation technique.
• Your surgeon closes your incision.

After your surgery, you will remain in the recovery room before being discharged. Our experienced clinical team will monitor you during this recovery and provide pain relief medication, if needed.

Recovery from biceps tenodesis takes time. Patients will wear a sling for at least 6 weeks after surgery to protect the repair. The length of recovery time varies by patient, but you can expect several months of physical therapy, in conjunction with a home exercise program, in order to regain functional range of motion and strength.

Because of its proximity to the head and neck and the concentration of nerve endings, shoulder surgeries can cause quite a bit of discomfort. Therefore, after surgery, the shoulder is often very sore, achy, and painful.

This is expected. Keep in mind, the shoulder joint is more complicated than the knee due to its structure and mobility, which is why recovery usually takes longer. Most people are in a sling for at least a month, but for more severe cases, it may be extended to 2 months.

As time passes, you will gradually notice an improvement for up to a year.

To prevent further injuries, it’s important to maintain good posture (ensuring the shoulder is in a good position of the scapula), focus on core strength, and promote healthy mobility of the thoracic spine.

We recommend regular exercise, eating a balanced diet, maintaining a healthy weight, and monitoring your blood sugar levels if you’re diabetic.

Staying active and following the instructions of your providers are key to a successful recovery from biceps tendonitis.