I have had issues with my rotator cuff since high school baseball. I was diagnosed with what they called a “small tear”. Instead of surgery, I opted for PT, twice (ultrasound therapy, deep tissue massage - ouch! and exercise). It never fixed the issue. The good thing is that the only effect is my fastball dropped 8 mph and to this day, 25 years later, I still cannot throw anything without pain. I can do everything else without pain though, including cast a fly rod all day so I never bothered to get surgery. Probably not much help but that has been my experience. Good luck.

 

I have had issues with my rotator cuff since high school baseball. I was diagnosed with what they called a "small tear". Instead of surgery, I opted for PT, twice (ultrasound therapy, deep tissue massage - ouch! and exercise). It never fixed the issue. The good thing is that the only effect is my fastball dropped 8 mph and to this day, 25 years later, I still cannot throw anything without pain. I can do everything else without pain though, including cast a fly rod all day so I never bothered to get surgery. Probably not much help but that has been my experience. Good luck.

Same story here!! You have to be the REAL DEAL to get a RO-CUFF injury!! Fact I used to blow 98 on the reg, hittin' triple dig with EASE if I really GRITTED up and THREW one. I consider myself BIG TIME. look i ain't throwin one to prove cause this RO-CUFF infury.

 

I had the shot, then the pt, then the surgery, then the pt again.
8 months duration in total.
Surgery worked in my case.

 

Depends on the specifics of your injury but I would for sure do PT.

For my particular tear, surgery would have done more damage than the injury.

J

 

To be as mobile as it is, the physical joint between the humerus and the scapula is quite flat - not much structural support from a bony socket (unlike the hip joint) and with a thin collar of cartilage (labrum). The rotator cuff muscles (all originating on the scapula: supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, and subscapularis) stabilize the shoulder joint by inserting on the humerus. Inflammation from overuse or a partial tendon tear in one of the muscles reduces the stability of the shoulder and can be painful.
Presumably the shot is cortisone; this would reduce the inflammation and pain. If this is the only treatment, it would allow time for some repair to occur (but repair of tendons is VERY slow at any age and 74 does not speed the process). Physical therapy can increase the range of pain-free motion and increase the strength of these four muscles, reducing the risk of further damage. Best of luck with your treatment.
Steve

 

I held off surgery for years because it would be career ending due to lifting restrictions. PT was not going to help. A couple shots brought short term relief but wasn't a fix. Aleve and using Tumeric helped with the pain. I had full joint replacement at age 62 and have been happy with it. I still do PT 3 yrs.later and it helps a lot, especially the stretching. If your pain is in your casting arm, get a two-handed rod.. They really help. I'm not going back..

 

This is exactly why I switched to a micro spey. I can throw it all day and my shoulder is very happy with me now.

 

I messed up my left rotator cuff skiing back in 1974, last run at Crystal mtn. I did pt, exercised and never had anything done to it. It popped out of the socket 60+ times and I had to tug it back in....gross feeling. I’m now 64 and it’s just another pain.....good luck.

 

Funny you should ask.... I'm 73 and have three tears in my right rotator cuff. I really irritated the shoulder in the spring of '19 and finally went to an orthopedic clinic in considerable pain. I was given two choices, periodic shots or surgery. I am VERY experienced as a multiple surgery patient, well over a hundred stitches and staples in my gut, and really hope to avoid it in the future. So I opted to try the shots first.

I was very apprehensive. A co-worker had shoulder issues that required periodic cortisone shots about 3x a year and after every shot she would come back to work looking like she had been thru a tornado and claiming agonal pain, then take a couple of sick days. So I stalled.

Finally I decided to man up and went in for the shot. A PA sprayed my shoulder with a freezing solution, took the syringe in one hand and an ultrasound ...probe? Transponder?..in the other. I looked away and he said, “Done.”. I felt nothing. Literally nothing. He played the ultrasound video back to show me how he inserted the needle into the full tear, and put a band-aid on my shoulder. The biggest side effect of the process was removing the band-aid. It took about three days before my shoulder felt 20 years younger. The cortisone gradually wore off over a few months. I got a second shot about 6 months later with the same results, and again, zero pain and zero side effects.

I'm hurting again and will set another shot appointment soon, but since the last shot I severed the upper tendon in my right bicep, so I'm working the shoulder more and will likely eventually have to accept surgery.

Best wishes to you.

