Rotator Cuff

literally just happened to me last week but this time my left one and not as bad. did my right one few years ago. best advice would be to rest it first week then when its not too sore start doing exercises with a rubber band asap so you don't lose flexibility in your shoulder. if its really bad sometimes you need surgery. luckily my experience was just a matter of getting full motion back.

Pakanakaliterally just happened to me last week but this time my left one and not as bad. did my right one few years ago. best advice would be to rest it first week then when its not too sore start doing exercises with a rubber band asap so you don't lose flexibility in your shoulder. if its really bad sometimes you need surgery. luckily my experience was just a matter of getting full motion back.

Sounds like you didnt have surgery. How long were you out?

hockeyskis94Blew up my shoulder the other day and waiting to get some images and see what the damage is. Feels like it might be a rotator cuff based on what I'm reading. Can't raise my arm above my head without clicking and popping, hurts like hell, etc.

Anyone have any experience with this kind of injury?

I tore both at the sametime one worse than the other. See a doctor and just do what they say. I opted against surgery because I didnt really care and not as athletic anymore, but if you're under 50 and need surgery I would do it.

SchwagsI tore both at the sametime one worse than the other. See a doctor and just do what they say. I opted against surgery because I didnt really care and not as athletic anymore, but if you're under 50 and need surgery I would do it.

Holy shit from skiing? Or a car accident lol

hockeyskis94Holy shit from skiing? Or a car accident lol

Yea skiing. Just a small knuckle type hit in backcountry and got bucked somehow rolling windows down and landed with them behind my back cus I couldnt tell where ground was.

I tore my rotator cuff in May at Timberline. The doctor had me try to lift my arm and I lifted it high enough to where he said, “no way it’s torn. We’ll start you with PT”. I had to insist pretty hard to get imaging done instead. After the MRI, it turns out I had two pretty big rotator cuff tears and a torn bicep at my elbow. If you think it might be torn, try to get that MRI asap. I would’ve lost so much time if I had gone straight to PT. Honestly, if you really want the imaging, be a little dramatic and don’t try to tough it out at the doctor. Make them think it’s definitely torn. However, also know that MRI’s are expensive.

I ended up having bicep surgery and then Rotator cuff surgery June 30th. Rotator cuff surgery requires about 3 months of stretching and range of motion work and then another 3 months of strengthening.If you stay on your PT, you can be back to most activities in 6 months. However, it can take a full year to truly get back close to 100%.

I’ve been diligent about PT, and I am back skiing after 6 months but not skiing aggressively yet. I hope yours isn’t torn. If it is, focus on eating healthy and learning to enjoy exercising during the recovery. Ask a lot of questions at the doctor and do your PT everyday.

I have been pulling my rotator cuffs for the last season or 2 pretty randomly. If it is just a pull it will feel horrible and then be fine in a week or so. It is always good to get it checked out tho.

JAHnI tore my rotator cuff in May at Timberline. The doctor had me try to lift my arm and I lifted it high enough to where he said, “no way it’s torn. We’ll start you with PT”. I had to insist pretty hard to get imaging done instead. After the MRI, it turns out I had two pretty big rotator cuff tears and a torn bicep at my elbow. If you think it might be torn, try to get that MRI asap. I would’ve lost so much time if I had gone straight to PT. Honestly, if you really want the imaging, be a little dramatic and don’t try to tough it out at the doctor. Make them think it’s definitely torn. However, also know that MRI’s are expensive.

I ended up having bicep surgery and then Rotator cuff surgery June 30th. Rotator cuff surgery requires about 3 months of stretching and range of motion work and then another 3 months of strengthening.If you stay on your PT, you can be back to most activities in 6 months. However, it can take a full year to truly get back close to 100%.

I’ve been diligent about PT, and I am back skiing after 6 months but not skiing aggressively yet. I hope yours isn’t torn. If it is, focus on eating healthy and learning to enjoy exercising during the recovery. Ask a lot of questions at the doctor and do your PT everyday.

Did you feel immediate improvement right after the procedure? Just a lot of weakness still i presume? Could you lift your arm again?

I had to keep the arm in a sling for 6 weeks after surgery. Spent several weeks after that using a stick to help raise my arm further and further. So no, improvement is not immediate. Surgery is a small step back but then you can start to make real gains. No regrets going with surgery for me. My tear was enough where PT alone wouldn’t get me back to where I wanted to be with sports and active living.

hockeyskis94Sounds like you didnt have surgery. How long were you out?

it was only pulled i believe so 3 weeks till it felt normal again however it clicks quite a bit now

Shoulder injuries don’t always need surgery. I’ve subluxed one shoulder, both labrums torn, and likely another tear along the way. Some clicks and clunks in certain positions but pain free. Get it checked out before deciding what to do. PT may be fine without surgery.

**This post was edited on Feb 1st 2025 at 5:07:44pm

**This post was edited on Feb 1st 2025 at 5:09:28pm

Blew my rotator out on a rail when I was in college. I got imaging and it was small enough I didn't need surgery. Same symptoms you had, and it wasn't fully healed until 5ish months. It sucks but it's common. I didn't do the recommended PT so that may have cut 2 months of the recovery but if it's a major tear you may need surgery.

If it's a partial tear you potentially could do PT. Get the MRI and a few opinions though. I had mine done in June 2017. It was a partial tear but they were worried about atrophy with the tendons so I had it done. 6 weeks in a sling and bolster. As mentioned above after the initial healing process which I think was 8 weeks, moved onto range of motion and stretching. The last three months were all strength and band work. Was able to ski in December and all the way through the season but it definitely felt weak still. A full year I'd say I was back to feeling 100% confident.

SchwagsI couldnt tell where ground was.

My worst nighmare. When it happens, I come so close to giving myself a concussion and a spinal compression

freestyler540My worst nighmare. When it happens, I come so close to giving myself a concussion and a spinal compression

Yea it was scary, but it wasn't that big and mostly tracked out pow. I had other stuff that was much scarier and was perfectly fine. funny how that is.