Torn rotator cuff - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

t walgamuth · #1 05-17-2013, 10:12 AM

So I did something to my left shoulder a few weeks ago. I've been popping alieve and hoping by taking it easy on it it will heal. It got feeling better and a few days ago I did something which really ripped it again so I went to the doc yesterday. He believes it to be the torn rotator cuff. I will be seeing an orthopedic doc Monday and getting an MRI.

Brian Carlton · #2 05-17-2013, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

and a few days ago I did something which really ripped it again

..........better be careful, or you'll go blind.

elchivito · #3 05-17-2013, 11:25 AM

I had a teacher in my school who had RC surgery. She was a competitive archer and screwed herself up somehow. She had to wear this weird brace thing for months and never was right after that. On the other hand I had a neighbor who had the surgery and recovered quickly with no complications. I'd say get second and third opinions before you let anybody go carving up your front leg.

aklim · #4 05-17-2013, 11:47 AM

I had surgery and it hurt for a while. Nothing pain meds won't fix. Seems like the surgeon used platllets? Made it heal well enough. I was able to wrench out the injectors from my jetskis with mostly left arm while using a little of the right that was hurting.

2 months later, I was probably fine and just using PT to strengthen it.

In fact, the surgeon told me that he usually has to coax patients out of the sling while he has to push me back in sometimes.

Maki · #5 05-17-2013, 11:52 AM

My GP thought I might have a torn rotator cuff because I had sharp pain and severely limited range of movement. He sent me to an orthopedist, who diagnosed it as frozen shoulder, or adhesive capsulitis. He spotted it with an X-ray (no MRI needed) and relieved about 75% of the stiffness and pain with a cortisone shot. Eight or nine rounds of physical therapy loosened it up further to the point where I had about 85% of use ... now, a couple years later, it's pretty much back to normal. Happily, no surgery required.

Here's a link to a page about the condition: Frozen Shoulder (Adhesive Capsulitis) Symptoms, Causes, Treatment – MedicineNet.com

barry12345 · #6 05-17-2013, 12:23 PM

I personally have learnt the lesson the hard way. As you age try to go a little easier. Just amounts to never really pushing yourself. Doing this my knee joint may go the distance for example. I can no longer carry fifty pounds with out feeling it in the knee joint for example. Other than that the knee is fine.

It took me awhile to learn but if something is more than fifty pounds I just will not lift it. Reciently my hip took a bad jolt so I will not grout tile floors anymore for example. Or at least until I am pretty convinced it has returned totally to normal.So I will go easy on it for six months before trying it at least. If it flairs at all then never again. The hip is causing no issues at this time but it was for a week or more. Not smart to tempt it to possibly get and stay worse again.

Just prior to my last surgery the screening nurse wanted to know how many artificial parts and any transplants I had. Fortunatly I am still all oem parts. After all the pre op questions she told me that I was still in very good shape for my age.

She knew I was back for another cancer operation. So I thought what does it take to be in bad shape? Fortunatly the surgery went well and I probably will be around for quite some time yet. Not all situations by a long shot need actual surgery. Hopefully you are one of them that do not.

Everything in general still works pretty well at age 70. In fact some parts do not get enough use.

No your rotator did not fail as per Brians suggestion. Based partially on most people are right handed probaly. Or it would probably have been gone years ago.

I am personally trying to remain in a position of the old mercedes needing more parts than I do.

The wife went for some long overdue tests the other day. They asked her why the doctor had waited so long to order them done? She said he thought she had been doing so well why mess it up was her best guess. She has experienced a total recovery.

Actually shoulder issues are quite common and for many a shot clears them up. Not all of course but enough that it is usually tried first. My brother in law had a shoulder shot a few weeks back and seems okay now. The wife had a shot of cortisone up around the brain stem area at the back of the skull some years ago and it solved her issue at the time as well.

aklim · #7 05-17-2013, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maki

My GP thought I might have a torn rotator cuff because I had sharp pain and severely limited range of movement. He sent me to an orthopedist, who diagnosed it as frozen shoulder, or adhesive capsulitis. He spotted it with an X-ray (no MRI needed) and relieved about 75% of the stiffness and pain with a cortisone shot. Eight or nine rounds of physical therapy loosened it up further to the point where I had about 85% of use ... now, a couple years later, it's pretty much back to normal. Happily, no surgery required.

