Rotator cuff tear questions

Hi! Almost a year ago, an MRI revealed I had a full thickness tear of the distal supraspinatus. I was told it wouldn’t heal on its own. However, I found an article on the net where a study was done of around 28 people with the same tear. These people didn’t have surgery. Two healed on their own. I went for a second opinion. The 2nd surgeon said surgery was up to me since I had full movement and pain was deminishining. This surgeon was very interested in the article which he had me email to him. He gave me exercises to do. I will be seeing him again soon. Has anyone had experience with a full thickness tear healing on its own? I hear surgery may not give me full movement. I have 99 percent full movement without pain now and am afraid surgery will take away that movement. Thanks.

brussels4me wrote:

Hi! Almost a year ago, an MRI revealed I had a full thickness tear of the distal supraspinatus. I was told it wouldn’t heal on its own. However, I found an article on the net where a study was done of around 28 people with the same tear. These people didn’t have surgery. Two healed on their own. I went for a second opinion. The 2nd surgeon said surgery was up to me since I had full movement and pain was deminishining. This surgeon was very interested in the article which he had me email to him. He gave me exercises to do. I will be seeing him again soon. Has anyone had experience with a full thickness tear healing on its own? I hear surgery may not give me full movement. I have 99 percent full movement without pain now and am afraid surgery will take away that movement. Thanks.

My 2 cents… If you have 99% movement with no pain, consider yourself very lucky and pass on surgery. The surgery alone in time after scar tissue develops, will probably cause arthritis down the road. Not worth that 1% for me in my book anyways.
Good luck on your decision.

7% of people im a small test, suggests “healing” is quite unlikely. Surgery or not depends on how you see both options limiting you. If you have no pain, “99% motion”…you’re in pretty good position.

What happens (either option) in the next say 10-20+years either way? Arthritis from surgery scars, pain and reduced ROM from weakening of whatever has picked up the slack for now, etc. And what does a best-case surgery gain you over pain-free 99% motion?

Call Bluetail Medical about Stem Cell. Can send them MRI’s and they can tell you if it will regenerate. Used to have locations only in Florida and Missouri but have a doc coming to Minnesota now. A lot less invasive and worth a conversation IMO.