Should I get rotator cuff surgery?

[Atticus808]

asking here incase anyone has had it.

first hurt my shoulder about 10 years ago playing hockey. tore my rotator cuff.

since then I've had many partial dislocations and full dislocations of my shoulder.

the last time I dislocated the doctor referred me to a really good orthopedic surgeon. the surgeon basically said I can get arthroscopic surgery done on it if I want to or not. I do workout a lot now and it feels better but I'm just concerned if there would be any permanent pain from surgery. but also concerned that if I don't get it done. will it become very bad when I'm older.

[Atropine]

Originally Posted by Atticus808

asking here incase anyone has had it.

first hurt my shoulder about 10 years ago playing hockey. tore my rotator cuff.

since then I've had many partial dislocations and full dislocations of my shoulder.

the last time I dislocated the doctor referred me to a really good orthopedic surgeon. the surgeon basically said I can get arthroscopic surgery done on it if I want to or not. I do workout a lot now and it feels better but I'm just concerned if there would be any permanent pain from surgery. but also concerned that if I don't get it done. will it become very bad when I'm older.

I have been doing X-ray and CT for 17 years...

Here are my questions...

Does it hurt now?
Is your ROM (Range of motion) depleted?
Is it still unstable? Does it "pop out" often?

If you answered yes to any of those questions, strongly consider the surgery.

If you answered no to all of those question...skip the surgery.

Just so you know...and I have no idea what you do for a living and how your insurance is...

Rotator cuff surgery is very painful afterwards.

You most likely will not be able to work for 2-3 months if your job involves lifting ANYTHING at all.

Personal experience...I use to have a weak shoulder, though it was not rotator cuff.

Anyway after working out a lot and strengthening my shoulder, I no longer have pain and since I built up the shoulder(s) it no longer "pops out" and my ROM has become normal again.

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by Atticus808

................. will it become very bad when I'm older.

Well, I'll speculate that it will be the ....... second thing to go .......


humfrz

[roddy]

I had this surgery about 6 weeks ago. It is a little too early to tell yet how things are going to go. I am going to physiotherapy 3 times a week, and am currently working on stretching and range of motion exercises. I expect to start working with weights soon. My tear was relatively small, so I didn't have any dislocation issues, but I was having problems with my shoulder locking up. Raising my arm wasn't a problem...getting it back down was. When lowering my arm from an above shoulder movement, my arm would catch at shoulder level, then make a resounding "POP", and continue moving...quite painful. Since the surgery, that particular catch is gone, but new ones have developed. The new ones are very minor in comparison (only slight clicks), and my physiotherapist says they will go away as I progress through the strengthening exercises.


Speak with as many people as you can who have had this done. results are all over the map, but most I spoke to were happy with the results. Don't set your expectations too high, and take it easy after surgery...even if you feel OK. Too much too soon is not good. It takes time to heal from this. My surgeon said the best I could hope for is 85-90% of the pre-injury abilities. If you can get by without surgery, do so. Think of it as a last chance tried everything else solution.


Be picky. Choose your surgeon carefully. Get some names of orthopedic surgeons and do some online homework/investigating. The one who did mine is a straight-up pr!ck...his demeanor/bedside manor leaves a lot to be desired, but his success rate/results are stellar. You will need someone to do a good job more than someone who will hold your hand and pat you on the back. Just my opinion.

[Atticus808]

Originally Posted by Atropine

I have been doing X-ray and CT for 17 years...

Here are my questions...

Does it hurt now?
Is your ROM (Range of motion) depleted?
Is it still unstable? Does it "pop out" often?

If you answered yes to any of those questions, strongly consider the surgery.

If you answered no to all of those question...skip the surgery.

Just so you know...and I have no idea what you do for a living and how your insurance is...

Rotator cuff surgery is very painful afterwards.

You most likely will not be able to work for 2-3 months if your job involves lifting ANYTHING at all.

Personal experience...I use to have a weak shoulder, though it was not rotator cuff.

Anyway after working out a lot and strengthening my shoulder, I no longer have pain and since I built up the shoulder(s) it no longer "pops out" and my ROM has become normal again.

yes, yes, and yes.

it hurts once in awhile and i know what activities to avoid. well actually my ROM is fine but i know the weak points, which are overhead activities. but the last time it dislocated was when i slipped on ice and i stuck my arm out to grab something (it came out before i hit the ground)

Originally Posted by humfrz

Well, I'll speculate that it will be the ....... second thing to go .......


humfrz

take some zinc!

Originally Posted by roddy

I had this surgery about 6 weeks ago. It is a little too early to tell yet how things are going to go. I am going to physiotherapy 3 times a week, and am currently working on stretching and range of motion exercises. I expect to start working with weights soon. My tear was relatively small, so I didn't have any dislocation issues, but I was having problems with my shoulder locking up. Raising my arm wasn't a problem...getting it back down was. When lowering my arm from an above shoulder movement, my arm would catch at shoulder level, then make a resounding "POP", and continue moving...quite painful. Since the surgery, that particular catch is gone, but new ones have developed. The new ones are very minor in comparison (only slight clicks), and my physiotherapist says they will go away as I progress through the strengthening exercises.


