Should I undergo rotator cuff surgery?

Question

I am a 56 year old man, on disability for back and neck problems. I take care of my 87-year old father.

I have torn the rotator cuffs of both my shoulders and a surgeon says , after an MRI, that I need surgeries--two of them, left first, right later.

Right now, I am mildly inhibited only. I can still bathe, dress, and do basic household tasks. I even pull the start cord for my dad to mow the lawn.

But I cannot push even pillows or clothing up onto a shelf above my head in the closet. And I have mild difficulty in putting clothes out to dry on a clothesline.

I know that all surgery is risky.
I am a recoering alcoholic, too, so I hesitate to go under general
anesthesia. I also hesitate to have to wear slings or cats on my arms for weeks or months, temporarily becoming more "disabled".

What do you think? If you are an M.D., great, please respond. Or, if you have had this type of surgery and wish to report your results with it, I'd like to hear from you.
No abuse!!

Answer 1

funny you should ask...i just had arthoscopic surgery done last friday...in much the same way that they would do the rotator cuff...mine was dislocated and they fixed the cartilidge to prevent it from happening again...

it's a big decission - but not that the surgery is over, i'm so glad i did it...

i was in much of the same situation as you were...limited mobility....above my head...but, was still healing from the dislocation...

i have minimal pain - and today being 4 days after, haven't takenthe pain meds at all...my mobility is pretty good...i do have a sling, and will have to do some physical therapy in a week or so, but the doc tells me that after that my mobility should be back to almost normal.....

sling is only going to be on for about 10-14 days...

i work as a counselor for people in 12-step programs - i'm assuming that your fear is for the drugs afterwards? i;m sure if you spoke with the surgeon he could figure something out...don't use it as an excuse.....

anyway...not sure if i helped or not...in my opinion the surgery isn't as bad as i expected it to be....and only 4 days later it is already feeling ok...

i'm only 32 and didn't want to feel disabled the rest of my life - reaching the top shelf...washing my hair, etc...

good luck with your decission....

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

I'm not an MD and understand what your going through. I have done a lot of research into this area because I have a full thickness rotator cuff tear in my right shoulder and having the operation in 2 weeks.

This is something that will never go away, no medicine, no excersise, nothing will heal this except for surgery. I have been having physio for 7 weeks now to un-freeze my shoulder prior to surgery so the surgeon does not have to cut the muscle also. And now swimming (the best I can) to help re-build the shoulder strength.

The sling is a must, I will have to wear mine for 6 weeks, this allows the tendion to heal, but the reality is this can take up to 12 months to totally recoup and from what I have read, there is only approx 85-90% success rate.

My suggestion is you have to do it, I know the pain you are going through, but I can't imagine what it would be like in both shoulders. As you get older, this will only get worse and also increases your chance for arthritis. You also can risk tearing the tendion completley.

Answer 4

My uncle is your age and he was told by the VA doc that he had a torn rotator cuff, he participated in physical therapy and took medication without resolution of his problem. Surgery was recommended but he was unable to leave work for the recovery and therapy involved. he tried accupuncture and with one treatment he had improved range of motion, by the end of 3 treatments he had full range of motion and was able to lift his arm above his head and pain was resolved. the recovery after a rotator cuff surgery is long and sometimes therapy can last up to 6 mos depending on the tear if it is a complete tear they need to do a full incision versus a partial tear where an arthroscopic device may be used to complete the repair. You have to determine if you can manage with your current limitations in your daily life and how much this has affected your activities of daily living and go from there. They can do a cervical block to numb the shoulder to decrease the amount of anesthesia that needs to be given during the surgery if this is a concern. Have you tried a course of physical therapy? If not, I would start with this approach first. Good luck

Answer 5

I won't claim to be an MD or have had such surgery, but I'm very prone to scar tissue myself, so each surgery is preceded by whether the accumulation of scar tissue would actually cause me more pain than what I already have. I would also exhaust all less invasive options. I have a brother that was CURED from a bulged disc in his back through chiropractic care and acupuncture. His surgeon said, "Whatever you believe in, I guess." I can't promise 100% success...I have heard it doesn't work for some people, but only you can weigh out the pros and cons of trying alternative therapies.

Answer 6

Can't speak as a Doctor (ain't one) Can't speak for myself (never had it done) but two friends of mine did and are for the better for it.

They did have to go through a few weeks of therapy and there's no way, I believe, they can do that kind of surgery without putting you under. What if you moved while the doctor was in there?

I think you are the only one who can decide if you should have the surgery or not. Talk with your doctor. Ask him what you've asked here. And don't feel uncomfortable asking him questions. It's your money and your life.

Answer 7

I have a real-life friend who had this done... it took her about two months of recovery and physical therapy to get back to "normal." She didn't find the surgery or the pain following it to be too bad... it was all easily managed. You're young, so it will be uncomfortable, but not so awful. Older people have a harder time with it. Edit: Be sure to discuss pain management with your doctor before the surgery. You want a doctor who will be "briefly liberal" with pain medication.

Answer 8

Weigh the costs/benefits and decide. Don't be afraid that the anasthesia will affect your alcoholism, it won't. By the way, I believe there is no such thing as alcoholism, and I'm a former 12-stepper myself. There is only problem-drinking. Personally, and as your friend, I'd go for it.

Answer 9

no dumbasss