Rotator cuff tear…!!!!!

Rotator cuff tear…!!!!!

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Dave3166

Original Poster:

1,802 posts

133 months

Friday 1st April 2022
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Evening all.
About 5 weeks ago I dislocated my shoulder while skiing.
X-ray at resort nothing broken, so put back in while sedated.
Git home, had MRI scan, confirmed Rotator cuff tear, full depth.
Since then I can now do most things again, but still hurts if I get my shoulder in a certain position.
For what it’s worth, no problem dressing myself or showering etc.

What I would like to, as physio has been recommended by my specialist, has anyone had physio for this & if so, how effective was it in getting your shoulder back to full movement.

Also, if recent, how are you now.

My age is 55, relatively fit.

Any help, feed back would be gratefully appreciated.

Regards.

Dave.

SlimJim16v

6,124 posts

150 months

Friday 1st April 2022
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It needs surgery now, otherwise it'll be a long path to partial recovery. Which one, the rotator cuff comprises 4 muscles?

anonymous-user

61 months

Friday 1st April 2022
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I subluxed my left shoulder over ten years ago skiing, with RC tear. I had a cortisone injection after a couple of months which calmed it down massively.

But now it still gripes occasionally and there are certain positions which are very uncomfortable (eg lying on my left side for a long period of time). It doesn’t stop me doing anything though, and it is physically as strong as the right side. It’s just something you end up living with.

Dave3166

Original Poster:

1,802 posts

133 months

Friday 1st April 2022
quotequote all
SlimJim16v said:
It needs surgery now, otherwise it'll be a long path to partial recovery. Which one, the rotator cuff comprises 4 muscles?
My specialist says from the MRI scan he’s happy I don’t need an op.

But, if I gets worse, then it will, of which I will be straight to my local surgery to be put waiting list.

Dave3166

Original Poster:

1,802 posts

133 months

Friday 1st April 2022
quotequote all
BlackWidow13 said:
I subluxed my left shoulder over ten years ago skiing, with RC tear. I had a cortisone injection after a couple of months which calmed it down massively.

But now it still gripes occasionally and there are certain positions which are very uncomfortable (eg lying on my left side for a long period of time). It doesn’t stop me doing anything though, and it is physically as strong as the right side. It’s just something you end up living with.
Have you still gone skiing since.



Dave3166

Original Poster:

1,802 posts

133 months

Friday 1st April 2022
quotequote all
SlimJim16v said:
It needs surgery now, otherwise it'll be a long path to partial recovery. Which one, the rotator cuff comprises 4 muscles?
It’s the muscle down the outside of the shoulder if that makes sense.

anonymous-user

61 months

Friday 1st April 2022
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Dave3166 said:
BlackWidow13 said:
I subluxed my left shoulder over ten years ago skiing, with RC tear. I had a cortisone injection after a couple of months which calmed it down massively.

But now it still gripes occasionally and there are certain positions which are very uncomfortable (eg lying on my left side for a long period of time). It doesn’t stop me doing anything though, and it is physically as strong as the right side. It’s just something you end up living with.
Have you still gone skiing since.
God yes! Zero impact on skiing. I find it reacts badly to being held in very specific fixed positions for extended periods, so skiing isn’t an issue.

Swimming was quite good for it IIRC.

Dave3166

Original Poster:

1,802 posts

133 months

Friday 1st April 2022
quotequote all
BlackWidow13 said:
God yes! Zero impact on skiing. I find it reacts badly to being held in very specific fixed positions for extended periods, so skiing isn’t an issue.

Swimming was quite good for it IIRC.
LOL, I will go skiing again no doubt, just need to get the first day out the way when I do.

Yeah, swimming could be a good thing for me to.

popeyewhite

21,409 posts

127 months

Friday 1st April 2022
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Dave3166 said:
SlimJim16v said:
It needs surgery now, otherwise it'll be a long path to partial recovery. Which one, the rotator cuff comprises 4 muscles?
It’s the muscle down the outside of the shoulder if that makes sense.
Supraspinatus.
Recent studies show individuals with full depth tears can do very well without surgery.

Dave3166

Original Poster:

1,802 posts

133 months

Sunday 3rd April 2022
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Hi.
That sounds promising, have you a link to the info please.