Speak with as many people as you can who have had this done. results are all over the map, but most I spoke to were happy with the results. Don't set your expectations too high, and take it easy after surgery...even if you feel OK. Too much too soon is not good. It takes time to heal from this. My surgeon said the best I could hope for is 85-90% of the pre-injury abilities. If you can get by without surgery, do so. Think of it as a last chance tried everything else solution.


Be picky. Choose your surgeon carefully. Get some names of orthopedic surgeons and do some online homework/investigating. The one who did mine is a straight-up pr!ck...his demeanor/bedside manor leaves a lot to be desired, but his success rate/results are stellar. You will need someone to do a good job more than someone who will hold your hand and pat you on the back. Just my opinion.

the surgeon i got referred to is very very good. one of the best in the country. He's worked on NHL players as well

http://drdavidsheps.ca/

how did you hurt your shoulder? how bad as it until you got surgery?

[Tcoat]

This is Canada. It is "free". Why suffer?

[Atropine]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

This is Canada. It is "free". Why suffer?

Does your health care include convalescence time as well?

But yeah, Atticus, it sounds like your shoulder is unstable and you should consider strongly the surgery.

If you have anything super fun planned this summer...do that first...because you will be sore/in pain for a couple months.

But as TCoat said, why suffer? I don't think yours is going to get better on its on. It will just get worse. GL man.

[Atticus808]

Originally Posted by Atropine

Does your health care include convalescence time as well?

But yeah, Atticus, it sounds like your shoulder is unstable and you should consider strongly the surgery.

If you have anything super fun planned this summer...do that first...because you will be sore/in pain for a couple months.

But as TCoat said, why suffer? I don't think yours is going to get better on its on. It will just get worse. GL man.

yeah it covers everything

i'm going to have to call and see if i can still get it done. last time i saw him was over a year ago.

[Atticus808]

damnit. so i'm past the referral time period of 1 year.
gotta go see my GP and get her opinion and hopefully she can refer me

[HunterGreene]

Another consideration is age, but based on what I have seen so far, you need the surgery. Quality of life will be alot better.

Think of it this way--you can either live with it through the rest of yoru life, which is hopefully decades, or be out of commission for less than a year and probably not have to worry about it again for a very long time. Plus, you live in Canada and its free.

[Atticus808]

Originally Posted by HunterGreene

Another consideration is age, but based on what I have seen so far, you need the surgery. Quality of life will be alot better.

Think of it this way--you can either live with it through the rest of yoru life, which is hopefully decades, or be out of commission for less than a year and probably not have to worry about it again for a very long time. Plus, you live in Canada and its free.

very true
i'm leaning towards doing it

[Token11b]

I have a bad rotator cuff in my right shoulder. I've talked to numerous people and surgeons. From what I've been told it'll either stay the same or get not much better. I can still lift weights and live a normal life however throwing anything will send pains through my shoulder so I no longer play baseball or softball and throw anything. It is what it is.

[roddy]

Originally Posted by Atticus808

the surgeon i got referred to is very very good. one of the best in the country. He's worked on NHL players as well

http://drdavidsheps.ca/

how did you hurt your shoulder? how bad as it until you got surgery?

It sounds and looks like you will be in good hands.


I hurt myself at work while performing my duties as a "human fork lift" in Nov. 2014. Initial diagnosis via ultrasound showed biceps tendonitis, so I initiated physiotherapy, and kept working. The pain in my arm/shoulder, and numbness in my hand did not improve over the next 6 months. Upon further investigation (and an MRI), a tear was found in my left supraspinatus tendon. I was offered "light duties", and continued to work full time plus morning physio sessions before work. I continued this for another 6 months with little to no improvement.
For the most part, the pain was bearable, but always there. Certain movements (mainly shoulder height or higher) would really hurt, especially if my shoulder decided to lock up on the way back down. I was also experiencing tingling/numbness in my forearm and hand (likely due to inflamed tissue in my shoulder area putting pressure on the ulnar nerve).
Post-op, I noticed a near immediate reduction in pain while sitting still, as well as reduced numbness and tingling. Moving around and using my arm is another story...it hurts! It is getting better though, and I expect it will continue to improve with time. Being away from work, I think, is making all the difference.

[Atticus808]

Originally Posted by roddy

It sounds and looks like you will be in good hands.


I hurt myself at work while performing my duties as a "human fork lift" in Nov. 2014. Initial diagnosis via ultrasound showed biceps tendonitis, so I initiated physiotherapy, and kept working. The pain in my arm/shoulder, and numbness in my hand did not improve over the next 6 months. Upon further investigation (and an MRI), a tear was found in my left supraspinatus tendon. I was offered "light duties", and continued to work full time plus morning physio sessions before work. I continued this for another 6 months with little to no improvement.
For the most part, the pain was bearable, but always there. Certain movements (mainly shoulder height or higher) would really hurt, especially if my shoulder decided to lock up on the way back down. I was also experiencing tingling/numbness in my forearm and hand (likely due to inflamed tissue in my shoulder area putting pressure on the ulnar nerve).
Post-op, I noticed a near immediate reduction in pain while sitting still, as well as reduced numbness and tingling. Moving around and using my arm is another story...it hurts! It is getting better though, and I expect it will continue to improve with time. Being away from work, I think, is making all the difference.

based on everything I read, do not rush physio at all! I hope you get a speedy recovery though!

shoulders are so easily injured it sucks ass