OT: Anyone had a rotator cuff tear?

[Missing smitty]

Just like the title says. My physio lady said she's pretty sure I've torn my rotator cuff in my right shoulder (probably more damage, but without an MRI, she doesn't know). I don't have lots of pain, just some soreness, but absolutely no strength. Just wondering if anyone has gone through something similar.

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[guymez]

Had this happen to me a few years back. Tore it playing volleyball.
Same type of situation...not too much pain but almost no strength depending on the movement.
It limited pretty much everything. Even had trouble putting my right hand on the top of the steering wheel while driving. After going to the requisite physio regaining strength was the main focus.
I started by lifting full soup cans (with a straight arm) from my waist to eye level. Did that for about a week...just increased the reps. From there I went to free weights.
I really had to adjust my weightlifting to accommodate the weakness. Had to start by trying bench press just the bar...no weights at all. I was glad that my work out area was in my basement so no one was around to see me struggle with that...lol
I could only do a few lifts at first. It took about 3 -4 weeks of slowly increasing the reps (then slowly adding 5 lbs at a time) for me to get 50% of my strength back. A month later I was back to 100% but it was hard work.
It requires a lot of patience.

Good luck.
If I could offer some advice....just be patient with yourself and try not to get frustrated that your progress isnt happening fast enough.

 

[Messrules11]

Just like the title says. My physio lady said she's pretty sure I've torn my rotator cuff in my right shoulder (probably more damage, but without an MRI, she doesn't know). I don't have lots of pain, just some soreness, but absolutely no strength. Just wondering if anyone has gone through something similar.

I tore mine skiing, nasty wipeout. It was my 3rd run of the day and I kept skiing until it seized up on me. Was in BC, had another full day of skiing the next day and as long as I stayed in the tuck position I was fine, but I couldn’t lift my arm to shoulder height, took it easy though and never wiped out once. Drove back to Edmonton and went to my doc, he sent me for an MRI and then it was physio for about a month and took a good year before I would say it was 100%. Not sure how guymez was fine in a month but to each their own... Good luck with yours.

 

[mooseman7]

I tore mine skiing, nasty wipeout. It was my 3rd run of the day and I kept skiing until it seized up on me. Was in BC, had another full day of skiing the next day and as long as I stayed in the tuck position I was fine, but I couldn’t lift my arm to shoulder height, took it easy though and never wiped out once. Drove back to Edmonton and went to my doc, he sent me for an MRI and then it was physio for about a month and took a good year before I would say it was 100%. Not sure how guymez was fine in a month but to each their own... Good luck with yours.

Had mine operated on 12 weeks ago. Payed for my own mri after several different doctors and rehab protocal didnt work . It snowed a tear in 1 tendon and calcification of others. Surgery revealed 3 of 4 tendons That make up the cuff, we're torn .
Also had some other things cleaned up during surgery like end of a.c. joint cut off,and another area cleaned out and enlarged to make room for tendons to move more freely . Tore mine several years ago after falling, and continuing to play hockey and work out ... just wouldn't heal . Surgery revealed why . Rehab has been no fun , 4 weeks in and still restricted to range of motion but no resistance for another 4 weeks.. any questions, FIRE away !

 

[Missing smitty]

Had mine operated on 12 weeks ago. Payed for my own mri after several different doctors and rehab protocal didnt work . It snowed a tear in 1 tendon and calcification of others. Surgery revealed 3 of 4 tendons That make up the cuff, we're torn .
Also had some other things cleaned up during surgery like end of a.c. joint cut off,and another area cleaned out and enlarged to make room for tendons to move more freely . Tore mine several years ago after falling, and continuing to play hockey and work out ... just wouldn't heal . Surgery revealed why . Rehab has been no fun , 4 weeks in and still restricted to range of motion but no resistance for another 4 weeks.. any questions, FIRE away !

That's where I'm at I think. It's been sore on and off for 3-4 years, but I kept coming up with reasons why I shouldn't get it looked. My physio lady and I have been fighting with my doctor to send me for an MRI, but the army sucks for this kind of crap. How long are you looking at for recovery?

 

[Beerfish]

I've had tears in both shoulders, close to having surgery the last time but didn't. Physio helped but it took a LONG time to get back to what I deem normal usage.

 

[Jepprey]

I used to have shoulder problems quite regularly, for almost decade. Some pain here and there. Dead arm for days (especially if I slept on it.) Finally got a doctor to have it checked out after the sharp pains were getting to be too much. I thought it was previous rotator cuff problems but after an MRI, it was found to be just bursitis.

A couple of rotator cuff exercises got rid of it quite quickly. My shoulder strength came back. and got my power in my throws (football/baseball) once again.

 

[guymez]

I tore mine skiing, nasty wipeout. It was my 3rd run of the day and I kept skiing until it seized up on me. Was in BC, had another full day of skiing the next day and as long as I stayed in the tuck position I was fine, but I couldn’t lift my arm to shoulder height, took it easy though and never wiped out once. Drove back to Edmonton and went to my doc, he sent me for an MRI and then it was physio for about a month and took a good year before I would say it was 100%. Not sure how guymez was fine in a month but to each their own... Good luck with yours.

