Partial Rotator Cuff Tear on Lymphedema Side

Moderators

Dear WarPony, Welcome to the BCO community. We are so sorry to hear about your pain and torn rotator cuffs. We are glad that you reached out here. Here are some suggestions for connecting with others with these issues. First you can send private messages to those you see here you have posted recently and have had this challenge. Second you can use the blue tool bar to your left and choose the search function. You can type in the words Torn Rotator Cuff and it will offer you all the posts where those words are used and possible you will find others beyond this particular thread. Let us know if we can help in other ways. The Mods

Katiejane

Hi Ladies----Just checking in to see if anyone has anything to add to this topic. I have not been able to receive treatment for my rotator cuff so the swelling and pain continue. Sure wish I could get this mess taken care of. Any additional information would certainly be welcome! Thanks! Katiejane

Icietla

I am so sorry, Katiejane.

I had a few of those shots for my left one (my non-dominant one injured more recently). I am not sure those shots did anything for me.

Since I last wrote in this thread, I have had much more trouble with my right one, my even more painful, very weak one that was torn decades ago.

In December, I made some cheese bagels for my husband. I have a machine to do the kneading -- I cannot do that. I baked them on glass baking sheets. Big mistake. Their loaded weight is too much for me now.

Since then, I have had two very long times with my right arm use much more painful and more limited than ever. Through those times, I often kept it in a sling, and I often had to use my other arm to lift it and position it. I still cannot bear to use it at all to push myself up, scoot on my bed or elsewhere, or turn myself over. As you would imagine, the other one complains with more than the usual pain for having to do all that, and there is much crying out in pain during my resting time. Most of my time is resting time.

My Doctor okayed me taking more pain medicine when my usual dosing was not enough. I am back to my previous usual dosing regimen now.

Those two long times my right one was at its worst, and the worst times with my left one several years ago, the only thing I am certain that helped them was rest -- lots of rest, for long times.

hugz4u

Try. keep moving it a bit so your arm doesnt freeze up because that takes three years to thaw. I know it's painful. It took ten years for mine to heal. I didn't want surgery. I still watch it.

Try looking into cold lazer therapy. I haven’t used it on my shoulders, don’t need to, but it sure helps on my other injuries. Heals way faster. I now own my machine. Worth every 500 Australian dollars. Has paid itself over and over. I Don’t need to see PT except for exercise regime monce a month and initial plan on a new injury. I do the lazer myself. Saves bucks.

Katiejane

HUGZ4U & Icietla, Thanks for you responses! HUGZ, I use my arm as if the rotator cuff was not quite the mess that it is. It certainly tells me when to stop!! I still try to do most of everything I had been doing prior to this mess but I also listen when it speaks!! I have found ways to compensate and as clumsy as I have always been with my non-dominant arm/hand, I can now do things that otherwise I could have never done! Amazing how you can re-train your body! I will look into cold Laser!

Icietla, I have tried the pain med route and mostly it just makes me sleepy!!! Even Gabapentin! I will try Lyrica next but I'm just not one to do medications if I can help it. But when I do need them, I will take them. I'm going to try the cold laser as Hugz suggested-maybe I'll get lucky! Again, thank you ladies and I wish you all the best!! Katiejane

LoveMyVizsla

My lphedema LT used a low level laser on my surgery scars. It was amazing, the hard ridge of scar tissue softened immediately.