SlimJim16v

6,124 posts

150 months

Sunday 3rd April 2022
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Recover depends on whether it's the actual muscle or the tendon. From the sound of it, it does appear to be the muscle, so you're lucky.
Treatment will be all about blood flow to the muscle, so infrared, ultrasound and cold/hot treatment.

Dave3166

Original Poster:

1,802 posts

133 months

Sunday 3rd April 2022
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Hi .
Yeah, feeling better very slowly, but still going to be a while I think.
Possibly 6 months..!!

Bill

54,303 posts

262 months

Sunday 3rd April 2022
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Sorry, can't leave this... smile

SlimJim16v said:
infrared, ... and cold/hot treatment.
Given how good the body is at managing superficial heat, and how deep supraspinatus is, what would you expect to achieve with this?

SlimJim16v said:
ultrasound
What evidence is there that this will help (rather than impeding) recovery? And in particular, what evidence of effective dose and treatment frequency is there?

OP, see a physio, do your exercises and try to avoid anti-inflammatories. Decent movement and function 5 weeks post dislocation is good going, so build on that.

Dave3166

Original Poster:

1,802 posts

133 months

Sunday 3rd April 2022
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Hi there.

Just read my notes, it is the ‘Supraspinatus’..!!!

Great info here guys, sounds like, hopefully in time I will get full movement back.

As I said, getting easier all the time, will be getting physio with out a doubt, but in the mean time I’m using ice on it & generally moving it as much as possible, but not passed the point of pain, incase it makes i worse.

Also running again, biking, gardening etc, whilst being very careful.

Thanks again guys.





Dave3166

Original Poster:

1,802 posts

133 months

Sunday 3rd April 2022
quotequote all
Bill said:
What evidence is there that this will help (rather than impeding) recovery? And in particular, what evidence of effective dose and treatment frequency is there?



OP, see a physio, do your exercises and try to avoid anti-inflammatories. Decent movement and function 5 weeks post dislocation is good going, so build on that.
Absolutely, not doing to bad to be fair.

I will say, being taken down the mountain by the superb ski patrol people was an experience in itself.

SlimJim16v

6,124 posts

150 months

Sunday 3rd April 2022
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Bill said:
OP, see a physio
Who will treat you with ultrasound and infrared. Unless the many I've seen have all been quacks. Some of which for a partially torn supraspinatus.

Oh, didn't realise how deep the supraspinatus muscle was.


Edited by SlimJim16v on Sunday 3rd April 16:11

TC7

144 posts

93 months

Sunday 3rd April 2022
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I fell through poorly set up scaffold 3 years ago stepping off a roof and did a number on my rotator cuff as i landed on my elbow which dislocated my shoulder, it popped back in by itself but then fell back out an hour later that required a trip to a/e to get relocated. Nhs were pretty useless with any info on what the best course of action was so i went down the private physio route as i couldn't afford to be off work for the months it was going to take to see a shoulder specialist and I'm no good at sitting about, i was out washing the van one arm in a sling a few days after the dislocation.

From my experience the more you use the muscles (no lifting above chest height the first month) the sooner you'll gain full movement and strength again providing your physio is happy with your progress. I was back at work doing light duties within 3 weeks from the dislocation and in part that saved my muscles from degrading being stuck in a sling and not keeping the shoulder moving.

I went to my physio every other week for about 3 months so he could help me gain full strength back in the muscles and to help focus on strengthening muscles and learning how to lift things that took some strain off the rotator cuff itself.

6 months from my a/e trip i got an nhs shoulder specialist appointment come through and they recommended surgery as id had 3 dislocations, never mind the fact id just lifted him up off the floor during his strength test. I declined as that would mean going back to square one and being off for months again.

I see my physio every 6 weeks now mostly just to get all my muscles loosened off from being in a physical job and i haven't had any feeling of the shoulder letting go so far. Keep heavy lifting above my head to a minimum just incase but it hasn't stopped me lugging roof trusses about etc
worst case if i dislocate it again in the future i know ill need the surgery but until then i can carry on as normal.

Kellerman

183 posts

32 months

Sunday 3rd April 2022
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I had a RC injury and physio was very helpful

The key excercise for me was when sat on a bench (or similar), raise my bodyweight off the bench with one had (on the side of my RC injury)