Rotator Cuff

[Rollie NE PA]

I have read alot of you fellow YTer's posts about your shoulder problems. Today I had a Dr.appointment and after showing me the MRI results, he informed me that I have so much damage and issues in the shoulder that it can not be fixed.
He said he could go in and clean things up but I would not recieve any real benefit. He said down the road that a replacement may be needed.
It could always be worse.
Anyone here have a shoulder replacement?

To keep it tractor related, as long as I have the arm strengh to steer the Farmall H with a loader on I'll be happy.

 

[Mike (WA)]

Interesting coincidence- until yesterday, I had never heard of a shoulder replacement, but then I had a client who has had both replaced. He said it has really helped with the pain. Doc told him he will have normal use of shoulder, and can lift some, but can't go back to the job that gave him the problem in the first place- loading sacks of feed. He's fine with that- time to retire anyhow!

 

[ShadetreeRet]

Sounds like a second opinion is needed. The Dr. may be telling the truth, but that sounds a little extreme. A few years ago, I tore my left cuff, actually stripped it, couldn't lift my arm or extend it. Doctor repaired it, (minimal invasive surgery), and I have about 90% full use. Took several weeks of PT, but it works.

 

[Richard G.]

Doc told me mine was completely shot and he had to find tendons and pull on them to put it back together. Said the morning after the surgery, I might never have use of my arm again. Did the therapy and have full use now.
I would get a second opinion.
Richard in NW SC

 

[Dick L]

I agree with the second opinion.
My shoulder had the tendons stripped clean and were half way to my neck. They removed part of my shoulder bone to make some kind of an attachment point, pulled it all back down and fastened it in a three hour surgery. He told me it was like sewing wet paper towel.
Three months of therapy three times a week and the Doctor said I had more use of my arm than he thought I would have. He also said most would not work as hard with the therapists as they had reported to him that I had.

 

[Alaskapete]

On May 5 I had a complete shoulder replacement on the right side. I had no pain at all, and I have been going to therapy steadily since then. I so far have regained about 30% of the use of that arm, have had no joint pain, and could not be happier with the result. In fact I feel so positive that I am scheduling a total shoulder replacement on my left arm in December. Living without pain is truly wonderful, and it's also nice to be regaining the strength in the arm that I used to have. Total replacement is wonderful!!!

 

[MSD]

I've had both of my rotator cuffs repaired. First one doc said it was the worst tear he had ever seen and it took him 1 1/2's hrs. longer to patch it back up than he had planned for. Next one I had a different doc and he had it done in his allotted time. Found out by an xray some years later I have 5 screws holding that one together. Both arms work great with no pain. My brother had a shoulder joint replaced. Not sure why they did that rather than a cuff repair.

 

[Donald Lehman]

I would get a couple more opinions and see what they say. I was under the impression from my doctor that shoulder joint replacements are a last resort and definately don't have the range of movement a real joint has. This was 3 years ago and things may have changed since. I have had both shoulders done and one needs to be repaired again. I was also told by one doc that this time the shoulder wasn't fixing a second time around. This was told to me by the doc who did my last shoulder and my shoulder felt like a got run over by a D-8 for about 5 months, so if I ever get insurance again, I'm going to try another doc and see what he says.
I would get at least two more opinions!

 

[Donald Lehman]

Sorry, the sentence should have read "the shoulder wasn't WORTH fixing the second time around".

 

[showcrop]

(quoted from post at 10:32:31 06/27/14) I have read alot of you fellow YTer's posts about your shoulder problems. Today I had a Dr.appointment and after showing me the MRI results, he informed me that I have so much damage and issues in the shoulder that it can not be fixed.
He said he could go in and clean things up but I would not recieve any real benefit. He said down the road that a replacement may be needed.
It could always be worse.
Anyone here have a shoulder replacement?

I agree with getting a second opinion. I have had both repaired. When fixing the second they scraped calcium deposits out, repaired the torn rotator cuff, and removed a shredded tendon.

 

[dzc3]

I have torn my left shoulder twice and right shoulder once, started therapy right away every time, avoided surgery. Therapy hurt bad enough. Cant throw a baseball or carry a heavy load, like I once could, and yes they hurt in the middle of the night. But Surgery is not all it's cracked up to be

 

[Rollie NE PA]

Thanks for all the replies and information.
My wife is a nurse at a hospital clinic. She showed the MRI report to the Doctor she works for and the Doctors comments were, What shoulder?
When the orthopedic surgeon showed me the MRI images and explained each issue, even me as a lay person could understand what the issues are. I had read my MRI test results online and was able to do some research prior to my office visit. My health insurance provider owns and operates several hospitals and many clinics and they post all of your medical records/tests results on their website.

What the surgeon was saying is basically he could make the repair but I would recieve no benefit. Very little pain relief, I would not regain any strengh, and range of motion would not improve. For now I will just wait and see what happens.

Thanks again for the comments.

 

[David G]

I had my rotator cuff fixed, arthritis smoothed out and ACL reattached about 18 months ago. It still hurts sometimes.

 

[MarkB_MI]

I don't know anyone who has had a shoulder joint replacement, but I do know the recovery period for shoulder surgery is long and painful. I dislocated mine back in February and had bony bankart repair in early April and I'm still a very long way from having full use of my arm. A friend who has had a large number of bizarre orthopedic surgeries says that his rotator cuff surgery was by far the worst in terms of pain and recovery time. If your orthopedist says surgery is a waste, I'd be inclined to believe him.

 

[44 massey]

Was involved in a truck accident almost 4 years ago!!! Among other things left shoulder didn't come thru it very well!! Broke my collar bone which ended up requiring a permanent pate, shoulder blade ended up in 4-6 pieces but worse was it tore all the muscles, ligaments and tendons in my shoulder!! Being 60 at time of the accident am sure didn't help the healing process!!! Took therapy for almost a year and after 3 surgeries they decided that it is as good as it is going to be!! Have a permanent weight restriction of 25lbs, limited motion, can't lift a gallon of milk higher then my waist!! Being left-handed dosent help, but get along quite well, have gotten used to the normal discomforts, something you learn to live with!!

 

[massey333]

I had a complete replacement done in 02 or 03(really twice because the DR.didn't like the the first one and did a complete one again),was done in Dec.,therapy 3 months(very aggressive,wts.,speed hand cranks,lifting)worked ground and planted 900A.corn-beans in april-may.Plus swinging a couple tons of wheel wts. tractor pulling. I have far better movment-use of arm then most Rotatory cuff people.Dr.and therapy people said not to baby it and do normal things. I know it is there but not bothersome.Do what the Dr.says and good luck.

 

[buickanddeere]

I have a SLAP tear going at the moment. Another MRI but with a dye injection in a few weeks. The previous muscle/tendon repairs from 18yrs ago are still holding and working well.