Shoulder - Two Torn Tendons

Yep, that's me. I was acting like Paul Bunyan dragging a pine tree out of the yard when I fell down and landed on my elbow. It didn't bother my elbow any, but all that energy went straight to my shoulder heaving it upward tearing it up in the process. This happened about 6 weeks ago. I immediately went to the ER thinking I broke my arm. The X rays showed nothing broke and nothing out of place but I distinctly remember hearing a snap upon impact with the ground.

Fast forward 6 weeks. My shoulder doesn't hurt as much, I actually thought it was getting better but no improvement with range of motion. I had an MRI done about a week ago and I have the results. It's meant for my Dr to interpret but I got online and did some research of my own. I'm pretty sure I'll need surgery and up to three months off work for recovery. I have an appointment on Tuesday to go over the MRI and discuss options. I haven't lost anytime at work yet since I'm careful with what I do and have been able to get by. I had to cancel two band gigs so far because it's too uncomfortable to hold my arm in such a position needed to play. So I can't live like this, it's gotta be fixed.

So in the meantime everything is on hold including the building we're putting up and the AA 130 installation.

Anyone with shoulder issues and/or surgeries please share your story. This is new ground for me.

Mine was a torn rotator, I had pretty much pain & very limited motion. Don't really recall how long it was until the surgery but I now have 4 or 5 posts with the tendons tied to them. Recovery & rehab was a bear but all is good now but there was a lot of pain for me. I always said I'd rather have both knees replaced again than another shoulder surgery but everyone's different, my age was against me the doc said that if I was a smoker or had heart problems he wouldn't have operated.

Thanks for sharing Sam. From what I understand there are 4 muscles that control shoulder movement. At the end of those muscles where they come into the shoulder there are 4 tendons that all kind of blend into each other at the top of the humorous bone (main arm bone). This meeting place of the tendons at the humorous is known as the rotator cuff, of which two are torn. There are different degrees of tearing, partial and full tear and some in between. The mentioning of retraction is very concerning. From what I understand it means that the tendon has pulled away from the bone and needs to be reattached.

Until I see the Dr on Tuesday this is purely speculation on my part based on what I learned online and by talking to others.

A lot of times shoulder injuries will heal on their own, but slowly, about a year, more/less, if done right. There are no 2 cases the same. They may try cortisone a couple times to see if it improves, they may not do anything, or they may want to do surgery. I dont have a high opinion of shoulder surgeries, and have my reasons for that belief, but others will sing its praises.

My main problem with surgeries is people are either forced back to work to soon, need the money and go back to early, or are too impatient and do things they shouldnt to soon. Its not the surgery but the healing after that doesnt work well. I would only agree to surgery if the doc promises to keep you off work longer than neccessary just to be sure its healed.

I have a good idea what you do at work cuz I used to fill the bread trucks for the drivers and hauled some around town and know its not as easy as it looks to a shopper.

I would lay the guitar down for twice as long as you think you should no matter what they do. Yeah, yeah, that will suck but so does a lifetime of shoulder pain waking you up 10 times a night.

Lee, Ask your Dr. about a shot made from a chickens orange comb on top of its head. Worked better for me than cortisone. Surgery kinda sucks.

Hope it ain't the arm you use to wipe your butt.

On a lighter note "No choking the chicken" for 6-12 weeks.

warminmn wrote: ↑

Sun. Sep. 02, 2018 5:01 pm

A lot of times shoulder injuries will heal on their own, but slowly, about a year, more/less, if done right ... Its not the surgery but the healing after that doesn't work well.

A couple people I know have had three or more months of misery after rotator cuff surgery. Lots of pain therefore lots of pain meds, so watch out for addiction. If it truly will heal on its own in a year, that might be preferable, if you can figure out some other way to manage that guitar . See what your doc says about alternatives to surgery, and research physical therapy treatments in lieu of surgery. Sometimes I think doctors push surgery just because patients demand a quick solution, and they don't want to disappoint. Also the attractiveness of surgery is affected by which end of the knife you are on.

http://www.apta.org/PTinMotion/NewsNow/2014/3/12/ ... 0737418615
.

Thanks for all the great advice. I've spoken with 5 people (step dad, coworker, neighbor and friends) that have had shoulder surgery. All of them were glad they did with the exception of one that had to have a second surgery. Upon research online I've seen 93-98% success rate. From what I've learned it's 25% surgery and 75% physical therapy rehabilitation for the surgery to be 100% successful. I just want the quickest path back to good. I want my arm back.

My experience was right shoulder impingement. Had to give up most all recreation activities like basketball, golf, and throwing anything right handed. I opted for some cortisone injections and aqua physical therapy. After about five years the pain went away but it is a memorable pain so I still stay away from these activities lest I re-impinge. It takes some time to learn the exact range of motion you can get away with. Good luck!

You got some good responses Lightning, I never heard of tendons or ligaments healing on their own but I'm not a doc. From what my doc said he was almost afraid to start on mine for fear of the last little bit snapping & then they have to do major cutting. When I went for my check-ups he always had some interns from the school in Erie & they would take turns feeling me up! Good to get a doc that is proud of his work, he limited me to 20#s max over my head & since I've done more & lots of reps but it is a long painful re-hab. Hope yours is in better shape than mine.

mntbugy wrote: ↑

Sun. Sep. 02, 2018 6:39 pm

On a lighter note "No choking the chicken" for 6-12 weeks.

Not to worry. That causes carpal tunnel, not usually shoulder injuries

Wasn't it FF that mess his shoulder up recently??

Never mind it was around last years met and greet time.

I can't reach the top of my head with my left hand while washing my hair in the shower. I can only elevate my extended arm to about 45 degrees to the front or side. I can raise my left hand up over my head with assistance and I can hold it there on its own. But as I let it down slowly I get to a point at which I have to let it fall because there is too much pain. It's weird because I can still lift and pull things but can't hold my arm in a position to play my bass without it feeling uncomfortable. My humorous bone is unstable inside the shoulder joint. I can feel it pitching around in there sometimes. It's kind of gross lol like it's not completely connected like it used to be.

Lee, ya got 4 to 6 mos. to kill for PT & a 50/50 chance the surgery will actually work, have at it--I don't buy that 93-98% positive outcome. OPINION---try any option to the surgery--out of a dozen people around here, I'm thinkin 2 have no complaints with a restored 50% mobility. All others needed more surgeries--to many cutologists out there my friend.

I am with Fred on this one, my brothers had a least 2 surgeries and is no better. I fell 14 ft back in 2010? and could not get to a specialist....I went to a quack in Bangor that talked into a tape recorder and looked at it for 45 seconds and ran off down the hall, after he did that a second time, I did not return. 8 months later I got a call that I had an appointment to see the best shoulder guy in the state.....did I want to keep the appointment? Yes I did, and he sat down in a chair and looked me over and declared that whatever I had done was better then what he could have predicted for results from surgery and he would have done surgery after looking at my MRI. When he asked what I did I told him I went back to work, played basketball, golf, and climber trees to hunt, etc....I lived. Yes it hurt but the pain went away with time.....6 months, and I have 100% usage with that arm.

Kevin

L,
Just remembered how I treated the pain. None of the strong stuff or over-the-counter pills or patches reached the pain for me with the exception of topical pain relievers like Lidoderm 5% patches and lidocaine/prilocaine 2.5%/2.5% cream. Both are prescription by a Doctor. Applying the patches or the cream where the pain was did no good however when I placed it midway from the neck to the shoulder on the back side of the shoulder it was quite a bit more effective in both reducing pain and staying in place. It sounds counter intutive but it worked for me. If I think of something else I'll post.