Rotator Cuff injury

crookback

This may not be the right place to post this, but here goes anyhow
I have a rotator cuff injury (supraspinatus tear) which is going to require surgery. The recovery time and the thought of not being able to train is putting me off. Since I can do most things except throw overhand and shoulder presses, I am considering not having the surgery.
Has anyone else had this problem? How did it go for you - recovery times/outcome?

dym123

I chose to do a cortisone shot instead of surgery. When the surgeon told me how long the recovery period was (longer than knee surgery) it was out of the question. Have you done physical therapy? PT along with the shot got me back to lifting overhead and heavy without pain.

crookback

PT hasn't helped and the docs say it's either surgery or accept the limitations.

Wronkletoad

ooh. good luck!

feralX

How old are you? How many more years do you think you'll be training? Seriously, think long term here. Rotator isn't going to heal itself and it will limit you for the rest of your training life, and will likely get worse and effect more than just OH presses. Consider what seems like a long recovery but is followed by years of relatively pain free (hopefully) training, versus crappy training for the rest of your life.
Good luck.

crookback

I'm 58 so how many years do I have left?

Wronkletoad

^^ well from other threads we know you're still sexy, so, let's ball park it. 30 years left

feralX

crookback wrote: »

I'm 58 so how many years do I have left?

As many as you're ready to put in
Now I better understand your situation and realize, yeah it's a tough call. When you were talking about throwing overhand I had you pegged for a twenty something. Hard choice, best of luck either way.

dbmata

crookback wrote: »

I'm 58 so how many years do I have left?

There is an old codger at my gym, easily in his 80s, rocking OHP and a 95# squat.

crookback

Wronkletoad wrote: »

^^ well from other threads we know you're still sexy, so, let's ball park it. 30 years left

Don't know about sexy, but I aint dead yet and I intend to keep going until I drop.

Kalikel

Have the surgery, get it fixed, recover and be done with it. Better now than when you're seventy.

Always listen to your doctor. It's the best you can do.

Wronkletoad

^^ this

and keep on rockin, crook!

cheers

paj315

Ugh...I feel your pain. I'm in the exact same situation. I have a supraspinatus tear as well. Severely limiting my shoulder work and competitions. I just got a cortisone shot tuesday and started PT This past week. I'm giving it 3 weeks and if there's no improvement I'm going for the surgery I absolutely hate the thought of the long recovery time but I'm 35 years old and in the long run I think I'd be better off with the surgery. I'm am SO hoping that the cortisone shot and PT fix things though.

Good luck!!

fleetzz

Tears are tough-- steroids only reduce inflammation and pain and don't help with healing. Physical therapy will strengthen the muscles around the torn one, but can't make the torn one heal. If your doc is recommending surgery, I am guessing that he thinks that he can help the muscle repair (or is it the tendon that is torn?), which should allow it to heal better and return you back to relatively normal sooner.

Hard choice.

crookback

fleetzz wrote: »

Tears are tough-- steroids only reduce inflammation and pain and don't help with healing. Physical therapy will strengthen the muscles around the torn one, but can't make the torn one heal. If your doc is recommending surgery, I am guessing that he thinks that he can help the muscle repair (or is it the tendon that is torn?), which should allow it to heal better and return you back to relatively normal sooner.

Hard choice.

Exactly what my doctor says. The only way to fix the tear is through surgery. The full extent of the damage is unknown at the moment. I'm waiting for another MR scan before they decide on the procedure. Hopefully I can get it fixed during the winter so it doesn't cut into my cycling too much.