Torn and Detached Rotator Cuff

Joined
Nov 16, 2007
Messages
1,372
Location
MURFREESBORO, TN
Bike
18 Gold Wing
STOC #
7285
A couple weeks before Christmas I woke up with a very sore shoulder after an chest work out at the gym the night before. Ibuprofin and heat/ice helped the pain subside within a week and I rested it another week over Christmas and all felt well. I returned to the gym and on different days worked my legs,biceps, triceps and back with no troubles. Third day was chest workout and after a good warm up began doing some dumbbell presses on a flat bench. Made my way to 50 lbs with no problem, first try was greeted with a pop and intense pain. Long story short, after an MRI I have been diagnosed with a detached rotator cuff, some 3.5 cm, and one that is slightly torn. Dr. recommends surgery to repair it within a month. I've been going about my business with a dull ache in my right shoulder, can pull a lat bar, but it is painful to put a t shirt on. I've been playing tennis, good thing I'm left handed, the injury has affected my ball toss on serve ever so slightly. Riding the ST has been OK but I have a dull ache in my shoulder, don't know if it would get worse on a long day.

I have a lot of fun stuff to look forward to and am on the fence about enjoying myself and living through the pain or getting it repaired and not be able to anything for a while. I understand that if I don't repair it now successful repair at a later date may not be as likely. Doing nothing other than try to strengthen the muscles around the injury will still leave me with a weaker and slightly less mobile right shoulder.

Has anyone else had this surgery and how long did it take you to recover to the point you could ride safely?
Anyone told they needed surgery and decided to go on and live with a weaker shoulder and some pain?
 

schlep1967

Bill
Joined
Jun 30, 2008
Messages
1,335
Age
56
Location
Harrisburg, PA
Bike
GL1800
STOC #
7911
I had a minor tear repaired. I would do it again. What made the determination for me to get it repaired was simple. It was affecting my sleep. If you are not sleeping well you are not living well. I was not riding at the time I had the surgery so no time frame there. One thing I will suggest you discuss with your doctor is rehab/physical therapy. My doctor order no weights at all for 30 days. Just range of motion exercises. The Therapists had never heard of that and were reluctant but went with it. As I progressed and regained full range of motion and then full strength they stated they will do all shoulders that way from now on. The old Doctor told me "If you do not get and keep range of motion right away, you never will. Strength can be built anytime."

Yes it takes time to heal. But it sounds like you are much more active sports wise than I was at the time, but I had a physical job at the time. If you continue to be active with a bad shoulder it will just be a matter of time until something happens where you need that shoulder. Something like falling and trying to catch yourself. And when you do that you will screw up the next muscle/tendon/joint in line and have even more problems. If you must wait, wait until September and get it repaired and rehabilitated over the winter. That way you miss less riding.
 
Joined
May 11, 2009
Messages
505
Location
Ada,Oklahoma
Bike
2014 FJR 1300 ES
I've had both shoulders repaired. With surgery and rehab it took a good 4 months to get back to mostly normal. I could have probably ridden in 45-60 days but didn't. If anything had when wrong (went down for any reason) most likely I'd of damaged the repair. Not worth it to me.
 
Joined
Jun 9, 2012
Messages
400
Location
Paris, TN
Bike
'99 ST1100
STOC #
8606
Anyone told they needed surgery and decided to go on and live with a weaker shoulder and some pain?
I tore the rotators on both shoulders in the 80's and 90's. Several years ago the pain worsened and I had an MRI taken, the doctors told me that there was nothing they could do short of replacing the joint. After about three years of exercise building up the deltoid muscles the pain has susbsided and I have complete mobility.
 

georgiast

Failure is NOT an option...
Joined
Feb 21, 2007
Messages
357
Location
North Georgia
I wouldn't put it off. My wife's first Ortho doc told her that her torn rotator would likely not get any worse. After 3 years and a lot of pain, her CURRENT Orto doc operated, and she spent 6 months in PT just to get partial mobility back. If she had gone ahead when it first happened, she would have been much better off.

In the last 2 years I have had both shoulders done. Rehab on the left [which had a tear and bone spurs], was about 3 months. I started riding a little again in 2 months IIRC.

The right shoulder just had bone spurs, and no rotator tear. Rehab was about 2 months, and I could ride some in about 6 weeks. Just was released from PT a couple weeks ago.

