Avoiding Surgery.

[puzzled]

Hi all, I injured my shoulder in a quad bike accident 18 months ago.
I've seen a hand and upper limb surgeon who has taken a couple of
months trying to diagnose my injury.Reports from MRI scans and
ultrasounds,he wasn't confident in.Through other research he has
finally concluded that surgery is the option for a rotator cuff tear.
Apart from some weakness, I don't have any pain or discomfort,and
have full mobility.The weakness is my main concern,but not a major
problem.Is it worth the pain of surgery? Anyone had same or similar?

[Unregistered]

If it is a full thickness tear.....surgery won't help regain strength. Surgery is meant for pain relief.
Only crazy amounts of physio can aid in mobility and strength

[angieliu]

I agree, I don't think that surgery will help with regaining strength. I think that surgery is normally a last resort as it is the most instrusive option to try to solve the problem. I would consider going to see a good sports physio to see what sort of stregthening mucscles they can give you. Otherwise rest is always a good thing to try.

I have done a rotator cuff injury (not tear though) and the only thing that has really worked is rest, and then slowly working on strength exercises.

There are a lot of really well known listed physios on this site who you could try.

[Mary]

HI, I agree with the othe responses. No pain = no surgery. Surgery should be a last resort. Get yourself a physio that specialises in shoulders & really get into strengthening & endurance exercises they give you.

Do you have shoulder instability from the accident?? - can you sublux or dislocate your injured shoulder??? If so, maybe surgery (after trying to strengthen around the area) may have to be your option if rehab isn't successful.

Good luck

Mary

[cwb]

If there's a tear, I doubt physio will help.I had surgery four months ago on my left shoulder(Full decompression) and I'm glad I did it. Unfortunantely, a month ago I developed a partial thickness tear to the right shoulder. Remember that usually tests don't always paint the true picture. If there's consistant pain for weeks, then there's a greater problem and I'm in constant pain. I've had 12 surgerys in my life and I'm 99.99 % certain that after an MRI, I'll be scheduled for my 13th.
cb