Quote Originally Posted by Zomb131 View Post
My right supraspinatus is fully torn (full thickness tear), has been for 6ish years. I will NOT get surgery unless I have to later on in life, 35 years old now. I was in pain for a few months post tear. I was in competition mode and gave zero fucks, worked my way around the injury, and found what didn't hurt. By the time my contest ended the pain had subsided and I rehabed the injury myself. Is my rotator cuff 100%, fuck no. I gave up heavy barbell work long ago. The only exercise that I feel iffy on is flat barbell, but I was never a great bencher before the tear. Dumbbells have replaced barbell work completely. I recently partially tore my right long head bicep incline benching 160's, but I attribute that to dehydration.

Both surgeons I talked to guaranteed me nothing. The larger more muscular you are the harder it is for them to reattach it correctly. If the muscle is taut and they can't pull the muscle back into place, they will anchor it down wherever they can. You can also tear the anchor off the bone abducting your arm once during recovery. There is a chance the surgery/anchor can be pain generators, making it worse. 3-4 months in a sling + 8 months of rehab before you're back to normal ADL's.
But aren't you always in pain? Seems like the extremes with your examples. The two doctors that I have spoken to already have said that if you take it easy and keep up with the rehabilitation, you'll snap right back into the game.