The Docs don't really know what they will find until they are in there, even after an MRI, so recovery varies.

Good luck with whatever you decide.
 

W0QNX

Blacksheep Tribal Member
Joined
May 30, 2006
Messages
3,311
Location
Pensacola, FL. USA
Bike
06/ST1300 19/R1250RT
2024 Miles
007437
It won't ever get back to near perfect without surgery. My wife tore both sides of her shoulder, ball and socket and it took 2 surgeries to fix it up right. Then the rehab, after several "gentle" therapists she finally got a mean girl that physically broke the scar tissue the way it needed to be. She would come home with bruises halfway down her arm but it finally broke it up and most of her mobility returned. Not trying to scare you but it won't repair it's self. If mine was just a bit worse I'd be getting surgery too but it's not that bad.

I suggest you go get it repaired as soon as possible, it sounds like a pretty bad tear (and it won't fix it's self!!)

Good luck,

Raymond
 
Joined
Dec 12, 2004
Messages
1,282
Age
76
Location
Weatherford, TX
Bike
'16 Versys 650LT
STOC #
1134
+1 on going with your orthopedists advice. I am now entering month 5 of PT for my latest rotator cuff repair (had 3 on the left <2 of them were re-repairs> and one on the right). I've been told the same thing regarding how soon to have the operation. Get it done as soon as possible. Something to do with the tissue quality deteriorating with time. They have to have healthy tissue to work with.

On most of my repairs, I've waited until about month 6+ or - before riding because the doc said at 6 months you are 90% healed. Due to restricted blood flow, tendons heal very slowly. I want that repair healed in case I go down.

My number one advice to you is to be sure and get a recommendation for a good surgeon and a good therapy clinic. You want a doctor who is very good and highly experienced. It's especially important because your injury sounds like a pretty big tear. The bigger tears require slower, less stressful, therapy, especially at first.

A good therapy clinic is as important as a good surgeon. The therapy clinic that I used on my next to last operation was really bad despite their association with a well known sports medicine clinic where I live. Sometime during the 2nd week of that therapy, the therapist cranked on my arm so hard the trauma caused a frozen shoulder. It was not fun dealing with therapy for a frozen shoulder and therapy for rotator cuff surgery rehab at the same time.
 
Last edited:
Joined
Feb 2, 2009
Messages
2,304
Location
Dahlonega, GA
Bike
2018 NC750X
STOC #
7666
Get it done, Fali! BTDT about 6 years ago on my right shoulder. Currently have no problems with mobility and no pain in my right shoulder.:)
 

gmast1100

Gettin old sux
Joined
Dec 26, 2008
Messages
1,554
Age
76
Location
Blairsville, GA
Bike
2016 Kawasaki Versys
STOC #
297
Fali, I agree with everyone. Get it done! You might be laid up for awhile but with PT you'll get back to normal and hopefully pain free.
 
Joined
Dec 18, 2005
Messages
264
Age
75
Location
Somewhere in the USA
Bike
ST1300
STOC #
8194
About 15yrs ago I tore the right one off completely. It was a year and a half of rehab after six weeks of immobilization. My right arm has had limited movement, it is better now than when torn but it's never been good. I have torn my left rotator cuff twice, both times it was a simple procedure. Recuperation was quick and easy, complete movement no regrets.
Go for it, take some time off and heal completely, then rehab with all you got. You'll be fine.
 
OP
OP
Indian Express
Joined
Nov 16, 2007
Messages
1,372
Location
MURFREESBORO, TN
Bike
18 Gold Wing
STOC #
7285
Thanks for all your input guys! I'm going to pick a date in the near future and get it taken care of. My goal is going to be able to ride to Fla. in May for Bob Donaldson's Memorial Ride and play tennis in the July for the State mixed doubles qualifier. I'm usually a quick healer but I know I will be hard to live with the weeks I can't much activity in. I'll try and behave!
 

GBChief

Site Supporter
Joined
Feb 4, 2012
Messages
29
Location
Middle Tennessee
Bike
'07 ST
I'd get it fixed ASAP as you might be able to catch the tail end of the riding season. You'll also get a head start on meeting you're deductible this year. :) I might rethink the tennis. If you fell you could make things worse.
 

Bug Dr.

