Roll call - who's had rotator cuff issues? - Page 2

gatotom · 01-06-2010, 09:13 AM

lesions of the "Rotator Cuff" are most common causes of pain in the shoulder region. The rotator cuff consists of the tendons of the supraspinatus, subscapularis, infraspinatus and teres minor. The tendon of the supraspinatus is the most important, it is the most easiest torn tendon we have. Baseball players regularly tear this one. Falls with arm extended tears it in a heartbeat, very common injury to the shoulder, the other one is dislocation, usually you will have a dislocation with a supraspinatus tear.

I myself did a severe dislocation to my right shoulder over 30 yrs ago, 15 yrs ago had the dislocation stabilized with surgery. The surgeon while in there saw that the supraspinatus was completely torn off but decided to not re-attach it because I would have not been able to work for at least 6 months since the tendon attachment had shrunk to the body of the muscle. He was amazed that after 15 yrs I demonstrated no supraspinatus disfunction. Due to the strong deltoid muscle complex strength, my only problem was continuous dislocation problems.

As a Chiropractor, elbow and shoulder injuries are very commmon in my field, almost 40% of new Chiros never practice past 5 yrs. After 27 yrs in this business, I have torn my other or left supraspinatus. I had it re-attached about 10 yrs ago and it is now partically torn again.

To sleep, I can hardly sleep on my side, 10-15 minutes the pain is too much. In the last 6 months the pain has been continuos, sometimes in life you kinda miss the stupid points cuz you forget but if you go back to the second paragraph, the surgeon was amazed by the deltiod strength, duh, there you go.

I am now back on the weight program, easy weights, 5 and 10 lb for shoulder extension, abduction, adduction and in one week can now sleep again on the side.

Moral of story, use it or loss it, until they put you in the box try to be like Jack Lalaine.

Tobra · Tobra's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by porsche4life

I'm no doctor but I think that may be another issue. Not a rotator cuff tear.....

Probably bursitis. Start icing it, 15 min at a time, often as you can, until you can have the ortho guy look you over. Does it hurt on the top of your shoulder, that is location for bursitis. Get it checked out, better safe than recovering from surgery. You can pop a shoulder back in, elbow you usually have to open it up to fix it. I have popped a couple of shoulders back in, the one friend with a dislocated elbow, "Jeff, looks like you are gonna have surgery." He did, still jacked up more than somewhat.

BTW, that is crepitus, aka creaky joints

good advice there Tom, wish my wife would listen to good advice, she needs both her shoulders fixed, former gymnast syndrome.

madmmac · madmmac's Garage

I had two torn rotators in my right shoulder. Mine was just an all the time dull to sometimes bad ache in the rear shoulder blade and the back top of the shoulder area. Some days I could hardly reach to my back pocket to get my wallet out.

I could not drive a car very far with my right hand on the wheel as the aching would just get worse and burn. If I put my arm across the front of my body like it was in a sling and then raised my shoulder so it was not hanging in its normal position I could get relief.

I had the rotators fixed by arthroscopic surgery and the orthopedic surgeon also decided whilst in there to do an open anterior acromioplasty--bone grinding pretty much.

I have never been so happy, well after 6 months of hard rehab in my life. Pretty much totally pain free and I can do whatever I like.

If you do have surgery.....rehab, rehab, rehab. Bust up all the scar tissue that you can. Good luck.

tomphot · 01-06-2010, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by desertt5

Mine was a bicep tendon that tore away. Doc said it was from years in the Corps doing push ups and pull ups and not taking care of it. The recovery was worse than the pain, 4 months of therapy. Also had minor rotator cuff tears that I think are back again. Just putting off going to the doc.

I had my bicep tendon repaired last year, also a bone spur cut away and minor rotator cuff repair. I played Volleyball in College and afterward - was caused by the hitting motion - I agree, very painful recovery but after 11 months, it feels great. I even throw the ball for the dog again!

Arizona_928 · 01-06-2010, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rattlsnak

I just dislocated my shoulder and fractured my humerous a couple

I have done that, but I fractured my humerous head, Have gone through a surgery and around 1.5 years of physical therapy. It still dislocates when i move my shoulder in the wrong way. I've also dislocated it around 2 times a game for the last 6 football games i have started in.

