Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff repair

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fishmounter

New Member
I'm scheduled to have arthroscopic rotator cuff surgery in a couple of weeks to repair what the doctor says is a complete tear after viewing the MRI images. I am not in that much pain, and I can still do things with my arm and shoulder. There was intense pain a month or so ago when I fell down, but it has gradually lessened. There is still aching pain when I sleep on my right side and try to scratch my back or fold my arms across my chest. I can do many things involving my right arm/shoulder, but reaching up to the kitchen cupboards or microwave does bother me. Has anyone had this outpatient arthroscopic surgery to repair a completely torn rotator cuff? What's it like and how's the pain after surgery?
 

So no one has had this procedure? The doctor told me that many people over 50 have a small tear in their Rotator Cuff and don't realize it. They think it's just muscle pain from being an older person.
 
I only know one person who had this done, and he regrets it. He was pretty much in the same status as you described you are, but he had it done because he wanted to continue pitching in slow pitch softball in a local league for older adults. He ended up with more pain and less mobility than before. I have no idea how typical his results are -- probably not typical at all. He had it done about 3 years ago.
 

fishmounter said:
So no one has had this procedure? The doctor told me that many people over 50 have a small tear in their Rotator Cuff and don't realize it. They think it's just muscle pain from being an older person.
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If there is not much pain, why cut the body? I deal with shoulder issues and NEVER even had xrays yet MRI's...I've had some dextrose Prolotherapy in the worst shoulder and got 3 yrs of pain free relief.

Often after these shoulder surgeries a person ends up with replacement surgeries. The arthroscopic surgery can make things worse...they clean out good cartildge with everything they do.

Dextrose Prolo could do wonders, it did for me. My shoulders are injured from gym machines.

I'm 80 soon and have been dealing with injured shoulders for about 20 yrs....but no surgery, last last last resort.

Oh a friend went thru the arthroscopic surgery and a year or so later she's dealing with rehabing a shoulder replacement. Her goal was to play her piano and she still cannot. Better to live with not cutting the body -- very often.
 
My sister has the same problem and her doctor told her to put off the surgery for as long as possible. She gets a cortisone shot every 4 months which does wonders for her. She sees a specialist that does it as her family pcp would rather she not do it. But it helps her so much and will continue to get them as long as the specialist will give them.
 
terry123 said:
My sister has the same problem and her doctor told her to put off the surgery for as long as possible. She gets a cortisone shot every 4 months which does wonders for her. She sees a specialist that does it as her family pcp would rather she not do it. But it helps her so much and will continue to get them as long as the specialist will give them.
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Cortisone softens and destroys tissue and cartlidge. Your sister is doing more damage.
 
The MD who is an expert in Prolo in our town is on the radio weekends and he says many have tears as they age and he does not believe in any surgery for this....I probably do too in my shoulders but don't get xrays etc to find out, I manage and take a lot of supplements and hope again to get the dextrose prolotherapy in the shoulders...I take hefty doses of magnesium thru the day.
 
fishmounter said:
So no one has had this procedure? The doctor told me that many people over 50 have a small tear in their Rotator Cuff and don't realize it. They think it's just muscle pain from being an older person.
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I tore the rotator cuff in my right shoulder about 4 years ago. Surgery was offered as an option, but the doctor also recommended it as a last resort. Instead, they sent me to a specialist in sports medicine, and he gave me a cortisone shot, and a regimen of exercises to do on my home gym. Between the shot and the exercises...and Not doing anything strenuous for a few weeks, the shoulder began to heal nicely. After about 3 or 4 months, it was pretty much healed up. I still, however, try to remember that I'm getting up in years, and try to be very careful in how I lift things, etc. Surgery is sometimes the only cure, but IMO, only after other methods have failed.
 
Maybe people here didn't understand me. My right Rotator Cuff is not just a tear, it is a complete tear separation. Like someone took a pair of scissors and cut right through the whole thing! The doctor showed us the MRI scans of my shoulder and compared them to images of a healthy shoulder. The thing is, why aren't I in more pain? I would think that this completely torn through injury would really be hurting me and have me unable to use my arm and shoulder at all. It did hurt when I fell and for a while after that. But gradually the pain got better. Now I can still throw the tennis balls to play fetch with my dogs. I can cast my fishing rods. I can mow my yard and lift up and empty the full heavy grass catcher into the big green trash can. I can drive my old pickup truck that is a stick and does not have power steering! Think that I should bring all this up to the doctor at my pre- op appointment and ask to see my MRI images again... I'm feeling pretty good right now and will hate to be in pain and have my arm in a sling for 6 to 8 weeks!
 
