Thread: Rotator Cuff surgery

I got my MRI back showing that I have torn my rotator cuff all the way through on the supraspinatus. I am not eligible for the prb or stem cells because of it. Doc said it's a simple straight forward procedure where they anchor it back onto the joint and he also said physical therapy as soon as possible will heal up quicker.

Anyone here go through it and what do I have to expect? I know it's gonna be a bitch, but honestly, I can't do what I love anymore - I can barely workout because the pain is so bad. I'm trying my best to keep going but it looks like surgery is gonna happen in a month or two..

Any thoughts?

Thanks,

Trained a handful of clients with a rotator cuff tear. We always made sure to prioritize our shoulder stretches and conditioning the rotator cuffs to prevent as much pain as possible during our workouts. As far what to expect, you gotta keep your head up brother figuratively speaking (and physically during movements... bad joke there). You will lose a lot of strength and it will get to a point where you will wonder why you’re even on the gym floor moving weight you most likely started off with during your early years of lifting. I always made sure the clients knew that what they were doing at that moment was loads better than sitting or laying around staring at a wall or a tv. In the end it’s gonna get better, and the fact you’re doing something will make the rehabilitation process that much more easier.

I had a full thickness tear of rotator cuff
I didnt get operation but i did 8 weeks with exercise physiologist who is experienced with shoulder injuries
And i took low dose deca
Alot better now but have to warm up and load it before workout

I like what Mr. Vanity told you! It's going to take a while to get going again. No race! Do physical therapy afterwards and start all over again in the gym. Give up the heavy weight days and enjoy working out and looking good. Best of luck to you! I have heard so many stories of guys using hgh afterward and doing fantastic. Maybe someone else can confirm or deny this rumor.

Look into getting a cold and compression unit for icing after. There is one called the recovery plus that uses water not ice. This machine dropes down to a specific temperature and stays at that temp for 60 minutes on and then 30 minutes off. The entire time it will also provide compression to you shoulder. And because it stays at an exact temperature and cycles on and off by itself you can wear it for as long as you want. 3 hours, 8 hours, sleep in it. It will dramatically help with the swelling, inflammation, and pain. This is not like ice units you buy online like gameready or etc that use ice or ice and water. You need a prescription for it I believe and it’s usually from a durable medical equipment company and its rented. If you have any questions pm me. Seriously this thing is a game changer even if you don’t need surgery

Very cool sounding device! Sounds like a must do

Originally Posted by Zomb131

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.

Originally Posted by Mr.Vanity

Trained a handful of clients with a rotator cuff tear. We always made sure to prioritize our shoulder stretches and conditioning the rotator cuffs to prevent as much pain as possible during our workouts. As far what to expect, you gotta keep your head up brother figuratively speaking (and physically during movements... bad joke there). You will lose a lot of strength and it will get to a point where you will wonder why you’re even on the gym floor moving weight you most likely started off with during your early years of lifting. I always made sure the clients knew that what they were doing at that moment was loads better than sitting or laying around staring at a wall or a tv. In the end it’s gonna get better, and the fact you’re doing something will make the rehabilitation process that much more easier.

Oh believe me brother, I know I'm gonna lose a lot. I'm actually already starting to lose strength just due to the obscene pain that i'm in. Today for instance, I'm out trail running and of course, my right foot clipped a fucking rock and I tend to go flying forward, jerk back up, so I don't face plant, great save of the day, but the pain that shot right through my shoulder and all the way down to my elbow almost made me wanna grab the biggest bottle of vicodins and have a party! FFS. That pain is unbelievable. That's twice now that has happened to me with the movement where I catch myself off guard and tense up through my shoulders and wow.

My old IT manager had rotator cuff surgery and he told me that he was sleeping in his lazy boy for almost a month or two. Even when he came back to work, he had to hold his surface tablet with his left arm because he couldn't do it with high right. Of course, when I asked him how rehabilitation was doing, he said he got pissed about it and quit. Had to many things to do that was more important! What! I love working out and this sucks to high heaven that one of the things that I love doing the most - I can't even do now. I spent a better course of training the other day doing both days of workouts into one because I can't do part of them, so, whatever, I'm learning and working my way around what I can and can't do. I've lost a lot of strength anyways, I can't even bench with 2 25 plates! I used to rock 225 25-27 times, no big deal. I don't have a super amount of muscle, I'm fairly lean and about 10-12% bf, and I havent' been about the strength game for some time because of my shoulder injury. I know this is going to be a tuff one, but I'll do it. I believe that if I hit the rehab hard - well - light - but constant - I should be back in no time. as long as the anchors hold, I'm good. I'm never gonna go for the big weights again, but I'm gonna play it safe and I'll get up there, but trying to bench 315 is just not in my goal set anymore.

Thanks for the awesome tips, I'll definitely keep everything you said to mind.

(just lifting my right arm from the keyboard to the mouse to click post reply hurts like a bitch.)