torn rotator cuff

[red911sc]

The Tuesday before Christmas we had an ice storm. Our driveway is somewhat steep but my wife had salted. I drove up our driveway with no problem so I thought the salt had worked. I got out of my Jeep and instantly slipped and fell. I got up and carefully went in the house. I was having back pain and shoulder discomfort when I raised my arm. I waited a month and then went to the Doc. He informed me that I probably cracked a rib and that I had torn my rotator cuff. He offered x-rays to determine if the rib was cracked but knowing the treatment I opted not to do them. I had been taking Ibuprofen as an anti-inflammatory, he suggested I continue this. He also gave me exercises. I have been doing the exercises and they don't seem to be helping. Doc said if I plateaued we would look at physical therapy or steroid treatment before surgery. The pain isn't that terrible so I'm considering not pursuing further treatment. I do have difficulty raising my arm and reaching out in certain directions. I would guess that I have "lost" about 15% of my range of motion. I can still move my arm through those "lost" areas it is just uncomfortable. Of course it is my right arm and I am right handed. I should add I am 41. Anybody have similar experiences? Tell me your story and/or what would you do?

[KaptKaos]

Years of baseball have left my right shoulder a mess. I stopped playing about 4 years ago, and my shoulder doesn't hurt. I get pains when I reach or stretch in odd ways and then it really hurts.

I've been told it will only get worse and I should have corrective surgery to repair it while I am young enough to rehab it and continue to use it. Arthritis and other potential issues with it when I get older without the fix. I'm 41 too.

I might get it fixed in the next few years, but as long as I don't throw too hard, it usually doesn't hurt. It doesn't affect my golf game, but honestly, it couldn't make that any worse. LOL.

I'd live with it a while and see if it improves. If you've lost 15% that's alot. I'd consider getting it taken care of. It will only get worse.

[john walker's workshop]

messed mine up about that age. very painful for a while, couldn't find any comfortable position while sleeping, etc. stupidly toughed it out and 20 years later it gives me a tweek now and then but it's not that big a deal. probably should have had it looked at, but i'm stubborn about going to doctors. i've developed a high pain tolerance being a mechanic.

[911Rob]

I had a bad shoulder for a few years.... wicked ski accident. Major ouch. (black and blue)

I bought a house with a pool and in about 2 weeks it was 100% and been that way since.

I highly recommend swimming as an excercise, fyi.

[mattdavis11]

I tried to catch a falling steel 10ft tripod blind/platform. Well I caught it alright, one armed, and it brought me down right along with it. It messed me up pretty good, but I never went to the doc to see what the actual damage was.

A buddy of mine is an athletic trainer and his opinion was a torn rotator cuff. I couldn't shift gears, actually I could barely write for about a week. I tried to play golf about two months later, and that wasn't happening. It took about one year to 15 months to fully heal. I can tell something isn't right in the socket, but it doesn't cause any discomfort. It sure did then though, it hurt like hell for weeks. I was 29.

[SteveinTO]

Took fall on bicycle 2/21/08. Landed on shoulder. Woke up in ambulance. Shattered humor head in 7 pieces, broke scapula, broke collarbone. Told E/R doc I was "fine" & had to get out for dinner engagement. Hahahaha!

Couple scans & x-rays led to a plate w/8 screws. Healed up dislocated. Led to implanted humor head replacement 4/20/08.

A week ago Friday had a third surgery to remove scar tissue and hopefully regain some mobility. Expect many more weeks of pain & aggravato. Prolly end up with a ream & run deal from the guy in Seattle. Supposed to be the last word in shoulders specialists, and actually designed my implant.

No sympathy please. I could have killed myself if I'd have rolled a few more degrees and hit my head that hard. I'm 62 and back on the bike.

[porsche4life]

Mine dad tore his at about 43. Turns out his was completely ripped away. Wish I could get the VHS onto my pc. It is great. They went in laproscopically and did some cleaning and then they made about a 5inch incision and sewed the cuff back together. He was down for about 2wks and then couldnt lift more then 5lbs for like 6wks after that. If you are in a pretty manual job or are still very active I would suggest you get it fixed. His was 2yrs ago and you cant tell the difference now at all. I know he tells people that if they have it done to not let the pain meds lapse for the first week and find a good physical therapist and do exactly what they say. Oh ya make sure the hospital gets your sling situated right his was all screwed up and his hand ended up going way way numb. LOL

[craigster59]

I feel for you, I had a wicked arm from the outfield, I could nail ya' at the plate no problem. Now, I throw like a girl unless I really work it out. I have to sleep with my arm under the pillow, I 've been meaning to have it checked out. I hear the shoulder is the most complicated of the joints.

