Shoulder rotor cuff question

fixerupper · Jan 25, 2009

No, a tractor doesn't have one that I know of, but the driver does!

The right shoulder has rotor problems. It's been mildly bugging me for years but two weeks ago while shoveling snow it went BANG and that was the end of shoveling for me. Went to the doc, then the therapist and now it'll be the MRI tube tomorrow.

This morning when I woke up the arm and hand were tingling like crazy, like I layed on it wrong, but I know I didn't, and now two hours later we're still tingling away and my fingers are jumping around when I'm using the mouse.

Is this part of it? I know a bunch of you guys have been through this as it's a very common injury in active people. What gives? Thanks, JIm

northener · Jan 25, 2009

Your in big trouble now had a friend who had his whole arm amputated with the same problem as you got better see a doc asap.

Anonymous-0 · Jan 25, 2009

Did you search the internet? I would. My advice is that you need a H*ll of a lot better advice than you will get here. Hope the best for you. Tom

rustyfarmall · Jan 25, 2009

Yes, the tingling sensation and the jumping fingers are all a part of it. Might as well learn to live with it. I know folks that have had surgery to fix it, and ended up no better than they were. Analgesic cream, aspirin, and a heat pad will provide considerable relief.

Dave from MN · Jan 25, 2009

I have the same things happen to my hand and fingers , at night and even during the day. It gets really bad while I am driving the bobcat, after 15 minutes of a lot of forward driving, my hand and fingers get to tingly and numb that i cant stand it. A therapist I had seen for a short time for my knee told me it is very symptomatic of a pinched nerve and restricted blood flow through my shoulder muscles. Something about the muscles start to move the nerve and squeeze a certain vein that directly affects the hands, fingers and wrist, she said it would get worse whenever I am working with my arms down and forward, which is exactly when it does it. Really makes picking 10,000+ eggs a day frustrating.. She wanted to work on me for that as well, but being a clinic therapist she was only allowed to treat for the referred problem, my knee. I am tempted to get her # and call her at home and see what she says. What she said made sense, and what she did do to me that ONE brief moment did seem to make a difference, for a few hours.

pat sublett · Jan 25, 2009

I fell out of a tree and broke 2 Rotator cuff muscles. Pulled them completely into. Finally six months later I got to a surgeon. Because of the delay the muscles had srunk. I got a scar on my belly where they hooked a fence stretcher to pull them back in place. He drilled holes in the bone and sewed them back. I was 67 yrs old. I am now 74. I just finished sheetrocking the ceiling in a 15,000 sq ft. house by my self. The important thing is to get a good surgeon. I live in central Texas. If you are close enough email me and I will give you a name and address.

fixerupper · Jan 25, 2009

Pat, I live in NW Iowa. When I had the neck surgery a year ago it was done in Minneapolis, 260 miles away but the long drive was worth it. Yes, I did think about the neck causing the tingling but that seems to be fixed so far.

This arm is so sore I have to lift it with my left hand to get it on the gear shift of the pickup so I can shift gears. Once it's resting on the gearshift it's OK. Sometimes I can lift this arm by itself and sometimes I can't. Jim

Richard G. · Jan 25, 2009

Had surgery 5 weeks ago for a "huge" tear in my rotator cuff. Been getting worse for a year. Got to where I could not sleep with the pain. Doc had a hard time pulling things back together to sew it up. Said my shoulder looked like spagetti inside. Going to therapy now to regain use of shoulder.
Wish I had gone to the doctor six months sooner.
DON"T WAIT TOO LONG. The earlier you get it fixed, the quicker it will heal. I am looking at up to a year for full recovery. Don"t know how much use I will get.
DO NOT WAIT.
Good luck, Richard
PS, I can use my arm some now and it seems to be improving each week. Just have to use common sense.

LA in Wi. · Jan 25, 2009

Hey Fixer,
I had totator cuff surgery in 2002 when I was 66 yr old. Pain had been so bad I couldn"t get right arm up to shoulder level and couldn"t sleep good at night or put on a sweatshirt.
You will hear horror stories about how long and terrible the recovery period is...I followed the rehab instructions every day and 6 months later I was as good as new. In fact, my right shoulder is now more flexible than the left!
Follow your rehab exercises to the letter.
LA in WI

PS The day before surgery I had to have the required checkup. I told the lovely nurse that I was really scared about this operation. She said "It will be ok". I asked her "Will I be able to play the piano later on?". She said "Yes". I then said "Good, I never could do that before!". She laughed so hard she had to sit down.

Rollie NE PA · Jan 25, 2009

(reply to post at 15:16:11 01/25/09)

About 7 years ago I fell head first into a truck alignment pit and broke my shoulder ( tuberosity fracture ). Went to the orthopeadic surgeon and he placed me in a shoulder imobilizer for 3 weeks. When I went back for a checkup he told me to stand facing the wall and said walk your fingers up the wall, I could not do it . Sent me for therapy and the girl that worked with me was great. Yeah it hurt like H-ll but in the end I have full range of motion and no pain. You must do as directed by you Dr. or therapist or you will end up with a frozen shoulder.
Good Luck, Rollie

Spook · Jan 25, 2009

I had a pinched nerve in my shoulder several years ago, couldn't feel my left hand, very little strength in it. Went away after a couple of weeks. Started after I did a bunch of heavy lifting. Working for a living is highly overrated...

