Anybody had Rotator Cuff problems

[Orange Daddy]

My right arm is starting to hurt when I raise it up. I get it half way and pain hits my arm to shoulder..
A guy at work said that is what it is...

I work in a Steel Mill I do testing bars.. Bars weight 5 to 40lbs each depending on size we are making.. I get 32" samples and have to wrestle it and get up in in a machine
that pulls it apart for yield and tensile.. I been doing this 30 years now.. Older I get it does get a bit harder to get the #57 rebar and the 6x 1 1/2 thick flats in it..
I have not hurt the arm i know of but its hurting.

Whey you go to the Dr. how does he check you what kind of test determines what it is... Does surgery have to be done or there other options. A fellow at church told me he gets this roll on stuff to rub on the shoulder.top of arm.. He said he was not doing surgery

I just can't be taking off work right now, I also got a mowing crew I do on my off days. That is just starting up.

How long does it take to heal... Will it get better on its on? If you will fill me in about the treatment how long and do's and don't s.
Thank you

 

[Spartacavolus]

He will do some motion tests then maybe an mri. If its torn, its a way of life thing. If you can sleep well and function, you have to think about no surgery. If you can't sleep and it hampers daily routine, you gotta bite the bullet and get it fixed. Tough surgery and you'd be out of manual labor work for awhile.
I'd check with your risk management dept to see if it might be related to wear and tear.
Mine is torn now.

 

[Orange Daddy]

I do sleep good now if I roll to other side I can tell it but laying there going to sleep no problems with it at all.. Just when I raise the arm is only time I feel some pain

 

[Spartacavolus]

I do sleep good now if I roll to other side I can tell it but laying there going to sleep no problems with it at all.. Just when I raise the arm is only time I feel some pain

Then I suggest basing your opinion on pain/function/ability to sleep. I have a torn left rcr right now, but don't want to have surgery. The pain is bearable and I just have to watch my elbow movements and how I reach laterally. Problem is it also affects my sleep. I think I will have it around November.

 

[kiddiedoc]

There are a number of shoulder problems that could explain your pain. Aside from the rotator cuff, biceps tendonitis, labrum tear, and AC joint inflammation are common issues. You should see an Ortho, who might be able to diagnose with examination techniques, but you would likely need am MRI and/or an arthrogram (injection dye study). Most of these don't just go away, so surgery is certainly a possibility.

 

[steve328]

Good advice being given on here. I've had rotator cuff surgery on both shoulders ( but not at same time ). Both times I had a 100% tear. I used to work in a steel mill doing heavy lifting also and I'm sure it contributed to the problem.
Left shoulder I went thru an MRI then surgery, took several months to get over completely. Shoulder like new now.
On the right shoulder the doctor seen the tear with an ultrasound in the office. Had surgery and have been a year and I'm about 80% but I'm older and don't heal as quick because of age.
Like others have said, it comes down to being able to sleep on it and if you can perform your job.
Some folks with minor tears are back to work in a few days. It comes down to case by case. If you can sleep on it that's a real good sign.
My neighbor put off the surgery for about 10 years and built so much scar tissue the doctors said surgery wouldn't help much.

 

[Escape Goat]

I do sleep good now if I roll to other side I can tell it but laying there going to sleep no problems with it at all.. Just when I raise the arm is only time I feel some pain

Just messed mine up at work unloading crap. Going to the doctor this week. It hurts turning a steering wheel. I feel your pain. It's a constant throbbing pain that only gets better if I elevate my arm to a 90 degree angle. Hope you get some relief soon, I know what you are feeling.

 

[s1216]

I have a long history with this

Went to any number of doctors, had tons of tests done... mri's, bone scan, emg, etc.. lots of cortisone shots. Physical therapy... Nothing really helped I too had trouble sleeping.

Went to a new doctor with the intent of getting surgery. Finally found someone who knew what they were talking about. Your case may not be the same as mine but I was diagnosed with impingement syndrome. Once I understood what the problem was, I was able to strengthen the area. Found this device ShoulderHorn Home that was a breakthrough

Then discovered by accident fish oil supplements were, at least for me, a tremendous help in keeping the inflammation under control (krill works too). This book is good if you can find it 7 Minute Rotator Cuff Solution: Jerry Robinson, Joseph Horrigan: 9780944831250: Amazon.com: Books for a reasonable price.

 

[Orange Daddy]

That was my next question What if you don't do anything
about it? I guess when you keep using it its not going to get better..
With the summer here I just can't take off and disability
pay I sure can't live off that many bills as I got..

I guess the first step is to see a Dr. about it..
Thanks for all the comments

Wow Steve you had both shoulders at once.
I sure don't wont none of that one

 

[GreveHaller]

Unfortunately, OD, there's only two things to do: fix it or deal with it. It wont heal on its own.

