i am guessing that you have a torn rotator cuff

Hello Williakr,

Welcome to the forum!!

I'm with Rollar 100%.

From your description it does sound like you have a torn rotator cuff. The important thing is that you seek care from an orthopedic surgeon without delay. The longer you wait the longer it will take to heal, AND if you wait TOO long to seek medical attention you run the risk of permanent damage and loss of the use of your shoulder.

I had a torn rotator cuff a few years ago. Everything I read on the internet said that corticosteroid injections did not work and neither did physical therapy. That to get it fixed required surgery. In my case that was dead WRONG!!!!

About two months after I tore the rotator cuff I was to the point I couldn't lift a mug of beer. It was time to seek the advice of an orthopedic surgeon. Saw one and he just had me do some exercises at home. They did nothing to help.

I next called the office of our local professional football team and asked who they used as their orthopedic surgeon. They readily gave me his name. I made an appointment and saw the doc. Tried PT at a physical therapy center for two weeks with little success. Saw the doc again and told him it was time to quit wasting time and to just have surgery on my shoulder. He said NO, surgery was the last option. He recommended having a corticosteroid injection to reduce the inflammation and to follow that with proper exercises at a PT center. Reluctantly I did so. To my amazement the injection was painless. A day later my shoulder had less pain though I still couldn't lift that mug of beer. Two to three months of PT doing the exercises (some weight lifting) at the PT center and at home my shoulder was MUCH BETTER. Today I have full use of my arm and shoulder and no problem lifting that mug of beer. LOL

Sorry so long, I just wanted to give you some food for thought from my experiences.

RichT

I read just about half of the posts in back pain laser surgery forum. I live in
Clearwater, Fl. Tampabay area. My doctor has told me that arthritis has destroyed all the cartilage in my right shoulder. He has told me that a total replacement, which I need is out of the question for me. He told me shots were needed but the one he gave me had absolutely no effect. RichT, I saw your post and wondered where you lived, and what was the name of the corticosteroid shot you had.

I have a friend in AZ who had laser surgery to kill the nerve, and he is pain free now.
I was thinking of having that done, and am looking for somewhere to get it done. I was thinking of contacting Dr. Tolli in St Pete.
I am new here and have not quite figured out how to find the right forum to be reading.

thanx

computerchuck

Hello Comupterchuck,

Welcome to this forum Chuck.

Arthritis is a pain, a REAL pain. I have "good days', and those #%$&^@$ "bad weather" days, except I'm not sure what the weather has to do with it. LOL

You are most fortunate to live in the same state where Dr. Tolli practices. I have read good comments about him.

The corticosteroid that my PM doc injects for my back epidurals is Kenalog. I do not know if that was the same corticosteroid that my "shoulder" doc injected in my shoulder. All I know is that it worked. Chuck, I live in Northern Virginia.

A thought or two if I may - I would suggest that you get a second and even a third opinion from the best orthopedic surgeons that you can find in your area BEFORE you have any nerves zapped. To me that IS the last option for it does NOTHING to correct the problem.

How to find the right forum to be reading? For me at least it has been a matter of finding a forum where I feel comfortable communicating in an open honest manner and receive the same back. At least for spineys, to me this is the BEST forum.

Hope all goes well. Let us know how things go for you.

RichT

just be carful if you decide to have surgery on that shoulder i have had 4 surgeries on my left shoulder and now possible a fifth. the pain i have is ten times worse then before i had the first surgery.