Rotator cuff surgery undecided

Any surgery is a risk. But if you can't use your arm, either risk it, or go through life one-armed.

At any rate surgeons are pretty good these days.

from someone who's had his chest opened and his heart worked on.

Yea I know docs are good today 2 significant tears in one shoulder

Hi James

Your surgeon should have explained to you the benefits and risks of surgery but also the consequences if the surgery does not go ahead .

If you are symptomatic (pain and decreased function/range of movement ) then likely surgery is warranted . There are non surgical options such as steroid injections and physical therapy but no guarantee they would resolve symptoms or that you will not develop worse symptoms with time. If you don’t currently have symptoms or rely on your shoulder function (for work /sport etc) then it may be reasonable to delay surgery . However , rotator cuff injuries are often degenerative . There is a risk of further tearing/damage and increased pain overtime .

What is your reluctance to undergo surgery ?


You could arrange a second opinion with a different surgeon or a physical therapist who specialises in musculoskeletal rehab /conservative management. You could also discuss with your surgeon if a different surgical approach is possible . Sometimes arthroscopic repair is possible meaning you would not have to undergo an “open surgical repair “ . My advice , would be to talk to your surgeon again , ask more questions, clarify how many rotator cuff repairs he/she has performed and what the success rate was . Your surgeon may be able to arrange for you to talk to a patient who has had the repair .

Whatever you decide .. best of luck:-)

Thank you for the advice Blondie I guess I was scared to do it plus friends telling me it probably could not be fixed I did ask about cortisone shot he told me it might help for a little bit

The Surgeon General Doctor must have recommend you the best as looking ahead over your tests and report plus your current health. Along if the tears are small then it's best to get surgery before it get gets larger..
Still consult an get it best.

Have A Good Health.
Tc.

Regardless rotator-cuff surgery is not something to take lightly.

I'm in the same situation.. with a torn rotator-cuff.. I was told I needed surgery over a year ago.. At the time my shoulder hurt all the time..

What I did was start paying more attention to what I was doing.. such as lifting and over using the shoulder.. It very seldom hurts as it did, only when I overdue it..

I had a brother in-law that had the surgery his shoulder was never the same and hurt all the time after.. and limited on movement which was less then he had prior.. Then I have had a couple friends that had surgery.. same issues..

So yea I'm not so gun-ho to have the surgery...

But if it comes to the point I can't use my arm which I have full use of just don't use it to pick up heavy stuff or carry heavy things..then I will consider surgery..

There are exercises one can do to help strengthen your shoulder muscles in order to help..It is not a solution at times but it is something to prolong from having surgery..

https://www.sports-health.com/blog/stretches-and-exercises-rotator-cuff-tears

You will need to highlight the link and open in new tab..

I'd say get a second opinion, preferably from an osteopath.
Not a physio as they're not trained the same way. Osteopath can feel the exact state of your muscles and joint and thus give you a very sound advice. I personally tend to rely on my osteo's advice over that of my GP/specialist.
Specialists rely on diagnostic machines and stuff while an osteo can feel it with their hands on your body and if need be careful movements.

At least that way you then have a multi-dimensional advice and good knowledge of what's going on.

Also, an osteo can often restore things with osteopathy, which is quite gentle, that Western medicine can either not heal or only with medication or surgery.

So find yourself an osteopath in your region. My two cents.
Certainly when reading that this surgery often causes more misery than it resolves.

One other thing to look into is the stem cell injections. A lot of athletes with tears will do the injections instead as it is less healing time. You might not have a place local but I heard about doctors in Vegas I think that set up vacation packages with the surgery.

Risk! We have to take some risks in life. Otherwise we cannot continue. If the surgery saves your life then you have to take that much risk...

Cortisone shots I waited to long for surgery

Surgery depends on the grade of tear or injury . Try out some physical Therapy sessions.