Rotator cuff tear/surgery? Update

[PaulaO]

I've been diagnosed (as in I just saw the results) with a full thickness tear of the leading edge of the supraspsinatus tendon. I know this happened when Ariel gave a few "it's spring and I feel good" bucks during a canter transition. I see m PCP Tuesday for a follow up. I am so scared I will have to have surgery that I am crying. I think I'm gong to leave work early and visit Ariel. I can't ride because her foot is chewed up and Farrier Matt isn't coming til Monday. Anyone ever have rotator cuff surgery?

[heddylamar]

My grandmother tore both of her rotator cuffs, and ended up having surgery. It worked fabulous, and she was really annoyed after the first repair that she'd wasted so much time on physical therapy first.

That said, there are new options. I'd ask about PRP and stem cell treatment, and research med journals to see if either are effective for rotator cuffs.

I ended up doing PRP (platelet rich plasma) for a hip labrum, abductor, and abductor cuff tear (I did it all!) It was out of pocket, so $$$, but combined with 8 weeks physical therapy, I've had a full recovery. The short and long term effectiveness of PRP and stem cell on labrum tears is far better than surgery, so it was an easy choice.

[Srhorselady]

Take your time and try to relax. It doesn’t have to be surgery. My sister in law and one of the pharmacists I worked with both had torn rotator injuries and by choice elected to NOT do surgery. I don’t know how bad their injuries were and I don’t know what the protocols were but both were very happy with their healing results. As Heddy said there are options. Whether it’s surgery or not you will be riding again! Hang in there.

[Moutaineer]

I'm really sorry, that's a painful injury.

I had rotator cuff surgery about 17 years ago--horse accident, couldn't actually move my arm, so there was no doubt at all it needed surgery. I won't lie, the physio after was pretty miserable, but, once done and healed, it hasn't given me any further trouble. I was out of the saddle for about 5 months, but a lot of that was because it happened at the beginning of winter and I didn't fancy starting back on the youngster I had at the time until the ice had melted.

My husband tore his while skiing a couple of years ago--fell very hard on that side. He ended up at the same surgeon who had done mine all those years ago, who said he was welcome to try physio, but he was sure that he would eventually need surgery. However, Keith was dogged in following through with all his exercises and, to the astonishment of said surgeon, he healed completely within about 3 or 4 months.

As Heddy says, there are lots of different options nowadays. Worth doing some research.

It will be OK. I promise.

[Kyra's Mom]

I had rotator cuff surgery 20 years ago. What looked like a full thickness tear on the MRI was not so I got off easy with the surgeon buffing up the tear and fixing the impingement I had in the joint (thanks big boobs ). My rehab was pretty easy and I got the OK to got back to horse activities after 6 weeks. The surgery worked well and I have not regretted it.

You can always try PT first. See what the doctor says and get a second opinion if necessary.

Susan

[PaulaO]

Thank you for your support. I had a breakdown at the barn yesterday and got people hugs. Miss A was too busy eating grass to comfort me. I am trying not to catastrophize. Years of intensive therapy should help with that. And to think this is my final year of employment prior to retiring. I might end my career on short term disability....

I see the ortho on the 21. Undoubtedly he will order an MRI. The ultrasound was ordered by my PCP and we know that won’t be good enough.

[Quelah]

My husband has a blown rotator cuff and nearly ruptured bicep tendon. If I can find the X-ray, I'll post it, it's cool. He's always had a "bit of a bum shoulder" this became more apparent when I was showing Jet and he was throwing (it's called throwing, it's actually done more carefully than that) the 75 lbs show collar over my 18 hand horse's head, plus the other horses we were showing with. He doesn't know exactly when he did it, best guess, a wreck when downhill skiing that predates me, so 30 years ago. He's not having surgery, doesn't want to take that much time off and he's got a bit of (justified) PTSD from the last time he had surgery.

So don't panic, you may not need surgery. If you do, it doesn't have to be tomorrow. If you do need surgery, find a specialist that is the go to surgeon for shoulders. If you were in the Bay Area, I could tell you who to go to. We have both UCSF and Stanford within easy drive plus tons of specialists in private practice. If DH were going to have his shoulder fixed, there is exactly one surgeon I would have do it. Find that surgeon for your area if you need surgery.

[PaulaO]

Update. Saw the ortho. He didn’t even mention surgery and said the tear is minuscule. Got a big @ss cortisone shot and an order for PT. Today I had my monthly massage and boy howdy, he almost made me cry. My left bicep was so tight and lumpy, My massage guy is excellent and my bicep feels better. And the ortho said I can ride.

