Torn Rotator Cuff

[Reelthreat]

Last August I partially tore my left RC and fractured my glenoid... I pushed off surgery and continued to workout doing the things I could do. Slowly got better and it is almost 100% now. The only thing that gets me is a swimming motion but I suspect that to be from an impingement, not from the RC.

Anyways, if your MRI confirms a partial tear I would tough it out but that's just me...

[Hoytbowhunter]

Also request the pain pump, it last for several days after surgery. You'll thank me later.

[ldoyle]

Rotator cuff tears done repair themselves. Been through it 3 times. Shots work for a short period of time, then its surgery. Just do it now and don’t waste time. Good luck.

I agree . Get it over with and get started on rehab 1

[kumathebear]

This!

Been there...I had a torn rotator and torn labrum. I had multiple shots but they just prolonged the need for surgery. As others have said go ahead with the surgery and save yourself 6 months. I have 6 screws and wire mesh in my right shoulder. Make sure you do the PT afterwords and take it seriously. Also make sure you get the iceman after surgery, that thing is awesome.

I will only add....you BETTER do the PT or you will be sorry! The iceman was a savior for me and helped wean off the pain pills sooner. If you don't and the shoulder "freezes" up...man oh man...I've never cussed so much in my life but had a great therapist get the motion back again!!!!!!

Don't be surprised if your post op reveals a nice scar? Had my left one done several years ago by a Orthopedist in the DFW area that does a lot of professional athletes. After the MRI was done, he said hopefully he could do the repair by scoping it. Well, told me I had one of the worst tears he had seen so I had 3 scope sites and a approximate 2" incision to do the repair.

Funny...I have extensive "tats" on my left shoulder from my Harley days, he made the incision to avoid messing up the tats. I asked him why...he said so many professional athletes have them that he "respects the $$ spent," so he does his best to NOT mess up the ink?!

Good luck and I hope you do well....not the end of the world but I know it dam sure hurts!!

[Swampa]

To those of you who have had surgery, how long was recovery? ex. How long off work?

I was back after a week or two (insurance agent). After 6 months I tried the gym but wasn’t ready for weights yet. Started Crossfit 4-5days a week at 12 months and never looked back.

[xman59]

You sir are one badarse bad mo bro!!

i had a good dr a good therapist and a strong will to succeed ,,, i also learned a better way to draw my bow ... not to mention i owned an archery shop i had to get well as fast as posssible

[xman59]

I had a detached cuff and torn tendons. After surgery, 6 weeks in an isolation sling. Then 12 months of tearing scar tissue that formed during isolation sling period. Shots don't work they just prolong the inevitable.

i tore scar tissue twice,,,, i can not describe how bad that felt,,, but gladly in only lasted a few hours

to the op,,,, make sure you have a real comfy recliner,,,, i had to sleep in mine for 6 months then progressed to the couch and after a year i could sleep ( some ) in the bed again,,,,,,, i had always slept on my side and that didn't work on either side in the bed,,,

[Russ79]

I am going thru that journey right now. Went to orthopedic doctor almost two years ago with pain in both shoulders. He gave me cortisone shot in both but suspected it was problem in my neck since both shoulders hurt. Went back a few weeks later and had an MRI done- found that I had at least three bulging discs in my neck. So over the next 1-1/2 years I went thru therapy and four rounds of epidurals in my neck. The right shoulder kept getting worse so had an MRI done on my right shoulder- turns out I have partial tear of the RC and torn labrum. Had surgery last Wednesday and my right arm has been strapped to my side since then. Going next Wednesday for my follow up with the doctor. Therapy is not going to be fun. Doing everything left handed has not been fun. Brushing my teeth left handed has been almost impossible to do.

[Matt_C]

Had some tendon issues in my elbow and had to go to a crossbow. Didn't like that but at least I'm able to hunt.

[mossman500]

Just had it done two months ago, I’m about 60% back to normal....PT is good, have it done

[kevin01]

Had a torn rotator in left arm and then a torn labrum in the right. Both of them due to bone spurs but I was lucky enough to have the surgeries early enough in the year that I could still bowhunt. I will say that I couldn't pull my bow back nearly as easy that first year though.
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[coker737]

To those of you who have had surgery, how long was recovery? ex. How long off work?

You can return to work in a couple of days or less. Depending on what you do it may have limitations on the use of that arm. PT is 12 weeks

[stinkbelly]

I had my right one fixed the weekend before bow season 2 years ago. They tore a different tendon in therapy around Christmas of that year. I had that shoulder redone about a week before bow season the next year.

I need to do my left one now, but my neck is so screwed up the doc won't touch it.

People will tell you to get a crossbow. If it is really torn you can't cock a normal crossbow.

I returned to work after 6 weeks with the first one and 4 weeks after the second surgery. The PT for me was ongoing for over a year. Everyone is different.

[Tx_Wader]

Thanks for all the advice and well wishes. Like Rack said to me on the phone without an MRI I really don't know what I'm looking at but my Orthopedist wanted to save me the time and money on an MRI to see if the steroid shot would help.

I know that I can't draw my bow so I'm not going to try and sleeping isn't easy either.

Walker I'll call you later today. I need to check on imaging clinics. I like the open air MRI much better than being slid into a tube.

I'll update as this journey moves along.

Thanks again.

[Wampuscat]

Dr. Burke in Pearland is my Ortho of choice. I had some small tears in my right rotator cuff last year before bow season. He told me that I could go two different ways for it. First was surgery which was covered by my insurance and involved plenty of recovery time and PT. The second was an "Amniotic fluid stem cell injection" into the effected area. Not fetal stem cells. It wasn't covered by insurance, and cost $1700 cash money. It was the best money I've ever spent. Hardly no limitations during recovery and self PT was much easier than if I'd have had surgery. He told me I could still bow hunt, but I didn't want to risk it. I bought a crossbow just to be safe. Now I'm back shooting my longbow and compound.