[Sonic dB]

Originally Posted by red911sc

The Tuesday before Christmas we had an ice storm. Our driveway is somewhat steep but my wife had salted. I drove up our driveway with no problem so I thought the salt had worked. I got out of my Jeep and instantly slipped and fell. I got up and carefully went in the house. I was having back pain and shoulder discomfort when I raised my arm. I waited a month and then went to the Doc. He informed me that I probably cracked a rib and that I had torn my rotator cuff. He offered x-rays to determine if the rib was cracked but knowing the treatment I opted not to do them. I had been taking Ibuprofen as an anti-inflammatory, he suggested I continue this. He also gave me exercises. I have been doing the exercises and they don't seem to be helping. Doc said if I plateaued we would look at physical therapy or steroid treatment before surgery. The pain isn't that terrible so I'm considering not pursuing further treatment. I do have difficulty raising my arm and reaching out in certain directions. I would guess that I have "lost" about 15% of my range of motion. I can still move my arm through those "lost" areas it is just uncomfortable. Of course it is my right arm and I am right handed. I should add I am 41. Anybody have similar experiences? Tell me your story and/or what would you do?

What type of excercises are you doing? Keep doing them. Do lateral raises with light weight dumbells 5-10 lbs... do front raises, lateral, and then do raises in front where you then twist to the sides and then down. Also grasp the dumbell in your hands hold it slightly in front of you and move it slowly to the side...then then back.

Do 3 sets of 10 reps, each excercise...

It is going to take a few months, if not longer...but keep doing these and eventually the pain will disappear. The key is to keep doing light weights, do them daily and your muscles around that area will become stronger and alleviate the impingement.

[porsche4life]

one way to see how bad it is is to extend your arm straight out parallel to your body and raise up. My dad could not even even get his arm parallel to the floor his was so out of whack.

[red911sc]

With my arm straight I am to raise it from my side in front of me (perpendicular to my body) up above my head and then back down. Then repeat to my side (parallel to my body).

[pavulon]

Shoulder injuries hurt like crazy. If it can be fixed, have it done...preferably arthroscopically but not all shoulder repairs can be done that way.

If you can get an interscalene block and catheter placed for post-op pain control (especially if the surgery can't be completed arthroscopically), take that too. If it's not offered, ask your ortho doc about it at the pre-op visit and again the day of surgery. Ask for that to be placed w/ ultrasound guidance if available (block tends to be safer, faster and more successful).

good luck!!

[89911]

I've battled rotator problems from years of weightlifting and ignoring my body signs to ease up. I've got impingement in both, a torn bicep in my right shoulder, and a torn rotator in my left from falling on ice. I extended my arm to break the fall and it tore. This was confirmed a few years ago by MRI. From numerous talks to those that due the surgery, rehab those that have had it, and those that have actually done it, I have reached these conclusions: Surgery will never "restore" your shoulder to how it was preinjury. If you are have pain that is creeping into your everyday life (pain while sleeping on it, numbness or tingling, trouble using that arm, or just general pain or weakness, the surgery it inevitable. I've learned to deal with the weakness I have in my shoulder and can due about 95% of what I use to do. Fortunately it is my left shoulder and I am right handed. Those that have had the shoulder surgery generally have a relief from pain, but the 90 mph fast ball surgery are long gone. The surgery and rehab are a major PITA! And it is not always a sure shot that it may not tear again. It does help the relief in pain, but the cost is a loss of motion and avoidance of those motions that you are most likely avoiding already. I couldn't consider this because I can't take 2 months off work. And its not like you can man up and think you can rush the healing. Many times they are attaching the torn rotators to bone and this takes time. Rush it and your setting up failure. I'll consider it if I start getting pain, but until then, I'll get by.

[89911]

Stand with your arms straight in front of you and rotate you hand towards the ground like your pouring a beer so that your thumb turns down. Have someone put resistance on your hands as you try to raise your arms. The bad shoulder usually will have much less strength and it is very noticable to whomever is testing you. Another test is to place your arms up like your "giving up" and have someone check if you have any pain on rotation while holding you arms bent at 90 degrees.

[rick-l]

I hurt my shoulder last November and went to my doctor who referred me to an orthopedic surgeon at the end of January. He prescribed 4 weeks of Physical Therapy. He said something like Bursitis and adhesive capsulitus???

The PT is pretty goofy with ultrasonic something, stretching and some home exercises. What isn't trivial is they pull your arm through that range of lost motion which hurts like he!!.