Help - Rotator Cuff Tear

[BabyGirl Rosie]

Oh my! I am so sorry!! I know nothing about this but just want you to know you are in my thoughts and prayers. Hugs!

[Yorkiemom1]

I had a patient grab my left wrist and try to jerk my arm off....he partially tore my rotator cuff. I have a high tolerance to pain because I am very sensitive to pain meds and can only take Darvocet N for pain...and of course, they have now decided that causes heart problems and I think pulled it off the market. I have NEVER had anything hurt me as bad as that rotator cuff.....the ONLY comfortable position I could hold my arm was to hold my arm tightly against my body, bent up at the elbow....my ortho surgeon told me absolutely NO USE of that arm for 6 months....if at that time it had not mended, I would need surgery. I cried for 4 months with the pain from that partially torn cuff, unable to take anything stronger than Aleve for pain....I feel so sorry for you!!!

[Verbena]

Well I had a full tear. When you go to the Orthopedic see if you can go to PT first. Go to a PT office. They give you exercises, heat, stim, massage, etc. then if it doesn't work go through with the surgery. I had it done twice. If you want to talk. I can send you my number and you can call me. I can tell you all of it. It is no problem. Good luck at the dr

[ladyjane]

I had a partially torn rotator cuff years ago...did try physical therapy but it did not help. The surgery was really not all that bad...it was done by endoscopy. I do have a high tolerance to pain, though...so maybe it hurts more for some??

Prior to the surgery I was pretty uncomfortable with it.....it would be fine and then out of the blue I would feel these horrible stabbing pains. Never really knew what precipiated it.

I think the post surgical discomfort was less than the pain prior to the surgery.

[gemy]

Lots of great suggestions and advice. I particularly like Guiness Stout's suggestion, it is really worth it to try and find out in your area, who the pro ball players, wrestlers or other athletes go to for torn Rotator Cuff muscle (s). BTW the Rotator cuff is a group of 4 muscles that provide the bulk of the medial to posterior aspect/roundedness of your shoulder. The anatomical acroymn is the SITS muscles. In order from superior to inferior attachments on the superior humerus is Supraspinatous, Infraspinatous, Teres Minor, and Subscapularis. Any one or two can be torn - compeletely or partially. The each have their own tendor to attach that muscle to the bone of the humerus(upper arm bone).

The shoulder is one of the hardest joints in the body to diagnose correctly and often times with injury can take a whole long time to heal up.

The location of the tear will have an impact into healing times - ie was it in the tendon attachment - the muscle belly - was only one muscle involved?

A sports medicine specialist who has loads of experience in Rotator Cuff would be ideal to help you through the healing process.

Stretches for the torn muscle, at this point would not be advised. The tear needs to heal. But stretches for the surrounding musculature is okay. Also building up muscle strength is well advised.

I would certainly look at - Physical therapy - including Ultrasound, Tens, Laser Therapy and Massage Therapy.

Hydrotherapy as appropriate to help increase circulation through the joint.

Acupuncture can help often with pain and to help relieve muscle splinting that can and often times accompany an acute injury.

I hope that you are able to heal up as fast as possible. What a rotten time of year to get a shoulder injury

[ellie81]

My husband had that and he was in a lot of pain. Did some exercises, but also tries to unmobilized as much as possible. Sleep with the arm on top of a pillow. If insurance covers PT, then take advange of that as much as possible. It takes quite some times, but it does heal. You need to take care of yourself, cause there's always chances of reocurrence once it happens.

[yorkieusa]

So sorry that happened. It sounds so painful. I hope you find the right path for you.

[enchilila]

Oh, wow! Thanks to everyone for all the information and advice. I changed from the Othopedic surgeon that my GP scheduled me with to another Ortho specialist that serves as a team physician for Baylor Unicersity. My appt is tomorrow afternoon. Just in case anyone has any insight they would like to share, I'm posting the MRI results. It sounds like Greek to me. Hopefully, it can be treated with rest and PT since it is a partial tear.

"There is a full-thickness tear of the anterior insertion of the supraspinatus tendon without evidence of retraction. Portions of the supraspinatus tendon are probably intact suggesting that this is an incomplete tear. The infra spinatus tendon appears intact. There is mild osteoarthritis of the acromioclavicular joint. There is a small amount of fluid in the subacromial sub deltoid bursa, probably on the basis of a rotator cuff tear. The glenoid labrum is not assessed without gadolinium. The morphology of the humeral head appears normal. The long head of the biceps tendon is situated normally in the biceps groove.

IMPRESSION: incomplete, full thickness, tear of the anterior supraspinatus component of the rotator cuff tendon."

[gemy]

So some good news then., Just one tendon involved - and you don't have a whole lot of arthritic changes in your shoulder joint. Bicep Tendon situated normal which again is good.

Some evidence of fluid accumulation in a "bursa" Which is a fluid filled sac - that provides for a degree of cushioning as different surfaces in our body move across each other.

Fingers crossed for your specialist appt today

[yorkieusa]

What did you learn at your appt today?

[horsnaround]

Checking in. Hope you had good news today

[enchilila]

Long story short.......two months of PT!!!! If PT hasn't helped at the end of two months, he wants to go in with a scope to see if maybe it is a full tear that the MRI didn't show and repair it at that time. As of now, he feels I have a 75% chance of getting back to near normal without surgery, as far as looking at the MRI and x-rays.

He explained that this problem is very common as a person ages, since I couldn't tell him how I thought it happened. I felt a little rushed. I'm sure this was such a routine appt for him. However. I do believe he is one of the best docs in sport's medicine and I got good news. So, no complaints from the peanut section. I start PT next Tueaday which, BTW, is part of the group's office.

Thanks to everyone for sharing your personal stories and your advice. I'm hoping that PT will do the trick. I'll update if things change. To those of you going through this horrible pain, I will keep you in my prayers.

[Verbena]

Good luck with pt. my favorite part is the massage at the end lol

[gumbysuz]

I think you are getting good advice and a conservative approach from your doc. I would do anything to avoid surgery.
I also had a partial tear. My surgeon gave me a steroid shot in the shoulder to dampen down the inflammation and prepare for PT. Then I did the PT and home exercises to strengthen muscle. In the end, no surgery was needed. I continue to exercise and have remained pain free.
Good luck and let us know how you progress!

[yorkieusa]

I hope the PT works for you.