Rotator cuff torn ligaments repair, feedback please

Hi

I would like to know if somebody have had rotator's cuff torn ligaments fixed by surgery or else (if that exist). How long it toke to recover the use of the arm, was it a success to take away the everyday pain, was the movement of the shoulder affected with the fix, is it possible to fix two ligaments in the same operation (one on the front top of the shoulder and one in the back of the shoulder blade?

If you don't fix it, is it going to become worse with the time (the hole to get bigger)?

My mother had it done but it was a long time after the accident - the quicker you do it the more successful it is.

I had EXCELLENT results, on two different occasions, having my wife's chiropractor treat my injured rotator cuff. Before chiropractic treatment: I couldn't even raise my arm above eye level. After chiropractor treatment: full range of motion and pain free.

The reason I went to my wife's chiropractor---after teasing her and her parents for years about using chiropractors---was because my MD suggested surgery and a lengthy recovery. My wife's chiropractor suggested that she could probably rehabilitate my rotator cuff in a couple months if it wasn't badly torn. She was right and she is now my chiropractor as well.

I would suggest an evaluation by one of your local chiropractors. The ones specializing in sports injuries undoubtedly see a LOT of rotator cuff injuries:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&biw= ... 22&spell=1

Thanks for the replies blackspinner and sws.

About fixing it fast I think I'm a bit late because my problem is due to use my arm in a non ergonomic work place. Who knows since when the damage started and who knows when I will get a diagnose and possible solution from a surgeon.

About chiropractor: well, I had 10 months of physiotherapy, ergo-therapy; at least 30 acupuncture treatments, and 2 months of osteopathy. I can use my arms now but I still have pain everyday and it worsens with position, repetitive movements or using slight force. Yes I have two not small torn so, I think it's too late for chiropractor treatment.

I still would like to hear from somebody who made fix a torn ligament. I know it's very painful and long to recover surgical intervention but I think I would try to explore that possibility.

As far as my mother was concerned - yes it was long and painful recovery but it was better after wards then not having it done. It was never 100% back to normal but she was in her mid 70's at the time and it was due to a fall on ice and extremely painful before surgery eventually after surgery it was still a bit painful but not like before.

I'm not 70 I imagine it could work, what I know is if your ligament need to be 100% torn to be eligible to surgery, nor if they fix two in the same surgery.

I have had rotator cuff surgery on both shoulders. I had my right done in November and in March I fell and hurt my left arm so had that in May. With the right I tried PT off and on for about a yr and then I had MRI and it was a complete tear w/ bone spur and inflammation. My surgeon said that a complete tear would not heal and would only get worse. It is a long recovery but varies with the size of the tear, etc. The 1st one was better than I thought it would be. The 1st 4 weeks I wore a sling and kept my elbow at my side at all times. I could use my hand and gradually move it so I could type. Taking shirts off and on was painful. My doctor is pro pain pills. For one there is no need to suffer and when you go to PT it's better if you don't resist when they do the passive range of motion exercises. My PT started 2 days after surgery. Also I had to sleep sitting in a reclining position for the 1st 4 weeks - they suggest a recliner but didn't want to move my CPAP every night so I used a lot of pillows in my bed but that part is difficult.
I took my CPAP with me for the surgery and the anesthesiologist said he never had to use it before. Well of course I needed it and my O2 levels were low so they made me stay overnight. I did take a lot of pain pills the 1st 2 weeks but it did seem to improve quickly. The 2nd surgery my O2 was fine but that was a bigger tear so the recovery has been more painful. Then I got shingles on the arm that I had the surgery on! That caused a lot of pain and over a week w/o PT so it's hard to know how much was shingles and how much surgery.
The good news is that by time I hurt my left arm (4 months post surgery), my right arm was good enough to take over as my only functioning arm - now it doesn't bother me at all. I'm 52 and addition to SA also have type 1 diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis so I'm a complex case!
Laurie

rosacer wrote:
I still would like to hear from somebody who made fix a torn ligament. I know it's very painful and long to recover surgical intervention but I think I would try to explore that possibility.

