r/RotatorCuff

I’m so tired I could cry. I'm 55, have a torn rotator cuff, and I haven’t had a proper night of sleep in weeks.

Every single position hurts eventually. I can’t sleep on my good side at all. If I sleep on the other side it starts pulling and aching. On my back I have to prop the arm up with pillows and somehow I still wake up an hour later in horrible pain.

I’m at the point where I dread going to bed because I already know what the night is going to be like.

Has anyone here had a tear where the night pain was this bad? At this point I’d probably let a witch do something to my shoulder if she told me I’d sleep through the night...

Recent MRI results showed a significant tear, and I’ve received a recommendation for surgery. I’ve been a swimmer for a very long time and also lift weights, so I suppose I have done this to myself. Just waiting now for insurance clearance and scheduling to happen. I’ll be reading here for sure for insight and advice. I was glad to find this sub. When the recommendation for surgery was given, my immediate inclination was just to get it done and get recovery started. However, is there ever any reason to delay or try other options? This pain has been going on for quite some time, so I am inclined to just get on the road to recovery. Weirdly, I haven’t lost a significant amount of strength or range of motion due to the tear. Thanks in advance!.

Just got the news this morning. I am beyond petrified of losing running progress after working so hard to get here. I know it’s temporary and the ins and outs of getting back to 100, but it’s also the kind of tear you can live with so I’m on the fence. The online anecdotes are all over the place with some runners back to easy runs at 4-6 weeks which isn’t too bad. Other anecdotes are much longer.

I've never had any issues with my shoulders. I think I overdid myself at the gym. I am having some sharp pains in my right shoulder. What are some exercises and steps to heal? I don't want to go to the doctor unless I absolutely need to. I appreciate all feedback! Thanks in advance

Hi everybody. This is my first Reddit post ever. Do what you will with that information.
Me: 45(f), reasonably fit and quite healthy, active mountain biker and daily bicycle commuter (I live 1.5 miles from work on a car-free bike path).
I had been living with a pretty manageable pain in my right (dominant) shoulder for about a year and a half. When I could no longer reach into my back pocket without significant shooting pain, I used the Dr.’s referral I received last summer to get an MRI.
Results came back that I have a “High-grade bursal sided tear of the anterior supraspinatus insertion measures approximately 0.9 cm in
anteroposterior dimension with approximately 1.2 cm retraction of the bursal sided fibers.”

Naturally, I’m bummed out.

I met with a local surgeon who specializes in rotator cuffs and sports medicine. I wouldn’t say he pressured me into surgery, he spit straight facts that this wasn’t going to heal on its own and he wasn’t going to give me regular steroid shots. I’m too young for those. Because I wasn’t ready to schedule at our first meeting, he agreed to give me one steroid shot with the option to have surgery after 3months.

Is it normal to have to wait 3 months for surgery after a shot?

I haven’t been able to mountain bike or really, be on a bicycle for more than 15 miles without being in significant pain, even after the shot. I have a very physical job that requires me to lift 20-50lbs at a time to shoulder height, several times a day. Today, I think I fucked up while working and found myself in unrelenting pain. 400mg Ibuprofen and diclofenac sodium gel didn’t do a thing.

In the short-term, how fucked am I?

I won’t be fired from my job, I own my business. Thank my good fortune for that one. Surgeon says he can arthroscopically install a patch or reattach the torn tendon. Cool.

Ok, so again, I’m reasonably fit and pretty active. How long can I expect to be off my bike- even to commute a short distance?
For those of you that are also active adults, what kind of exercise were you able to get after surgery? How long did you wait before doing anything aside from walking your neighborhood?
I don’t want to go under the knife but I feel like I have to if I want to get my life back. Can you please share with me your experiences, setbacks and how you stayed sane and happy before and after surgery?

Thanks for reading. Thanks for any insight and intelligent replies.

This is probably more of a rant than anything; maybe hit me with some advice if you're feeling generous. I (46, m) had rotator cuff surgery on July 16th from an injury on June 8th. In the background, this has been a really tough year mentally and physically overall. I feel like I'm hitting some sort of wall that started around 45 that was a bit extra onto what I hit around 42. Before the injury, my schedule was lifting 3-5 days per week + BJJ 4 days per week. I'd also often go for walks. I also eat like a bit of an a**hole. I'm a guy that has been tired and done it anyway for a very long time until about late last year. Fast forward to now, recovering from rotator surgery.

Started PT about 2 weeks ago and not entirely comfortable with how weak I am and I can actually already see physical changes (not that I'm super fit or anything, but I at least kinda look I lift). I know I'm not going to start rolling again anytime soon but am looking to get back at BJJ in maybe 2-3 months, just doing warmups and light drilling as much as I'm able. Weights might be more of a battle but I'm pushing to start very light strength training through PT in a few weeks. ROM is progressing normally. Still feeling some pain, stiffness, and definitely weak AF. I'm aware the recovery time is roughly 9 months.

All that said, I feel like walking is just going to have to be my bread and butter for quite a few months until I can get back at it. I'm trying to use this time to calibrate how I view my overall fitness and focus on longevity so I'm healthy for a long time for my family. I'm also trying to lock in on nutrition while I don't have the same focus on exercise.

Not exactly sure how I'll keep my sanity for the long haul recovery. As I heal, I'm looking to just change my mindset on weight training away from sort of meathead-ish to just giving my body what it needs, incorporating yoga and just more movement in general. I feel like I'll need to build muscle back, but I also want to keep longevity in mind.

Right I feel awful about myself. I feel somewhat lazy and kind of embarrassed. I'm just really frustrated.

Rant over. . .

If you have surgery and afterwards you cannot use your arm/shoulder for at least 6, possibly 9 months, what sport or activities would you pick up? The sport/activity must not involve any impact to your arm/shoulder.

