[Trace14]

Anyone been treated for this? Anything non surgical help?

My husband did cortisone shots and physio.

[*Laurie*]

Hi, Yes, I have been treated for a torn rotator cuff. Which, btw, is extremely painful and disabling!

Treatment consisted of physical therapy 2 times per week for a few weeks, then 1 time/week. In pt I was given colored bands to use at home. I did the recommended exercises every single day for 1 year. During that time I had one cortisone shot (which really didn't help that much). I was also given cortisone patches to put on my shoulder; they helped ease the pain somewhat.

At the end of the year my shoulder was much improved. The pain was greatly lessened and mobility was much better. Oh - also I took a year off work and received disability, which was actually easy to get because of the injury and the type of job I had (waitress).

That was about 12 years ago. My shoulder is fine, now- doesn't ever hurt. As for mobility, it has never quite returned to what it was, but it's pretty good.

[Trace14]

Originally Posted by TheSadGirl

My husband did cortisone shots and physio.

and the tear healed on it's own?

[Trace14]

Originally Posted by *Laurie*

Hi, Yes, I have been treated for a torn rotator cuff. Which, btw, is extremely painful and disabling!

Treatment consisted of physical therapy 2 times per week for a few weeks, then 1 time/week. In pt I was given colored bands to use at home. I did the recommended exercises every single day for 1 year. During that time I had one cortisone shot (which really didn't help that much). I was also given cortisone patches to put on my shoulder; they helped ease the pain somewhat.

At the end of the year my shoulder was much improved. The pain was greatly lessened and mobility was much better. Oh - also I took a year off work and received disability, which was actually easy to get because of the injury and the type of job I had (waitress).

That was about 12 years ago. My shoulder is fine, now- doesn't ever hurt. As for mobility, it has never quite returned to what it was, but it's pretty good.

so you didn't have surgery? Glad it's not bothering you anymore.

Originally Posted by Trace14

and the tear healed on it's own?

Not fully. Still bothers him a little.

[TRNRMOM]

Originally Posted by Trace14

Anyone been treated for this? Anything non surgical help?

just returned from 2nd appt. with orthopedic dr. re rotator cuff: i'm 71 yr. old female, who works out hard with weights/cardio for years; know alot of people from our health club (around my age who have same issues; most of them opt out of surgery as there's no guarantee it'll resolve); i started at p.t. 2x/week in dec. and realized i've got all the bands and weights and access to equipment at my health club so i am doing p.t. (found plenty of stretches/exercises on youtube); when i first saw ortho after a month of p.t. he only took xrays and gave me a cortisone shot and thinks mine is `near frozen shoulder' but who knows when or how i injured my rotator cuff (age and overuse contribute); i can't reach behind my back to unfasten bra and certain positions behind back or crossing arm to other side of body hurt; ibu helps and i told ortho today i notice some improvement, tho very slow...he said it could take up to a year and the reality is the pain may never go away totally so i'm working on accepting my limits as far as lifting wts. (nothing overhead) i'm a fanatic about doing the p.t. at home daily or at the club (live across the street fromhealth club) and the majority of those whom i've spoken to who have had surgery haven't had much success. good luck.

[notz]

My experience is similar to Lauries only it didn't improve that much. Too much damage and scar tissue from the dislocation that had happened 15 years prior. Surgery was done and it a was really painful recovery. I worked hard in PT and have had good results over 12 years now. I'm grateful for the abilities I regained from the surgery but it was rough.

[*Laurie*]

Originally Posted by Trace14

so you didn't have surgery? Glad it's not bothering you anymore.

Thank you. Nooo, no surgery for the rotator cuff tear. That would have been the next step. The pain was miserable, but I really believe that doing my physical therapy workout (with the colored bands) every single day was what healed my shoulder.

[Trace14]

Originally Posted by notz

My experience is similar to Lauries only it didn't improve that much. Too much damage and scar tissue from the dislocation that had happened 15 years prior. Surgery was done and it a was really painful recovery. I worked hard in PT and have had good results over 12 years now. I'm grateful for the abilities I regained from the surgery but it was rough.