Hi rosacer

There was a recent thread that covered this -

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=54339&p=507027&hili ... er#p507027

and in it I offered the following -

If conventional treatment does not work for your shoulders I would suggest you check out Myotherapy.

A few years ago I fell off a high stool, my shoulder landing on a support. Result- a lot of pain and a frozen shoulder. The Doctor (sorry - ex-Doctor) said nothing could be done. So I had a virtually useless left arm.

Went to a Myotherapist, and by exercising and manipulating my arm over a couple of months he got back for me the full use of my left arm.

Here is what they do -

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myotherapy

http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv ... Myotherapy

cheers

Mars

rosacer wrote:I'm not 70 I imagine it could work, what I know is if your ligament need to be 100% torn to be eligible to surgery, nor if they fix two in the same surgery.

I wouldn't get both done at the same time unless you have a live -in servant to feed and dress you for a month or 2! It would like having 2 broken arms!

My husband had cuff repair a year ago tomorrow. He is over 60. Even though his shoulder has not returned to 100% normal, it is much better than before the surgery. He has no regrets as he can now raise his hand over his head and life heavy objects.

Even though his work doesn't require heavy lifting or labor, he does use his arms. This caused him to stay home for 10 weeks. I believe that therapy was about 6, maybe 8 weeks with no set-backs or problems. He slept on the sofa for 3 months. Learning to sleep in the bed took about a month. That just wasn't a simple adjustment.

As with most orthopedic surgery, following the instructions of the doctors and therapists will facilitate a speedier recovery.

Thanks: Im2tired, blackspinner, Mars and gasparama for the comments and feedback I really appreciate!

Im2tired: whish you a fast recovery from the second operation. You gave me a real nice information very detailed and very useful. I'm almost your age and I was a very active person until the problem with my shoulders started to be too bothersome. and then the last drop in the cup was OSA that one is OK now.

Mars: I get ultrasounds and at the end MRI, I have torn ligaments; I have full range movement but with that comes the pain too. apparently the only option is a surgery if I can find a Dr. whom would do it. Thanks for the miotherapy information it could be useful in another situation.

blackspinner: you made laugh a lot No I don't have a live-in servant, I whish I had one I was not speaking about surgery for the two shoulders, I meant the two ligaments in the right shoulder because one is in the front up side and the other on the middle of the shoulder plate in the back. I was wondering if they will make two openings on my shoulder, I'm already feeling the pain

gasparama: thanks to remember me I would need to sleep on the sofa, that will be a hard part too; it seems there is not an esasy part at all in the saga. But now I can't make almost nothing without increasing the daily pain. It's encouraging to know that after surgery you can get rid of pain and become more functional.

I had rotator cuff surgery December 2002 on my right shoulder. I am right handed. I think adjusting to doing without my right arm was the most difficult part. After surgery, I had a sling to immobilize my arm for 6 weeks with therapy and a second 6 weeks of more therapy. The sling just about drove me crazy. After those 12 weeks, I was fine. All these years later I am still very satisfied with the results.

Catnapper - Joanie

Suggest you first determine the cause for the tear - that will help guide your decision for treatment? If it's a full tear, your option is pre-determined.

In my case I had also partial tear but prior, already had a bicep tendon rupture (long tendon not the short one). The cause of both was a bone that was wearing away the tendons/ligaments, much like a rope on a tree, being slowly frayed until it snaps.

In my case, it was a no-brainer. Surgery to 'shave' the bone, called bone acrimony. Relatively simple procedure, recovery time about 3 months with physical therapy. Full recovery, back to 100% so that I could golf, swim, get full range of motion without any discomfort: closer to 6++ months.

I know that rotator cuff surgery is more extensive, recovery time much longer. The two keys are a competent surgeon and an even more competent therapist (plus self-initiative to do the exercises!). Good luck.

It seems that the cause of my torn ligament is the fact I did work for 11 years with the arms in the air pushing buttons, turning wheels, forcing with the arms far from the body, repetitive work.

There is no bone spur or something like that in the MRI. I'm right handed and I was very capable with the left hand too, so I have the same torn but smaller in the same ligament of the left side, but that side doesn't hurt. What hurt still is the bursitis, yes in both shoulders. But that is lesser than the pain due to the ligaments damage.