Need Advice Nowwwww!!!!!

[jasonsteele]

Can anyone tell me......does a full thickness tear of the supraspnatus tendon usually require surgery? I havent had much luck with getting answers from the Specialist(this is the guy who based his report on the wrong shoulder xray!)
I just started physiotherapy and have another specialist appt in 2 weeks. This is an injury caused by a fall onto the ice at a hockey practice.(37 years old)
I have only had ultra-sound and the report stated:

The biceps tendon is normally positioned, with normal appearance on ultrasound. There is a small amount of fluid in the sheath.

The supraspinatus tendon demonstrates a near full thickness tear. The tear appears to be predominantly articular surface, with a few remaining resudual fibers present in the bursal surface of the tendon. There is no fluid in the subscapularis/subdeltoid bursa.

The subscapularis tendon is somewhat heterogeneous, suggesting a degree of tendinopathy. The infraspinatus tendon is normal.

There are mild hypertoophic degenerative changes of the acromioclavicular joint.

IMPRESSION:
Near full thickness articular surface tear of the supraspinatus. There are only a few thin residual fibers intact along the articular surface of the tendon. Tendinopathy of the subscapularis tendon.

::::Before I go to get a 2nd opinion, I would really be interested in getting some feedback.
Thank you

[injuryupdate]

To get a high functioning shoulder (i.e. one that can cope with overhead sports) this sort of tear would usually need repair. Therefore at age 37 and still keen on sports and with pain from the injury I think you are probably headed to surgery. If you did the same injury at 55 it might be better to pump some cortisone in, let the tear complete itself, which would actually be less painful than a partial tear with a few fibres left, and refrain from loading to shoulder too much.

[jasonsteele]

To get a high functioning shoulder (i.e. one that can cope with overhead sports) this sort of tear would usually need repair. Therefore at age 37 and still keen on sports and with pain from the injury I think you are probably headed to surgery. If you did the same injury at 55 it might be better to pump some cortisone in, let the tear complete itself, which would actually be less painful than a partial tear with a few fibres left, and refrain from loading to shoulder too much.



Thank you. The first surgeon I saw a week ago, thinks a few weeks of physio is the answer. Problem is that I am very active, in my job, and in sports, and sitting at home pulling on some "thera-band" waiting for this thing to heal is driving me nuts. It has gotten to the point where it feels better than it did a week after, but now at three weeks it hasn't changed. The pain threshold is about 5outof10 where when it happened was about 9out of 10. Now when I move it in certain positions I get this rubber band pop feeling, and sleeping at night is next to impossible.
I'm thinking 2nd opinion is the answer?