[Tanga]

Good for you. Looking at people who had surgery, that's a lot better results than I have had. Mine got so bad once I couldn't move my arm. Took me years to get back full movement. Then it got bad again. I checked it, went to the physical therapist, learned it was what I was doing anyway. I think I'm five years out and almost have full use back of it! Getting old is hard.

I think massage and good stretching and strength training is the best answer for everything. Riding never hurt my cuff. It was the putting the saddle up and brushing up high!

You'll be good!

[texsuze]

Hay, Paula, how is your rotator cuff feeling after the injection and after riding? Continued improvement or too early to tell?

[hoopoe]

A year ago today I had a walking fall which separated my shoulder. MRI later showed a partial rotator cuff tear as well. I had no surgery and this weekend , just completed my second national archery competition.

along the way I found out that 50% of women/men "of a certain age" have partial tears of the rotator without any known trauma. It is not 100% known if I tore the rotator in the fall or if it was simply one of those age things. Surgeon said probably the fall given the amount of secondary inflammation and residual artifact 4 weeks post fall. I always chuckle when I hear the stem cell therapy radio shills with older folks talking about the partial tears in both shoulders... and the miracle of stem cell and rest.

My physical therapy was to return to pulling my bow when I could and condition train using that. My stamina and connection are not 100% back, but I will take the improving results ( scores) that I can see.

Good luck on your rehab, shoulders are a journey and adding a secondary daily routine, like a stretch band before bed, might help things progress in a positive fashion.

[PaulaO]

Life is not as painful as it was, but every once in a while I do something stupid, like reach my left arm for the seat belt. Then I am sharply reminded that healing is still occurring. PT. What can I say? It’s hard. Last week I did bicep curls and asked my PT for a lighter weight cuz 5 pounds was too much. He said Paula, you’re using a 3 pound weight....

I’m still riding, as a matter of fact had a breakthrough lesson on Saturday. Plugging in my seatbonez and pelvic tilting at the sitting trot.

[hoopoe]

Reaching was the most challenging activity for me as well. I did a lot of short distance reaching in my work and some days it was all I could do to work on the bench for an hour or two. I Have good reach and pull now, but still struggle with push away or push up. That will probably not come back fully

[PaulaO]

Reaching back is still painful. I haven't been able to clasp or unclasp my bra behind my back for years. Fortunately I now have front close bras. Reaching forward or up is no problem.

[piedmontfields]

Continued healing for you, Paula. It is hard to work through this but I hope you're feeling hopeful now.

[Moutaineer]

Tucking in a shirt... yowza!

[PaulaO]

Tucking in a shirt... yowza!

You tuck in your shirt!?? I’m impressed. I don’t have a waist for tucking.

[PaulaO]

Update: Going for an MRI later today. PT has helped somewhat, but the PT said to me last week it’s not enough. Tuesday I pulled my saddle off the rack and instantly regretted it. If I have to have surgery, does anyone want to come to northern Illinois and babysit me for a few days?

[hoopoe]

I still cannot push up using my left arm. Getting into the high front cab of my friends truck , I dont have the ability to push against the seat to help get settled. I can, however , pull 34 pounds on my bow.

Getting up off the floor is a small adventure.

Consider if surgery is really going to do what you want. I would not go in to it without a second opinion. You may do well with some simple life changes, like a step stool in front of the saddle rack, which makes some of the angles a bit easer to take.

[PaulaO]

Got the MRI results. No tear. Some tendinitis. Perhaps a diagnosis of frozen shoulder. THANK YOU JEEBUS. But I haven't talked to the ortho yet. Something tells me he will agree, no surgery.

[Tanga]

Oh boy. I'm glad you don't have to have surgery. Rotator cuffs are a bugger. I'm on five years of careful strengthening and stretching of mine and I still find areas of weakness and go through phases where I just have to back off. It's lifelong thing.

When I first noticed it and didn't know and ignored it, it got bad enough I had to have it in a sling and touching something with a finger hurt.

[Srhorselady]

I had a frozen shoulder last year in the middle of the pandemic. My range of motion without pain was very limited. I couldn’t put on a coat or close my SUV tailgate with my left arm. After three plus months of physical therapy…and doing the exercises religiously…I had full range of motion back! It was very scary. Good luck. I hope you have a similarly good outcome.

[hoopoe]

make sure your PT has a shoulder specialty. A frozen shoulder can be quite a beast. I would make sure I had the most focused work group. My last surgeon only did shoulder work.