That's what I've heard that it's a really tough surgery to deal with. I've had so many surgeries, other places, just don't know if I'm up for going through that again.

[Trace14]

Originally Posted by *Laurie*

Thank you. Nooo, no surgery for the rotator cuff tear. That would have been the next step. The pain was miserable, but I really believe that doing my physical therapy workout (with the colored bands) every single day was what healed my shoulder.

Well that gives me some hope , thanks

[*Laurie*]

Originally Posted by Trace14

Well that gives me some hope , thanks

Oh, there's definitely hope for healing a torn rotator cuff without surgery. Surgery for it is the last resort. Can you get into physical therapy?

[TRNRMOM]

Originally Posted by *Laurie*

Oh, there's definitely hope for healing a torn rotator cuff without surgery. Surgery for it is the last resort. Can you get into physical therapy?

i responded about my rotator cuff injury in this thread a few days ago (think i've got frozen shoulder) and my ins. paid for p.t.; however, if p.t. is not an option and you are a member of a gym or can buy some of the bands, the point i am trying to make is if you go to youtube there are a large no. of videos for doing p.t. for your particular injury which essentially is the shoulder, back, biceps/triceps area; i found some videos that i use every morning and when i saw ortho. a few days ago, there was noticeable improvement...at least no pain when sleeping in any position and i can now lift heavier weights...i had p.t. for a month before i was able to see the ortho. and i found videos even before getting the ortho. diagnosis...and when i saw ortho 1st time, he showed me only 2 exercises when he diagnosed frozen shoulder w/o an mri, and i came home and found so many youtube videos for frozen shoulder. i did get a cortisone injection but you can't get too many of them but the p.t. definitely is the way to go and everyone i know refuses surgery for whataver rotator cuff injuries they are dealing with, but my friends are old like me (i'm 71) so if you're young, maybe surgery is the answer....

[Trace14]

Originally Posted by TRNRMOM

i responded about my rotator cuff injury in this thread a few days ago (think i've got frozen shoulder) and my ins. paid for p.t.; however, if p.t. is not an option and you are a member of a gym or can buy some of the bands, the point i am trying to make is if you go to youtube there are a large no. of videos for doing p.t. for your particular injury which essentially is the shoulder, back, biceps/triceps area; i found some videos that i use every morning and when i saw ortho. a few days ago, there was noticeable improvement...at least no pain when sleeping in any position and i can now lift heavier weights...i had p.t. for a month before i was able to see the ortho. and i found videos even before getting the ortho. diagnosis...and when i saw ortho 1st time, he showed me only 2 exercises when he diagnosed frozen shoulder w/o an mri, and i came home and found so many youtube videos for frozen shoulder. i did get a cortisone injection but you can't get too many of them but the p.t. definitely is the way to go and everyone i know refuses surgery for whataver rotator cuff injuries they are dealing with, but my friends are old like me (i'm 71) so if you're young, maybe surgery is the answer....

Thanks for the input and I have found some information on exercises for a torn rotator cuff but it's about a 50/50 opinion about PT helping or that surgery is the best option. I'm 58 and have had several surgeries and don't feel like I'm up to that right now. I figure talking to people who have dealt with this is the best option for getting information. I'm suppose to meet with Ortho on the 12th. and I want to be educated about options before then. My tear is 7 mm and just partially through. So to me that sounds like PT may be an option to help repair before it gets all the way through. I do know I need to work on my posture. *sigh* Old age sucketh.