I had the injury about 10 years ago...my memory in terms of the timeline might be a bit off.
IIRC it was approx 2 months in total for me....maybe a little bit more. Within about the first month I was at approx 50%.

We could also be talking about differing degrees of severity here.

 

[Messrules11]

Had mine operated on 12 weeks ago. Payed for my own mri after several different doctors and rehab protocal didnt work . It snowed a tear in 1 tendon and calcification of others. Surgery revealed 3 of 4 tendons That make up the cuff, we're torn .
Also had some other things cleaned up during surgery like end of a.c. joint cut off,and another area cleaned out and enlarged to make room for tendons to move more freely . Tore mine several years ago after falling, and continuing to play hockey and work out ... just wouldn't heal . Surgery revealed why . Rehab has been no fun , 4 weeks in and still restricted to range of motion but no resistance for another 4 weeks.. any questions, FIRE away !

Wow, surgery for yours. Sounds like hell, I believe mine was a grade 3 tear. Been maybe 5 years since mine. Good luck with yours

 

[Messrules11]

It was approx 2 months for me. Within about the first month I was at approx 50%.

We could also be talking about differing degrees of severity here.

Yeah, I was going to say that too. Lots of different things in a small area there

 

[joestevens29]

Just don't do what my dad did.

Spent a year with an issue. Goes to his doctor who gives him pills. Pills barely work so he goes back a year later. Doctor recommends cortisone shot, dad decides on pills for another 6 months. Then finally gets the cortisone shot. Worked for about 3 months. Took him another 6 months to go back. Gets another cortisone shot. Waits again however long, goes for physio. Gets another shot at some point as well.

Probably been about 5 years now and he's still struggling with pain and mobility. For some reason doesn't want to go for a MRI.

It's okay though, because he compensated for pain/mobility for so long now his back is causing him more issues than his shoulder.


I've also tried to get him to go see my doctor, who is younger and goes about things differently than his doctor. But you know, older people are so hard to convince to try new things.

 

[Missing smitty]

Just don't do what my dad did.

Spent a year with an issue. Goes to his doctor who gives him pills. Pills barely work so he goes back a year later. Doctor recommends cortisone shot, dad decides on pills for another 6 months. Then finally gets the cortisone shot. Worked for about 3 months. Took him another 6 months to go back. Gets another cortisone shot. Waits again however long, goes for physio. Gets another shot at some point as well.

Probably been about 5 years now and he's still struggling with pain and mobility. For some reason doesn't want to go for a MRI.

It's okay though, because he compensated for pain/mobility for so long now his back is causing him more issues than his shoulder.


I've also tried to get him to go see my doctor, who is younger and goes about things differently than his doctor. But you know, older people are so hard to convince to try new things.

Clearly your dad is as stubborn as me. Been about 3 - 4 years of soreness and lack of strength. But I always had an excuse, I wanted to keep playing softball, there were a couple golf tournaments I wanted to play in, summer would end then Intersection Hockey. Always some reason to keep putting it off and now I have trouble picking up my 1.5 year old with my right arm and I'm only 35

 

[blue_n_copper]

In February, I slipped on some ice and landed square on my right shoulder. I broke my humerus so badly that the humeral head snapped clean off. I had surgery 3 days later that required more than a dozen pins ( I actually don't want to know the exact number). I am currently in physio and trying to regain as much range of motion as I can with a daily exercise and stretching routine and weekly physio appointments until my benefits run out. It is a long tedious process and the exercises can be painful but the results, while slow, are measurable so I keep at it. I am not sure I will ever play golf or throw a ball again. I am an avid amateur photographer however, and it took at least a month until I could hold a camera to my eye again. Small victories like that keep me going.

 

[joestevens29]

Clearly your dad is as stubborn as me. Been about 3 - 4 years of soreness and lack of strength. But I always had an excuse, I wanted to keep playing softball, there were a couple golf tournaments I wanted to play in, summer would end then Intersection Hockey. Always some reason to keep putting it off and now I have trouble picking up my 1.5 year old with my right arm and I'm only 35

The problem that he has/had and it's been a few injuries now is that he started missing some of those sporting events due to these injuries. Or if he did find a way to play in them, he was pretty much useless around the house. Found a way to work, but once he'd be at home good luck shoveling snow or doing yard work.

I guess lucky for him his kid isn't 1.5 and is your age. Unlucky for me though.

At least he goes to see a doctor for regular checkups, I'll give him that. Most his friends and brothers don't even go see a doctor and in some cases it's been fatal.

 

[dustrock]

Just like the title says. My physio lady said she's pretty sure I've torn my rotator cuff in my right shoulder (probably more damage, but without an MRI, she doesn't know). I don't have lots of pain, just some soreness, but absolutely no strength. Just wondering if anyone has gone through something similar.

Smitty - if something happened recently, you should book an MRI/MSK (muscular skeletal) ultrasound right away. After a couple of months it's really too late to operate. Shoulder ultrasound waitlist at MIC College Plaza is probably about 6-8 weeks but you can always pay to jump the line. You can pay for an MRI as well, about $500.00. You do need a requisition to book the appointment.

