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Rotator surgery using synthetic patch
I am a 58 y/o male with numerous joint/bone related surgeries and am facing a "retorn" and twice repaired shoulder on the right side. My ortho doc was initially wary of doing another repair as this tendon is "really thin" in his words. I first tried PRP injections along with home therapy but injured it again a couple of months ago and he thinks based on his in office tests and my description of what happened and what it feels like, he thinks I may have turned the partial tear into a full tear. MRI is next week and follow up with him is the week after. Anyone have experience with synthetic patches to augment the "thin" tendon? If so, how was the surgery and recovery? Thanks in advance for any insights!
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No but during my shoulder repair surgery 2007 my bicep tendon was cut on purpose, when I had cmc surgery a tendon was cut in my forearm, had reverse total shoulder in 2019 then in Aug 2025 had my conjoint tendon released. Good that you are having an MRI which will give more info. I did not get best physical therapy for first shoulder surgery in 2007 and it took a year of pt It didn’t work because I was only pain free for 6 months then spent 12 years in excruciating pain til I fell then went back I had lot of tears arthritis etc and ended up with RTS. I am learning to live with limitations now
A lesson I took away from all this is that a good physical therapist is just as important as a good surgeon and I needed to learn that recovery was not a sprint but a marathon and to follow instructions carefully
Best of luck
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2 Reactions@dmk I have bilateral rotator cuff tears, on the left I had RC surg, and have a recurent tear, on the right I have a tear. I am often in severe pain in both shoulders, swelling in the bicepts, limited motion. I am 92 and not a candidate for surgery. I have tried many different pain medications, nothing seems to work efficiently or they have bad side effects. At the present I am taking Oxycodone 10 to 15 mg and Tylenol, every 6 hours that seems to keep the pain bearable. I had injections and a nerve ablation on the left with no no results. My pain specialist and primary physician are in agreement with treatments. For the past couple of years I have a physical therapist who comes to my home every week and works on my shoulders for an hour, the insuance doesn't cover it, I pay out of pocket. It seems what the Therapist does with his knowledge and technique helps keep the pain more tolerable. Wish you the best!