Rim rent tear of rotator cuff

[hardworker]

Went to orthorpedic surgeon yesterday and had mri of the shoulder he found that I have a rim rent tear of rotator cuff and impingement in front of my collar bone. Wants to do surgery right away. States recovery time 4-6 months. I wont know when surgery is yet because i still have not be released from the neck specialist. Has anyone ever had this surgery if so how did it go and how much mobility was lost in your arm?

[Pooh]

hardworker,

driller has surgery on his shoulder -- he had frozen shoulder and bone spurs but the surgery from my understanding is similar - they go in with minor cuts in the shoulder area and repair it if possible -- if not then they will do a larger cut to fix the tear. As far as impingement goes -- I have been through several rounds of PT for impingement in both shoulders and yet to find much relief in that area.

Driller lost very little of his range of motion in his shoulder because he worked hard in PT and at home doing exercises so that he could get back most of his rom. Now I will tell you he had a more serious surgery in the end because while trying to get out the bone spurs on his collar bone - the surgeon broke the collar bone itself. So he ended up going through PT and a bone stimulator to help heal the bone for about 6 months.

As far as I go - no surgery yet and it's actually been 6 yrs since my first injury. I do have almost full range of motion in my shoulders although I still suffer from pain. My ortho says not to have surgery until the shoulder is to bad and I can't deal with the pain any longer. In my case I am still waiting because I ended up with nerve damage and the surgery will do more harm than good at this point.

So each person will heal differently depending on how they do with the surgery and how hard they work at PT to get back mobility.

[Cycler]

You will not lose any motion in your arm after rehab.

[capricorn]

I had similar surgery . Lost some use of my arm, not sure of the percentage, can still use it for some things. Part of my acromium bone was taken off amongst other things to take care of the impingement syndrome. The 2 1/2 inch RC tear was repaired but another smaller one wasn't. It's 20 months for me and just starting to be able to use it with less pain. Best of luck. There's not too many successful shoulder stories here. Sorry.

CAP

[Cycler]

One of the contributing factors to less than full recovery to rotator cuff surgery that does not include the distal clavicle resection ( called a Mumford Procedure) is that the rehab ends before eccentric training is started let alone completed.

Full active range of motion takes about 18 to 24 months but the strength comes back slower. All PT's do the concentric work; i.e lifting exercises, bands to stretch upwards or outwards, etc. but that only improves concentric muscle function. Patients are usually not progressed to muscle lengthening under load (eccentric training) such as throwing weighted balls or a protocol known as a Throwers Ten Program etc and this ultimately limits overhead work and other arm movements.

[capricorn]

Cycler...I know you know what your talking about so I would like to add that I had lousy PT for a year following surgery. My first round which was two weeks after surgery the PT yanked so hard we both heard a pop and my whole clavicle area and pec blew up. Dr. did nothing to help and then it was all down hill. This kind of PT continued until as Lilly I was screaming in tears. My shoulder ended up freezing 12 weeks later which the surgeon said was odd. Usually they freeze shortly after surgery if they're going too. After all my explanations to him , still no help. I went from PT to PT but at this point it was too late. Now I have several other problems in there that I didn't have before this nightmare began. Am gaining more movement a little at a time, most of the pain that's left is in my bicep and tricep. What goes into my forearm and hand is coming from the pinched nerve in my neck. It would be great if all IW could find a great PT and better yet a Dr. who cared. Thanks for explaining further.

CAP

[Lilly]

Hi,
I had bad luck with regaining ANY ROM. I am on permenant restrictions of 1-2 LBs lift, push, or pull. Nothing above waist level. The pain is constant, and relentless. i had different problems than you though...mine was dislocated, and continued to sublux with every step I took! The simple jar of walking, made it feel as if my arm was on a rubber band...it was extremely painful.

Cycler.....are you a doctor, or PT person? I cannot understand how you can say one will not loose any ROM???!!!! Only the lucky ones, with great surgeons and PT's most likely will have a good to fair outcome. I was told , anytime they cut and mess with one's shoulder, it is never again the same...and I am a believer, as are many other people on here. Please do not pass out false hopes so freely, unless you've "been there, done that".

Hardworker, I currently cannot wash or do my own hair, put on makeup, put my own earrings in, very difficult TP duties, lift pots and pans, cut my own meat, drive one armed, still sleeping on the sofa...among many other can't do's, even though I try to no avail.
I wish you luck, and find yourself a VERY GOOD surgeon and PT clinic! Lilly

[Cycler]

my answer concerned a rim tear. Most people don't have that problem. I can't comment on your outcome but all shoulder injurioes are not created equally.

[RNvic]

I had a tour rotator cuff , dislocation and cracked callur bone. It has been five years and still can not lift over 5 lbs continue to drop things and can't reach above shoulder. pain has continued. more damage was done in surgery. nerves and blood versels damaged and now have brachial plexopathy with TOS both neruo and vascular involment. It can not be repaired. the last doppler study showed less than 25% blood flow from elbow down. My hand stays cold to touch and blue. I also know of others that have had same surgery and were able to return work in 4 months. Each person heals differnt, also some surgons are better than others. Before you have your suregy ask questions and ask how many of these surgeys that doctor has dome.

[Cycler]

Vic, has a first rib resection been considered and dismissed for the TOS ?