 

https://video.search.yahoo.com/yhs/...i=UTF-8&fr=yhs-Lkry-SF01#id=14&vid=92d561ba7b5fab4d7ef7904e588ecf5e&action=view

Progression is the key. I had surgery on both shoulders years ago and decided "no more" after a recent shoulder issue. Some surgeons believe that PT can accomplish the same results without being invasive. I did the above progressions, religiously, and eventually added "Hanging" and the addition of a progression of light weights to eventual 8# dumbbells three to five times per week. Today, my shoulder is fine and just as strong as my good shoulder. I have gone through professional PTs post surgeries in the past with the above progression being very similar to what former PTs have advised. With many rotator injuries "impingement syndrome" occurs which causes much of the pain, weakness, and discomfort. Surgery can give you more room to allow freedom of movement but not always. Proper PT can do the same and, quite often, with more room.

If I knew this, years ago, I would have never thad those surgeries. Just a non ortho surgeons opinion.

Bottom line, surgery normally involves giving you some more distance to relieve

 

My story is a lot like Jasmillo, but I played baseball through HS and college and tore mine playing slo pitch at age 50. I had some PT, but opted not to have surgery. I still can’t throw with any force, but, luckily it doesn’t bother my casting stroke, so I have come to live with it.

 

A lot of PTs put too much emphasis on the rotator cuff. Often, rotator issues are not actually the main problem and are just a symptom of bigger shoulder girdle problems. If you have an actual diagnosed rotator tear, then obviously this doesn't apply. However, a lot of PTs conclude that impingement and weak internal/external rotation are entirely the fault of the rotators and this is not always correct.

I had a bad weight lifting injury, in my early 20s. I went to a handful of PTs and they all gave me the same advice; do rotator exercises. I was a gym junkie prior to my injury, so I performed all the PT exercises religiously. They did absolutely nothing.

I was in pain for about a year, before I found a YouTube video that discussed the overemphasis on the rotator cuff. The guy in the video stressed the importance of addressing all aspects of the shoulder girdle; traps, serratus, rhomboids, rear deltoids, etc. I started doing YTWLI exercises, every day, and I felt a difference immediately. The first time I did YTWLIs, my shoulder felt really smooth afterward and it felt completely surreal.

You may not be in the same boat as I was, but it is worth keeping this in mind. At the very least, it is good to get a second opinion.

 

Let me join the crowd; not only are us old geriatrics suffering (boomers) but younger folks too. I've had both of my shoulders become "frozen". The first time it just went away. The second time required PT to break up the 'adhesions'(?). Now my left shoulder is hurting and seems to be slowly getting worse. I've been on a home exercise routine now for about 18 months. Every other day I have been doing pushups as part of the routine - wonder if the pain is from some kind of tear or I have bursitis or a frozen shoulder or wth? Golden years!

@jaredoconnor - is YTWLI THE SAME AS YTWL?

 

I was diagnosed with arthritis/bursitis in my right shoulder from overuse when I was 60 (from fly casting and intense guitar playing, I was a pro). It was so painful I couldn't brush my teeth with my usual hand. No injury was found. I got 2 cortisone shots and rested it for about 6 months, doing PT the whole time. I switched to mostly 2-hand casting and I'm all better now. I was very hesitant about the shots, as I had the impression that they were temporary solutions that might mask deeper problems, but they really did help.

 

I have arthritis and an impingement in my right shoulder in response to HS sports, mountain biking, climbing, etc. Really tweaked it about 10y ago lifting weights. Had to give up bird hunting after that. PT three times. Have been getting the shots every fall before steelhead season and that helped, but even with that I could only fish about one run a day this fall. Finally said enough. Surgery this Friday.

 

Best wishes on a smooth recovery!

 

Had a rotatory injury from a fall years ago and now arthritis in my right shoulder. Physician offered surgery but I declined as the risk/benefit didn't seem all that great to me. What worked to get it under control was physio for strengthening/stretching and massage therapy. I find if I don't maintain shoulder strength and flexibility I will have problems, i.e. frozen shoulder, neck and shoulder pain, etc. The physio gave me two free weight shoulder exercises (low weight, 15 - 20 lbs) that I try to be consistent with and I use a foam roller and tennis ball to massage the area.

 

When I was a lot younger I used to play catch with my brother with a football. After a few throws over hand I had to switch to throwing the ball underhand. Lots of pain in my right shoulder.

I'm lone of those people that only go to a doctor if I just half dead.. The shoulder didn't bother me when I fished. I wasn't worried about the pain as I only got it when we played around playing catch.

 

Sure is sad instead of talking about fast cars and faster women...the majority of our conversations are about aches and pains! Golden years my ass! It’s so true, you play....you pay, and I’m paying now....

 

After a month or so of pain in my right shoulder I was diagnosed with a rotator cuff injury. The doctor offered the choice of the "shot" or PT.
I'm opting for PT, first session this Tuesday.
Any of you had an experience with either of these or other treatments? I'm pushing 74 and don't want surgery if I can avoid it.

mine got so bad I could not raise my arm above should could not wipe my arse

lowered my blood sugar and took collagen pills with turmeric other anti inflammatory

Sore but no operation works well

 

I got diagnosed with a tear to my right shoulder last march. Since I couldn't get surgery then, I rested it as much as I could. I found some 8 lb barbells in early fall and I have been using them around 5 times a week. I am now stronger than I have been in the last few years and pretty pain free in that shoulder. I recently retired at 65 from a life in construction and I believe losing muscle tone from less activity led to problems. I hope you heal soon and keep fishing.