[TRNRMOM]

Originally Posted by Trace14

Thanks for the input and I have found some information on exercises for a torn rotator cuff but it's about a 50/50 opinion about PT helping or that surgery is the best option. I'm 58 and have had several surgeries and don't feel like I'm up to that right now. I figure talking to people who have dealt with this is the best option for getting information. I'm suppose to meet with Ortho on the 12th. and I want to be educated about options before then. My tear is 7 mm and just partially through. So to me that sounds like PT may be an option to help repair before it gets all the way through. I do know I need to work on my posture. *sigh* Old age sucketh.

i agree with you and you maybe need to get a 2nd opinion if 1st orth suggests surgery; i don't know anything about a tear but you are wise to get as much info thru the internet and personal experiences...when we went to an old fogey new yrs. eve party, prob. 5 people had or knew of others with rotator cuff injuries and one man said: why should i get surgery when another part of my body is going to break down soon....seems overuse and age are main contributors to r.c. injuries but your issues are different than mine but i obsessively do my p.t. at least once a day and my ortho. said it may take a year to heal; i've learned to modify how to use or not use my `bum' arm and have accepted at 71 i'm no longer who i was at 31.......

[*Laurie*]

My rotator cuff tear happened from trying to catch a very heavy double-paned glass refrigerator door where I worked. The door came off it's hinges and was going to slam into my co-worker, so I caught it. That tore my rotator cuff. I was 41.

Youtube videos can definitely be helpful, but I would never use them in place of physical therapy.

[Trace14]

Originally Posted by *Laurie*

My rotator cuff tear happened from trying to catch a very heavy double-paned glass refrigerator door where I worked. The door came off it's hinges and was going to slam into my co-worker, so I caught it. That tore my rotator cuff. I was 41.

Youtube videos can definitely be helpful, but I would never use them in place of physical therapy.

You're lucky you didn't get hurt worse than you did. I'm not sure how mine happened. I was on Fentynal for so long it may have happened some time ago and I'm just now feeling the pain of it.

[Trace14]

Going to the ortho on the 12th. Hoping we can work out some type of PT and he can give some positive advice. People are saying there's a threat of snow here so maybe that will happen and I don't have to go The office is about 45 miles away.

[*Laurie*]

I think it will be a good thing if you go.

[notz]

My physical therapy didn't involve the bands before or after my surgery. I tried the bands, I didn't like them, I felt like they put too much stress in my weak areas. I used 1 and 2 lb weights with the exercises and did them religiously. I was very motivated to get better. After surgery my weight was all of 6 oz. to start!

It sounds like you've had an MRI already. Has the ortho given their opinion yet?

[Trace14]

Originally Posted by notz

My physical therapy didn't involve the bands before or after my surgery. I tried the bands, I didn't like them, I felt like they put too much stress in my weak areas. I used 1 and 2 lb weights with the exercises and did them religiously. I was very motivated to get better. After surgery my weight was all of 6 oz. to start!

It sounds like you've had an MRI already. Has the ortho given their opinion yet?

Haven't seen the Ortho yet. Suppose to go Monday the 12th if the weather cooperates. I don't think the tear is that big or all the way through.Hoping that's a good candidate for PT. Had 4 injections in that shoulder so they are not wanting to go that route anymore. Thanks for the feedback.

[Trace14]

Finally made it to the ortho appt. and the doctor agrees that we should try PT while the cortisone is keeping pain at bay We will see how it goes. He says my tear is not that big from what they can see.

[notz]

That sounds hopeful! If your pt person is anything like mine was, they know even more about what your problems are than the doc in regard to your day to day activities/discomforts. For me, I received handouts with common sense instruction on how to do the exercises. She made sure I was doing them correctly before I left. I followed instructions to the letter and in my case, it helped with my recovery after surgery. Of course, I had pt after surgery, too. I hope pt helps and you can avoid surgery!!

[*Laurie*]

Great! Do everything the PT says to do and hopefully your rotator cuff will heal.

[Trace14]

Originally Posted by notz

That sounds hopeful! If your pt person is anything like mine was, they know even more about what your problems are than the doc in regard to your day to day activities/discomforts. For me, I received handouts with common sense instruction on how to do the exercises. She made sure I was doing them correctly before I left. I followed instructions to the letter and in my case, it helped with my recovery after surgery. Of course, I had pt after surgery, too. I hope pt helps and you can avoid surgery!!

I hope it keeps me from surgery also. Too old to be cut on anymore, but also too old to deal with that pain with the injection wears off. Guess it would be a good reason to go bra less. *singing* Do your boobs hang low.......oh never mind.