Extroverted Loner
Joined
Jun 12, 2008
Messages
2,181
Location
Arkansas
Good luck and heal quickly. You can always cage it to Bob's memorial if necessary. You can be DD and can take us bar hoppin' :D
Mike
 
Joined
Jun 18, 2009
Messages
52
Location
Bartlett, Tennessee
Bike
All of them !
STOC #
7977
I have had both shoulders repaired( Nov 2014 and Jul 2015) one open cut and one arthroscopic. PT after surgery is important. I have lived this stuff for the last year and will be glad to share with you my experience and what I learned . Shoot me a msg if you want.
 
Joined
Aug 11, 2013
Messages
3,508
Location
kankakee
Bike
R1200rt
I have had a torn rotator on my left shoulder and a torn bicep on my right arm for about 2 years now/ doctor recommended not to repair because of my age (60) and it might not really get better. He also said it would be a long recovery (age factor). they will do nothing to the bicep until they are both torn. Problems are that I cant sleep on my left side or my arm goes to sleep, surgery might solve that problem or I may have to see another specialist. Both arms are weaker but the doc says that also goes with age. I regret not having it done because you just don't know what would have been. My mobility is ok but at times it still hurts,,, I am active , ref about 30 hockey game a month...
 
Joined
Sep 4, 2013
Messages
8,111
Location
Cleveland
Bike
2010 ST1300
A LOT of good advice here. Don't wait, run to that surgeon. I work with a guy who tore something in his rotator cuffs in both arms. He lived with it for about a year. Recently he had an MRI and the doc said his muscles have atrophied and damage has healed over and there is nothing he (the surgeon) can do. My friend cannot lift his arms above his head. I've had minor tears/damage to my rotator cuffs a few times. It takes about a year to get back to normal because of (as said before) of low blood flow to the shoulders.

A few points. I don't know how many surgeons you have in your area and/or how far you can travel. But all surgeons are NOT created equal - like wall paper hangers, like plumbers, like ST mechanics, like lawyers, etc. Some are better than others. Ask around. Find the best you can. Ask him how many repairs like what you need he has done. Ask a zillion questions - Don't settle for the first doc you talk to unless he has great recommendations. Remember, every med school will graduate someone last in his class. If you have a choice, would you want that guy taking out your appendix?

An anesthesiologist friend of mine once told me that some surgeons have patients who heal a lot faster from their surgeries than others. He said it was because of the whole team - and that good anesthesiologists tended to seek out and work with good surgeons. So, if you have a choice, do the research. Find the best. Some of these things you only do once. Best to have it done right.
 
OP
OP
Indian Express
Joined
Nov 16, 2007
Messages
1,372
Location
MURFREESBORO, TN
Bike
18 Gold Wing
STOC #
7285
A LOT of good advice here. Don't wait, run to that surgeon. I work with a guy who tore something in his rotator cuffs in both arms. He lived with it for about a year. Recently he had an MRI and the doc said his muscles have atrophied and damage has healed over and there is nothing he (the surgeon) can do. My friend cannot lift his arms above his head. I've had minor tears/damage to my rotator cuffs a few times. It takes about a year to get back to normal because of (as said before) of low blood flow to the shoulders.

A few points. I don't know how many surgeons you have in your area and/or how far you can travel. But all surgeons are NOT created equal - like wall paper hangers, like plumbers, like ST mechanics, like lawyers, etc. Some are better than others. Ask around. Find the best you can. Ask him how many repairs like what you need he has done. Ask a zillion questions - Don't settle for the first doc you talk to unless he has great recommendations. Remember, every med school will graduate someone last in his class. If you have a choice, would you want that guy taking out your appendix?

An anesthesiologist friend of mine once told me that some surgeons have patients who heal a lot faster from their surgeries than others. He said it was because of the whole team - and that good anesthesiologists tended to seek out and work with good surgeons. So, if you have a choice, do the research. Find the best. Some of these things you only do once. Best to have it done right.
Great advice! I have been made aware of another shoulder specialist within the same TOA group and will have him take a look at my shoulder. Quite frankly I wasn't very comfortable with the Dr. theyassigned me, I believe his diagnosis is correct but he simply treated me like a # and wasn't very interested in my hobbies and how surgery might affect them. I had already decided if I get this done it was going to be with someone I felt comfortable with and took the time to explain the possible short and long term affects.
I feel pretty good right now but I know one difficult movement above my head could set me off down the road of pain and sleepless nights.
 
Top Bottom