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2nd rotator cuff surgery

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Chronic Pain
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Posted 5/6/2015 3:16 PM (GMT 0)
I am a 43 year old male, desk job but fairly active.

Beginning 2014 my left shoulder was in pain and I received two cortisone shots about 5 months apart. Two months after the last cortisone shot I injured myself while exercising. An MRI showed a medium sized tear in my rotator cuff. Got surgery. After the surgery the doctor said he also repaired a second, smaller tear in my cuff and "cleaned up" my bicep tendon. After 4 months of physical therapy I got a second MRI because I still felt a lot of pain in my shoulder. THIS MRI showed that ne of the tears "didn't heal right". I don't know if it was reinjured during PT, a follow up doctor visit when he pushed my arm up over my head, or just dead tissue (?)
I'm now eight weeks post surgery (different doctor) who repaired that tear again and also performed a bicep tenodesis. He doesn't have me in PT yet but has me doing some mild stretches at home.

By the way I don't take any medications or have any health conditions otherwise. I take vitamins, glucosamine supplements, fish oil and protein.

Anyone experiencing similar situation or have any advice? Thanks for reading.
Posted 5/7/2015 1:41 PM (GMT 0)
Be VERY careful! I've had rotator cuff repair on both shoulders. Arthroscopic the first time and open decompressions the second time. The left side also had a tear of the bicep tendon. I had acromioplasty done during the open procedures to make more room for the supraspinatus tendons. At a functional capacity evaluation, I was reinjured and now am told there is nothing more that can be done...I am "not a surgical candidate" and am on total disability. You may have pain from 'impingement syndrome'. While it is not an actual injury and more of a 'muscle memory or nerve memory' the only treatment is time and medical management. I also had resorbtion of bone leaving me with a shortened collar bone. I also suffered 2 additional injuries to the right shoulder, a torn labrum and then two months later a 2/3 degree separation of the shoulder. I opted not to have more surgery as I have a lot of scar tissue and since I no longer work and have regained quite a bit of function, there was no point in disturbing what already is there.

Take your time! DO NOT OVER DO! A lifetime of pain is not worth rushing your shoulder to do what it is not ready to do!
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