Rotator Cuff Stuff Cancel The title field is required!

1. Steven Kurta

   

   2 posts
   
   7/22/2015 5:07 PM

   If you have personal experience with this, or other shoulder junk (bursitis/tendonitis), spill it.
   Re-injured left shoulder a few weeks ago, non-work related, getting MRI tomorrow and some direction/options.
   Interested in anyone's experience RE: PT v. Surgery v. other.
   Thanks.

   
   
   
   
2. Wahlin Scott B

   
   7/22/2015 8:07 PM

   I hurt both of my shoulders water skiing and they were very painful for three years. The pain went away and I do not know why. I had an incredibly gifted salesman who tore his shoulder up playing college sports. He had his shoulder operated on. I did the physical part of his job while he closed deals. I took him to therapy and the pain was so extreme it would make him pass out. I wish you the best.

   
   
   
   
3. Michael Rogers

   

   2 posts
   
   7/23/2015 5:07 AM

   Hi Steve,
   
   I did one cuff 10 years ago on one shoulder and one cuff on other 5 or so years ago.
   
   I healed them doing exercises in the pool or Med. You have 4 tendons in each shoulder to pull in different directions. The exercises depend upon which tendon is affected. There are towel strecthes , all kinds of good ones. I will send you email later. I have a field capacity, permanent wilting point etc class in 2 minutes.
   
   Saludos Mike

   
   
   
   
4. Clay Putnam

   

   33 posts
   
   7/23/2015 5:07 AM

   "...the pain was so extreme it would make him pass out..."
   
   [url=http://s191.photobucket.com/user/cbputnam/media/Screen%20Shot%202015-07-23%20at%205.03.30%20AM_zpsjtj0oyuq.png.html">[img">http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z176/cbputnam/Screen%20Shot%202015-07-23%20at%205.03.30%20AM_zpsjtj0oyuq.png[/img">

   
   
   
   
5. Trevor Monreal

   

   5 posts
   
   7/23/2015 12:07 PM

   Good luck Steven
   I've had a couple of surgeries (neither on the rotator cuff...although my right one is torn) and neither one turned out for the better
   So from now on I'm going to wait until things become unbearable (pain) before I go under the knife again.
   Medical marijuna might be the best bet...

   
   
   
   
6. Clay Putnam

   

   33 posts
   
   7/23/2015 1:07 PM

   Steve,
   
   I can't give you personal experience but my brother and a very good friend both had rotator cuff surgery. I visited with and talked at great lengths to both of them during their post surgery recovery. Both had virtually identical recovery methods and lengths of recovery. The days and couple weeks immediately after surgery were the most difficult. However, the consistent physical therapy paid off. It took them both about 6 months to fully recover and both are happy they chose the surgery as neither one could raise their arm to parallel prior to surgery.

   
   
   
   
7. Steven Kurta

   

   2 posts
   
   7/24/2015 3:07 AM

   Thanks.
   Specialist next week. GP sees stuff he didn't like.

   
   
   
   
8. Sandy Clark

   

   0 posts
   
   7/27/2015 11:07 AM

   I have way too much experience with this! Tore the left one, sports related about 8 years ago. Managed to get through it with cortisone shots and light workouts with 3 and 4 pound weights on my own. A little over a year ago I totally destroyed my right shoulder. Catastrophic tear of 5 centimeters, detached my bicep and the surgeon said for good measure, my labrum was shredded! Could barely lift a one pound weight at that point from my side up to shoulder level. He told me I left him nothing to reattach and my options were do nothing and live with it or have a shoulder replacement which would forever limit my range of motion and almost no use overhead! Didn't like the options or the downtime! (Extensive, nearly a year). Chose to do rehab myself. Back playing golf with full extension but have to be careful lifting over my head. I have since gone to a rock climbing gym which was considered out of the question and was able to climb a wall probably 65 feet high 3 times before I felt I was pushing the shoulder. Joined a small gym and have a personal trainer. He is concentrating on my shoulder strength and my core since my back is also a wreck. I am 69 years old and feeling great and can do most anything and avoided surgery. Intend to get back to surfing because I think I can actually paddle now! I am probably way older than you are but 6 month recovery will happen even in your 30's. A good friend in his late 50's just had surgery a couple of days ago. Required a pin and will be a slow recovery. This guy played pro football and has been a fireman most of his adult life so he is in shape. Personally, I would choose my method over his downtime! Sometimes you just have to get them fixed but you do have an alternative. Used to be a pitcher into my 50's and now can only throw a ball left handed but pretty proud of how well I can do it. Mine was completely destroyed but I currently put no limitations on myself.