Anonymous-0 · Jan 25, 2009

I have had both of my shoulders done. Both from different falls. You would think I would have learned after the first one. The first one I waited quite a while before I had it done-till I couldn't stand the pain and got tired of using the left hand to lift my right arm over my shoulder. Doc said it was the worst one he had seen yet. I did the therapy religiously and it turned out ok till one day I was driving the tractor and it felt like something snapped. It bothered for a while but one day I reached with it awkwardly and it snapped back and has been good for the last 8 years. Sometimes the scar tissue has to get stretched and then it is better. The second one was much easier and healed quicker than the first. I had a different doctor for that one but I didn't care for his way of doing it. He allowed so much time and when that was up, he called it good enough. The first one spent an hour longer working on it than he had expected cause it was torn so bad. Therapy is the key to recovery though.

chuck t · Jan 25, 2009

Not uncommon to have numbness and tingling with bad cuff tears, but if you had previous neck surgery it may be related to the cervical spine. If you have significant muscle weakness (grip real weak, can"t bend wrist back, weak straightening or bending elbow) you need to call the doc. The rehab is long and uncomfortable and a lot of work, but long term outcome (over a year) is pretty good. This routine stuff for most ortho docs, just make sure you doc does more then a few a year, and make sure you therapist does a lot of rehab on them so they don"t push you too hard and rip the repair. Mindset should be months, not weeks, to get as good as it will be.

fixerupper · Jan 25, 2009

Thank you for the stories. It's good to hear from those who've been there. The tingling isn't quite as noticeable now but it's still there enough to keep me from taking a sunday nap. Sleeping at night is something I've pretty much forgotten about for the past couple of weeks now so I suppose it's time to get something done. The other morning when I put a sweater on my wife could hear me yelling and whining from clear across the house.

If I don't get something done soon she'll hit me over the head and drag me to the hospital. Jim

NEsota · Jan 25, 2009

It was just over a year following my injury that I had surgery, they like to do it sooner for best results. My surgeon found better mussel material, while in surgery, than he had expected and it all went very well. A very important thing that many people neglect is following up with the physical therapy. I did everything they suggested and results were great.

Anonymous-0 · Jan 25, 2009

Stay away from therapy with you injury as it will only agravate it. You need to see a surgen asap.

buickddeere · Jan 25, 2009

Exactly. Listen to the physio therapist too. Too much or too little exercise will ruin the repairs.
My repaired shoulder was doing real well until a couple of months ago. Eldest son on the skating rink was taking on the old man with body checks. I flattened his dumb *ss a couple of times but also re-tore my shoulder.

old popper · Jan 25, 2009

I live in NW Ia also, had my left shoulder doneabout 3 or 4 years ago due to a fall. Had it done at CNOS at the Dunes in Sioux City. I had a very good surgeon, and regained all of my motion in the shoulder. Getting the strength back is however a lengthy process. e-mail me if you want to know the surgeon's name. I'm not sure he hasn't retired.

Anonymous-0 · Jan 25, 2009

I'm only 47 but 2 years ago I was taking off a water pump on my F250 super duty with a 1/4" ratchet. When I got it off, I could lift the pump off. The next day, if I move my arm a certain way,I would get a excrusiating pain that lasted only a few minutes. After phys. therapy, and pain therapy, a MRI revealed a calcium build up. The doc. said after the operation that calcium built a sharp edge on the shoulder blade and cut the main tendon. I still have pain when sleeping the wrong way or splitting firewood.

Anonymous-0 · Jan 25, 2009

Had my right side done 5 years ago after I couldn't stand it any longer. Doc said it would take 6 months to get back in shape. I thought I'd made a huge mistake after the surgery--for about 3 days (take the pills!). I did everything the therapist said to do which will really cause a sweat. My should got better and better. After almost exactly 6 months there wasn't anything I couldn't do with it with one exception. I still have trouble putting on a coat--I can do it but it is much better if the right arm goes in first. I am very happy that I had it done.

John A. · Jan 25, 2009

Fixerupper, Blu-out both of my shoulders about 12 yrs aqo, with in 15 minutes of each other. Lived with the pain, and growing aurthitis till last Christmas time when I really hurt my Rt shoulder in a fall, just could take the pain and diminished mobility any more.
So 3-26-08 had a complete shoulder replacement done! The prinicipal is the same as a Knee replacement, saw of the ball, drive in a new Titanum Steel ball and build a new recepitacle for it. No more pain! It is fully rehabed now. Will do everything I used to do NO! will I do 90+% of what I used to do Yes. Remember you messed up your original one you got at birth, You can mess up the new steel ball, the one that surgeon gave you, with rubber hammer too.Jest be smart about what you do and how soon you start doing it after your replacement Surgery
First one went so well I had the LH shoulder done too on 12-10-08.
Best thing I have ever done was getting my shoulders fixed. OBTW I went so long with mine being Bad, Replacement was my only choice.
Hope this helps, You are welcome to call and visit if you want. (512)-577-3837.
Later,
John A.

Shoulder rotor cuff question

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