Rotator Cuff Tear.

[Old Merc]

I have a very painful right shoulder so had a scan at my local private physio place,he diagnosed Rotator Cuff Tear. He said there is no permanent cure for this but said he would refer me to my local NHS hospital for steroid injections.I`ve researched this and found that these injections are not universally recommended due to some side effects.Also I could have a problem because I`m taking Warfarin and Bisoprolol for an erratic heart beat.
Now then I am not a typical sporty young PH. I`m a 70 year old fart,happily retired,having spent my whole working life in the car repair business.The days of doing 30 minute gear box changes in our rally team are a very distant memory. (no wonder I have a dodgy shoulder you are saying).

I would like to hear from other guys with this injury. How are they treating it, whats the verdict on steroid injections,is there any treatment that`s 100%,
I`m willing to go private,as long as its not silly money. The thing is I`m in discomfort and pain all the time,even polishing my classic is a nightmare,as for doing work on it? no way.

Comments,advice and recommendations would be appreciated.Thanks guys.

[Chris_H]

I can't be much help I'm afraid, but I had this about three years ago when I was 61. It was very painful and made it difficult to sleep in the position I normally sleep in. I did have a cortisone injection but I don't remember this helping in any way. I think it took about 14 months for it to get noticeably better although I still can't put that arm as far up my back as I used to (annoying when you want to reach an itch!). It's a long slog I'm afraid, especially as we're 'older' and everything takes longer to repair.

[Eddie Strohacker]

I've had shoulder problems from the age of 13 - 47 now. Several operations, innumerable dislocations & generally a miserable time of it over the years. In my experience, avoid surgery if you possibly can. Lost count of the consultants who promised me sunny uplands & then set me back. Physio, pain management & taking it easy is my advice. Shoulders are highly mobile, the most articulate joint in the body & there are no easy fixes.

[Wacky Racer]

Mrs WR (56) has had a really painful right shoulder for six or seven years now, and it affects her sleeping, but hers required a subachromial decompression in 2011 which did not make any difference and had another subachromial decompression and a clavical resection three months ago (NHS)...her rotator cuffs are fine...

There does not seem to be much improvement (so) but the consultant did say it could be twelve months before she sees any full benefit.

The cortisone injections seemed to last a couple of days....waste of time (imo).

Hope this helps

[Old Merc]

Thanks for the replies.
Looks as if the injections are a waste of time then?Its a lot better at the moment,so I think time will tell. All I`m doing is resting my right arm as much as possible,no lifting or doing anything energetic with it.At bed time its two Co-codamol pain killers and a good shoulder massage with heat cream stuff.Also I`ve learned to sleep on my left side.

[Sheepshanks]

Old Merc said:

I have a very painful right shoulder so had a scan at my local private physio place,he diagnosed Rotator Cuff Tear. He said there is no permanent cure for this..

Don't understand these things in detail, but my wife had keyhole surgery for a rotator cuff tear a few years ago.


My story:
I'm just 60 and my shoulder pain and shooting pains down my arm had built up over a while (6-9 months) until I eventually went to the doc. He immediately gave me a steroid injection and gabapentin tablets for the nerve pain but after a couple of days I was in absolute agony, could only sleep for a couple of hours sitting up etc. He gave me some stronger pain killers but Ibuprofen worked just as well.

I had an MRI and the consultant said I had an old tear - he reckoned most people at 60 have tears to some extent and mine was old and wasn't worth operating on. I also had an MRI on my neck re the shooting pains and that consultant said the holes in the cervical vertebrae that the nerves go through were narrowing a bit but far too early to do anything and for a 60yr old my spine wasn't bad.

The shoulder guy referred me for physio but by then the pain was fading. I'd made a more conscious decision to rest it (up until then I'd been carrying on as normal). I'm told the steriod lasts for a month or so so maybe that wearing off eased the pain too, or perhaps it had a positive effect - I've no idea.

Physio said I was using my shoulder muscles far too much and not engaging the rest of my back muscles. I'm not into this stuff and never got to the bottom of how to do that.