   
   
   
   
9. Sandy Clark

   

   0 posts
   
   7/27/2015 11:07 AM

   I fully agree with all the other guys, the pain is pretty bad but with rest and a sound slow and a light program, you can avoid surgery. No shortcut on recovery after surgery and with me, I got that hated comment about at my age, what the recovery rate is. If it is your dominant shoulder, think very hard before you commit to surgery. You are going to have to learn how to do lots of things with the opposite hand for a long time! If I was actively involved in something like tennis or still in a baseball league where I need my arm, it might be different. If I can climb a wall having never done that before and still play golf or even baseball, my limitations aren't that bad. Yes, I still have pain if I sleep on it wrong and I do have to avoid sudden reaching with an aggressive motion but I am comfortably getting by! Hope my comments help!

   
   
   
   
10. Wahlin Scott B

    
    7/27/2015 1:07 PM

    Hey everybody, "Think Positive!" The surgery and therapy will be like a trip to the candy store.

    
    
    
    
11. Sandy Clark

    

    0 posts
    
    7/29/2015 3:07 PM

    Steven, what have you found out about your shoulder?

    
    
    
    
12. Steven Kurta

    

    2 posts
    
    7/30/2015 8:07 PM

    Rotator cuff injured - maybe not torn..cortisone shot and PT for next 3 weeks. If improvement I stay the course and continue gradual retraining. If no improvement - MRI and course of action from there.
    
    Thanks for the info from everyone.

    
    
    
    
13. Wahlin Scott B

    
    7/31/2015 8:07 AM

    I have a friend who is an orthopedic surgeon. I needed surgery from injuries to both knees. His advice was to put it off for as long as I could because, "We are getting better at this everyday."

    
    
    
    
14. Sandy Clark

    

    0 posts
    
    8/11/2015 3:08 PM

    Steve, how is the recovery coming? Be patient and don't push it. You will be as good as new as long as you don't re-injure it by trying to do too much too soon. Always been my weakness!

    
    
    
    
15. Steven Kurta

    

    2 posts
    
    8/12/2015 5:08 AM

    Sandy Clark, CGCS said: Steve, how is the recovery coming? Be patient and don't push it. You will be as good as new as long as you don't re-injure it by trying to do too much too soon. Always been my weakness!

    
    
    Better mobility. I can swim again, and running doesn't hurt it. As far as I'm concerned I'm good if it stayed like this. Weight training I'm not going to test until fall/winter. No sense in it. I'm just happy to be active again. And geez, I have a new appreciation for anyone dealing with severe chronic pain, and super thankful I found relief.

    
    
    
    
16. Sandy Clark

    

    0 posts
    
    8/12/2015 10:08 AM

    When you start with weights, use only 3 pounders to begin. Almost sounds embarrassing but if anyone has ever damaged or wiped out their rotator cuff, they know what I am talking about. Even an additional pound can add too much stress. I will never be able to be 100% but I am pain free and can do most anything. Just have to watch sudden movements and certain motions. Good luck with it. sounds like you are on the right path to recovery.

    
    
    
    
17. Christopher Thuer

    

    101 posts
    
    8/25/2015 4:08 PM

    Developed severe pain about 10 years after a water ski injury. It started as a faint pain but got bad enough that I couldn't swing a golf club or open/close, depending on the direction, a sliding glass door without feeling like I got a flu shot by a really bad nurse.
    
    Had surgery to remove bone spurs in the rotator cuff. While in there the Dr. removed some loose cartilage. He also said my clavicle was out of proportion so he whittled it down. The recovery went well and shorter than expected.
    
    As promised the Dr. said I would be able to hit a golf ball like I was 20 again. He wasn't kidding. This was 10 years ago and I am back to hitting a golf ball like I am 50.

    
    Chris Thuer, CGCS, Bear Slide Golf Club, Cicero, IN
    
    
18. Steven Kurta

    

    2 posts
    
    8/27/2015 1:08 PM

    Thanks, Chris