Soreness could be something like bursitis, but the lack of strength is the major concern.

If it's historical, depending on your age, they may not operate, but at least to get a good look at the problem and you can at least try to mitigate the problem.

 

[Jumptheshark]

Just like the title says. My physio lady said she's pretty sure I've torn my rotator cuff in my right shoulder (probably more damage, but without an MRI, she doesn't know). I don't have lots of pain, just some soreness, but absolutely no strength. Just wondering if anyone has gone through something similar.

broken hands and blew my knee out 30 years ago--The strength will come back just do not do what I did and push to early--listen to the nurses and doctors

 

[joestevens29]

Smitty - if something happened recently, you should book an MRI/MSK (muscular skeletal) ultrasound right away. After a couple of months it's really too late to operate. Shoulder ultrasound waitlist at MIC College Plaza is probably about 6-8 weeks but you can always pay to jump the line. You can pay for an MRI as well, about $500.00. You do need a requisition to book the appointment.

Soreness could be something like bursitis, but the lack of strength is the major concern.

If it's historical, depending on your age, they may not operate, but at least to get a good look at the problem and you can at least try to mitigate the problem.

The other thing I'd recommend and this is for anyone, talk to your employer. I worked for a larger company awhile back and the safety person had connections. People would get in for MRI's anywhere from a few days to a couple weeks even when it had nothing to do with work.

 

[Missing smitty]

Smitty - if something happened recently, you should book an MRI/MSK (muscular skeletal) ultrasound right away. After a couple of months it's really too late to operate. Shoulder ultrasound waitlist at MIC College Plaza is probably about 6-8 weeks but you can always pay to jump the line. You can pay for an MRI as well, about $500.00. You do need a requisition to book the appointment.

Soreness could be something like bursitis, but the lack of strength is the major concern.

If it's historical, depending on your age, they may not operate, but at least to get a good look at the problem and you can at least try to mitigate the problem.

I'm 35, so I'm hoping whatever this is isn't going to last forever, lol. Ultrasound was inconclusive, but the only information I got from my physiotherapist was ultrasounds canbe good, but an MRI would be better. I really wish the army paid well enough to afford my own medical care, lol.

 

[Missing smitty]

The other thing I'd recommend and this is for anyone, talk to your employer. I worked for a larger company awhile back and the safety person had connections. People would get in for MRI's anywhere from a few days to a couple weeks even when it had nothing to do with work.

I'm in the army, so the only way I get medical care is going through the military medical system. I don't even have a Alberta Health number or anything, so using the civilian system has its headaches.

 

[Spirit of 67]

I'm currently off work and am in physio.
Surgery was March 22.

Rotator Cuff

Torn Supraspanadis tendon.
Torn Subscapalaris tendon.

Bicepts Tendon

Subluxed (partially dislocated).
Multiple small tears.

General

Arthritis.
Tendonitis.
Bursitis.

So, as in the words of my OS, "it looked like a war zone in there."

5 1/2 weeks in a sling. Simple pendulum movement exercises.

8 weeks AROM and light strenghtening.

Next apt is June 28.
Scheduled back to work July 2.

AMA.

 

[TopShelfGloveSide]

I'm in the army, so the only way I get medical care is going through the military medical system. I don't even have a Alberta Health number or anything, so using the civilian system has its headaches.

Haha classic army. You can really push for the MRI if your physio recommends it no?

 

[Missing smitty]

Haha classic army. You can really push for the MRI if your physio recommends it no?

We're trying, but I'm going on a temporary category soon, so that should get me in with a specialist (I'd say I'm crossing my fingers, but expecting the army to do what they should is an exercise in futility sometimes).

 

[mooseman7]

That's where I'm at I think. It's been sore on and off for 3-4 years, but I kept coming up with reasons why I shouldn't get it looked. My physio lady and I have been fighting with my doctor to send me for an MRI, but the army sucks for this kind of crap. How long are you looking at for recovery?

Their telling me 6 to 8 months on the quick side.. More likely 12 months before I can resume physical activities full on ... if , all goes well..

 

[Missing smitty]

Their telling me 6 to 8 months on the quick side.. More likely 12 months before I can resume physical activities full on ... if , all goes well..

Balls. I don't really feel much pain, but I have so little strength I can't do a push up. I guess I should have gone to get looked at sooner.

 

[Jepprey]

I'm currently off work and am in physio.
Surgery was March 22.

Rotator Cuff

Torn Supraspanadis tendon.
Torn Subscapalaris tendon.

Bicepts Tendon

Subluxed (partially dislocated).
Multiple small tears.

General

Arthritis.
Tendonitis.
Bursitis.

So, as in the words of my OS, "it looked like a war zone in there."

5 1/2 weeks in a sling. Simple pendulum movement exercises.

8 weeks AROM and light strenghtening.

Next apt is June 28.
Scheduled back to work July 2.

AMA.

wtf. did you throw a bomb in your shoulder?