Torn Rotator Cuff?

[Skywalker]

Hello all, has anyone here dealt with a torn rotator cuff injury? Apparently I have one but waiting on the ultrasound results to know how bad it is. But...wow is it ever painful! I can't put on a jacket without like, crying.

Just wondered if anyone has been through this, any tips on how to minimize the pain? Did you require surgery or did it heal on its own?

(okay I am not on crutches but I couldn't find a torn rotator cuff emoji )

 

[Moliphino]

My mom had the surgery in 2020. Her tear wasn't caused by a single injury, but years of wear and tear. Surgery recovery is no joke. The shoulder needs to be completely immobilized for weeks in a special sling, then months of physical therapy. My mom is right handed and it was her right shoulder, so not being able to use her right arm for so long was rough.

 

[Micca]

OK I think you've been here long enough to know you can't post stuff like this and not tell how it happened! If it happened during some mundane activity feel free to embellish, rescuing a litter of kittens from a burning building is always a good detail to add.

Good luck with the doctor and be careful with the jacket!

 

[bjscheel]

DH had surgery. Insurance made him try PT, which he and the PT knew were fruitless.

 

[Skywalker]

My mom had the surgery in 2020. Her tear wasn't caused by a single injury, but years of wear and tear. Surgery recovery is no joke. The shoulder needs to be completely immobilized for weeks in a special sling, then months of physical therapy. My mom is right handed and it was her right shoulder, so not being able to use her right arm for so long was rough.

That sounds terrible! At least for me it is my left shoulder, so it's a bit easier to get by. I hope your mom is doing okay

 

[Skywalker]

OK I think you've been here long enough to know you can't post stuff like this and not tell how it happened! If it happened during some mundane activity feel free to embellish, rescuing a litter of kittens from a burning building is always a good detail to add.

Good luck with the doctor and be careful with the jacket!

Micca, you're funny

Okay its a bit embarrassing but it was caused by my dog. He is a big boy and leash training him has been brutal. He lunged and pulled so many times over the last couple of months and I could feel something happening in my shoulder but it wasn't too bad. But it was probably causing minor tearing in there.

Then, he pulled after a squirrel or something when I wasn't prepared and only had the leash loosly in my left hand. Well, and the full force of his 80 pounds lunged and I felt it happen - unmistakably it happened then. I felt the final RIP and it was painful.

Had to get rid of the dog. Just kidding still have the dog

 

[Skywalker]

DH had surgery. Insurance made him try PT, which he and the PT knew were fruitless.

Sorry to hear that about your husband. My doctor was suggesting PT as well but I will know for sure after the ultrasound I guess.

 

[luv2cheer92]

Rotator cuff tears and repairs are probably the most painful/longer recovery of the more common orthopedic surgeries we treat. It is a slow process, but most people do very, very well after the surgery.

Partial thickness tears can often do well with PT, full thickness tears generally will not heal on their own.

 

[Disturbia]

I have a rotary cuff injury in addition to disc degeneration (one disc is 3/4 left), osteoarthritis and retrolesthesis. I slipped on black ice during a blizzard (could have sued McDonalds but decided not to) and fell in my right side about two months after I gave birth (relaxin hormone makes your joints flexible so I was bruised on my right side but kept going); I didn’t go see a PT until a year and a half later when I couldn’t lift my arm to comb my hair and when picking up my daughter my arm felt like it was going to give out/slip/stop working. I didn’t have a prescription so went to a chiropractor who I used before pregnancy and they gave me intense exercise that I did on a ball and on a grooved roller (painful) - lower back, neck and core exercises. They also gave 4 lidocaine injections (expensive). I tried it for 2 months and there was very little and temporary change if any.

Eventually I saw a spine specialist thinking I’m going to end up like my dad who has 3 fused discs and serious spinal curvature (since he was in his 30s). Maybe I have Ankylosis spondylitis (tested negative). The spine specialist was so condescending and asked me why I’m wasting time with Chiropractors and not doing PT. He said they don’t do surgery until it significantly stops you from functioning. He re wrote a prescription for therapy. It was embarrassing but the push I needed to make a change.

I went to a PT for a week and they did targeted strengthening exercises and within a week I could lift again. Now I can pull back (scapular retractions) 40 lbs and my lower back has been stable (no pelvic misalignments); I can exercise on my Bowflex max trainer. I can no longer run on a treadmill due to the slipped disc but I’m so much more stronger. My hsCRP (inflammation) was always hovering around 12 (even after core restore detox 28 days); it’s now around 2. Arthroben is a good supplement (collagen supplements should be taken with caution if you have a family history of depression).

I still believe chiropractors have a good place to temporarily relieve pain but for something severe like a rotary cuff injury you need to see a PT period.

