[Closed] Rotator cuff op?

I was 6 weeks in a sling - things got very smelly. Time off the bike depends on your attitude to risk - the one thing I would say is do the physio and strengthening exercises (theraband is your friend) religiously and don't stop, both shoulders. I didn't and have been lucky, but did have a minor rupture recently - took a few weeks and more exercises and seems ok.

Did I say to do the recovery exercises?

I can't answer your question . . . but know that Len Funk is brilliant. He treated Cav after his TdF fall, I think.

I had the same op, and now trainning to be a sports massage therapist.

Just repeating everything Jimmy says. Make sure it's strong enough before going back in to biking/racing full tilt.
You won't want to repeat 6 weeks in a sling.

I'm borderline needing an op apparently after a crash a few weeks ago. I'm trying as much as possible to avoid it if I can.

6 weeks recovery is the issue for me, with races and riding holidays booked.

I am a little bored of sleeping on my left side now.

I'm waiting for mine too, snapped the rear tendon big tendons torn three quarters of the way across and the bones in the vicinity are 'in a mess' according to my surgeon and the MRI images! He's told me could be a year of no biking and he can't garauntee any success in the reattachment of the snapped tendon and to make fully sure the big tendon is healed.
I was majorly gutted as the crash was 12 months before diagnosis and after much physio and faffing and me still saying it felt like bone and gristle were moving about and tearing.
Worst of it is I had no pain at all for three months after the crash and didn't even feel it at the time of the crash.
Do the physio but don't go mad in the initial phases, snap them and you could be totally screwed!

http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Leatt-Shoulder-Brace_88798.htm?sku=305065&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=google_shopping&gclid=CKKypbqN080CFSco0wodSOEP_g#

Im just planning for post op,rehab,back to riding etc (read bored)

Anyone got any experience of using these?

I was treated by Professor Funk Jan 2015 it took about 10 weeks to get back riding gently the best advice I can give is follow his advice and stick to the Physio regime religiously and I have been back on the bike now for about 18 months around Calderdale's finest (and with the MNPR group) with no issues I would put my recovery at about 95%. The guy is the best for shoulder injuries. If you want to discuss any further my email is in my profile.

Boy do I not like this thread.

I crashed at bpw in Feb and right shoulder is still screwed. I can do most things but certain angles of moving and lifting are no go for me.

But I can't face the thoughts of 6 weeks out of action!

I had this surgery over winter and it was well worth it. I was out the sling after 2 weeks, road bike and gentle strength training at 4 weeks and mtb at 6 weeks. Feels like new now. Got complete flexibility back eventually. I couldn't squat for a while because I couldn't hold the barbell behind my neck but all good now. Mine was open surgery BTW

Great response guys ta, anyone with shoulder brace info?
Cheers Brenn I'll take you up on that,post op, top man.

I have the EVS shoulder brace, and have done for a few years. Still holding up and it adds to my confidence.

I had my op 3 years ago now, and I still need to do specific exercises for it with resistance bands etc. But, it doesn't pop out when I sneeze anymore!

I'll second the EVS brace. After my op I took it really steady for about 6 months and used the brace for about a year. I started Physio the day after the operation and kept it going for about a year. The good news is that I now ride as if before the operation so there is life after operations. The reason for the op was that I neglected Physio after a classic busted collar bone. Lesson learnt. Good luck.

Blurboy/Mr Whyte .....how did you get on with sizing the EVS? (I've got the double and I'm normally a large (41 chest)...can't get the thing anywhere near me.......about 2/3 inches from fastening at the front and mega tight everywhere.

Some decent recovery times and I may invest in one of the braces if they can't reattach my rear tendon, plus got my op date through for early August. Eager to get it done and healed in time for winter mud riding,

Had an off at BPW on June 12th when the bushing on the lower link of my shock failed and locked up the rear of the bike resulting in me high siding @ ~20mph about 100 metres from the cafe on the last run of the day!

So three weeks later the hole in my arm is nearly healed up, the scraped skin is healing well but my shoulder and arm are still very painful (I've had a few broken bones in my time and it's on parr with that) with limited movement.

