Shpulder surgery for torn supra (rotator cuff)

[gruntjc]

Hi all,

I've been battling a shoulder issue for the last 2.5 months and would appreciate some advice.

I've had an MRI which confirmed a partial (12mm x 4mm) tear of the supraspinatus and some fluid in the bone of the humerous (which is a result of the tear).

I've been doing rotator cuff strengthening exervises given to me by the physio(who specialises in shoulders), however these have done little to improve my condition.

A surgeon has said I "need" surgery to fix it. He said nothing else will resolve the issue. PRP and other forms of treatment wont work. Obviously, the downside to surgery is that I will be in a sling for 4-6 weeks and then it will take a further 6 months to get the shoulder back to full strength. I have a physical job so it could be up to 8 months.

Symptoms are not consistent. Sometimes it aches for no reason. Pain is also mostly at the rear delt which is odd as I thought the supra comes around to the front??

I had a PRP shot into the shoulder two days ago and it seemed to help. It certainly didnt make it worse. I'm going to have two more of these before I consider surgery but to be honest having an operation to repair a shoulder makes me incredibly nervous.

Maybe I have no other choice but to have the surgery? I'm a firefighter so my job is quite physical. At the moment, I have no confidence in my right shoulder whatsoever.

For now (last 2 months), I've stopped deadlifts and presses. I'm mostly doing legs and when I do train my upper body, I train the left side only.

I would really appreciate some advice. Thanks for reading!

[Tiburon]

Have you tried Starr rehab protocol with overhead presses? Start light, and I mean fucking light, with one of those 12-15 black rubber exercises bars they keep in the yoga studio over there.

Are you surprised that the surgeon said you "need" surgery? Did you get a second opinion?

[risepmj]

What are the rotator cuff strengthening exercises that you prescribed except the press?
Did you tried a press rehab for a shoulder? Several years ago,my 3 surgeons said to me that i need a surgery when i teared my rotator cuff but I'm succesfully rehabbed with a press without surgery.

[Tiburon]

Several years ago,my 3 surgeons said to me that i need a surgery when i teared my rotator cuff but I'm succesfully rehabbed with a press without surgery.

+1

Same thing happened to me. Don't do the surgery unless you're 100% sure you need it.

[BrooklynJerry]

+1

Same thing happened to me. Don't do the surgery unless you're 100% sure you need it.

Surgeons have to do surgery.

[risepmj]

Surgeons have to do surgery.

True.

[Tiburon]

Surgeons have to do surgery.

Exactamundo my friend. And some of the nicest people I know are surgeons. They are also some of the richest people I know. . .

[Chuck Tringo]

I will say that although that is one thing that I have noticed about military surgeons...unless it is a slam dunk need for surgery, they require PT/rehab prior to surgery as there is no monetary benefit for them to do more surgeries....also no lack of patients who probably have worse injuries. Many folks bash military medicine, but I can tell you without a doubt that our system is as good or better than the civilian system in most cases. Most of the young folks complaining about only getting motrin and water from their PA or medic tend to be pussies with no real patholgy anyways.

[Tiburon]

I will say that although that is one thing that I have noticed about military surgeons...unless it is a slam dunk need for surgery, they require PT/rehab prior to surgery as there is no monetary benefit for them to do more surgeries..

Very interesting!

[Culican]

I will say that although that is one thing that I have noticed about military surgeons...unless it is a slam dunk need for surgery, they require PT/rehab prior to surgery as there is no monetary benefit for them to do more surgeries....also no lack of patients who probably have worse injuries. Many folks bash military medicine, but I can tell you without a doubt that our system is as good or better than the civilian system in most cases. Most of the young folks complaining about only getting motrin and water from their PA or medic tend to be pussies with no real patholgy anyways.

This happened to me with a cervical disk problem 21 years ago, complete with numbness and lack of strength in my left arm and hand.
Went to the Kaiser HMO neurosurgeon, who had no incentive to do more surgeries, and he said to take Motrin for 8 weeks and then he would re-evaluate. Ended up that I got all my strength back and just have a little residual numbness in my left thumb and part of the forearm.

Another doctor told me later that I was lucky I went to an HMO surgeon. He said a regular fee for service surgeon would have operated right away and, if I was lucky, the results would have been as good as the Motrin and wait results. The surgeon then would have claimed a "successful surgery" based on these results.