14 replies to this topic

[click off]

I have torn 3 out of the 5 tendons in my shoulder, and now I have a rotator cuff tear/hole in my tendon in my other shoulder.

it aches but not agony at the moment, not really sure about an operation to take away the pain, has anyone had an operation on this kind of problem. If so is it worth having.

[davjed]

I have had rotator cuff surgery in the past. Now, after 49 years in a chair, both of my shoulders are shot beyond repair. If you are young and bounce back quickly, I say get it fixed asap. You will get back most of your strength but not all depending on how well you rehabilitate. If it is torn completely and not repaired in a couple of months, it will degenerate beyond repair. If partially torn it may be repaired using an endoscope. Expect six to eight weeks getting back to where you were before surgery. Good luck.

[pinkcloud]

Hi, I have a rotator cuff tear and its painful - if you are going to have it done research which surgeon will do it - best to go to an orthopaedic surgeon who specialises in shoulders. Maye you could ring a few NHS consultants secretaries and ask them which consultants are best to see (I used to be one and they hold a wealth of knowledge).

NHS patient choice means you can probaly be referred out of area if you wish.

Mine is rather small and it burns and pulls and aches and rsetricts me from typing a lot of carrying stuff. If I hadnt of had recent spinal surgery I would have it done as its totally painful and I do feel for you

p.s. I too am a thoracic SCI and both my shoulders hurt - think some of its got to do with the thoracic level injury in some way, because I cant lift anything plus it hurts when I swing my arms when walking :-(

[1positivethinker]

I just had rotator cuff surgery on May 25th this year....also had a huge bone spur removed and bursitis fixed....it is well worth it, but be sure you do the therapy as prescribed, it helps tremendously post-op!!

[click off]

cheers for that
chris

1positivethinker, on 20 July 2010 - 09:35 PM, said:

I just had rotator cuff surgery on May 25th this year....also had a huge bone spur removed and bursitis fixed....it is well worth it, but be sure you do the therapy as prescribed, it helps tremendously post-op!!

Thanks everyone.
Thats a big help, and its also nice to know I'm not suffering alone.
chris

click off, on 20 July 2010 - 05:46 PM, said:

I have torn 3 out of the 5 tendons in my shoulder, and now I have a rotator cuff tear/hole in my tendon in my other shoulder.

it aches but not agony at the moment, not really sure about an operation to take away the pain, has anyone had an operation on this kind of problem. If so is it worth having.

[chris3829]

One of my shoulders is going also(It makes the nastiest clicking noise) But i just dont have the time off from work to get it fixed..So how does someone get around with there shoulder in a sling for 6weeks??Surely i couldnt sit around for 6weeks..ahh I guess ill wait until i "have to" get it fixed

[S&W Winger]

Pre-SCI, I waited until I HAD to have the surgery, as in my arm lay limp at my side...also had bone spurs, multiple tears, etc., they repaired tears, removed bone spurs, resectioned the clavical, etc....the pain when the nerve block wore off was incredible...then, then I developed capsulitis, the joint froze up, and it took a year of therapy to regain motion...it was finally back to a good shoulder...when, when I had my accident...and what was nearly tore off of me? My left shoulder...so now it is tacked on haphazardly with little function...sorry, I digressed...shoulder surgery is not an easy one...now I am facing a shoulder replacement as my only hope for more function...

Research the doctor thoroughly...referrals...people in the field...I did all that, and still had an issue, though not the MD's fault...nor the fine surgery center...stuff just happens...

I also had needed right shoulder surgery and now will never have it as I could not be without my only shoulder for so long...these are some of the reasons I am in a motorized chair and they discouraged me from a manual one: to protect what little shoulder use I have...

Physical therapy is sometimes helpful...many times counterproductive as far as shoulders...so please be careful...sometimes I think they push the therapy to get you into the surgery...(OOPS! cynic showing)...

So protect your shoulders...if really necessary, prompt surgery...therapy after...good luck with it all!

[JimG]

chris3829, on 27 July 2010 - 08:21 PM, said:

...So how does someone get around with there shoulder in a sling for 6weeks??Surely i couldnt sit around for 6weeks..ahh I guess ill wait until i "have to" get it fixed

Same here.

My left shoulder occasionally gets a sharp pain in the cuff area and I don't want to go get it checked out.

I need my arms/hands/shoulders to walk.