If I'm not in pain I don't do major stuff. You may need a surgery down the road or maybe not...I don't recall your age, but maybe be more gentle with the shoulder.

See your doctor or see others...or live with what is now. We are not doctors and can't tell you what to do. I would think there would be a lot of pain as you describe things.
 
Are you seeing a specialist or pcp? I would not have the surgery yet but that's just me. You have to decide but I would not do it on the advice of a pcp at all. A specialist would have to tell me and I would get a second opinion from another specialist before having it. I would think you would have more pain also. As others have said, we are not doctors but I would be sure I had a second opinion and from another specialist.
 
fishmounter said:
Maybe people here didn't understand me. My right Rotator Cuff is not just a tear, it is a complete tear separation. Like someone took a pair of scissors and cut right through the whole thing! The doctor showed us the MRI scans of my shoulder and compared them to images of a healthy shoulder. The thing is, why aren't I in more pain? I would think that this completely torn through injury would really be hurting me and have me unable to use my arm and shoulder at all. It did hurt when I fell and for a while after that. But gradually the pain got better. Now I can still throw the tennis balls to play fetch with my dogs. I can cast my fishing rods. I can mow my yard and lift up and empty the full heavy grass catcher into the big green trash can. I can drive my old pickup truck that is a stick and does not have power steering! Think that I should bring all this up to the doctor at my pre- op appointment and ask to see my MRI images again... I'm feeling pretty good right now and will hate to be in pain and have my arm in a sling for 6 to 8 weeks!
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Were I in the same situation as you have described, I wouldn't do the surgery at this point. My logic would be that I wouldn't want to risk it getting worse, especially as you say you are able to do all those things you mention.
 
My niece, who is 69, had arthroscopic surgery done to repair a totally torn rotator cuff in February this year.

She was in a sling for the first 6 weeks - not allowed to use her arm at all.

Then she started on physio - small movements each time.

After a couple of weeks, she was able to lift anything weighing less than two kg, but was not able to lift her arm above waist height.

After quite a few weeks of rather intense physiotherapy, she has just now been allowed to drive, and to fasten her bra at the back.

She still has pain, and is still not able to lift her arm above her head.

She will probably not have full use of her arm back for about 12 months, if she continues to do the physio.
 
Oh boy, some of the stories. If one can lift their arms even with some pain keep doing that. Get some PT here and there and do it at home too. Surgery is tough and it's amazing people have no clue until they go thru one. We think -- oh surgery everything will be better, not really..lots of rehab for so many. Then?
 
Shoulder ops are tricky. I know someone the docs mad them go through about 6 weeks of physical therapy prior as well as after. Surgery without the associated therapy diminishes results-alot.
 
I've read that by the time we are 70, a third of this will have rotator cup issues, and by the time we are 80, two thirds of us will have it. I just grin and bear it. :cool:
 
Depends on the size of the tear.
6-10mm ... live with it - maybe have some physio.
45mm+ (as in my case), have the surgery. Never looked back.
Also (apparently), depends a bit on whether the problem is just degenerative or from 'trauma'.
 
fishmounter said:
So no one has had this procedure? The doctor told me that many people over 50 have a small tear in their Rotator Cuff and don't realize it. They think it's just muscle pain from being an older person.
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I have not, though I do have a small tear in my left rotator cuff. I also have degenerative disks in my lower neck so life is a party in my 60's. :D My shoulder aches when I lie down at night and when I try to reach up into a cabinet in the kitchen, so I use it as an excuse for my dust bunny population explosion.

Let us know how the procedure goes; I hope it is successful for you.
 
C'est Moi said:
I have not, though I do have a small tear in my left rotator cuff. I also have degenerative disks in my lower neck so life is a party in my 60's. :D My shoulder aches when I lie down at night and when I try to reach up into a cabinet in the kitchen, so I use it as an excuse for my dust bunny population explosion.

Let us know how the procedure goes; I hope it is successful for you.
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PRP/Stem Cells can help this issue. A friend had surgery and so much got worse and then a year later a shoulder replacement and it's been a hard hard road for her. She wanted to play her piano again, but that has not happened in spite of all the surgery done.
 

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