The GP has requested an MRI of my neck to check that my existing bulged discs (5 & 6) are not more damaged and an ultrasound for my shoulder/arm to see if my rotator cuff is damaged. Guessing this is the most likely diagnosis - what are the main symptoms of a torn rotator cuff?

I'm guessing I'm looking at a long time off the bike as at present I can't pull the brake lever as my hand doesn't work when holding the handle bar!

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Ouch,that doesn't look comfortable: I've got restricted movement/feeling all over the scale...feels like "bone on bone" mine is torn above shoulder and below.....op next week...MRI essential, good luck.

Yep grating bone on bone and ripping gristle noises from within the joint. After intense physio (before I'd had my MRI) I've got good movement apart from behind my back now, I can put my hand there but can't move it away backwards. I can lift static heavy weights which I found odd but grip strength is poor and can't hold handlebars tightly. My tricep is withered.....apart from that no symptoms 😆

Keeping an eye on this thread as I too may have rotator cuff damage. At the physio tomorrow so will hopefully find out more then. Keeping everything crossed I won't need an operation 🙁

I'll echo what Jimmy and others have said:

I have had 2 surgeries on 1 shoulder now, the first was 3 years ago, I didn't do my physio properly and it never was right. 2nd was a year ago, did physio religiously and it's made a massive difference!

Also Len Funk is one of the best, I wish he had done mine

I just don't understand how anyone can allow a "Physio" to play with an injury before its scanned....they could and probably will do more damage. This does not happen in the professional world.

Recovery from rotator cuff surgery depends on the size of the year and degree of pre-existing atrophy - many injuries are not simply traumatic but are linked to atrophy of the supporting muscles.
Mr Funk operated on my fathers shoulder unsuccessfully. He's just had his third op after 2 and a half years of problems. The degree of function required dies vary though - he has no problem riding a bike now but really struggles to play the cello, which is his main hobby and requires the arm to be held consistently quite high.

Len Funk has done both of my shoulders (slap tears), the left one twice. Each time I did 6 weeks of intensive pre-hab, then was in the gym on day 2 post-op (in a sling on the stationary bikes). Sling off on day 5, rollers after 2 weeks, road bike after 3 weeks and rock climbing again after 6 weeks.
I temporarily joined a gym and went every day for 6 weeks after each op, to ensure my body was fit and healthy and had plenty of tissue repair hormones pumping round it. By the time I could ride again I'd hugely improved my pedal technique by riding the gym bikes at a cadence of 120, and set a PB on the seated leg press. You can do lots of quality leg and core work wearing a sling!
Full recovery from every op, stronger shoulders now than ever. Just give the recovery process the same level of psyche and focus you'd give to improving at riding, and you'll be rewarded.

So the referral letter arrived today - 8 weeks wait for a scan then 18 week wait for treatment!

I know it's a minor injury and self-inflicted but that's a long time to have limited use of my arm!

I've got a consultation with prof funk coming up. What can I expect on the day?

Pure professionalism, none of the usual NHS scorning at a sporting injury.

My op is next Wed, I'll keep y'all posted if you like?

Yeh that'd be helpful Pipiom. How long has it been since you had your first consultation with prof funk? I'm just thinking about timescales for any potential surgery I might need as I'm seeing him next Saturday and he's on holiday after that.

I went private and saw him within a week of injury; consultation 1 week later (last week);op next Wed (£5.5k total)....no way was I going to drop into the NHS system for something like this.

I had keyhole for torn rotator cuff....did what physio asked of me (quite intensive rehab) an gained full strength easily enough...can't remember timescales but it wasn't too long...I was tem years younger than now and i'm sure that makes a difference...

pipiom- I went for a medium SB03 model and fits really well, I am a 39" chest. I have had it about 4 years now and it is still going strong.

I hope all goes well, Phil - see you for a beer or two at the Raven soon?

I got funked! I smashed my shoulder in francea few times too many and keyhole wouldnt cut it for me - he was straight to the point and fully understood the reason I was there and that I'd be going back to cycling after so his suggestions all fully supported my lifestyle.