49F. I had a complete rotator cuff tear and shoulder impingement and I’m 5 days post-op. I’m still very much in pain but my concern is more with the swelling. My entire arm is still very swollen and my fingers are so swollen that I cannot close my hand. My wrist also hurts. I’m worried about circulation and blood clots. But I am taking baby aspirin daily.
Is this the norm after 5 days? Anyone had this happened? How long did it take to go down? I start PT in two days maybe they can assess it then.

Hi I'm 19 male , and I have problem in my rotator ka since I was young I don't know how it started and when . So basically when I round my shoulder like whenever I do exercise my shoulder do pop sound and it can be hidd from a distance . With a pain in my shoulder sometimes the pain is normal I mean it how the normal pain feels but sometimes it give me a strange pain something like tired and like someone has rubbed Ice on my bones I don't what kind of pain it is ya but it is. So I visited in hospital and out of suggest me to take some pain killer's calcium and do some exercise but to be honest for the past 1-2 years nothing actually happened that's will benefit me . And because of this a doctor said a clear No​ to any kind of physical activity which involved my upper body , no gym , no lifting. And I don't know what to do now I'm done with this . Can anyone help me

I tried to make the title as comprehensive as I could, but basically I found out that the shoulder pain I have been dealing with for the past several years is due to my rotator cuff being fully detached. I’ve been scheduled for surgical repair in about four weeks, and I’m trying to figure out what to expect postoperatively.

My sister will be staying with me for the first two weeks postop, but after that I’m gonna be on my own, with a friend that can stop by to help here and there with groceries and the like.

I’m trying to pre-plan and prepare as much as I can to set myself up for success, and I’ve been reading different threads in this forum and it seems like what I’m doing is on track, but I’m just wondering what I might be missing or not thinking about?

What were some things that you experienced or needed that you didn’t expect or prepare for? What was one of the things that was most helpful to you during your recovery?

Any and all recommendations/help would be so welcome! If you’ve made it this far, thank you for reading and I appreciate any input you might have

Hi guys

I need advice regarding my shoulder dislocation.

My shoulder dislocated for the first time in 2022, and after that I was admitted to the Accident Ward, and doctors relocated my shoulder properly. After that, my shoulder dislocated a second time in like 2024. The first time and the second time, doctors said to do exercise and attend the clinic, but I couldn't do it properly. After years without any proper exercise or clinic, my shoulder dislocated a third time in April 2026. This time, I was able to relocate my shoulder by myself, and I didn't do any exercises either. For the fourth time, my shoulder dislocated the day before, and I wasn't able to relocate it by myself. This time, I felt more pain, so I was admitted to the accident ward, and the doctors relocated it properly. So I need advice on how I can prevent future dislocation, and has anyone faced this? Please be kind enough to drop a message because now I am a little bit scared about what will happen in the future, and how I will know if I need surgery or not? If I do surgery, will it prevent future dislocation? Also, I hope to go to the gym as well, so guys don't hesitate to share your opinions and thoughts about my situation. I would love to hear from youra side.

Postoperative changes from revised rotator cuff repair, biceps tenodesis, and subacromial decompression.

Large full-thickness retracted re-tear of supraspinatus at the critical zone. Intramuscular edema within supraspinatus and infraspinatus, likely strains in the setting of trauma.

Labral degeneration.

Feeling a bit down today. Zoom call tomorrow with the surgeon’s PA. Likely will just hear I need another surgery.

So many people rave about ice machines but when I look at them I see a pretty unwieldy heavy looking couple of hoses with a thing that looks to have to be velcroed on. Or the hose weight will keep pulling it off I cant imagine trying to vel ro that on by myself e erytime I get up to pee or eat.

Is that right or no? Anyone have an ice machine easy to use? Lightweight? That they love?

Stay away froms?

Same for ice packs. So.e people love them some complain about weight.

How do they, either work for biceps? Im getting shoulder and bicep.

Hi, could someone shed some light on this? I’m a 22-year-old man. I had shoulder impingement and bursitis in both shoulders and ended up having surgery on both — one 10 months ago and the other 6 months ago.
I do my physiotherapy exercises every day and strengthen the muscles at the gym, but I’m still struggling badly. I get pain from walking, sitting without back support or with my arms hanging down, and even from simply standing still. At this point, I basically can’t work and I’m starting to feel like I’m breaking down.
I recently had another MRI, and it showed that everything looks good apart from some remaining tendinosis.
Has anyone been in a similar situation? Did anything eventually help? And has anyone tried the “Wolverine” BPC-157 + TB-500 course, and did it actually help?
There aren’t many people in my country who I can consult about this, so I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone with a similar experience.

My physical therapist said that if my shoulder hurts after my at home PT that I have pushed it too hard. She said the muscles around the arm and elbow and supporting are are OK to hurt because you are are stretching them, but shouldn’t be pushing the repair. Since my shoulder hurts every single time I do my at home PT, I’m wondering if I am pushing too hard.

My doc said I can get another cortisone shot or I can get shoulder arthroscopic bicep tenodesis and distal clavicle excision for my torn labrum and AC joint arthritis. Not big on another shot, since it won't last and you're limited in how often you can get them. But I keep seeing horror stories about these surgeries and how people just aren't the same after them.

Is it worth it? How bad is the recovery? Am I better off just doing PT, even though so far that doesn't seem to be helping either. Any guidance/insight appreciated.

so had rotator cuff injury to both shoulders. on my left shoulder the MRI shows no problems except "mild tendinitis". I don't really have that much pain except when I rotate inward.

However there is a lot of clicking in several places. Any idea if this can be fixed? also having stability issues. Not sure if cortisone shot or prp can fix this. Otherwise it seems like it's permanent unless you strengthen it overtime somehow.

Thanks