Shoulder & Arm Pain, Had Arthroscopic 2-15-08 back in pain.

[Buripuk]

Hi, I had arthroscopic surgery 2-15-08 and had burs removed. Survived it and summer arrived and by June was doing really pretty good. Therapy ended and went to gym for 30 day free membership after therapy. I also took a week off off of work each month upon returning to work so as not be beat my arm up all at once. Now back to work for 2 months and I am back in pain again. Had second MRI and Dr. stated no tears but on MRI report it states there is small partial articular surface tear anterior insertion spraspinatus. Also have mild supraspinatus and infraspinatus tendanopathy. Spoke with Dr. about tear and he states it is too small to repair, nothing can be done. Don't know how I am going to be able to stay like this if this does not go away and work with my arms for 8 hours a day. I do heavy typing and number keying. So can any tell me what you think about a small tear being unrepairable?? Have you heard of this before? Do you think I should get another opinion?

 

[Maverick Michelle]

honestly? having gone thru the very extensive repairs for a completley torn supraspinatus and a partial tear in the tendon directly underneath it,i would most definitely obtain a second opinion now. does it state in that report just how large that tear is? do you actually have your own copy of your MRI?

just given the type of work you do,this will continue to probably tear along the way til it just gets much bigger and more involved to actually repair. it just creates alot more pain and rehab after. also,any other things you do that involve heavy lifting or an overuse of that rotator cuff area can add more problems too. i would get a second opinion on this definitely. depending upon just exactly where in the tendon that tear is and how big it is at this point(and if it is retracting too) would kind of dictate whether or not it should be repaired now. if it is causing you that much pain,something needs to be done ya know? the way those tendons are and once you begin to tear one,even one sudden heavy lift or some other situation where the tendons get pulled or suddenly stressed will naturally also cause more tearing. this is what happened to me from the time i did my initial tear back in 89 and the wear and tear it took til it completly tore on me last nov. had to have surgery that was this past feb. it was a very long road back just to regain my ROMS. i do wish i had had this repaired,or actually knew it was like that way before it completely tore on me,believe me. i would seek out some other opinions or even go back to this same doc(i am assuming he was an ortho?) and find out why he wont fix this for you now BEFORE it completely tears on you. knowing just what questions to ask when you talk to the surgeons always helps ya know? this would just be taking a proactive approach,instead of waiting til it goes and the pain and rehab will just be much more involved. this could be very easily fixed right now with a simple arthoscopic procedure. a tiny little cut into your skin and tiny little tools inserted to just sew up that tear ya know? this would just be in YOUR best interest,not his. please keep me posted. FB