[click off]

my thoughts exactly, the thought of being bedbound for 6 weeks just fills me with dread.
Then I guess for the next 3 to 6 months whilst you are recovering you can't put full weight on it, so transferring from chair to bed to toilet would be a no no.
my arm has just done a big popping sound and now its making crunching sounds when i move it. But hey the pain has miraculously gone.
But has it gone for good?
Anyone know?

chris3829, on 27 July 2010 - 08:21 PM, said:

One of my shoulders is going also(It makes the nastiest clicking noise) But i just dont have the time off from work to get it fixed..So how does someone get around with there shoulder in a sling for 6weeks??Surely i couldnt sit around for 6weeks..ahh I guess ill wait until i "have to" get it fixed

[cycleboy99]

I am a long term para (40 years plus) and I have torn the rotator cuffs on both shoulders over the past two years. I have had surgery on both of them and while the surgery and initial recovery sucked, I am glad that I did it. You have no idea how much better it is to have stable shoulders to transfer. Couple of pieces of advice:
1. Get it done as soon as possible, if you have torn a tendon the longer you wait the harder it is to repair. The end of the tendon that tore starts dying and the tendon itself starts to retract and shorten, that means that the surgeon has to trim off some of the end of the tendon to get a good graft when he tacks it back into place, and they also have to stretch the tendon to get it where it needs to be. Makes the recovery longer and the long term success a little less guarenteed.
2. Be prepared to be totally dependent for a while. Initially you won't be able to put any weight on the arm that is attached to the effected shoulder. If you use a manual chair, arrange to borrow or rent a power chair for a while, at least you will be able to move around.
3. Try to find a sports medicine orthopedist who specializes in shoulders... I can't emphasize this one enough... You can't just throw your shoulder in a sling and go on your merry way... Your shoulders act like hips for the walkers... the doctor needs to undertand how you use your shoulders, now and in the future...

Good luck...

[pistol_pete]

I have a partial tear and bursitis in my left shoulder. I was booked in for decompression surgery (scraping the top of the humerus to make more room for the swollen bursar) in December 09. Still waiting.
So, the pain at night seemed to be getting better, not as often and less severe. So I go to the surgeon to tell him I don't think I need the surgery just yet.
He orders another MRI. I go back to him yesterday to hear the good news about how my shoulder is getting better and I won't need surgery.
Hold on there buddy, he says.
There is no change in the condition of my shoulder. and now he is strongly recommending repairing the tear in my tendon. so instead of one maybe two weeks in the sling for decompression, I'm looking at six to eight weeks of total immobilisation of my shoulder.
Exactly the opposite of what I expected to hear.
WTF

How the hell am I going to manage if I can't transfer and push myself around. My wife can't lift me. I HATE being dependant on other people.
HATE IT. HATE IT. HATE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I could stay in hospital for six weeks. back in the spinal ward. That just creeps me out big time.

sucky sucky bumhole shit damn bloody bugger arse.

(pant pant) Thanks for 'listening' to my rant.
I'll just go sit in the corner and get over it now.

[chrisarnold6]

I try not to do too much chair pushing. OK, I like to do my best when out and about, but we were never designed to work that way. Round the home requires little physical input. The most fluent push is derived by taking the ring behind you firmly push forward with a "follow-through" before releasing the ring. Then let momentum do as much as it can, before repeating the move. Nice in theory, the rehab OT/gym room. Real roads and pavements round where I live need constant directional input, with all the shoulder work behind the back. Use a real gym if possible to maintain strong healthy shoulders with proper training. Knackered shoulders are like a hole in the head.

[Tetracyclone]

pistol_pete, on 18 August 2010 - 01:57 AM, said:

HATE IT. HATE IT. HATE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I could stay in hospital for six weeks. back in the spinal ward. That just creeps me out big time.

sucky sucky bumhole shit damn bloody bugger arse.

mY but you rant in a colorful way!

[pistol_pete]

Tetracyclone, on 18 August 2010 - 03:05 PM, said:

pistol_pete, on 18 August 2010 - 01:57 AM, said:

HATE IT. HATE IT. HATE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I could stay in hospital for six weeks. back in the spinal ward. That just creeps me out big time.

sucky sucky bumhole shit damn bloody bugger arse.

mY but you rant in a colorful way!

Mmmm...sorry about that.
After I had stopped throwing things, I sat down and thought aboput it like a big grown up.
I'll look into hiring a hoist and an electric wheelchair. And if I have to spend six weeks in the sexy spinal ward that was my home for four months then so be it.
I will use the time to finish the short fiction I have been writing and maybe help out someone who is just beginning their SCI journey.
And hey...on the bright side, I won't have to stick my own finger up my arse for a few weeks, let someone else do it....yeah.

[pinkcloud]

[/quote]

Mmmm...sorry about that.
After I had stopped throwing things, I sat down and thought aboput it like a big grown up.
I'll look into hiring a hoist and an electric wheelchair. And if I have to spend six weeks in the sexy spinal ward that was my home for four months then so be it.
I will use the time to finish the short fiction I have been writing and maybe help out someone who is just beginning their SCI journey.
And hey...on the bright side, I won't have to stick my own finger up my arse for a few weeks, let someone else do it....yeah.
[/quote]

I think that a good story on SCI would be a good idea, you look like you can tell it from the 'real world' view.

I think also that an electric wheelchair hire may be a good thing, I bet it will take some time to heal it post-op too. I sure as well will preserve my shoulder becuase there is no way I want to end up in as much pain with it as you do.

Let us know how you get on with surgery