Is there a Dr in the house to interpret my MRI?

[yfarm]

Surgery and rehab are in your future

 

[MuleyFever]

Surgery and rehab are in your future

Amazing. Have any stock picks?

 

[CRJR45]

Amazing. Have any stock picks?

Buy low ? I could never find it on the NASDAG ?

 

[MNGrouser]

Please, whatever you do, when you meet with your Dr. next week explain how you've already gotten very good advice from strangers on the internet.

 

[CRJR45]

Please, whatever you do, when you meet with your Dr. next week explain how you've already gotten very good advice from strangers on the internet.

Hmmm , I thought I received great input ? My condition was explained completely , and it was much more fun than Googling it . The gonorrhea one was hilarious .
And there are no strangers here , just people I've yet to meet ....

 

[yfarm]

Not to denigrate generalists but my preference is for a surgeon who limits their practice to shoulders and elbows, should be no problem in south Florida.

 

[ODB]

My wife, a nearly 30-year MRI tech says: ouch!

 

[Legend]

Is there any chance you are a bowhunter? And perhaps one with a new Matthews? I'll buy it since you won't need it for a year or two.

Here to help.

 

[Bubblehide]

I'm not a medical doctor, but unfortunately have personal experience, and a good friend that went through worse. When you have a complete tear, the muscle begins to atrophy and shrink. The longer surgical repair is delayed, the more the muscle shrinks; subsequently it may no longer be possible to reattach it directly. If this is the case they attach a "balloon " i.e., elastic to restore function - mobility of the arm. However, they cannot restore strength with the latter method, as such, use if the arm is limited. My good friend experienced the latter, she will never have close to full use of that one arm again. That arm is very significantly reduced in strength. She can lift about 5 pounds once. She is exceptionally limited in the use of that arm on typical daily activites and must rest it often (imobilize it on and off throught the day). In her case, an MRI was not originally approved and she was sent to physical therapy which resulted in further extensive irreparable damage, associated directly with the subsequent delay in surgical repair.

In short, do not nor accept any delays in surgical repair, and make sure you have the best orthopedic surgeon you can find.

I've had both of my shoulders surgically repaired, my outcome is a good one. I have full use of both. My strength is not what it was, but I have no real complaints. My only complaints are directly related to rheumatoid and osteoarthritis, not my surgeries.

 

[grfox92]

You (completely) tore two of the 4 muslces that make up your rotator cuff, one of the others is fine, and the last one is partially torn. One of the biceps tendons has some swelling and inflammation at the least, also possibly torn. Labrum (the cartilage ring in your shoulder) has a tear in the front of it. Lots of swelling, some arthritis. Acromion (part of your shoulder blade) is normal. The muscles of the involved tendons have started to shrink.

Listen to this guy.

Sent from my SM-G990U using Tapatalk

 

[Afhunter1]

I’m an accountant and I’d like to help…

That will be $400 for my time. Thank you!

 

[CRJR45]

I’m an accountant and I’d like to help…

That will be $400 for my time. Thank you!

Checks in the mail !

 

[mtnwrunner]

Duct tape and super glue. Piece of cake.

Randy

 

[Pharmseller]

You’re pregnant.




P

 

[Nevwild]

Type this prompt into chat gpt, followed by the notes you shared.

I just got an mri of my shoulder. These are the notes from the doctor. Please explain them to me like I’m a layman.

 

[ztc92]

You (completely) tore two of the 4 muslces that make up your rotator cuff, one of the others is fine, and the last one is partially torn. One of the biceps tendons has some swelling and inflammation at the least, also possibly torn. Labrum (the cartilage ring in your shoulder) has a tear in the front of it. Lots of swelling, some arthritis. Acromion (part of your shoulder blade) is normal. The muscles of the involved tendons have started to shrink.

Family doctor with extra training in sports medicine and orthopedics here. This comment above is an excellent summary. You’ve gotten some other good advice along the way as well.

A few other points you should consider before your visit with the surgeon:

- Be sure to describe your activity level and expectations very clearly. Shoulder surgery is not one-size fits all and how best to repair these multiple injuries with greatly depend on your age and level of function. If young and healthy, you’d likely want to fix everything. If 50-65 and moderately active, probably fix the muscle tears but could leave the labrum and biceps alone. If 65+ and not very active, maybe you just do rehab and wait to get a shoulder replacement when arthritis worsens.

- I agree with others to consider a surgeon who has completed a fellowship in upper extremity. This is more important if fixing the labrum and/or biceps tendon. Most general orthopedists will be comfortable with the rotator cuff tear and any potential shoulder replacement (not saying you need that). If this was straightforward I’d say general ortho sounds fine but given multiple injuries over a long time period, I’d find an upper extremity sub-specialist, if possible.

- Next to finding a good surgeon, the next most important factor is finding a good PT to guide you through rehab. Ask around, try to figure out where athletes and young, active people are going. Definitely ask your surgeon what they recommend for PT referral but take it with a grain of salt, especially if it’s part of their company/employer. Consider asking where they’d send a friend or family member if they needed PT after shoulder surgery.

- Speaking of PT and recovery after surgery, I mean this in jest but please take it to heart, “You are not special”. What I mean by that is the surgery and subsequent rehab protocols are based on decades of research to help achieve the best outcome with the least risk. I see so many patients who think they’re special and either push themselves too hard, too fast and cause the surgical repair to fail, or somehow think there body will magically heal without them putting in any work, only to end up frustrated when they don’t regain full strength of range of motion. Please, please, please listen to your surgeon and PT when they talk you through the expected progression of rehab after surgery.

Best of luck!