Wellness

[CalminHeart]

Has anyone had experience letting a torn rotator cuff and a torn bicep heal on their own?  How long does it take?

I went to an orthopedic surgeon and he said it can't be fixed with surgery because of the arthritis in my shoulder joint. He gave me a cortizone shot which helped some. Insurance says I am not bad enough for shoulder replacement. The pain is sometimes unbearable.

I love to work outside in the summer. I like endorphine boost and I can totally zone out of the world.  I traded my 1 yr old mower (can't pull start it) for a button start mower. I buy from a small business so they know me well. My snowblower has an electric start, thank goodness. 

I am going to keep trying but know I have to stop when it starts hurting because it'll get worse fast. 

[Harpa]

@CalminHeart 

So sorry about your rotator cuff!

This may or may not help....maybe with the bicep, maybe with the tear. Try massaging in arnica gel (I think it is more effective than a cream).

I thought I had torn rotator....actually could not pinpoint the hurt, since it seemed to travel. This was a couple years ago when I overdid heavy lifting. The only thing that relieved any and all discomfort was daily use of arnica. You want to increase blood flow to the area [for healing], and you get that with the massaging action, along with the healing of arnica.

[gizmogal]

I'd get a second opinion from a different surgeon in a different practice, if it is a medical group you use. 

One professional opinion dooming you to pain with limited or lengthy healing may not be definitive. If another orthopedic surgeon takes your shoulder arthritis into account and also rules out surgery, then you should be more convinced and reconciled to your limitations.

It is now getting more common to have the shoulder replaced instead of repaired for cases like yours. Have you consulted an orthopedic specialist about that possibility?

If you're anywhere near NYC, consider making an appointment to consult with a shoulder specialist at the Hospital for Special Surgery. Their experience and expertise in joint care (and replacement) is nearly unmatched in the United States. 

Sounds like you're very admirably doing the best you can with the advice of one doctor. Try to confirm the circumstances for surgery to  repair or replace your shoulder to help you come to terms with this as a chronic condition or to decide on a new course of action. 

Wishing you comfort so you can remain active. 

[pigletsmom]

I'd agree with a second opinion. I don't think I'm at a point of a tear but both sides get strained and the pain can be unreal and I don't think you should have to live with the really terrible pain like that. If you are expected to just rest it they should at least be giving you good guidance on how to do that. I know since mine comes and goes it's the little things you don't think about that can set it off, so I'd assume all of those little things need to be avoided for healing.  

I have to say I started taking Osteo bi flex, the one a day, and I haven't had a big flare since, but I'm not sure if it's related. I still get the early pain once in a while but it doesn't turn into more. Not being able to sleep or lie down is the worst.

[NicksmomESQ]

@CalminHeart  I tore my rotator cuff last Summer.The pain was terrible.  My orthopedist sent me for physical therapy. It has made a huge difference. I'm about 85-90% better. 

  I regained close to my full range of motion. I still have some pain at certain movements but nothing like before. I've been off anti inflammatories & muscle relaxers for several months.

Twelve weeks of PT along with diligently doing my home exercises is what helped me.I still keep up with the home exercises because I'm hoping to get back to where I was prior to my injury.

 You should definitely seek out a second opinion & inquire about PT. Good luck!!

[Shelbelle]

Time for a second opinion!! make sure you see an ortho doc who specializes in shoulders. 

[kristina1]

Exactly!

Get another opinion.  They can differ greatly.  You want to be able to have choices.

[kare29]

I also had a small tear at the top of my right shoulder that happened from over doing it with heavy house cleaning etc.  That was when I learned to slow down a bit.  I think lifting the frozen 18 lb Thanksgiving turkey did me in.  The orthopedic surgeon wanted to operate but luckily for me this was during the holidays so it would not have happened for several weeks. By Christmas I was greatly improved because I was still able to hostess the day.

As for the pain,  I was given a prescription for Lidocaine patches that I would put on the shoulder at night which helped me sleep.  I had even tried Oxycontin that I had had from a previous surgery and they did not budge the pain. During the day I could manage with Tylenol and or Advil.  

This was a good 10 to 12 years ago and I do feel like I am fine now but for a long time after I was very careful lifting anything heavy especially over my head 

[ellaphant]

I'm so sorry that sounds terrible. I had a torn bicep and luckily after 2 cortisone shots it healed on its own.

I would definitely get a 2nd opinion with a shoulder specialist. 

One thing that helped me a bit was to keep my arm resting on a pillow.

Best of luck!

[Growing]

I had the shoulder surgery on 12/31. Mine did not fix itself after six months of terrible pain. I had three tendon tears but they only fixed the long head bicep tendon.Plus a lot of arthritis issues in the joint, too numerous to mention but they surgically worked on that, too. It is a long recovery. The first 12 weeks are bad, you can't lift or carry anything. The second 12 weeks are rehab. I am not at full recovery yet. A whole lot better but certain motions still cause pain and I am still going to PT. They take the tendon and cut it and restitch the tendon into the bone for the biceps tendon.

Find a surgeon that is up to date. I can still feel where the tendon is stitched into the bone, but I have a top notch shoulder only surgeon. Replacement is not the needed surgery because your tendons need to be repaired. They do not repair all tears depending on the size. My rotator cuff tendon is fine but was impinged by bone spurs which they removed.

It is a painful painful surgery, not going to lie. You will need help to bathe and cook as the surgury arm is not to be used for a while. You have to sleep sitting up in a recliner so as not to move on that shoulder. But what else are you going to do? If you have waited six months and done conservative treatment and are not better, then do you want to live in this horrible pain forever. My pain is much less now six months after surgery but it is tough road. I still can not wear a bra although I am finding racer back bras are slightly okay. 

Also, you should have had an MRI and you can get that written report and read it. My MRI said the two other tendon tears were very minor. So when they only fixed the long head tendon of my bicep I was comfortable with that. Will I ever be back to 100%, no I think the honest answer is just no.