Rotator Cuff Surgery

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  Apr 28, 2012 1:44 AM GMT

  Several weeks ago I heard a tearing sound in my right shoulder while bench pressing. No pain. Only very mild soreness afterwards
  
  A couple of weeks later, hear another tearing sound in same shoulder while bench pressing. Again no pain. But muscle very sore that afternoon and next day. Can make arm lift only with great mental exertion.
  
  Can't press a kettle bell with personal trainer. He directs me to get an MRI. Orthopedic surgeon checks me out. Complete range if motion. Very low pain. But fail strength test. He orders MRI with contrast.
  
  Day before MRI results. Swing and row with kettle bells. No pain. No problems.
  
  Findings: Major rotator cuff tear. Gotta have surgery or rest of muscles will eventually tear away.
  
  Day after getting results. Arm staying close to body. The negliable ache is now a pain of concern. Psychosomatic symptoms.
  
  Worked out like hell this afternoon. Feeling great. Shoulder feels fine.
  
  Surgery scheduled for this coming Thursday.
  

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  Apr 28, 2012 2:21 AM GMT

  Best of luck and please let us know how it goes. I'm sure lots of guys here will unfortunately face similar surgery at some point.

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  Apr 28, 2012 3:23 AM GMT

  I didn't get a tear in my rotator cuff but I dislocated my right shoulder last May and it has come out 6 (maybe 7) times since. Going to get the cuff tightened up soon because I can't play volleyball or swim anymore. Scared to even try the bench press. My left shoulder is also loose, it partially came out during bench press and they both move a lot nowadays if the motion is at certain angles.

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  Apr 28, 2012 7:18 AM GMT

  The next person who tells me my trainer is a waste of money is getting punched... Good luck.

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• mindblank
  
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  Apr 28, 2012 11:19 AM GMT

  Good luck.
  
  But would this not heal up on its own if you took a break from weights? I know someone who had this. They were assigned daily streches/soft exercises of the shoulder region, no carrying or heavy exertions on the shoulder region, and follow-up doctors appts after 4 weeks and it healed back to normal in about a month.

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  Apr 28, 2012 12:00 PM GMT

  mindblank saidGood luck.
  
  But would this not heal up on its own if you took a break from weights? I know someone who had this. They were assigned daily streches/soft exercises of the shoulder region, no carrying or heavy exertions on the shoulder region, and follow-up doctors appts after 4 weeks and it healed back to normal in about a month.

  
  Depends on what you mean by heal up on its own. The damage in there would heal so it isn't sore anymore. But the muscles won't reattach to the bone on their own. And without these muscles doing their job of moving the arm, over time the other muscles would tear away until I couldnt move the arm at all.
  
  Oh, I asked.

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  Apr 28, 2012 12:41 PM GMT

  At the Hospital for an EKG. Admitting lady gave me a form and asked me to fill in my wife's name and SSN. I told her I don't have a wife. After sputtering a bit about she thought I said I had a wife, she asked me why I don't have a wife. So I told her...cuz I'm gay and it's against the law for me to get married. It's in the Virginia constitution. She said well you can to to DC and get married. Go over there. I said now all I need is someone who wants to get married. ;-)

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  Apr 28, 2012 12:52 PM GMT

  Hahaha! EKG technician had trouble getting the electrodes to work thru all the fur on my chest.

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• GWriter
  
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  Apr 28, 2012 1:30 PM GMT

  Caslon18453 saidHahaha! EKG technician had trouble getting the electrodes to work thru all the fur on my chest.

  
  Haha. Manly chest! Good luck with the shoulder.

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  Apr 28, 2012 1:42 PM GMT

  Thanks for the good wishes, guys! ...

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  Apr 28, 2012 2:00 PM GMT

  I had a rotator cuff repair last July. I'm still making great progress. The best advice I can give you is to follow the physical therapy regimen they give you and do take the pain pills before therapy. You'll be to take a lot more pain that way and do more strenuous exercises...but, at the same time, don't overdo it, or you'll reinjure it.

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  Apr 28, 2012 2:38 PM GMT

  rigsby saidI had a rotator cuff repair last July. I'm still making great progress. The best advice I can give you is to follow the physical therapy regimen they give you and do take the pain pills before therapy. You'll be to take a lot more pain that way and do more strenuous exercises...but, at the same time, don't overdo it, or you'll reinjure it.

  
  Pain??? Reinjure ??? Ok, now I'm scared.

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  Apr 29, 2012 6:01 PM GMT

  Pain...oh, yes, there's a lot of pain. The surgery is nothing (I suppose you're having it done arthroscopically...if not, change doctors), but the rehab is brutal. Your doctor will give you some of the strongest painkillers around...just be sure to take them. My partner had his rotator cuff repaired two years before I did, and he had excruciating pain, so I was prepared. It turned out that his shoulder repair had been a lot different than mine, so the pain I experienced was bad, but nowhere near what he went through. I had also had a knee replaced the previous year, and the rehab for the knee prepared me for the pain of the shoulder. Just be sure to be diligent about the rehab...it should be about 18 weeks.

