rotator cuff tear

[11 Gauge]

Diagnosing soft tissue damage with an x-ray is like trying to count spots on the sun with sunglasses, futile at best.

This is good to know, since I just had an x-ray of my shoulder, and they concluded that nothing was wrong.

 

[BigPapa-53]

Correct, x-rays don't show soft tissue problems. As I said, I went to my surgeon yesterday for mine. They took x-rays. I asked him why and he said to look for bone spurs, joint condition, and to get accurate measurements of the bones in case we do a replacement.

 

[Boreas]

I just went to urgent care for (severe) shoulder/tricep pain a week ago. X-rays revealed no tears or anything, and the pain is finally starting to subside, after about 5 weeks.

I also had no idea how or why I injured my shoulder. All of the doctors and medical techs looked at me like I was nuts when I told them this.

I started on a GLP-1 for type 2 diabetes in late Jan/early Feb of this year. From then to about mid-May, I lost about 25 pounds, and could tell almost immediately that a good bit of it was also lean muscle mass. I could especially tell that I lost mass in my arms, shoulders, and neck.

It only took me about 3-4 months to realize that GLP-1s are basically still experimental drugs, so I switched to Metformin at the end of May. Yes, that drug also has its own issues, but at least it doesn't waste away muscle mass. Since I switched to Metformin, I've gained back about 8-10 lbs, but I bet the majority of that is not lean muscle mass. I think it is the combination of both of these things that caused the shoulder/tricep injury.

Anyway, I'm glad to be reading all of this, because I now know that I need to rebuild all of the muscle that I lost. I'm hoping that it's early enough that I can reverse what's happened. I just turned 57 and have a history of osteoarthritis going back to my late-40's, so we'll see.

Good luck. It is much easier to build muscle back at 57 than 70 - believe me.

 

[tele_savales]

You just won't be able to do Pete Townshend windmills any longer.

Not necessarily.

 

[Boreas]

This is good to know, since I just had an x-ray of my shoulder, and they concluded that nothing was wrong.

Yeah - it just means nothing showed up on X-ray. The next important surprise is to keep complaining to your GP. Most insurance companies will not pay for an MRI until an X-ray is obtained. SOP.

 

[chris m.]

I had rotator cuff surgery for torn supraspinatus and had full recovery but was religious about the PT for months. It was my right shoulder and I play guitar right handed. I played a gig a couple weeks after the surgery…as long as I kept my elbow pinned to my side- “T-Rex arm” — I could avoid using my shoulder at all. Hardest part was load/ unload etc. all with one arm. I have much more respect for people missing an arm, for sure.

 

[Jupiter]

I am strengthening my rotator cuff at PT 3 days/week (which my insurance does not cover) and may be able to delay surgery as it so far is only POSITIONAL impingement/pain and not worth the risk of surgery

I have supraspinatus tendonitis in my right shoulder that causes positional pain. Non-operative, I told my doc that it only hurts when I reach above my head. Being the classical old-school doctor he is he said “don’t reach over your head”.

If you know what exercises to do, why keep going to the PT? Can’t you just…do the exercises?

Also, in my experience, never reaching above your head is the BEST way to make sure that it will always hurt to reach above your head.

One thing I notice now is when I lift weights my right arm (the one that had the surgery) is about 10-20% weaker than the other arm when I do shoulder routines. I'm not positive that it has anything to do with that surgery, but probably a good chance.

I would suspect that guarding/inhibition is a likely cause… I had the same thing until I felt confident in my shoulder stability.

I'm hoping that it's early enough that I can reverse what's happened. I just turned 57 and have a history of osteoarthritis going back to my late-40's, so we'll see.

FWIW, I hit a PR in the deadlift at the age of 60, and increased my chin-ups PR from 9 to 15 at the age of 62. This is not to brag, but to let you know that it is still possible to make significant progress in strength and muscle mass even in your 60s and beyond. Patience is critical though; we don’t recover as fast and the window between effective training and injury narrows…

It’s never too late!