Him and all the team there were spot on and it might as well have been a private service so you're in the best hands in the country.

Mine took a few months but it was quite invasive. Just stick to what they say and stay well on top of the exercises they give you.

My only point was to possibly question the local physio afterwards as the exercises they gave weren't as good as tbe ones I had found online.

I probably took over a year to get happy with the shoulder again and strength back but i wasn't rushing things.

Good luck

Mrwhyte: I am 40" chest and the large is like trying to fit Kate Moss's bra on Dolly Parton. Can't even get the front fasteners within 2" of each other

Cheers Andy R....that's a deal, my beer arm is still intact (ish)

Does anyone know if prof funk does an ultrasound scan at his consultations?

@pipiom £5.5k is quite a wedge of cash did you have private medical cover?

NSbike: yes he has ultra and MRI etc

Lefty: I don't have/can't really get insurance (previous throat cancer etc)......and I think the price is quite subjective: he is arguably the best in the country....I've gone through the system pretty fast also; so I'm happy with £5.5k.

@ pipiom thanks for clarifying about the scan situation.

I saw the physio this morning and was surprised at how much I could move my arm. Still keeping my appointment with prof funk so I can be clear about what injury I have.

Does anyone know if prof funk does an ultrasound scan at his consultations?

Thanks @ Brennak.. Results on same day too?

Yes, that's the whole point of it for me (IOM based) full consultation/results/prognosis (and sometimes treatment,injections etc) all in one day

@pipiom OK not saying it's not worth it but I too can't get insurance due to testicular chance 22 years ago and skin cancer 6 years ago!

@ pipiom, do you get a sense that prof funk operates on all rotator cuffs even if they are relatively minor or would he recommend physio as an alternative do you think? Basically, is he all about the surgery?

nsbikes1: I can definitely vouch that Funk is not all about the op. I tore my right rotator cuff,and he MRI'd it. He told me that the tear was in the centre,not on the outside where it could easily tear more. I got a steroid injection and walked out of there with two working arms (and some exercises to do regularly)After 3 months off in the NHS system (X-ray only grrr!!) I found out about Funk. I was back riding within a fortnight.
I've got slightly limited movement in that arm,but it never bothers me.

Can you time your op to take place in winter

The problem with that hora is (as I understand) that the longer a damaged ligament/tendon is left the more it atrophies. Also the chance of enlarging the tear is increased. To the point,eventually, where it is no longer repairable.

@ pipiom, thanks, that's reassuring. The Physio I went to yesterday is linked to prof funks clinic at Wilmslow so I'm hoping I'm in safe hands. I'll probably have at least one if not two more Physio sessions before I see prof funk next Saturday.

I can totally understand why you have gone to prof funk and paying for the op this time round!

I'll probably think of more questions - I hope you don't mind!

Oh. I was due an operation in Feb that I asked for a second opinion and pause- the surgeon wanted to saw out three segments if bone. It's been largely fine however last night it feels like I've bloody pulled the thing/strained it (no exercise at the time). I've got a rotor/slap tear too in there.

The problem with that hora is (as I understand) that the longer a damaged ligament/tendon is left the more it atrophies. Also the chance of enlarging the tear is increased. To the point,eventually, where it is no longer repairable.

Oh well 🙁

Probably too late for me then. I ruined my shoulder last June (2015). I started doing pressups again two weeks ago though.

Can you ride your bike hora?

Yes- that's good? I adapted how I rode (no longer pull on the bars/leant a certain way). I have started front dumbell raises though now too

I think that's the confusing thing about RC injuries. I certainly couldn't ride my bike at the moment but I'm only 2 weeks post injury.

I'm only 2 weeks in as well,and I know that I could eventually compensate and build up enough muscle around the area to be able to ride. However,at almost 61 years old, if I crashed and tore further,or even worse,fully ruptured the areas that I've torn,there may be no way back.