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  Apr 29, 2012 6:17 PM GMT

  rigsby saidPain...oh, yes, there's a lot of pain. The surgery is nothing (I suppose you're having it done arthroscopically...if not, change doctors), but the rehab is brutal. Your doctor will give you some of the strongest painkillers around...just be sure to take them. My partner had his rotator cuff repaired two years before I did, and he had excruciating pain, so I was prepared. It turned out that his shoulder repair had been a lot different than mine, so the pain I experienced was bad, but nowhere near what he went through. I had also had a knee replaced the previous year, and the rehab for the knee prepared me for the pain of the shoulder. Just be sure to be diligent about the rehab...it should be about 18 weeks.

  
  Ok. I'm gonna be sick.

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• MikemikeMike
  
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  May 01, 2012 8:20 AM GMT

  get a socond opinion before any surgery Can't say it enough. I was told I needed rotater cuff surgery 6 yrs ago. My b/f 's Dad had done at 50. he is 61 now. I still play sports and was told by a second Dr that once the surgery took place playing tennis and volleyball might be out. He recommended PT. My b/f's Dad said he had it done and playing sports ended right after. I had intensive PT to strengthen the muscles all around the shoulder and so far so good.

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• MikemikeMike
  
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  May 01, 2012 8:22 AM GMT

  I just noticed you are 60 maybe competative sports aren't a priority for you? They are for me as well as weight training and intense physical activity. Still say get a 2nd opinion.

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  May 01, 2012 8:40 AM GMT

  Best of luck with the surgery, dude!

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  May 02, 2012 3:46 AM GMT

  Caslon19000 saidHahaha! EKG technician had trouble getting the electrodes to work thru all the fur on my chest.

  
  Here's to hoping these have lighter glue than what the cardiac ward uses. Getting those things off took 3 days, lots of time in the shower under running water, and a whole lot of hair-pulling.
  
  Nurses have better things to do than chasing around flaky ekg issues.

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• cowboyangel
  
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  May 02, 2012 4:55 AM GMT

  Of course 2nd opinion is good. But if you have what I did--it sounds like it--get the surgury. My right rotator tore years ago and was never properly diagnosed. Now they tell me it can't be fixed. Tendons have torn off bone and can't be reattached, muscle is to atrophied beyond repair. Same time discovered tear on left shoulder. Maybe about 2 years old? Caught in time, relatively minor. Operated on last Nov. Still rehabbing but that side is coming along extremely well. And there was very little significant pain involved.
  

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  May 02, 2012 5:19 AM GMT

  I was scheduled for surgery then I heard about an alternative massage therapist who fixed it in a matter of weeks. When I went back to my Doctor for pre-op he told me to get out of his office there was nothing wrong with my shoulder. BTW don't get cortisone shots they really fuck you up.

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  May 02, 2012 10:03 AM GMT

  It's torn. The MRI with contrast is pretty clear about that.
  
  

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  May 02, 2012 10:17 AM GMT

  RobertF64 saidThe next person who tells me my trainer is a waste of money is getting punched... Good luck.

  
  
  
  +1
  
  
  @ Caslon - Ouch! Keeping my fingers crossed for a speedy recovery for you. Take care...

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  May 02, 2012 10:25 AM GMT

  Best wishes for a speedy recovery!

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  May 02, 2012 11:56 AM GMT

  Hey Alpha you could be right there. I was lifting a 300lb unit off a transport with another guy and messed mine up. I had very little range of motion... couldn't throw straps over the truck with my right arm. I did the massage therapy thing..... things are fine now but it took a year and half. I am balancing out my body now using the other side for splitting wood and the likes...
  
  About coritsone.... you're right about that too. If you inject cortisone into your body there is a mechanism within us that tells the body to quit making cortisone... so then you do become dependant on it. (You need cortisone to repair joints). In other countries they use bee sting therapy to increase cortisone production. German Pharms actually buy bee venom to put in their products. When you get a bee sting the venom produces a reaction that causes this production. Most beekeepers don't have arthritis....lol.

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  May 02, 2012 12:29 PM GMT

  RobertF64 said

  Caslon19000 saidHahaha! EKG technician had trouble getting the electrodes to work thru all the fur on my chest.

  
  Here's to hoping these have lighter glue than what the cardiac ward uses. Getting those things off took 3 days, lots of time in the shower under running water, and a whole lot of hair-pulling.
  
  Nurses have better things to do than chasing around those issues.

  
  I usually tell the staff I'll remove them myself later, in the shower as you say. Otherwise, even though I'm not super hairy, I end up with round pale "poka dots" where the hair was, kinda embarrassing in the locker room or in a swimsuit. I've even trimmed all the hair down a bit afterwards with my Norelco Bodygroomer, to make it less obvious, until all the hair can grow back evenly.

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