Thanks for all the comments.
KLS: Treatment was for me a Cortisone shot that did nothing ,so it went to surgery which took 2 hours.
And after all the trauma you went thru with this, you went on to smash rocks with your elbow? Glutton for punishment?? Sorry you've had so much trouble with this.
KLS: Make sure you have the MRI and do seek medical treatment . I waited a year before doing anything which caused to tear to rot ( yuck ) which made the surgery more lenghtly and recovery longer.
OK You've convinced me here. I will 'Dare to have Wisdom' and learn from someone else's hard-earned, painful lessons. *Smooches*
Purps: If you can move your arms level with your shoulders and have strength you probably can heal on your own. but you cannot lift anything over the weight of a gallon of milk. or do lifting over your head. It takes a long time to heal, maybe even three months.
A doc I work with tore his rotator cuff and got acpunture and said it worked.
I can move my arms level with my shoulders but am losing strength in that arm. I think I am losing circulation, too. The hand on my injured arm is colder than normal and colder than my other hand. I woke up with a numb arm this morning.
Good advise on the lifting.
Acupuncture. I've been interested in trying this for many years. This may be a good time to actually try it out. Thanks!
I use to work in a PT office we had many rotator cuff problems, some post surgery some no surgery....go for an MRI see what the doc reccommends and then go from there. Depending on the degree of the injury or pain either PT or surgery should work. Good Luck!Evesapple: start icing, Ibuprofen (advil, motrin).
Thanks. I hadn't thought of icing the area. Advil is a good idea. I usually wait until there is too much pain. I will go take some now, grab an ice pack and go to lie down.
Carmel: Never had surgery, just lots of physical theropy and willing to endure low level pain for ever.
Hmmm. I can go for the Phys Therapy. Open to discussing surgery, if suggested by doctor. Not sure I'm wanting to live with low level pain in my arm forever. Sorry you are not able to get full relief.
Garybuss: I got the Cortisone shot and I could rise my arm a teeny bit. It took two years till I could reach up again. I never had surgery. My injury must have just been a strain type thing. It was worth remembering.
Two years?!!? And sounds like your arm was really, really messed up. 'worth remembering'? How could you possible forget???!! I hope you are better now.
I have not seen doctor yet thinking it would get better on it's own, but it's not. Today I decided to start babying it and wonder if I should immobilize it during the day.
I'm not even sure if Rotator Cuff trouble is what I have...
The pain is in the upper third of my right arm. Mostly on the outside. A little to the front and a little in back. The pain intensifies with lateral movement especially if there is weight or force (opening a door, pushing soap dispenser - side mounted).
The 'injury' occured when I was lying in bed and lifted my 17-lb cat over my head and plopped it at the foot of my bed. He was indignant and I'm in pain. I think he snickers when he sees me rubbing my arm...
Two weeks with no improvement is enough time to wait. I should will call an orthopod tomorrow.
-Aude.