It looks like you dislocated your colar bone as well, or it's very, very swollen.

mattdavis11 · 01-06-2010, 04:19 PM

Another here, one armed showers, couldn't switch gears for a week with my right, parking was an absolute nightmare b/c of no power steering, even sleeping hurt. I let it heal for a good month and a half, then tried to play golf. That was a bad idea. I quit after a few holes, but it probably set me back awhile on my recovery. It was a long time before I noticed no pain, probably 6-7 months. It's been about 4 years now, all is fine.

I was trying to catch a tripod hunting stand as it was falling towards the 944. It took me down hard, but missed the car.

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

My greatest fear is not being able to ride. My bike is my only transportation now until I get my 993 tranny reinstalled, which certainly won't be easy if I'm in more pain.

mattdavis11 · 04:36 PM

Shouldn't be too bad, but you might want the rear brake moved over to the good arm side if you have free wheel. We used to ride bicycles all the time with no hands, hell I learned while I was in a cast. You might even be able to manage a sack of groceries with the good, free arm.

89911 · 07:57 PM

I've got a complete tear in my left shoulder. I did it a few years ago, but both my shoulders were time bombs ready to go off from years of weight lifting and ignoring pain. It started with pain in both shoulders from general degeneration and looseness in the rotators. Next, I tore the lesser head of my right bicep. This actually helped the pain and I could throw much better. (Elway did this before he won a super bowl). The last episode was when I fell repeatedly on ice shoveling my steep driveway and caught myself on the ground with my arm extended. The MRI showed the tear. In a way though, the years of weightlifting have helped and I really don't have much problems. Still Ski, do heavy yard work and construction. Just can't lift weights anymore. My best friend tore his playing basketball and couldn't even brush his teeth or comb his hair. He had the surgery a few months ago and had no choice. The surgery is not always the cure all. I have had several patients were it failed (re tore the shoulder). Remember, this is quite an investment of time, pain, and loss of income. Being a Dentist, I can't comprehend how I would be off for 3-4 months. And you can't rush this because your increasing the odds of failure. I would say if it encroaches on your everyday activities and disrupts your quality of life, do it. If not, there is no guarantee it is going to take you to where you were before the injury. I asked the Orthopedic if they could just fix me up and I can get back to where I was before the injury, just like the athletes. He looked at me and said my only options would be to retire if I was one of them.

Arizona_928 · 01-06-2010, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 89911

I would say if it encroaches on your everyday activities and disrupts your quality of life, do it. If not, there is no guarantee it is going to take you to where you were before the injury. I asked the Orthopedic if the could just fix my up and I can get back to where I was before the injury, just like the athletes. He looked at me and said my options would be to retire if I was one of them.

how old are you? Some orthoped's i've been to don't want to tighten up the cups, since i'm still young. (17) I've found one Dr. that would do it, but I was very weary because the recovery time is 9 months. And then He said that it isn't a 100% fix, they could loosen up, and i would end up at the same place i'm at now.

Hell you only live once!

89911 · 01-06-2010, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AZ_porschekid

how old are you? Some orthoped's i've been to don't want to tighten up the cups, since i'm still young. (17) I've found one Dr. that would do it, but I was very weary because the recovery time is 9 months. And then He said that it isn't a 100% fix, they could loosen up, and i would end up at the same place i'm at now.

Hell you only live once!

48. Your diagnosis sounds like what I was getting. 17 and shoulder problems? Mine didn't really start becoming an issue until I reached 30. Part of my problem is that if I had the surgery, I would be so careful about reinjuring the shoulder that I would limit more of what I do then right now. If I was 17 and having problems, I would get them fixed. Your young and healing well.

9dreizig · 01-06-2010, 08:53 PM

Rick,,
Ask Noah930 he's an orthopedic surgeon (ok he does hands but close enough).. I'll be you can fix it with re-hab pain in the butt but it does wonders for shoulders..

T77911S · 01-07-2010, 09:12 AM

i tore mine, pushing the 911 of all things. i slipped and over extended my right arm.
it bothered me all the time, i new something was wrong. i went almost a year like that. it would wake me up about 4 am hurting, or aching.

i finally had the surgery, but it still bothers me sometimes. i still cant work overhead for much. i cant sleep on my right side very long.

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

I was working on the shifter ball cup bushings under my 993 last night and it wasn't fun. But there was no movement I couldn't do. It just hurt a little in some positions.