What Happens if a Rotator Cuff Tear Goes Untreated? | Dr. Kyle McClintock
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 16 ต.ค. 2024
- Left untreated, a rotator cuff tear can cause long-term damage to your shoulder. In general, is that small tears eventually become large tears, partial thickness tears eventually become full thickness tears, so these are a progression. In this video, Dr. McClintock discusses what happens if a rotator cuff tear goes untreated.
Learn more at: drmcclintock.c...
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Dr. Kyle McClintock is a fellowship-trained, board-certified orthopedic surgeon in Roseville, CA, specializing in shoulder and elbow disorders.
Contact:
Kyle McClintock, DO
drmcclintock.com
![3 Keys to Rehab a Rotator Cuff Tear & AVOID Surgery [UNIQUE EXERCISES]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/o9fiTFfW4uU/mqdefault.jpg)
![3 Keys to Rehab a Rotator Cuff Tear & AVOID Surgery [UNIQUE EXERCISES]](/img/tr.png)
From what you're saying, I'm very glad I live in New Zealand, & was able to press to have my shoulder repaired. It started with a partial supraspinatus tear, a result an accident. I was sent for a cortisone injection, which didn't work, & consequently the damage worsened pretty much the way you describe in your tutorial. I was sent to a second surgeon who assessed on behalf of our Accident Compensation Commission, which every New Zealander contributes to via our taxes as well as contributions from our employers. This arrogant man lacked empathy, told me I didn't qualify & at 54 years old I'd just have to live with it. After 18 months, I was at the end of my patience, unable to sleep & in constant distress from intense chronic pain, & inability to even lift my arm anymore. My flesh hung off my arm like a sleeve, & my family suffered with my pain as I couldn't hide it. I blew him to bits, telling him very loudly in his crowded surgery that I deserve to be cared for, have paid my taxes, have children I need to educate, & work I must do. I was not ever going to be a statistic, & I expected some service. I then contacted the ACC & had a similar conversation, reminding them that they have a duty to people like me who simply will not sit around being miserable & useless for the rest of their lives That afternoon, I had approval for surgery. A few months later, I was back at work, still in a lot of pain, but gradually regained full use of my arm, thanks to a brilliant surgeon by the name of Cameron Brown, who I believe I owe my physical & mental health to, not to mention my marriage. Please don't turn people down, just because you can. Please keep up the great work you're able to do, & do your duty to get people off their couches & back to living a full, rewarding life
Glad things worked out for you.
But, that is socialized medicine, right there. Only so many doctors and if everyone has a right to the doctors' time and expertise based off of a social program, then rationing is inevitable. You almost got rationed right out of what you were promised you would have access to.
I'm a Kiwi suffering too and I can't believe that I have to wait 5 weeks just to see my GP.
The western world is like a third world country now … but they will tax is to death ..literally
Same thing happening to me here in India.
The first time I met the ortho doctor of my company he told I had a frozen shoulder and should do physio for 2 months and sent me away from his presence in 30 seconds.
He kept playing me down in several follow up visits and would not listen to my description of the problems and would not prescribe MRI. Then I used some influence on him to prescribe MRI. While prescribing MRI he wrote possible rotator cuff injury. Now, I am waiting for MRI.
Twenty+ years ago, the orthopedic surgeon diagnosed my shoulder problem as "frozen shoulder". Fast forward to 2023 and it was diagnosed as a rotator cuff tear that is now unrepairable. I remember the recent exam where the doctor pointed out in the sonagram a big void where a muscle is s'pose to be.
I have the same thing 😢 now they want me to get a shoulder replacement 😢 I'm 73 and I'm just scared because I'll be in pain forever 😭😭 pain management put me oxycodone for 12 years 😮 he kept telling me it will heal itself 😭😭😭
I thought I could 'tough it out' when I had a bad fall about a dozen years ago. Fast forward to another fall a few weeks ago, which renewed the pain and then some. Got it checked out this time and found out the rotator cuff muscles were now irreparable - so waiting for surgery for a total reverse shoulder replacement. Listen to your body, and don't try to be tough!!
Mine was a complete full thickness tear of the supraspinatus and infraspinatus with 2.3 cm retraction.I chose not to go with surgery because the second opinion was that it was too far gone to repair properly.I have full range of motion after 9 months but reaching for a gallon of milk out of the fridge gives noticeable weakness, but I'm still able to lift it with discomfort by using my deltoid doing all the work.Everybody is different, I don't know what will happen 3 years or 10 years from now, but my shoulder gives me enough strength to get by in life.
edit: was 3.2cm .Not 2.3cm
@@Aleisterpage-wy3ddHi! I was recently diagnosed with full thickness tear,I opt not to go surgery bec I it retracted too much already and I have muscle athropy,my problem now is the pain,everyday,haven't got a decent sleep?How do you deal with this? I'm just afraid of what will happen to me in the future? Can you help p me?
