Torn Rotator Cuff - Surgery?

S

Scott Free

Joined
Sep 15, 1999
Messages
3,319
I'm pretty sure I have a torn rotator cuff. I DEFINITELY have an injured one.

I've tried apirin, heating pads, rest and time. So far, nothing has worked. I'm going to see a doctor soon. From what I've found on the web, cortizone shots and physical therapy MIGHT help. I may very well need surgery.

I figure that a lot of guys here have had this problem. What advice can you give me? Anyone have success with a tens unit? I want to know as much as I can before making a doctor appointment.

Thanks,

Scott
 
Make the doctor apointment. I tore mine several years ago and the doctor said we might need to have it surgically repaired. Because I'm afraid of doctors I decided to try to let it heal up on its own. Eight months later I was able to do push ups again without pain. To this day it still isn't quite right and will occasionally start acting up. I REALLY should have had it fixed. And my damage was pretty minor. Short version, go to the doctor and do what he says. They apparently learn something in all that schooling.
 
My dad was miserable for six months, and had lots of problems and aches for years until his doctor finally noticed that he had been complaining about shoulder problems off and on for years. (A good doctor... dad had just not complained much enough about his shoulder for the doc to notice.) Anyway, after the surgery he couldn't sleep horizontal for 2 months, but now he's completely pain free. I second the "Talk to the doctor and do what he says" vote.
 
I tore mine at work and a combination of physical therapy and waiting for it to heal finally helped. It took about 9 months before I could lift my hand all the way up over my head without any pain...Ed.
 
GO SEE A DOCTOR! Stop guessing. I injured a shoulder and elbow about a month ago; it turned out to be a severely strained ligament. Never self-diagnose if there's lots of pain involved!
 
BTDT... And cortizone will help the pain but it won't repair the damage. Not sure how bad mine was but 8-9 months later I too could do push ups pain free. Of course I tend to overtrain it sometimes & I pay for that stupidity with PAIN - just not as bad or for as long as when I originally hurt it.

My thoughts on the subject are that just about anything is better than surgery - but if I tear it up really bad again, I may go with that option... Soft tissue injuries like that can take a REALLY long time to heal on their own & if you have a tear (or tears) it will always give you a little trouble. Conversely a client of mine had surgery on his and he says its almost 100%. He has no pain.

I would go & see the Dr. but I would also try anything else he recomends, including cortizone shots, before I would let him cut on me. Of course that's just my opinion - good luck!!!
 
Had a girlfriend in college who was a very competitive swimmer. Her rotator cuffs are shot. She ignored the warning signs & tried to "play through the pain". Wound up in bad shape- lost scholarship, etc. Don't mess around- go see the doctor.
 
Yup rugger, same for me. i destroyed the cartiledge in both of my shoulders after 12 years of competative swimming.I haven's had surgery, and probably should. It does limit what I can do, life, hold, and other things. They crack and pop all the time too. Otherwise it's not too bad for me.

Oh well, ill get it done when I have health insurance.
 
Do not see a doctor, (GP) you will get a Cortisone injection which only addresses the symptoms. Go and see a specialist.

I have done damage to both mine add did the physio myself. The key is to remove the scar tissue and get your ROM back (Range of Motion)

Anyway, go see the specialist and not a quack.
 
I just had surgery to repair my rotator cuff. it was a simple surgery and went really well. I was out for 3 hours. The pain sucks for the first few days, but after that, I cut my vicodin intake back to 2 a day(instead of 2 every 4 hours).
 
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