I had to raise the mouse about 2" on my pc. That helped a lot. I think it had to do with the height of the chair arms.

Al

Did you start PT yet? If so, how's it going?

I opened the book at the link and viewed the exercises. My shoulder would be screaming after just 1 rep of any of those exercises. Every week, in spite of the gentle PT exercises (currently, working on scapular function), my pain worsens and I'm able to do less without pain. This week, I can't lift the ladle to take a scoop of oatmeal without pain, while last week that action was pain-free.

Thanks for the recommendation though; it's interesting that it helped you but not me.

I'm considering ordering this book. After several weeks of very gentle PT exercises (low-resistance bands, no weights, stretching), the pain in my shoulder has consistently worsened with each passing week. Even after the exercises with the least-resistant bands, done very gently without pain, my shoulder feels worse the next day.

My shoulder feels good only when I do no exercises at all, and pretty much nothing else. I'm not riding or gardening --- just doing the regular daily activities (computer work with good posture and ergonomics, light grocery shopping, light dish-washing, laundry, etc), and driving my car (with manual transmission). Little things aggravate it.

Last night, my PT told me he feels that surgery seems inevitable due to the very narrow space between my acromion and the RC cuff (the tears are in that area). He recommended 3 options:

- Continue going to PT until my next doctor appointment on Feb. 22.
- Stop going to PT, but do the exercises on my own at home until my next doc appt.
- Stop altogether, and recommend surgery ASAP.

I am motivated enough to do the exercises on my own at home. I feel discouraged that I'm one of the small % who do not respond to therapy, but am willing to have the surgery if it provides the best long-term results.

Definitely read the book before you go for surgery. I had surgery about 15 years ago as it was considered a congenital issue. It worked. About 90% cure best I can estimate. It got me back to paddling and it lasted about 15 years.

However, I've made so much progress with the book and with the data in the book that indicates that surgery is rarely better than pt, I wonder if I needed surgery after all. Then my daughter got it and has had the same results.

Johnson is a practicing pt at Emory University hospital in Atlanta. In his knee book, he's got a nice forward by the chairman of Emory U Med School department of orthopaedics.

Al

Surgery on left shoulder one month ago today. I have been in PT since two days after the sugery. The Ortho wanted me to start right away. All the visits have included mainly passive exercises with the use of some bands and walking fingers up the wall. I was very guarded the first few times and it was fairly painful when the PT folks stretched (tortured) my arm. Since the first couple weeks things are easier. I do a lot of range of motion stuff and the pain has subsided for the most part. It does still ache when I do too much, but it is manageable. I was told I could expect a sling for 6 to 12 weeks but after the first visit at the 10 day mark the doc took the stitches out and to told me I could get rid of the sling. I guess he liked the progress. I still wear it when I do my power walking as to not irritate the shoulder from the repetition, but other than that I do not wear it. The bike is another matter. I am still looking at mid feb at the earliest. I am told I can't start any lifting for a couple more weeks and even then very light. I got the point today when I lifted an old crt with the majority of the weight on my "good" shoulder. It was too much and the shoulder aches a bit. I think I have learned a thing today. Anyway Yen I think that if the PT makes things worse you should bail on it and just opt for the surgery. Expect to feel odd for about 6 months but from everything I have been told it will be worth it. I am most likely going to have the same procedure done on my right shoulder in November. It has all the same symptoms but with less pain.

One additional comment. Operation or not, one has to continue a regime of the pt exercises for life it appears. The frequency can be reduced to once or twice per week. Had I done that, possibly I would not have had a recurrence.

According to the statistics quoted in the book, under age 40, some 4% have a torn rotator cuff, after age 60 some 54% do. That's according to a trial based on MRIs.

I suspect that this might be related to the fact as one ages, the tendons lose their moisture and tend to shrink and stiffen. Accordingly, I'm also exercising my good cuff.