You beast. This is what I like to hear!
@@didnuucansing1850 I work a factory job which requires a lot of lifting.I use a heating pad nightly if I'm sore from work, that has helped alot with soreness but actual pain for my situation I'll use ibuprofen. It's been a full year now since I tore them off the bone and I'm getting stronger with less pain thanks to the surrounding muscles picking up the slack of the missing tendons.Sorry I don't have a miracle answer for you or me.
Hopefully yt doesn't shadowban me.With my injury, it's more of a soreness now than pain(after 13 months.) I use a heating pad nightly after work and that's helped alot.Sorry I don't have a better answer.
I like your comment small tears become large tears. The same as abdominal hernia tears. They do not heal and only get worse. PT only strengthens muscles around the affected tendon/muscle affected to help take the full strain off of it. Unless one is going to continue some form of PT on their own this treatment is at best short term. Cortizone shots are temporary and if taken one has to wait 6 weeks to undergo surgery if required. I have had rotator cuff surgery on both shoulders. My left one first as a result of a fall on it. The MRI was uncomfortable and the image not so great. My surgeon told me when he went in I had multiple tears and atrophy resulting in what he called radical repair with barely enough cuff to pull down and connect to bone. A simple 20 or 30 minute procedure ended up being over 2.5 hours. My arm was immobilized for 6 weeks and the beginning stretches required prior to full rehab brought me to my knees. My Physical Therapist told me flat out, Jim if I cant get you to full extension open hand up all the way back, I cannot continue to the resistance part of the rehab and you will never regain full use of your arm, which is the goal in rehab. It was a Come to Jesus experience for me that weekend. The following Monday, I sucked it up and three sessions later, and two weeks behind, she had me at full extension and rehab continued. I came out of that with full use and in better shape than I had been in years because I mirrored what I did on my left shoulder and did the same on my right shoulder. Then, almost 2 years to the day of my surgery, I slipped in my kitchen on a small drop of water and landed on my elbow, It shoved my shoulder up and did that one in. I knew right from the beginning from the way it felt I had torn a cuff. I wasted no time like I did the first time and made an appointment with the same surgeon. 2 weeks later, it was done, He only prescribed one round of 10mg Hydrocodone. When I asked for more he laughingly said Your left shoulder was a mess compared to this one and since you have experience with this already ibuprofen or tylenol and ice packs are all you get. I am happy to say I have full use of both shoulders. PT can be hard at first but as someone who saw me in my arm immobilized getup said Rotator cuff surgery? Yes. I will say one thing Do what your Physical Therapist says and keep crushing those pain pills. I figured out what that cowboy meant about a month later.
I had rotator cuff repairs 4th July 2002 what I will.say is I used no.pain pills after my op.i used a freezer block ice this not only eased the discomfort but I firmly believe it helped my recovery very quickly.
I gym everyday and even my surgeon said my recovery has been excellent.
I was using a band after 6 weeks and ran on a tree mill for 60 mins every day.
Of course you loose weight but that's why I gym it helped so much.
If your having this surgery do your exercises every day and use the ice pack also.i have never had pain in my shoulder I call it an ache,yes I did have half an hour of physio every two weeks this is a must if you want to recover quickly follow my story.
Trev in sunny cape Town south africa
Oh, man. This is a sign. I was going to get it looked at today but the pain was okay when I woke up. I didn't realize it was the pain killer I took last night. Now I'm in pain again. I didn't think when I was slipping in slow motion that my shoulder was actually tearing. It was so traumatic though. I had to be quiet because it was 5am. Just the thought makes me cringe.
Don't wait! I had an intermediate partial thickness tear which showed up in my MRI. Surgery was the only solution, and in the 2 months between the surgery and the MRI my tendon was hanging on by a thread. This is no joke! If you even think there might maybe be something wrong in that shoulder you better take it seriously. My surgery was only 2 weeks ago and I might have a fully functional shoulder by May.
I just had a reverse replacement of my right shoulder, seriously considering having my left one done in the next 6 months. I tore both rotator cuffs at the same time. They tried fixing the left one with a noninvasive procedure. It didn’t work very well 😢
11 months ago I had a bad fall I felt pain in my life with other falls but this was soo excruciatingly painful I couldn't even sit up I fractured my nose jarred the bk n hips heavily fell on my knees n was told I was very lucky I didn't knock myself out. Was monitored for concussion n heart n dizziness. Having Menieres Disease.
I've had this problem for well over a year now. Rotary cuff tears and tendinitis. My hospital doctor wanted to perform MRI scans but l refused to have anymore needles etc near me again. This fear started from a misplaced COVID Jab 2yrs ago. I still have some pain in my upper arm but l'm hoping this will eventually heal... After having a fall l also broke 3 bones in the same arm. My X Rays say these have healed now fortunately.