Apart from the GP visits, the rest of it was private and to be honest I was quite surprised that neither of the consultants nor the physio wanted to do anything. Basically it was "you're 60, what do you expect?" It's been OK for a few months but I've been very protective of it.

[micky metro]

I had a 10mm tear in 2008, very painful, i had physio and also a steroid injection, i,m convinced the injection had very little effect on it, the physio consisted on me being supplied with 3 large elastic bands off a roll, ie red, yellow and green which were of different tensions, i was given a set of excercises by the therapist which worked for me.

[Halb]

Rich? If so, stem cells? I was listening to a bloke called Bilzarian on the John Rogan podcast, he went to Canada to have it, but for the reversing age aspect, he said he walked into the gym was was instantly 20% stronger

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-g-angels-stem-...

[craig1912]

I had a small tera plus some inflamed tendons and also ruptured my bicep tendon. Had loads of physio including two cortiszone injections. After over 12 months i had enough and had keyhole surgery to debraid and fix the small tear etc.
It's good now- not perfect but generally pain free.

[Old Merc]

craig1912 said:

I had a small tera plus some inflamed tendons and also ruptured my bicep tendon. Had loads of physio including two cortiszone injections. After over 12 months i had enough and had keyhole surgery to debraid and fix the small tear etc.
It's good now- not perfect but generally pain free.

Was the surgery NHS or private? if private how much did it cost?

[craig1912]

Private- didn't see all the bills as they went to the insurer but guess between £3-5000

http://www.privatehealth.co.uk/conditions-and-trea...

[popeyewhite]

I'm not sure how antinflammatories such as steroids will help heal a tear. Go see a specialist and ask about keyhole surgery if the injury is debilitating.

[Lotus Notes]

My Mum had a tear and suffered greatly for 18 months. Physio with elastic bands and other exercises found on the internet started to help and then the NHS gave her the choice of an operation.

She decided that it was worth doing and at the age of 76, she had keyhole surgery at Warwick hospital. In and out the same day, two hours under the knife for various procedures and manipulations, it went well.

After three months of physio (exercises twice a day) she's fully recovered and has no pain. The doctors said that she would only gain most of her movement back, but she's very determined and amazed the consultant by regaining full movement.

[Halb]

Lotus Notes said:

After three months of physio (exercises twice a day) she's fully recovered and has no pain. The doctors said that she would only gain most of her movement back, but she's very determined and amazed the consultant by regaining full movement.

I think they lowball the outcome, so it always looks good, and also, they are usually not aware of how hard someone can work to regain what they lost.

[popeyewhite]

Halb said:

I think they lowball the outcome, so it always looks good, and also, they are usually not aware of how hard someone can work to regain what they lost.

I think it depends largely on the background of the person who has had the surgery. A determined little old lady may do better than expected, but I have yet to meet a sportsperson who has come close to 80% recovery. For most I've known shoulder surgery has been a career defining moment - certainly for the (admittedly few) professionals I've met. However those mentioned come from fields where shoulder strength/flexibility is crucial, ie weightlifting, boxing, gymnastics. I guess if you're a pro skier then shoulder surgery won't bother you much as long as you can hang onto a ski pole!

[DoubleU]

I tore mine last year from a crash whilst mountain biking. I decided to have mine repaired via operation privatly. Prior to the op I couldnt lift my arm above my head at all. Also my shoulder felt 'loose' in its socket, and would partially pop out every now and then.

Since the op, I've regained about 80% of my ROM and strength back (like someone posted earlier). I stil get the odd ache every now and then, but its to be expected. However its the small things, like putting stuff on high shelves etc that just make it worthwhile again.

The operation itself wasn't bad at all. Mine was a day op, and I was out of the sling after a few days. Whilst it depends on your repair, its better to get it moving again (gently!) as quick as possible to prevent 'frozen shoulder'. Get a decent physio, in addition to the exercies mine did a wonderful shoulder massage to break up all the scar tissue once a week. It worked wonders.

[Saleen836]

Interesting thread this, I'm currently waiting for an MRI scan as I have a suspected tear on my right shoulder from my accident last year.