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Rotator Cuff full tear and retraction of supraspinatus tendon
Bones, Joints & Muscles | Last Active: Jan 15 9:00am | Replies (75)Comment receiving replies
My husband has two complete cuff tears in his shoulder as well as a partial cuff tear in the same shoulder. He isn’t in pain but can’t lift but a few pounds when the arm is above his shoulder.
Questions, is there any down side as term as muscle atrophy created by waiting a year or two? He is 72 and fairly active!
Thx
Replies to "My husband has two complete cuff tears in his shoulder as well as a partial cuff..."
Hi wwalker,
I just had an anatomical TSR 5 weeks ago. Because I waited too long, some of the muscles in my upper back near my bad shoulder weakened/atrophied. I didn't notice because it can only be seen from the back. My PT showed me. I'm 70 y/o and otherwise in excellent health. I should have had the surgery 6 months to one year earlier. Lesson learned.
As for your husband, I suggest asking his surgeon about doing RC surgery versus a reverse TSR versus PT for now. It seems that joint replacements heal faster and better than RC repair.
I hope that helps. My best to you and your husband.
Joe
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Absolutely! It is best to get/keep the surrounding muscles as strong as possible before surgery to minimize recovery time and enhance the chance of success. And the older tears are, the higher the risk that the repair won't work.
He should consult with a doctor who does a lot of shoulder repairs when making this decision. My friend waited, and things deteriorated to the point that she had to have a reverse shoulder replacement rather than a repair. This permanently affects the function and strength of the shoulder.