I use Activene ointment for inflammation. My PT told me Vit E helps with internal healing.

 

[Disturbia]

Chiropractor Berg has a good video. Fish oil and Vit E do thin blood so need to be stopped a week or so before surgery

 

[Micca]

Okay its a bit embarrassing but it was caused by my dog. He is a big boy and leash training him has been brutal.

DW has been leash training our DDs dog (long story) who is also a big fellow. She has mentioned that he has almost knocked her down a few times. I'm sorry it happened to you--especially that final rip you described I guess the upside is that it seems to be a pretty common injury, maybe they have some effective treatments. Good luck with everything!

 

[slo]

My MIL had rotator cuff surgery and It helped her a lot.

I’m sorry to hear what you are going through. I’ll keep you in my prayers.
Sending lots of healing PD your way

 

[disneyseniors]

Rotator cuff tears and repairs are probably the most painful/longer recovery of the more common orthopedic surgeries we treat. It is a slow process, but most people do very, very well after the surgery.

Partial thickness tears can often do well with PT, full thickness tears generally will not heal on their own.

I agree. My husband had the rotator cuff surgery and it was months before he could return to normal life. It was very painful but he did very well after the surgery. It is a long recovery process and painful but definitely worth it to be pain free and able to use your arm again.

 

[TheIncredibles!]

No but I am starting week 7 of pt for shoulder impingement, I am not improving as fast as I thought aside from the relief I received from a steroid shot 5 weeks ago. I cannot get an MRI approved so we are going off of an xray that showed "nothing". So the assumption for now until I complete 4 more weeks of pt is that this is bursitis. My main source of pain relief is lidocaine patches but please know Salonpas patches are 4% lidocaine vs only 5% for prescription patches so if you don't have a script just pick some up!

At one point I couldn't even pull my pants up let alone reach around to fasten my stinking bra. I can do all of that now, I have range of motion without pain back but the weakness is unbelievable, the pain at night is awful sometimes and my shoulder keeps semi dislocating during some movements which can't be normal...

 

[Moliphino]

That sounds terrible! At least for me it is my left shoulder, so it's a bit easier to get by. I hope your mom is doing okay

She's fully recovered now, it was just a long time to get there.

She was originally scheduled to have the surgery in the week before my cousin's wedding (which was just before Christmas), until my uncle (who had had the surgery himself) let her know that she definitely wouldn't be able to go to the wedding that soon and would not even be able to shower at that point. She had no idea it was that difficult a recovery.
She rescheduled it to February. Good choice, that wedding had the best food.

 

[macraven]

I had a torn rotator cuff, had the surgery and took many months for total healing.

Wasn’t one of my favorite surgeries to go through, but PT helped tremendously and had a very good recovery over time.

I did heal up very well.

The first few months were a bit difficult for me but pt got me through it fine.

 

[TheIncredibles!]

My mom had the surgery in 2020. Her tear wasn't caused by a single injury, but years of wear and tear. Surgery recovery is no joke. The shoulder needs to be completely immobilized for weeks in a special sling, then months of physical therapy. My mom is right handed and it was her right shoulder, so not being able to use her right arm for so long was rough.

I literally just woke up like this one day. Went to bed feeling great, woke up unable to move my arm without pain. I sit there with my other PT buddies that had surgery etc and here I am "Oh I rolled over wrong I think"

 

[Moliphino]

I literally just woke up like this one day. Went to bed feeling great, woke up unable to move my arm without pain. I sit there with my other PT buddies that had surgery etc and here I am "Oh I rolled over wrong I think"

We tell her it's from decades of excessive vacuuming.

 

[Pooh2]

I've had both shoulders repaired for torn rotator cuff (bicep tendon also ruptured both side but they just leave that to shrivel up), about a year apart.

It's a painful surgery but I was to the point that I could not stop at Dunks for an ice coffee because I could no longer lift my arm to receive the cup!

PT starts a few days after surgery where the PT moves your shoulder to prevent frozen shoulder. Not fun but stick with it to make progress. I think post PT was at least 3 months.

Sleeping in a recliner for the first few weeks helps keep your arm in position.

I declared victory when I could go to Dunks drive up window again!
I am about 3 years out now from the second shoulder and can comfortably lift my toddler grandkids.

 

[John VN]

As already mentioned, follow directions from medical personnel and do your PT.

Minor left shoulder tear from added years of trauma and a bicycle crash 7/4/2021 just 6 days before my 71st birthday did me in. This stubborn old geezer did not do PT with results being issues still 2 years later. In 2016 I had a right shoulder total replacement and it was snap. Surgery on a Monday, sling off Tuesday and cleared for bicycling on Wednesday but waited until Thursday because I am a klutz

Good luck.