Al

I ordered the book and expect it to arrive on Monday. I wish I could view the exercises without ordering it, to see how and if they differ from what I'm already doing. I've viewed many exercises on-line, and also the ones in The 7-Minute Rotator Cuff Solution (someone shared a free link to it here), and I know that I would have too much pain to do them. By "pain", I mean sharp tearing pain, not just a little discomfort. I'm not a pain wimp; I just know that this type of pain means the RC is being strained or sustaining further injury.

My next appt. with the sports ortho doc is Feb. 22. So, I have 4 weeks to try an "experiment": continue the PT exercises on my own, do them very gently, use heat and stretch before, ice after, and avoid activities that might make matters worse. Then, when I see the doctor, I can tell him I've done everything he suggested.

There's still the issue of the USAR (Urban Search and Rescue) training at work, learning the rappel techniques and shoring/cribbing structures for confined-space rescue, etc. Our certification requires hands-on demonstrations that we can complete all the tasks. I feel tempted to proceed with the training, do everything that my shoulder allows (pain will tell me what I can and can't do), and delay surgery until after I'm certified. If the doctor suggests surgery, I'll ask how long I can postpone it without adverse effects including a worse post-op prognosis.

I have decided to download the free PDF of The 7-Minute Rotator Cuff Solution (shared by seemunkee on page 1 of this thread). If any of the exercises cause pain, I'll stop or pull back. The Amazon reviews are impressive and encouraged me to give the book a try.

I have 4 weeks to try the exercises in these books before my next appt. with the sports ortho doc on Feb. 22. This will be my "4-week experiment". I'll report back on my progress!

On the pain thing, Johnson emphasizes that you should stretch only to the point of very little if any pain; just to a little tightness. The point is to not cause additional damage, but to gently stimulate the healing.

Since your pain descriptions match mine of 15 years ago, it will be very interesting to see how Johnson's methods work for you. I hope they do, as the operation thing is a real pain in itself.

Al

After just a cursory examination, I'd say that Johnson starts you out at a far less strenuous level and never gets to the aggressive exercises shown in the PDF. They will be very painful and likely cause more damage in your present state.

I'd wait for the book. If the book works, then you could go to these.

Al

Al - I agree. I got it anyway hoping I could do 1 or 2 of them, and learn something from the book. Well 1 or 2 is about right -- at most, I can do the Lying "L" Flyes (without weights), and, possibly, the Standing "L" Flyes (also without weights). I can't do any exercises with the affected arm externally rotated 90 degrees, even if it is passively lifted.

However, Part One -- The Theory, provides a well-written, easy-to-read description of shoulder anatomy and function of each muscle, building up to the role the RC muscles play in stabilizing the entire joint while the other muscles (deltoid, lats, triceps, etc.) act as primary and secondary movers. One could say the RC muscles are the little-known, little-seen supporting cast members of a very important show, but without them the show could not go on.

I plan to purchase the book from https://home-gym.com/7rocu.html (the previous link offers a pirated version from an offensive website). When my shoulder is in the recovery stage, I should be able to do most of the other exercises.

I had rotator cuff surgery a month ago. If you read the quote odds are if you are old and have a sore shoulder you have some kind of tear.
I wasted time with physical therapy. When it didn't help I had a MRI which showed a compete tear and the muscle retracted.I could still move my arm and was doing lifting at the gym which shouldn't have been possible. I had a bone spur an 2 complete tears and 1 partial. I'm going to physical therapy but it still hurts more than before the surgery. Complete tears will not heal on there own so you need to get an MRI just to know what you are dealing with.

Apparently you had primary impingement syndrome which it appears was my problem some 15 years ago. Surgery is generally required. However, that's the relatively rare form of rotator cuff tear according to several trials. The large majority are of the secondary impingement type where the ball of the shoulder is wobbling in the socket, spur or not. The secondary type responds to stretching and light muscle building.

Though I've always had great medical coverage, I prefer to pursue the 'book" approach first. It's not only cheaper, but it educates one how to be an intelligent buyer/shopper for medical services. Additionally, it keeps you away from that slippery slope of getting entangled in a web of needless treatments. Then too, the hospital is a dangerous place. Infections are rampant in some.

My wife got a bad infection after a foot operation.

Al