Been "Funked now": RC repair/bicep tenodesis; still numbed from nerve blocker; more to be revealed in the morning; he's happy though,so I'm happy

Lots of pain in the night when nerve blocker wore off. The only "comfortable?? position was sitting upright,therefore little sleep after first two hours........early doors,I know, I'll update in a few days.

Thanks for posting pipiom, I remembered you were getting funked yesterday! Hope it all heals well. I see prof funk Saturday.

2nd night in,home now: slept a bit last night;still lots of pain but didn't use the Tramadol (really want to avoid if poss); just stuck to the paracetamol /codeine phosphate cocktail; started light stretching excerises.

I think this will be the the order of business for the immediate future so I'll just update,if there's anything new happening, or weekly.
Nothing I didn't expect so far.

Good luck for tomorrow nsbikescore1....keep us updated

Any update @nsbikescore1?

Is the EVS brace only suitable for sports or would it help my day to day coping with my office job?

I'm supposed to be family camping so would the brace make much difference? Initial diagnosis is vague: mis-sharpen clavicle (bent) and my AC joint is an "odd shape". Waiting on consultant to review findings.

I got funked on Saturday and it was a more than acceptable experience. He first took details of my accident and what had been happening with my arm and shoulder since then. He then tested my resistance when he applied slight pressure to different areas of my arm. He did an ultrasound and fortunately found I had no tears in my rotator cuff or surrounding muscles so I was absolutely made up about that! I had lots of new xRays on my broken clavicle and ribs to ensure nothing had been missed and what was notable here was that the images were so much clearer than the original NHS ones and they were taken from all manner of angles. They clearly showed a new rib fracture which my NHS consultant thought was old. Back to prof funk in 2 weeks for more xRays to see how the bones are healing and continue with Physio in the meantime.

How are you getting along pipiom?

Good news NSB1......I'm off all heavy painkillers (just a few paracetamol now) first Physio yesterday and she's happy (she's "Funk taught and approved re shoulders)

I can already feel it getting stronger,but I'm a long way off even basic swimming etc.

I think it's the area where the bicep has been re-attached that gives me the most discomfort .....load of twitching and cramping as the fibres reconnect.

Good luck with your treatment and keep us informed.

Good that you've started Physio pipiom, makes you feel like you are doing something to aid the healing. My Physio said I can start gym work now so I had an induction yesterday, just lower body stuff at the moment, ie cross trainer, leg press etc. She said not to swim yet as I'm not strong enough for the resistance of the water. The twitching and cramping feelings are pretty weird aren't they and take you by suprise! I'm having some magnetic and scenar treatment on Friday to hopefully bring things on even more.
Good luck!

Sounds fun: I'm starting hyperbaric this morning; then regular Swiss ball action.....really worried about it being a future weak point ATM, hope that wears off.

Swiss ball is quite fun but knackering! I had my first go on one yesterday

Me too, but not too knackering for me: only forward arm rolls,then sideways; a very small roll at that.

I was using it more for my core... Bouncing on it with one leg raised... Phew!

Results of x-ray show no fractures so still in the queue to see someone from the oddly named Orthopedic Choice!

Started to see a physio, shoulder specialist, who says I've got a partial tear of my rotator cuff. Am going to do 2 x physio sessions a week and by the time I get to my hospital appointment he'll know if it can be fixed without surgery. Had 6 weeks off the bike and looking at another 3 - 4 months as my neck injury also needs fixing 🙁

Has anyone had experience of a steroid injection into the shoulder for these sort of problems?

My shoulder's not really bad (yet), but it's getting progressively worse and the physio hasn't helped. Band exercises are fine in some planes of movement, but other directions are always painful. My physio reckons an injection is defo worth trying and can make a big difference, but it doesn't sound like it will clear up the cause of the problem?

Injections can work but need a really skilled person to do it. If your GP offers ask him how many he has done. If its only a few ask for a referral to an orthopaedic specialist to do it and ask him the same. It has to be precisely into the right place and that takes skill and practice to do.

Personally I never had one to my injury

What tja said, and also to quote myself from another thread a while ago:-

I've had them in both shoulders for rotator cuff and bicep tendon problems.