I went the fix route on mine and boy was I in for a shock. Its one of the most time consuming recoveries I've ever had as well as painful. Alot of PT and you have to. Sleeping is very difficult for quite some time as you cannot lay on that side at all. For me it was the worst case and that being it was the shoulder of my dominate arm. There is no greater humiliation than having to ask your wife to wipe your butt because you cant. My advice if you do get the surgery and its your dominate hand it to begin now practice wiping with that non dominate hand. It will save you alot of embarrisment.
Not trying to discourage you at all from the actual surgery but preparing you for what could be ahead. The decision is yours and its all up to your tolerance level of pain right now.

 

[steve328]

Wow Steve you had both shoulders at once.
I sure don't wont none of that one

No, I had the surgeries about three years apart. Would be extremely difficult to do the recovery exercises if both shoulders were operated on.

Really, your first step would be to see a good doctor and let them evaluate. You may just need some therapy. I hope so, anyways. Good luck.

BTW, I'm not a doctor but if I wasn't considering surgery, I wouldn't let them send me for an MRI. Expensive and it will tell them very little except that it's torn and a good evaluation should determine that. JMO

 

[Orange Daddy]

Good Advice GH can't hard to think of sunshine wiping my azz.. It is my dominate hand I use.. I know I'm gonna live with it for now.. maybe it can hold out till I retire anyway.
My daughter is a Phy Therapist in Nashville I have not even told her I don't want my wife pushing me to the Dr. making me do something about it..
I can her her yapping in my ear from now on till something done

All of you good advice on this..

 

[etmVol]

I hurt mine fairly seriously two times through baseball. The first time, I was able to correct it without surgery. I wasn't as lucky the second time.

The first time, rest and a lot of rehab did the trick. There was slight tearing and severe impingement. The rehab allowed me to strengthen the little muscles and catch them back up to the bigger ones. When I started throwing again, it felt good as new.

The second time I hurt it, I completely blew the sucker out. I had hurt/weakened it while playing, then it gave during a bench press. I worked with the trainers for a while trying to rehab it, but I had to have surgery. I tore more than just my cuff (multiple tears in cuff, labrum was shredded, biceps tendon was torn/displaced) and I had some complication (multiple PEs a few days after the procedure), but I can say that my quality of life right now would be significantly less if I didn't have that surgery.

Hopefully you only have some impingement and/or partial tears and are able to rehab it. However, if it is serious enough that rehab can't correct it, I would recommend having it surgically repaired rather than trying to deal with it the rest of your life. Just don't do what I did and decline the nerve block; stupid decision, lol. The suggestions about the fish oil and other joint therapy supplements are a good idea, especially as you are nearing retirement age.

 

[RockyTop411]

My dad tore his. He was out 6 months, but now his shoulder feels great after the surgery.

 

[vol_in_ar]

if she does have to wipe for you, try for a Blumpkin

 

[Orange Daddy]

Remember I'm a old codger at 58, I had to Google what a Blumpkin is..
O Gawd never heard of that one and I have done some weird sheet in my days..

 

[vollygirl]

My advice would be see a doc and find out what actually is going on. I had "shoulder irritation" in my right shoulder and I figured it was from age. Couldn't do push-ups without feeling something wasn't right. And couldn't progress in my shoulder workouts (again, I thought it was due to age). Finally, doing a pushup after holding plank for a minute, something felt like it snapped or popped as I raised up. Couldn't figure out exactly what happened but it obviously wasn't good.

Three months after that incident, when I figured out it wasn't gonna get better on its on, I made an appt with an ortho. While I only had a partial tear in my rotator cuff that didn't require surgery (that was the pushup injury), the MRI revealed I had a bone spur that was slowly debriding the tendon that attached the cuff to the shoulder joint. Without having the spur removed, continued movement would've eventually worn the tendon into.

Good luck with your issue. And I would definitely see a doc to find out exactly what's happening.

 

[Orange Daddy]

I know I really should I just don't want no bad news I got way to much going on.
I will at least wait till winter comes on
There are more people with this problems, guess its my older friends to.. One fellow at Church has it and his shoulder pops out. He has to line it up on the wall and push it back in.

 

[GreveHaller]

Hopefully you can work thru it with a good dose of PT and all will be better. One thing that they might do is shoot you up with some cortizone. Works great. But eventually it wears off and you're back to square one. Plus they'll only give you a certain number of injections.

Mine was dx as a labrum tear. When he got in there found the rotator cuff tear as well as bone spur. About a year later I still didnt have full range of motion so he re-scoped it and it had a build up of scar tissue. I am just beginning to be able to throw baseball and football with my son without pain.

 

[Bossfrog]

I had my right repaired in 2005, out 1.5 months, last year my left started hurting after a fall with the arm extended and hitting higher than my body landed. Any way mri said 100% tear, doc said 6 month recovery. I went to my chiropractor for normal visit and was complaining about the pain. I visited him 2 /3 times a week for a month while he abused my shoulder muscles, but now I can do anything I want with no pain.