I have developed problems in my shoulder in the last month that appears to be rotator cuff related. My husband had this problem as well as a couple of other people that I know and everyone says this is what I have.
I've joined a fitness center but am afraid to do many of the exercises because I'm afraid that I'll injure my arm more even though I read that exercise is important.
Yes, I know that I need to go to the doctor and do plan to but I have a question. I am deathly afraid of MRI's. Had one before and said I would never do it again regardless of whether or not I'm put to sleep. Stupid I know but I have a fear of being put into a tube and even though I know that I can be put to sleep but just KNOWING that this would happen really frightens me. Question is.......does a doctor ALWAYS do an MRI to diagnosis you or can they do so by x-rays?
hello,
I saw your post and wanted to reply. I have rotator cuff tears in my left shoulder. I finally had to have an MRI as the X-ray didn't show enough details. The MRI showed the tears and the extent of them and the bone spurs. Depending on your pain, Rotator cuff tears can heal on their own in a year or so. I'm not afraid of MRIs but surgery is another story so I'm trying to deal with it on my own.
You might want to get to an orthopedic specialist who deals with shoulders and maybe he could advise you or determine from an x-ray.
I also think that some MRIs are open partially. But I would hold off on any exercise till you get a definate diagnosis.
good luck to you.
I do appreciate your quick response. My husband said that it took almost a year for his to heal. His was so bad that he could hardly lift his arm. He rarely has any problem with it now. That said, I feel a LITTLE better thinking that since mine hasn't "healed" itself in a month that it isn't unreasonable to think that it can yet do so. It mainly bothers me if I try to reach back for something and has recently begun to bother me if I sleep on it.
well i just had arthroscopic surgery yesterday for a partial tear in rotator cuff - they actually just cleaned up the area - shaving it down to make more room - am in lots of pain today - typing with one hand, but am glad that it is over - i had pain for about a year - did the pt - nothing worked - had closed mri - did not like that - i would try a place with an open mri. x-rays do not show tears. my doc said it would probably not heal on its own - but may feel better with therapy - but not actually heal. plus he said since mine wasn't responding to pt - surgery or nothing were the only options. good luck.
I have a shoulder impingement. It started with soreness in February a year ago. At first the doctor had me take NSAID's, ice and rest it. When that didn't work, I was eventually referred for PT. It was the PT who diagnosed my shoulder impingement due to lax ligaments in my rotator cuff. He gave me exercises to tighten my rotator cuff. It is my understanding that that typically works. Last December I finally went for x-rays and eventually a MRI. The MRI did confirm the shoulder impingement, but I needed it at the time because I had developed bicep tendonitis. A cortizone shot helped me the last couple months. I go for surgery in a couple months. I write this not to scare you, but to let you know that the Dr's and PT all went the non-invasive and test free route first. They all made a correct diagnosis based upon my symptoms and physical exam. I think if you go to the doctor you will find you have other options before the MRI. I would definitely consider rest before continuing exercise unless directed by a doctor.
i am currently healing from my rotator cuff surgery.it was done onthe 6th of this month.my best advice to you is find out the exact extent of your shoulder problems as soon as possible.this would tell whether or not you can get by for now with maybe some really good PT or if the tear is too thick and needs repair.i didn't have a clue i had so many things that needed to be fixed inside my little shoulder til the MRI revealed two full thickness tears and a joint issue and a few other odds and ends.unfortunetly,you really DO need that MRI in order to really show the full extent of any damage or tears,it will not show up on x ray.they do have the open sided MRIs now that don't 'feel" like you are being shoved into a tube.the shoulder MRI,i didn't have to go as far in as i did with my brain and the c spine ones.i have had to have 16 MRIs done in just the past seven years.you can obtain some sedation from your doc or have it ordered thru the place that is going to do your pics.it just calms you down a bit.it can help.i always have to take my pain meds and a half a valium,but thats more for just having to stay in the one posistion than anything from the actual MRI.there are ways to do it that are pretty comfy for the patient now.but i would very highly advise you to get one done just to really see what it is you are dealing with.smaller tears can in some cases repair themselves,but if you should have anything large or full thickness tears like i did,the surgical route is usually just about your only real option.but find out what you are dealing with first and go from there.you could have alot of damage,trust me,and not truely realize the extent without the MRI.if you do indeed have any full thickness tears,they HAVE TO be sutured back together in order to heal since the tendons retract away from each other once that break is made.they wont just 'go back together' again on their own.once you get that MRI done,you will know much more as to whether PT will be sufficiant or its time to get the ortho opinion.the big thing to remember about the rotator tears is the longer you wait to have it fixed,the more in depth any surgery may be.i waited way too long since i assumed alot of my shoulder pain was stemming from my c spine mess when alot of it was the shoulder tears.i really am glad i had this done tho.the pain is sooo much less now compared to what i had been having going in.i am just doing the excercises and using this cpm machine to help keep the joint moving right now.you just really do need to know where you are at before doing anything else.unfortuently,that will take the MRI.it goes pretty quick tho compared to others i have had.i wish you luck and hope you are stil at the PT stage.please let us know just what you find out. FB
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3-22-01,herniated C-6-7
11-20-01,placement of hardware for failed fusion
9-22-03,removal of cavernous hemangioma that was inside spinal cord. Neuro damage to L hand L leg and R leg.
Ill write down here not to set another topic about shoulder injuries.
I have had my shoulder dislocated like 15-17 times by now. It usually happens when I do one of those things I shouldnt do anymore with shoulder in condition like that. Meaning snowboarding, kickboxig, biking etc... I talked to one rehab doctor and he said that I can actually just deal with it by doing PT. Unfortunately since this conversation and some work out on my shoulder I had it dislocated twice. I feel like I have nothing there that can hold it in proper place and everything is just torn off. I was considering artroscopy but recently I had a lot of things in my life that changeg (including moving from europe) that I was affraid to do so. Now Im thinking to go for an MRI and then to the doctor for some advice. Im also wondering how much can MRI cost when have no insurance (Im not sure my insurance will cover it since I just sign up a few weeks ago) ? Any wise advice ?
i would just contact your ins co and find out what is and is not actually covered or when it all really kicks in and go from there.considering the amount of actual dislocations you have had,i do think you most likely have at the very least here some very lax ligaments or other possible problems.you just shouldn't be able to do that ya know?but in order to really see whats going on inthere,you would really need that MRI done.once you find out for certain about your ins coverage,plan it after it kicks in.but you really do need to find out whats wrong.most problems just become worse as time passes,not better. FB
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3-22-01,herniated C-6-7
11-20-01,placement of hardware for failed fusion
9-22-03,removal of cavernous hemangioma that was inside spinal cord. Neuro damage to L hand L leg and R leg.
thanks for advice. i just talked to my ins co today, they said they I need to see a doctor and then follow them all the documentation from that, then they will decide what I should do next and if they will cover it. so basicly I just have to see the doctor and then wait.
If it wouldnt be enough, my wife dislocated her knee today while we were playing volleyball :/
