Anyone ever have one? How was it treated?

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GO TONY!!!!!!!!!!! # 20!!!

I've never had one, but have seen how rotator cuff injuries are generally treated. I see these type of injuries a lot as a work comp adjuster.
Usually first thing is to determine whether it is an actual rotator cuff tear orsimply a str/sprain. This usually requires an MRI.
If it's a strain/sprain the course of treatment I usually see for my claimants is:
*short period of immobilization/rest. This will include some sort of physical restrictions such as no lifting over 10#, no overhead lifting, etc.
*physical therapy
*anti-inflammatories and/or oral steroids (just depends on the severity of complaints)
*sometimes joint injections w/ a "caine" prepartation (numbing agent) and steroid

If an MRI indicates a tear:
*depends on the severity of the tear. If a small tear, the orthopedist will sometimes treat conservatively and see if the small tear will heal it's self. Convservative care for a tear is the same as for a sprain/strain.
*large or complex tears usually require surgical intervention.
If you feel you have shoulder/rotator cuff injury, my suggestion would be to consult with an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in joints/sports medicine.
No two rotator cuff injuries will behave the same. Thus, your course of treatment could vary greatly.

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Mental that one, I'm telling you. ---Ron Weasley, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets"

My friend's husband is suffering from a torn rotator cuff. He had to have surgery on it and was really limited as to what he could do. Now he's having problems with the other rotator cuff. She said he was really frustrated because he can't do the things he's used to doing. I think they're trying to avoid surgery on the other one right now.

I would suggest going to WebMD - Better information. Better health. and doing a search on it. I use WebMD usually when I have medical questions. It's a pretty thorough website.

I had it and had the surgery and I have more pain today then before the surgery. I have it in my other shoulder and personally I wont ever have that surgery again
I have a hard time holding my 3 month old grandson.

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When you don`t know what to do-Walk fast and look worried.

Nancy:

Did you have it arthroscopically? Just curious....One of the orthopedists that I deal with frequently is of the opinion that the rotator cuff repair is one of the few surgeries that should never be done arthroscopically.

I'm just curious to gather information OUTSIDE of my immediate area.

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Mental that one, I'm telling you. ---Ron Weasley, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets"

I really dont know but it was outpatient and I know that they also had to scrape bone. nancy

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When you don`t know what to do-Walk fast and look worried.

I have OA which has caused mine to tear. I have had PT and that really helped. My DR wants to do a shoulder replacement, (which I didn't even know they did) but I am holding off as long as I can. I have to say, its much better than it was a few months ago. I am not sure if I am just use to the pain or if the PT has really helped!

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Dh is having some trouble with his right now. He has been doing PT and it wasn't helping that much. The therapist told him to do everything he could to avoid surgery. If you have to have it do it but she warned the recovery is slow and painful and it is never quite the same afterwards.

I had one back in the early 90's. After several different types of therapy I had surgery and was in the hospiyal 4 days with it. I had to keep it totally imobilized for a couple weeks, then PT for several weeks.
I was off work 6 months and had some permanrnt loss of use of my shoulder.
It isn't painful today unless I over use it, but that can happen pretty quickly.
I can't raise my hand beyond shoulder height without assisting it with my other hand.
It's really a challenge to color my own hair.

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Barb


My GOD Bless our Country and our Troops, and rid the World of terroists.