JMS Hockey

Any JMSer feedback on torn rotator cuff? Pretty sure this happened to me. I can barely use my dominant arm! Aaaaa! THIS SUCKS. Hoping to hear from others that this isn't the end of an active lifestyle...

Did this happen suddenly as in from a fall or impact? Or has this been nagging you for a while? I had a minor tear back in college from landing wrong on artificial turf. It was instant pain with noticeable weakness and pain when performing simple tasks such as lifting arm over head, combing my hair, brushing teeth etc etc. All was not lost though as I was able to recover without surgery. A lot of physical therapy and ice! Been 25 years since my injury and it doesn't bother me a bit-knock on wood. My advise is to get it evaluated ASAP if possible.

Agree with Patrick S. - get professional evaluation ASAP to determine exact injury. I experienced similar symptoms as Patrick described - sleeping was painful, and putting on a shirt was excruciating - with muliple shoulder injuries, but only one of which was a rotator cuff tear. X-ray or MRI is probably they only way to be certain. Suffered a grade 2 articular surface tear on my non-dominant shoulder, but didn't require surgery. Ended my hockey season, obviously, but eventually had a full recovery, with rest, therapy, and patience. Can't really determine lingering effects, as numerous subsequent shoulder injuries have certainly have had an impact, but still enjoy hockey to this day. Critical caveat: sounds like Patrick S. and I were younger (college; Jr. High) when we suffered our injuries, so take that into consideration. Good luck, Barb!

Thanks, guys. I have been a lifetime swimmer, which apparently predisposes me. Also now 40+. Did not notice at the time, I actually wondered aloud next day what I could have done to injure it, couldn't remember until bf reminded me I had used a shop broom to clear the snow off the deck. Ohhhh, yeah. This is my first ever injury where it has gotten worse every day. I can't believe how much it hurts, and how much other seemingly unrelated motions make it hurt. Yes, shirt EXCRUCIATING, had to brush teeth left-handed and nearly poked my eye out. I did research online and found this test: https://www.shoulderdoc.co.uk/article/758 Yup, that's the one. There is no way I can do that motion. REALLY hoping I don't have to get surgery. I am using ice but it's real unpleasant, worst pain is actually underside of top part of arm--I sit with an ice pack jammed under my arm, not a great way to stay warm in the middle of winter. ***TRYING TO FIND DR TODAY I just moved to NE quadrant of town and I have never had a sports medicine person before. Any recommendations most appreciated. Thank you!

I like Tria Orthopedic in Bloomington. They have an walk-in acute injury clinic if it's something that can't wait for an appointment. I went there last month when I couldn't bend my knee and got an MRI the same day. And surgery the next week. And back to hockey two weeks later.

I went to Tria in Bloomington, just got back from the walk-in clinic Speakman mentions. Clinic staff very helpful and professional. Diagnosis: It IS a rotator cuff thing, but not a tear: calcium buildup. I have never heard of such a thing. Basically the stuff that makes bones and teeth can crystallize at joints, especially shoulder, causing extreme pain (YES). Mine is on the underside of shoulder. Basically feels like someone is jamming their thumb up into my armpit. It's great. How to resolve? Oh, this is the best part. Get an ultrasound while someone POKES IT WITH A NEEDLE A LOT to open up, then squishes out the toothpaste-like goo inside. If someone said to me yesterday, "Barbara, what is your number one medical fear?", I would have said right away, "Having someone jam needles into my armpit." So this is basically my own personal hell. Sometimes they go away on their own. The time for this is months, not days. I asked the dr if I needed to get the poky-poky treatment and she said, "You don't HAVE to, but I'll give you the recommendation and you can call if you change your mind." Translation: You can put it off but eventually it'll hurt so badly, you will WANT to come in and have someone jam needles into your armpit. As my bf would say, "very small yay."

Ok, getting stabbed by needles sounds fairly terrible, but expressing the courage to overcome your worst medical nightmare while simultaneously relieving horrendous pain in the process *could* be considered a minor victory... maybe? Hope everything works out ok!