Rotator cuff tendon unlikely to ever heal???

[Roke]

I just read this excerpt, and apparently some tendons can never heal! That is bloody unbelievable. Please say this is wrong.

"Rotator cuff dysfunction is typically a continuum of pathology ranging from tendonitis and bursitis to partial tearing, to a complete tear in one or more of the tendons. Although the earlier stages may resolve with conservative care, actual tearing of the tendon can be more problematic. These tears most commonly occur at the tenoperiosteal (tendon to bone) junction. Because this area has a relatively poor blood supply, injury to the tendon here is very unlikely to actually heal. Additionally, the constant resting tension in the muscle-tendon unit, or ?muscle tone?, pulls any detached fibers away from the bone, preventing their reattachment. Finally, joint fluid from within the shoulder may seep into the tear gap preventing the normal healing processes from occurring. "

http://www.orthoassociates.com/shoulderRCD.htm

[FlyingIllini]

I had a RC injury in college. Although it healed fairly well, I still favor that shoulder, and it is still weaker than the other 20 years later.

[Roke]

Perhaps you favor it because you're right-handed and so your mind prefers the right rc over the left.

Now I injured my left rc doing stupid lateral raises with 20 lb dumbell. I can still move my arm, but it feels loose and I will be infuriated if doing 4 reps of one set will permanently screw it. .....

[quickcougar03]

I injured my right rc over and over again (even with therapy) either by lifting, playing b-ball, or watersports. In short it sucked! It was always loose and clicked. I finally subplexed it playing football, then about 2 years later (w/ off and on injuries) I fully dislocated it and had to get surgery. Fast forward to 2 1/2 years later (present), I am able to do pretty much everything that I did before I messed it up, although I am much more careful about it. I workout 5 x week. Start with machine exercises to get the balance and some strength back. If your lucky it will heal and won't continue to get injured. Give it a rest, and dont push your luck.

[Roke]

I injured my right rc over and over again (even with therapy) either by lifting, playing b-ball, or watersports. In short it sucked! It was always loose and clicked. I finally subplexed it playing football, then about 2 years later (w/ off and on injuries) I fully dislocated it and had to get surgery. Fast forward to 2 1/2 years later (present), I am able to do pretty much everything that I did before I messed it up, although I am much more careful about it. I workout 5 x week. Start with machine exercises to get the balance and some strength back. If your lucky it will heal and won't continue to get injured. Give it a rest, and dont push your luck.

Did you take supplements after the surgery? Which ones?

[quickcougar03]

No I did not. Every time I injured it I took at least a week off from my normal routines, then came back slow. I started lifting again probably 3 months after surgery just to be safe. In those 3 months I had to do rubberband exercises. Sounds stupid but it was tough as hell. Then I just started taking whey protein and that was it. I started creatine maybe.... 6 months after surgery (cant exactly remember). If I get off my workout schedule I usually have(5-6x week) and dont make it in or get really busy. I come back doing mainly machine exercises at light weight. Even now there are alot of exercises that I would love to do with db but, one wrong move and I would be back to surgery since I am doing what I consider heavy weights.

[jpb5151]

I just read this excerpt, and apparently some tendons can never heal! That is bloody unbelievable. Please say this is wrong.

Sorry... At least in my case it's completely true. The pain went on for 15 years, lift or rest. The only thing that fixed it was surgery. Looking at the surgery pictures, it's easy to tell that the tendon would have never healed on their own. Both ends were pulled back like rubber band strands, no way they'd've gotten back together.

[quickcougar03]

Yeah I think surgery is the only way to fix it. If you ever see a doc about it dont listen to therapy over and over again. Thats BS.

[javyn]

I helped mine by doing exercises for it and taking a year off lifting.

Still, I have to be very careful when doing shoulder presses, as my left shoulder still "pops" so it's obviously not healed 100%.

[Roke]

With all these supplements like super cissus and animal flex you'd think they might do something or help the blood reach the sensitive areas. It's ludicrous that simply exercises can cause long-term damage.

[CoQ10]

With all these supplements like super cissus and animal flex you'd think they might do something or help the blood reach the sensitive areas. It's ludicrous that simply exercises can cause long-term damage.

It's unfortunate, but from everything I've read, it seems that surgery's the only real solution. I'm starting physical therapy later this week so (hopefully) I can avoid causing more damage, but if it is torn, I'd opt for surgery sooner rather than later; no sense in delaying the inevitable.

Best of luck on your recovery.

-C10

[Fresch]

Much rehab of shoulders has been poor, and not "solved" the problem that caused the impingement in the first place.

The idea is to stop the shoulder getting to the phase where it develops a tear.

That means not pushing through pain and using cheat movements (where there is most likely impingement occurring), and attention to the stabiliser muscles (rotator cuff) as well as the prime movers.