Anyone ever torn a rotator cuff?

[babylonrising]

I had to see the doctor yesterday. I tore (slight tear) my rotator cuff working out at the gym. It turns out that I'm really NOT Superman. :rolleyes
I had to get a steroid shot in the arm last night and I'm on anti-inflamatory medicine along with muscle relaxers. I have to go back to the doctor again in 2 weeks. If things are 80% better, I have to see a surgeon.

I've heard you never gain 100% usage of your shoulder back after a surgery though, that's what I'm worried about.

Has anyone here had the surgery? If so, how did it turn out? Do you have a full range of motion with your shoulder?

[living4JC]

I had the surgery. Fixed my cuff, along with some other stuff in there (had to remove about 1/2" of some bone that was too long). It was supposed to have been a pretty clear-cut surgery, however he had to cut me open a lot more than expected once he saw all of the damage. It's been almost a year, and I have to say it was the best thing I've done! The pain before the surgery affected everyday life....even putting on socks, lifting my arm over my head, etc. Now, I'm pretty much pain free (nothing that Advil can't take care of). I had to jump through all of the hoops for the insurance company (ie: therapy, cortisone shots, etc) before they allowed surgery.

[babylonrising]

Awesome! I'm happy to hear a positive story. I will opt for the surgery if necessary. The pain when I try to lift my arm is awful and I don't want to stay on muscle relaxers longer than I have to.

Thanks for the post!

[living4JC]

Just an FYI.....it's taken almost a full year for the shoulder to feel 100%. I could tell soon after my surgery (maybe 3-5 weeks) that things were going to be much better than before. But for total rehab, they told me between 9-12 months. Long but very much worth it!

[Castle]

I'm 5 months into rehab from both rotator cuff surgery and a labrum (aka "slap" tear) repair.

I'm around 90% now.....Its NOT true that you won;t recover 100% UNLESS

You have PT people who don;t know what they are doing....I spent 3 months doing PAINFUL rehab with PT people who I now realize were clueless...I was facing another surgery to "loosen" my shoulder, as it wasn't healing properly...I had suspicions that the PT people were clueless (like the 3 days I couldn't move my shoulder after a particularly bad PT session.

I switched Physical Therapists, and was significantly better after 2 weeks...Now, after a month with the new PT guy, I'm right back on course..What they had been doing is around 20 years out of date.

PM me if you are interested. Now, I'm thrilled that I had the surgery and I can do things now that I had been unable to do for years

[R1200C]

I saw that 50+% of men over 50 have a partially torn rotator cuff. A good friend had surgery a few months ago and is doing great but before the surgery he was in constant pain and couldn't do much. He is 50 and had a lot of damage.
I would see how it heals before going to surgery. A doctor told me to not have surgery until you can't do what you need or want to do. Unless you are a professional athlete, I would go slow on the surgery.

[BlackSchnauzer]

I had a torn labrum "slap tear " also, I also pulled one of my biceps tendons off the bone, they repaired that with a titanium screw.
They also pleated my capsule to make my shoulder hold in place. oh and fixed my labrum.
I was in pain, and I squirted tears..... Had a nerve block and when theat wore off after surgery then it was on!:shocked
Had my arm in the sling for 6 weeks, and my elbow got all messed up, had to do PT for that to.
Luckly I was on workmans comp and was off work for 6 months, IM in construction.
Good luck with that :) I dont believe in luck btw, just a saying as it were:thumbup

[Kung]

I'm fixing to go in to have surgery on my left shoulder - it has an osteophyte (bone spur) that is cutting into the tendons/ligaments/etc, and I *may* have a rotator cuff tear.

That being said, I feel the same problems y'all have described. I can't lift more than about a 3-lb book over my head with my left arm. I will let y'all know what happens. :)

[babylonrising]

Kung, I had a problem with my left shoulder when I was in my early twenties. I went to the doc and he wanted to shave 1/4 inch off my clavicle. I got a second opinion and it turns out my shoulder was just inflamed. A few weeks on medicine and a couple weeks of rest cured it.
That being said... I am now in PT for my right shoulder. I would prefer the surgery now I think. It feels wrong to be paying someone to twist my arm, literally.

[BlackSchnauzer]

I'm fixing to go in to have surgery on my left shoulder - it has an osteophyte (bone spur) that is cutting into the tendons/ligaments/etc, and I *may* have a rotator cuff tear.

That being said, I feel the same problems y'all have described. I can't lift more than about a 3-lb book over my head with my left arm. I will let y'all know what happens. :)
I can tel you already what will happen..... PAIN! :nod

I had more extensive stuff tho.