It'll take a few days for the joint to settle down from the disruption and the cortisone to take full effect.

After that, bear in mind it's not a magic healing agent by itself, it's just a strong anti-inflammatory which stays active in the joint for two or three months. This buys you some time to heal and re-strengthen the tendons progressively while in a less aggravated state. If you don't do that systematically (ie do your exercises!) you'll be back at square one when it wears off.

Thanks lads. Like the idea of a fresh run at the physio - it's been hard to do properly a painful shoulder.

5 weeks post op tomorrow and I'm starting to get a bit more movement. Exercises are tedious but I'm forcing myself to do them (and the freezer sling thing)
I've watched Funk's videos of the two ops he did on me and found them extremely interesting if a little scary for the future of my MTB ing.
The tenodesis op (repair of the tendon that attaches your bicep to your shoulder/neck)was the most impressive/frightening....how he separates the tendon sheath/pulls out the snakelike ligament/cuts it/ drills a hole in your bone,and shoves it in with a screw/peg thing, is mind blowing.

Check out his vids on YouTube if you're in any doubt as to his capabilities.

I'm just worried that: at almost 61; with both of these injuries; coupled with my previous,invasive,neck section from the throat cancer, I've lost too many body parts from this area to get back on it. My shoulder was already dropped and most of my traps were cut.

Anyway I'm giving it a bash and improving daily.....dark side machine is going to be purchased as soon as I'm allowed....goes against the grain but hey ho......good luck/any, updates the rest of ya's?

I'm seeing the surgical team on Thursday to work out what they are going to do to fix my rotator cuff, the scan showed a significant tear but it's not 100% clear how much damage there really is. I've had 8 hands on sessions of physio with a physiotherapist that has 30 years experience of shoulders and the improvement in movement is tiny but there's no reduction in pain hence heading to the surgeons!

Looks like with this and a 'fairly' urgent bladder op looming I will be out of action until spring!

pipiom- glad to hear you are doing OK. Have you the resistant bands?

I keep doing my exercises for the shoulder 3/4 years on. It keeps it strong, and trouble free. I can tell when I have not done any, as it does feel a little weak. Keep it part of as workout routine and you'll be trouble free.

I got funked up - couldn't do keyhole (smashed the shoulder quite a bit!) so I've got a nice big scar but the man know's his stuff - I'd say you're literally in the best hands the NHS can offer and probably the best hands private can offer for joint surgery!

Good luck with it all - be strict with the recovery - I found the local physio's I was referred to weren't great so I googled more exercises / stories of others to help it along the way.

Feels good now and has seen a few crashes onto it but it does ache randomly on cold days or if I need to hold my arm above my head when I've been lazy... so I'm back on rock climbing now to keep it strong

So I'm a big fan of the NHS - when it really goes wrong and you need urgent life saving treatment there's no-one better than the NHS.

Sadly when I turned up thinking my torn rotator cuff, as diagnosed by my physio and GP from an ultrasound, would be looked and surgery booked I found out I'd be referred for my neck not my shoulder! To be fair the guy I saw showed me the referral notes and my shoulder wasn't mentioned! To rub salt into the wound despite the GP saying I'd torn my rotator cuff - whilst looking at the scan result - the guy I saw yesterday said I haven't and it's actually severe subacromial bursitis!

So today I'm off to Orthopedic Choice to see someone who is expecting, I hope, to see someone with a damaged shoulder! I'm 3 months in and have had an xray, an ultrasound, 8 sessions of physio (very hands one), 2 visits to hospital and I'm still not sure what my injury really is and how it needs to be treated!

Just an update for anyone interested, 5 months in:seeing Funk again tomorrow for debridement of small secondary RC tear cleaning out of,stubborn,superficial infection in original wound site.
Rehab,in general, going well (if a little tedious) swimming,although boring,seems to be the most beneficial. Also road bike and bands/pulleys daily.
All in all it's a long job, but hopefully will result in one 5 month old Hightower being ridden in the non too distant.
I anyone needs any advice,please ask.