Since November I'd been having problems with my bicep. Like, so much so, that I can barely close my tailgate with one arm. I finally decide to go to the doc and this is what's happened so far.

First visit, wasn't even with a doc, but they do some strength tests, ROM tests, and ask me if I want an X-ray . I say no thanks as it is not a skeletal problem, but I'd like an MRI to show if there is tissue damage. I'm then told insurance won't cover an MRI unless I've done 4 weeks of physical therapy.

Next week I start going to physical therapy which doesn't do much besides help identify activities that cause pain and from one of the sessions I was in so much pain the next day I had to cancel an appointment. I called the doc back and they said, "if PT is causing pain we can bring you in sooner to meet with the doc and discuss having the MRI."

So, today, I'm going back to talk AGAIN about getting an MRI. The therapist said she's confident in a partial tear. So, if the MRI shows something and I have to have surgery what am I in for?

For what it's worth, I think this all happened when I helped move a 800lbs beer tank. I got stuck holding up one end alone while we re positioned people.

You're in for a long ride I'm afraid.
Been nursing a partially torn bicep for 13 weeks and it still hurts like hell. The first month I tried to work through the pain and disregarded my doctors advice. That didn't work out very well and only worsened the problem.
Unfortunately I went from one extreme to the other and have gained 12 pounds, lost muscle mass and definition, and strength is way down.
Best advice I can give is don't do what I did. Stay active and concentrate on working lower body, keep proper eating habits, and follow doctors advice.
Good luck!

Will do. I kept thinking it was better, then I'd lift and it would hurt all over again. Any exercise that isolated the muscle was the worst and actually made my forearm hurt as well.

Did you have surgery?

Had my left bicep tendon repaired in May, 2014.

They cut it short and screwed it into my humerus with a couple of plastic anchors.

Still giving me fits.
Range of motion isn't quite the same as right arm and any overhead or incline press motion hurts like hell.
Going to go back for some more PT and hopefully avoid another surgery.

This one never really healed correctly.

I read that if you have the surgery more than a few weeks from the initial injury then you're most likely NOT going to fully recover. I'm not too happy about that. I hope I'm not too late and that with some PT I'll be able to lift again. Nothing crazy, but forget curls over 30lbs.

I completely tore the bicep tendon at the bone. The doctor said if you wait more than 2 or 3 days it can't  be repaired. The end of the tendon gets  something similar to scar tissue that prevents reattachment. The doctor didn't need to do an MRI, she was able to feel just above the elbow and tell that it wasn't there. After surgery and PT I regained full strength and range of motion.

Huh, completely tore mine off in 2014 and waited 2 weeks to get it reattached.
Wasn't a problem although the doctor was not happy I waited so long to get it done.  

Got the approval to get an MRI so now I have to schedule that then meet with the doc two days later. There is no way I have a complete tear, but it's believed to be a partial. So, if I have to do surgery, what am I looking at for working out. Say, you can routinely curl 35lbs before injury how long after surgery until you'll be back to that in terms of strength and minimal fear of re injuring the arm?

Completely detached my bicep 2 years ago in july. my distal bicep torn off my forearm. My arm just dropped and i couldn't lift my forearm. No pain, no bulge, just useless.
Had surgery to reattach it about 5 weeks later. Paid $800 out of pocket for the mri, about 400 for 3 visits with the orthepedic specialist, and about $3400 for surgery, surgeon, and anesthetic. They gave me a significant cash discount, about 45% off the normal cost with insurance.

2 weeks in a soft cast, and almost 3 months in a hard brace, and several more months of light useage.

At the shoulder or at the forearm?

I tore mine at the forearm. Complete detachment. 25 weeks too recovery, but I was extremely aggressive with my therapy.

Had Rotator Cuff/bicep done in my right arm just over two years ago with a nice dose of stem cells before they closed me up.  100% ROM and strength now in fact just lifted some stones yesterday for some strongman conditioning and bicep feels better than ever.

Eta:  for reference mine was a complete rupture at the shoulder (proximal) of the long head tendonp

At the forearm. I have minimal pain unless I try to lift something. It hasn't been an issue lately, but when I first noticed it I couldn't close my tailgate.

Rookie mistake, should have drink half the contents before moving it.

I paid cash for my shoulder MRI a few years back, came out to $340... would have been over $1000 through my insurance. Find an independent medical imaging center.
 

ETA $340 came out of my HSA so free money yo

This.  Key is to shop around.  

Torn bicep tendons...I think you'd know.  I don't think there would be a question about it.

had the same issue. almost quit shooting. even went to therapy. two years. then it finally tore. Pain was instantly gone.
Doc said it was an old injury and didnt recommend surgery. its not really noticeable the torn bicep. and i operate fairly normal.
so i carry on.....

Partial tear here.  First doc wanted to cut it and let the bicep slide down my arm.  Found a new doc.  Surgery was in December.  The plastic screw in the bone.  Still fairly weak, ROM is so so.