to ask if anyone has torn their rotator cuff?

[alloalloallo]

How did you treat it please?

I’ve been referred for physio by my GP and been given some exercises to do at home in the meantime, but I can’t do them as movement in my shoulder is so restricted I just can’t get my arm into the required position

I don’t even know how I’ve done it. I’ve not injured my shoulder that I remember. I just woke up one morning about 8 weeks ago with pain that has gradually got worse.

I can raise my arm forwards a small amount, less backwards and virtually nothing from the side. It feels almost like my shoulder is dislocated and feels like my actual bone is stopping movement. I can’t even put my own knickers on.

I’ve read all sorts of different, sometimes conflicting, stuff online.

Thanks!

Sounds exactly like a frozen shoulder. Sympathy, yes I've had one. The good news is that it will eventually get better of its own accord, bad news is that could take up to 2 years. I managed to get that down to 6 months with (v painful) physio and acupuncture (sports physio, not on nhs). A friend of mine got steroid injections via her gp which helped.

It sounds like your injury is related to micro-trauma which causes tendon degeneration and with insufficient healing, leads to degenerative tears. The physio will decide after assessment whether you need a scan and/or a structured exercise programme. Physiopedia and Patient UK have useful information on this injury

I tore mine about 10 years ago
Had physio for months and eventually surgery as I couldn't get the movement I needed for my life and job(nurse)

Thank you!

GP ruled out frozen shoulder as I had some
movement, so I don’t know.

It aches a lot - should I be wearing a sling maybe.

It’s driving me nuts and I can’t shave my armpit 😂

I had calisification (sp?) on mine. It was awful. I had steroid injections which helped. I also had acupuncture and cupping done.

Argh, I've just been diagnosed with this, horrible isn't it. I've been referred for a scan and taking lots of ibuprofen every day recommended by GP and physio. Sympathies. I cannot imagine tolerating it for 2 years though! Sleeping is really hard.

I have got this at the moment! It's so painful. I've had it for around 8 weeks but only realised what it was, ie rotator cuff, last week.

Yesterday I discovered the joy that is Nurofen Extra Strength Gel. It made such a huge difference and I slept properly for the first time in weeks.

I also have a sling because I keep forgetting and using my arm. I've been doing these exercises which I found on line.

https://www.google.com/search?client=ms-android-ee-uk-revc&sca_esv=570630838&sxsrf=AM9HkKlgBZVuhaPz5kQEXN_x_JMYaE3Yzw:1696413271769&q=Rotator+cuff+injury+exercises&tbm=vid&source=lnms&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjDyNLzj9yBAxU0U0EAHWtnD-YQ0pQJegQIBhAB&biw=412&bih=782&dpr=2.63#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:1a4642ca,vid:70UxCj6AoPo,st:0

Thanks all!

The GP said the wait time for physio here wasn’t too long at the moment so I was going to hang on for them, but there is a good sports physiotherapist I know of so I might see if I can see them.

It aches most of the time, but if I ever try and do anything (pull my trousers up, put my arm on my desk to type) it’s excruciating.

I’ve got a long u shaped pillow which is helping a bit while sleeping.

Sorry, crossed some posts

Should I have been referred for a scan? I’ve seen the musculoskeletal practitioner at my GP surgery who just confirmed what the GP said and to wait for physio.

Hmmm I have had similar but physio and doc were unsure of cause. Frozen shoulder was their best guess. The thing that helped me was swimming which was suggested by a physio. I was sceptical as movement was so restricted (could not do back stroke at all) but I kept at it. Many years later I regularly swim and I am sure it has made huge difference.

It might be too soon for you but something to think about.

Don't do what I did - gave myself serious burns with an ice pack. If you do use ice pack carefully monitor the time.

I do think one of the problems is pain leads to tense muscles which in turn leads to pain and so on ... Try warm baths to relax area. Or heat pad.

Try tens machine (boots do a good one) for pain relief.

I think you probably should have a scan. I did. Recently I was diagnosed with a different joint thing on my hip by physio but no scan or X ray. I think ideally I should have a scan but I suspect they are limiting the numbers

You have my sympathy! My frozen shoulder started like that. Get a second opinion because if it's a frozen shoulder, you shouldn't keep your arm in a sling. You need to maintain movement, even though it's painful (well, agony!), otherwise it freezes more.

If it is frozen, rather than torn, I recommend a steroid injection with hydrodilatation. It worked like a miracle on mine.

Have you had an X-ray? That's the first thing my GP sorted for me.

I was diagnosed with a frozen shoulder (after a broken arm, cast off) by my GP, turns out after going to a (private) physio it was a torn rotator cuff which she said can present itself with similar symptoms as frozen shoulder.

I feel your pain, but after visiting the physio and gradually doing more and knowing how to do exercises correctly, its fully recovered. The pain and frustration can be so debilitating, and sleep a total nightmare, but it will improve.

Heat pads worked, I got some from Home Bargains of all places for £1 and they worked fine, also a pack with beans or something inside which you microwave to warm up, the weight on my shoulder felt really good for some reason.

