Wondering if any of you have had an issue with this? I’m heading to the doc today to ask some questions along with my kids appointment… The area is just getting more sore and weaker so I’m getting concearned 
. Thanks friends.
My old man is in the process of dealing with a damaged rotator cuff now. He went and talked to some specialists, they said he could do surgery or try and do physical therapy to try and strengthen it. They said post surgery rehab on a rotator cuff is no walk in the park, but what post op rehab is easy? My old man is a stubborn sob, claims he is too old for surgery, ha, so he is doing the physical therapy once a week and has seen considerable improvement. As long as your shoulder is still structurally sound you could get an option similar to this.
What are the symptoms of a tore rotator cuff and how does a doctor verify that is the problem?
Just asking for a friend 
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What are the symptoms of a tore rotator cuff and how does a doctor verify that is the problem?
Just asking for a friend
Stop by sometime Bret (I mean his friend) My wife can give you the once over.
I had the surgery a few years ago. There were 4 seperate tear’s that they had to fix. I am very happy with it now. I thought it would never get back to normal and maybe it isn’t but overall I can do what I want to do with no real limits. If you have surgery then you will need to see a physical therapist who will set you up for some strengthening exercises. You start real basic with something as light as a can of soup. At first it may seem like you will never get it back but it just takes a long time.
At the time I asked if I would be able to throw a baseball overhand and they said sure but I would need to go through much more extensive therapy for that. I never did go but I am happy to say I can play catch without any problems.
I hope your appointment goes well. Sometimes just ice and treatment or a cortisone shot will fix it! Good luck
I am not a doc or a PT but from what I remember they test the mobility for the joint. Have your friend try to raise their arm like they are doing a Hitler salute. If they can’t do that that is one sign. Also, have them raise their arm out to the side in an L….like you would raise your arm when being sworn in…in court. You may need to support their elbow if they are having trouble doing that. Then keeping the elbow out and supported move the hand down/forward. From what I recall, you can’t do those things if it is a tear. Then the doctor will send the patient for a MRI to confirm visually.
One thing I want to point out, a person can draw and shoot a bow with a torn rotator cuff. The pulling back did not affect my shoulder joint. Also, the doc told me that it IS NOT necessary to have the surgical repair if you don’t want it. Many people live with it and accept the limits. I personally don’t understand that thinking. I say get it fixed and move on. I tore mine a few years ago when I was 43 years old and then I shot my first deer that fall with a bow then had surgery a couple weeks later! 
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What are the symptoms of a tore rotator cuff and how does a doctor verify that is the problem?
Just asking for a friend
The biggest indicator for me Bret was that I could not lift or lower my arm. It also hurt to hold it up to the point I had tyo use my other arm to help hold it.
As far as how they determine this, If I remember correctly, they gave me some x-rays and checked out the movement of my arm and how much and where it hurt. Cortisone may be another option.
If you believe you have an issue, I would get in as soon as possible. if you have a tear, you do not want it to get worse.
I had a buddy that let it go with pain until he almost tore the whole thing apart. He had the surgery done and was in a sling for 6 months.
My first surgery was on my left shoulder approx 5 years ago. The doc suggested to try some PT as the insurance company would want me to give it a try to maybe save a surgery. I did that for approx 6 weeks and it helped nothing. I have heard of it helping some others though. They also gave me some type of drug pack or steriods to try but to no avail.
Well, I had the surgery and it was done by a scope surgery. They had to fix the tear, clean out some channel in my shoulder as it was growing closed and something else.
I was in the hospital for approx 2 hours and went home. They said I could have stayed overnight as I may have wanted some pain meds as when the stuff they gave me wore off, I would be in serious pain.
I went home and I did not sleep for the first night at all and the second a little bit. Pain was very bad.
Then it was off to PT for about a month and all was healed well in 6-7 months. That also was somewhat painful.
Now, 2 years later, the other shoulder was bad. Went to the Doc and that one was also in need of repairs.
The Doc suggested I have it repaired and he said he was going to make an incision as the scope surgery was much more painful that the open incision. Much leass intrussive he said.
Went to the hospital, there for 1.5 hours and on my way home. Slept very well that night with some of the better drugs and 2 weeks later I was blowing snow with my snowblower and it was totalled healed in approx 4 months. 2-3 months sdhorter than the scope surgery and I had the exact same procedure done on both as far as repair and the tear was approx the same in each shoulder.
Long story short, Doc said some like to do the scope surgery but one should heal considerably faster with an open incision and be back to normal faster.
Today, both shoulders work like new.
For a little over one year, I could not draw my bow back as it hurt soooo bad. After the surgery, Doc said no bow for a minimum of 6 months. I guess this would also depend on what they all had to do to ones shoulder during surgery. All is well now.
As I said, if you feel you may have an issue with your shoulder,. get it checked out b-4 it tears worse. It will more than likely get worse and one does not want it to tear any further if it is torn.
if you have any further questions or If can be of any help, please shoot me an a e-mail or PM.
Good luck at the doc today.
You just can’t beat sleeping in a recliner for 3 months and having other people zip and button your jeans. Good luck to all people that have to have shoulder surgery, it is very painful afterwards and sucks without a doubt. I’m going on 7 months post surgery after getting 5 anchors in my socket and my bicep tendon put back together. It’s still a little sore but hasn’t came out of the socket yet. It’s a long recovery up to 10 months.
No doubt about the pain end of things.
I remember before I had my suregry I could not sleep in a bed. After the syrgery for a few weeks I slept in the recliner.
Now, back to the bed.
Had the surgery in November of ’05. I was late season deer hunting in January. I had the labrum tore in half. Recovery was supposed to be atleast 8 months but was golfing and fishing after 3. The day I had surgery I went out and brought 3 loads of wood back into the house. Maybe I am a tough sob but the pain dictated what I could and couldn’t do.
I’m sure it’s because you’re tough… 
I must have had a totally differeent surgery than you. Alot depends on the degree of the tear and any other injury to the area.
No way I would have lifted anything for 2 weeks.
Bret, here is a great link for info on this type injury.
Quote:
What are the symptoms of a tore rotator cuff and how does a doctor verify that is the problem?
Just asking for a friend
Go to an orthopaedic doctor (not a GP) and they will do some range of motion and mobility tests to determine what is wrong. From that, they can determine which specific muscles, tendons, or ligaments are damaged and which specific exercises will help fix them.
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