Here's a link to a page about the condition: Frozen Shoulder (Adhesive Capsulitis) Symptoms, Causes, Treatment – MedicineNet.com

My insurance allows 3 cortisone shots before they will stop you and ask that you do an MRI to continue. I had my 3 before the wife lost patience and pushed me to an MRI to confirm her fears and then pushed me to surgery which I was dreading.

Maki · #8 05-17-2013, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aklim

My insurance allows 3 cortisone shots before they will stop you and ask that you do an MRI to continue. I had my 3 before the wife lost patience and pushed me to an MRI to confirm her fears and then pushed me to surgery which I was dreading.

I'm certainly no medical expert, but if you have a tear, I imagine cortisone isn't going to fix it. My point was that you can have pretty severe shoulder pain without having a torn cuff. Of course, a frozen shoulder can get so bad that surgery is required, but it's not necessary in most cases.

It's funny, a bunch of the guys around the office (all in their 50s) had this same condition about the same time. We all work at computers and push a mouse around all day. It's repetitive motion, albeit slight. I was getting a little stiffness in the shoulder pocket, and then I took a fall and jammed the shoulder at an odd angle. The pain got my attention then.

t walgamuth · #9 05-17-2013, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Carlton

..........better be careful, or you'll go blind.

Funny thing. I am right handed but do certain things better left handed.

aklim · #10 05-17-2013, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maki

I'm certainly no medical expert,

but if you have a tear, I imagine cortisone isn't going to fix it. My point was that you can have pretty severe shoulder pain without having a torn cuff. Of course, a frozen shoulder can get so bad that surgery is required, but it's not necessary in most cases.

I am a medical expert when it comes to giving women breast exams (Cancer detection) and PAP Smears (I don't use Q-Tips).

True. However, if it is just strained, cortisone will fix it. If it comes back again and again, it might be more serious and thus an MRI is needed to determine what is broken. At which point, surgery can be scheduled. Cortisone is a "hope and pray" that you don't need surgery. If it cures, you don't. If it doesn't, you do. OTOH, you can skip to MRI and surgery, IIRC. As to frozen shoulder, it would be better to have a specialist diagnose it instead of a GP.

ruchase · #11 05-17-2013, 02:45 PM

To be honest, if you think the end result is going to be surgery, then avoid cortisone shots if at all possible and start some pre-surgery PT and just do it. I have a partial on my left, but after lots of rest/ice and some PT its doing better. I refused the cortisone because of long term side-effects (I'm middle aged). Wish you all the best!

aklim · #12 05-17-2013, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ruchase

To be honest, if you think the end result is going to be surgery, then avoid cortisone shots if at all possible and start some pre-surgery PT and just do it.

I refused the cortisone because of long term side-effects (I'm middle aged). Wish you all the best!

Only way to know for sure is to do imaging.

What side effects are you worried about when getting a single shot? Maybe if you are doing it daily but this isn't a daily thing, IIRC.

MS Fowler · #13 05-17-2013, 05:00 PM

Tom,
I wish you well.
My wife just had a complete (reverse) shoulder replacement which included reconstructing the rotator cuff, and biceps tendon. Long, slow recovery.

Skid Row Joe · #14 05-17-2013, 05:50 PM

Hmmmmm........I'm not so sure that Medicare will pay for such. Probably will not be available under Obamacare I'd surmise.

Cortisone does not fix these things. Avoid cortisone at all costs/cases. Cortisone is bad medicine.

ruchase · #15 05-17-2013, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aklim

Only way to know for sure is to do imaging.

What side effects are you worried about when getting a single shot? Maybe if you are doing it daily but this isn't a daily thing, IIRC.

I didn't think just one shot would be the answer - from what I understood, the cortisone shots would be part of the non-surgical approach, so they would be several shots, spaced out in addition to PT.

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