Rotator Cuff full tear and retraction of supraspinatus tendon

How can that help a torn rotator cuff tendon. it still be torn !! ????

@safarigoddess good question! I have wondered about that myself! Mine may have been a small tear that healed itself and physio helped with relieving the pain …? Anyway, I googled the question and came up with several videos about it.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=f3xvJAo7Tss

Rashida Thank you so much for sending that video, I just saw your Email , started to watch it, but will continue to watch it in depth, tomorrow. Do you too, have a partially torn rotator cuff ?? I am so upset about it and truly don't know how it happened, but the surgeon said it could have been there for years, but now started hurting !! ??? I am going to look into PRP - have you heard of it or ?? I play Pickle ball, and the doctor said , if it doesn't bother you when you play, it's OK, I am so confused, but can't just sit around. I wouldn't mind having surgery ( I had several other corrective surgeries that have corrected problems, but !! recoup is 6 - 8 mth. OMG, I will go stir crazy and it is my left shoulder and I am LEFT handed !!!!!!
Donna

@safarigoddess mine was my right arm and shoulder, and I am right handed. After six weeks of physiotherapy (one day a week) it has healed completely. The exercises I was given to do at home were very helpful. Before thatI couldn’t even raise my arm or lift anything. I am glad I didn’t need surgery as that takes much longer to heal.

Hi again ! So you never got an MRI to see exactly 'IF" it was partially torn ?? This has been going on for over 3 mth. I had the MRI and it is 50% torn, but I am going to try PT next week. I am so bad about following through with exercises but guess I had better if it may work !!
It is so strange to me that it only hurts when I'm lying in bed, trying to sleep. I can understand yours healing IF you didn't have a tear but ??? can't see something healing itself if it's torn without surgery but keeping my fingers crossed. I think I told you I don't mind surgery(had several for corrections, but !! 8 mth recovery !! YIKES, I'll go stir crazy, not to mention I will gain weight from bordom and eating !!! LOL !!!!!

@safarigoddess no, I didn’t get an MRI. I am in Canada and because of our wonderful government health plan, a doctor will only order a test or procedure if it falls under government protocol for a specific problem. MRIs are very expensive so they are only approved as a last resort for diagnosis. First step depending on the health problem is bloodwork/urine analysis or X-ray. If that shows something that needs further exploration the next step would be an ultrasound, then CT Scan, maybe some other tests. If the government is unlikely to pay for a treatment, the doctor will not order it.

My partial rotator cuff tear was diagnosed through an X-ray along with bloodwork to rule out any other inflammation.

On my government plan (I don’t have private insurance as a senior) I was only entitled to six physio sessions of about a half hour each where I was taught a different exercise at each session, to do at home every day. I hate exercise and am not very self disciplined with it in general, but I was in enough pain so I stuck with the exercises - and they paid off! They were really gentle exercises and very doable. Haven’t done any since I got pain free! 😀

Well, wow ! I "do" love Canada and have had two best friends who are Canadian, but you don't know about other countries health plans, government, etc. until you live there !! I have very good insurance, plus medicare and can get whatever I want done with a referral. Of course I pay for it ( comes to about $5000 per yr ) but with the corrective surgeries, etc. including a surprise open heart surgery ( didn't know I had anything wrong -was playing pickle ball, biking, etc. ) it cost me almost nothing, including a week in a beautiful rehab place. Back surgery, also was billed at over $ 100.000 but paid only a few hundred out of pocket.
Not to dispute what they told you, but !!! I have found over the years that Xrays only show bone, not soft tissue, my Xray showed nothing, and a few wks. later I insisted on an MRI and that is where they found the 50% partial tear. So, am going to try PT but a bit sceptical about how it will heal, I don't have any pain, can play Pickle Ball( which is very important to me for exercise ) and only pain in bed trying to sleep. or reaching back for the seat belt !!!!
Well, guess time will tell, I'll give it 6 mth, because surgery would put me out for 8 mth. and I feel that would be worse on the other parts of my body. What a dilemma !!!

I am in Florida !!

@safarigoddess lucky you - having such good healthcare and so many options - and living in sunny Florida!

An ultrasound has revealed that apart from a broken/dislocated shoulder joint the muscles which support the shoulder are torn, one of them right through. Recommended is shoulder replacement.

My question is would the alternative, physical therapy, further exacerbate these tears?