I was also beginning to get a painful neck which was then leading to headaches, so ended up buying a pillow with a grove in to help not only my shoulder but neck, this helped a lot with another pillow keeping my arm risen. You really just have to find out what works for you to be able to get some sleep.

It will take time, just think it will improve and get better, but only push so far with the pain.

I have a torn cuff in the L shoulder (two years now) and severe arthritis in the R shoulder and know what awful pain I was in at first with the torn cuff. I was referred for a scan for the tear quite quickly and due to the length of the tear and the state of the remaining ligaments I was not deemed suitable for surgery. The pain was horrific in the early days, nothing would touch it but a few sessions of physio helped, I used a lot of extra strength pain gel, and over the last year the pain has lessened somewhat. My range of movement is still very limited though and I cannot put my arm overhead or out to the left very high.

In time your body will figure out workarounds. I no longer pick up anything remotely heavy with the left hand. You will automatically compensate by using your good arm for everything and in the end you won't even think about it. I do wish you all the best in the meantime and have a lot of sympathy.

Tore both. Went to osteopath, about 5 times, and did the exercises he prescribed religiously. Good luck x

I have had it a couple of times. Second time front swimming front crawl.

Mine got better after a couple of months both times with pain relief.

I still have a slight weakness there and am mindful to be careful exercising if it twinges at all.

Thanks all!

I haven’t had an X-ray or been referred for anything. I saw my GP who thought it was my rotator cuff. Our surgery has a musculoskeletal practitioner who he got to pop into my appointment who confirmed he agreed and they referred me for physio and texted me a link to some exercises to do in the mean time.

I’ve attached a screenshot of one of the exercises - I just don’t have the movement in my shoulder to get my arms in that position.

I’m going to see if I can get an appointment at the sports physio - I’d be 100% happier if someone at least showed me properly how to do them as I’m a bit nervous of it at the moment.

I’ve got heat bags. I’ve got hot and cold gels and pain relief and just kind of muddling through.

I’d just like enough movement in my arm to be able to do up my own bra. It’s so frustrating having to get DH to do stuff up for me.

I’ve bought one of those long, sausage U shaped pillows which has made a massive difference at night. Weirdly, it’s actually more comfortable to sleep on the injured side, but I can’t imagine that’s any good for it.

I can’t remember when it started to be honest, it was like it when I was on holiday so I know for sure it must be 8 weeks or so now.

Hugs to everyone who is experiencing it too.

Definitely worth seeing a sports physio who has time to go through the exercises with you to help it heal. I've had 2 shoulder injuries, both healed up eventually with lots of stretching to bring back range of motion.

I waited months to see physio and, despite doing the exercises, I didn’t really feel I was getting better. In frustration I googled and got a couple more exercises off YouTube that finally (after around 10 months of pain) did the trick.
Unfortunately It flared up again after only 2 months pain free. It’s now been 4 &1/2 years since the original injury and I still do physio exercises daily to keep it as mobile as possible but I have never gone back to full range of motion and I am never pain free.

If it feels like your actual bone is stopping movement it really sounds like frozen shoulder. I’ve had both rotator cuff issues and frozen shoulder. With the rotator cuff, movement was excruciating, but if I wanted to push through the pain, there was nothing actually stopping movement iyswim.

FS meant that movement was both physically impossible, after a certain point, AND excruciating.

I recently had experience of sports physio who did quite a lot of damage to my joint. He gave me wrong exercises and did some aggressive mobilization. I am only just starting to get back to something near what I was before seeing him. NHS physio was better although not great as didn't show me exercises but then sports physio didn't really either. Try and find a Physio someone recommended. It's so hard - I have had amazing physios and awful physios.

I tore mine just before lockdown. I did physio exercises I found on YouTube and it took nearly three years to heal. It's a bummer.

Currently got one. Had it since June. Pain has got worse. I waited for a month, then self-referred to physio, which you can do in our area.

Had first physio session in August, where I was diagnosed and given some exercises. Doing the exercises seemed to make it more painful, so second session in September she lowered the number of reps, and told me that if it was still painful by my next session (next week) I'd have to ask the GP for some decent pain relief (had been using ibuprofen and paracetemol).

Decided to skip ahead with this plan a bit, as was still in a lot of pain. Got Naproxen from the GP, but I have to say it hasn't helped much, even with a dose increase.

I think I'm going to push for a scan at my next appointment. I already have limited mobility due to other reasons, and this is causing me big issues. I can't even put a hairclip in my hair due to the pain of lifting my arm up.

Currently sat here with exactly this and acromial bursitis - confirmed by ultrasound. It's absolute hell. The key here is a tear cannot and will not heal itself. Without surgical intervention, you can only strengthen the surrounding muscles to make movement easier via physio exercises, which in your situation are almost impossible. Push for an ultrasound before trying any form of rehabilitation as you could make it worse! Best of luck - hope you get better soon x