MRI has no needles. The doctors can only fix the tears if they know where they are. MRIs does that. Doctors don't want to go in blind. x-rays do not show if the tears have been repaired, that is why you need a MRI, Since this post was 11 months ago, I say your shoulder still hurts.
Just had SCR on the left. The right needs regular repair next year too
Is there any way to make a firm diagnosis of torn or not without MRI??
No
No its a soft issue problem so needs an mri
At 63 I just had a reverse replacement of my right shoulder. Apparently neglecting shoulder injuries for 30 or 40 years isn't a good idea.
I tore all 4 tendons.. 2 are complete tears and 2 are partially torn… went to the 1st dr.. he said physical therapy… said he the torn ends are surrounded by fat now. Would not do surgery, said I’m too young for a total shoulder (52).. can’t get in to see another dr till mid December… it’s a dull pain and limited arm usage… not sure what to do?!?!
Screw that. I’d go find a different doctor
@@natef1504 yes
Seek a second opinion. Tears are akin to the old screen door in how a small hole in it only leads to a continous larger opening or tear. They do not heal.
@@jimdeavenport9952 yup. 3 yrs ago I was pressing 75x11 the incline dumbell bench. it got to the point I could only do 60x10 due to the damage getting worse over time. had surg last week.
Unfortunately I (37y) am in a similar situation. M. supraspinatus on one side exists almost entirely of fat and the muscle is basically non-existant. The doctors said the same regarding surgery (too young, too much moblity, strenght). My only options are cortison and/or physio. I'm now doing physio for a couple of weeks but it's not really a game changer and the pain is back. I'm really hesistant regading cortison, but there seems no other option to continue training.... What did you do and how did it turn out?
I had a dislocated shoulder. Ultrasound showed no rotor cuff pathology, but I can visually see the deformed mussel around the bad shoulder. Doctor suspects a torn rotor cuff. So far he has not recommended surgery citing risks and a long recovery time. I have mobility, but freezing in some directions and weakness. I have tried extensive PT and have bursitis too adding to the joy:)
Jogging or driving on bumpy road lead to aggregation of it. I feel disabled in the right arm and the doctor surgeons did not even look at my shoulder with my shirt off and had no time for me.
@@SaanichtonMinistries I can understand because I faced same apathy.
You need to get another opinion. You should be required to get an MRI, that is really only way to tell if you have a tear or not. PT should be used for recovery.
@@michaelstuthers1914 happy to report after 1 year, I am finally getting strength and mobility with the dislocated shoulder. Switched my bone doctor and he took a detailed X ray and showed a minor bankarts injury. He agreed I did not need an MRI (I would not go into one of the magnetic microwave ovens unless absolutely necessary) I did several rounds of physio and weight training and slowly… very slowly it healed without surgical intervention. In fact my dislocated should on the left feels more better and strong than my right! So praise God, healing happened naturally. I will never place heavy loads on the shoulder in awkward positions again and habitually watch it when I reach out and extend it… I hind site, I am glad I did not do surgery especially give that it has risk and may have made it worse potentially.
I’m up for third right repair, maybe. Infraspinatus and supraspinatus full tears, anchors pulled out. Arm is useless, weak, now elbow issue and nerve entrapment. Fell off my bike and tore left so had to wait another year at the cost of the right. It locks, partial slips out, get cervical neck pain and headaches and shoulder feels unstable…ugh. I’ve asked for tendon transfer so I can get some strength back, my life has lost ability to do anything repetitive ….it’s a bummer as I can feel the retractions.
Both my shoulders have torn rotator cuffs and because I'm in a wheelchair the dr said there is nothing he can do for me because I need both arms to operate my chair and even get out of bed. So I have been moving ahead and know my limitations. Another problem is I'm over 70 so my body is also slowing down.
Find a way to get an electric wheelchair. Maybe Salvation Army. Or a local NGO. Call Medicare too.
Exercises given arn't just for rehab time they are a life time my Physio said the reason ppl have so many problems is because they r done too quick over exercising or not at all remember our shoulder keeps the blade tendons nerves in our shoulders arms fingers n part of our chest & neck near the shoulder moving when we reach move lift rotate when we have an injury n we don't follow through with exercises n cortisone if u can have it ots freezes permanently then the ops start.
To many things to write beside the 2 tears they want to repair why get it done if ill still have other issues because of my age they wont repair like Mild to moderate cartilage thinning of the glenohumeral joint. Moderate to severe acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis
with bony hypertrophic change and trace joint effusion and more i wont mention :)
It heals on with safe movement. Don't need to go to no one
Thank you but it is a long process
How long did it take to heal? I have to keep it completely immobile and the arm braces given aren’t that helpful so i just bought one that straps into your body so you are guaranteed to keep it in place. I keep getting better only to accidentally use the arm again and getting back to square one with the same original pain.
Except medicaid wont pay for an mri for me
My Advantage plan paid for mine.
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