 

I've had this pain in my shoulder the doctor want to inject this dye in my shoulder to see is there any damage to the muscle, but I google it found out that it could cause internal bleeding causing more damage, I didn't get it but I did ask my PT she gave me this explaination: Can you live with the pain? Next she then gave me some exercise to help it work.

 

I had surgery for torn rotator cuff and reattachment of a bicep tendon several years ago. Went through therapy at rebound. When my therapist mentioned her husband enjoyed fly fishing for steelhead, I presented her a dozen flies I had tied so I got in on her good side. One day she said the next session would be my last so I made a chart of the exercises I was doing and asked her to make any suggestions and additions to keep progressing. I still do them and I'm fine. But I did a real stupid thing to get injured in the first place. I loaded a cooler with beer and ice and went to load it into my boat which was still on the trailer so it was a high lift and there it went. I thought it was a sprain at first but it never went away and an MRI was done and the rest is history. Now I put the cooler in the boat empty and load the beer and ice later. My wife bought me a coffee cup that says Don't do stupid stuff.
I try not to.

 

I tore both rotator cuffs in an epic faceplant in soft deep snow 30+ years ago. Effective PT needs a specific diagnosis, the shoulder joint is a complex arrangement of muscles and tendons. The dye they inject helps with that diagnosis. My orthopedic doc told me surgery would result in a reduction in my range of motion, and I decided to go the PT route. I worked in an occupation that involved a lot of work overhead twisting wrenches,, and it would result in dislocating my shoulder if I didn't keep up with the PT excercises. Nowadays I am retired, but still can cure shoulder pain by going back to those excercises. I had no shot, and knowing what I know about steroid treatments I would not unless it was the last choice. Try the PT first, it can do no harm.

 

I torn my rotator cuff seven years ago, my doctor offered me three methods of treatment, surgery, shots or physio and exercise after the physio. I chose the last one. It took me three years of exercise to attain being able to achieve eleven oclock on my right arm. I can attain noon on my left arm. The exercise program that was set up for me was very painful at the beginning but became less as time passed. I was lucky in that the guy who owned the local gym had a degree in sports medicine. I would go the same way if I injured it again, I was 74 when the injury occurred, I was lifting a twenty pound propane bottle to put it into the compartment in my Bigfoot camper without the use of a step ladder, I am referred to as a garden gnome so you can guess how high I had it above my head.

 

We need an Aches and Pain 2021 thread

 

I'm convinced that regular strength exercise for the shoulder can stabilize the joint and help manage a minor tear or arthritis.
My shoulders have been subjected to heavy rigors for my entire life. School sports (basketball, lacrosse) and probably poor lifting technique for starters. Had shoulder incidents skiing downhill and x-country. The biggest strain was choosing construction for a career. Building houses will eventually take its toll....back then it was far more manual than today.
By my forties the fast ball was gone. Certain motions resulted in clicking and binding in my shoulder joints.
I have been lifting weights my whole life,more for fitness than body building . Changing gears by combining strength exercises with motion I have improved those muscles around the shoulder joint to create more stability and balance. It has worked. Construction is not so painful(other than normal aging issues), splitting wood by hand, moderate kayaking,paddleboarding, casting, x-country skiing all good. Throwing a ball is over though, now I enjoy the lacrosse stick again....for the dogs sake.
Shoulder pain can be managed if the injury is not severe. But it takes regular commitement.

 

Based on my experience, I wouldn't get my guidance from the internet. Get a specific diagnosis. Shoulder injuries are not all the same, and the PT prescriptions are not either.

 

I agree 100%. As I mentioned in my last post, everyone should see a medical expert first and I also advocated earlier for getting second opinions.

I've posted this stuff, mainly so folks can go into those conversations and be aware that there might be a tendency to slap a rotator diagnosis on you, without actually giving you the proper investigation.

Let me give more details about my case. I visited 4 doctors, 2 orthopedic surgeons and 3 PTs. One of the doctors, surgeons and PTs were associated with treating sports stars and were VERY expensive. I threw a lot of money at this problem. They all told me to do rotator exercises. It wasn't until I learned more about the shoulder girdle and asked one of them to check my scapula that I was diagnosed with a winged scapula too. The experts completely let me down.

IMO, if you actually want to solve your shoulder problems, you have to be prepared to learn a lot and go into every appointment with a full understanding of what's going on. Except in very simple cases, I don't believe you can just take a layman approach.