+ 1 Partially Torn Rotator Cuff
I am not on cycle and have just been working on preparing for a cycle.
I have had issues with my rotator cuff from extreme lifting and muscle fatigue with my job, not the gym, for three years. I usually have a cortisone shot every 3 or 4 months and it keeps it at bay, but today with a shoulder press machine it started acting up. It was only set on 180 and it started having that burning, pulling feeling. With the muscle I have built around it I thought I was past it.
Long story short I have read a bunch of stuff in the search menu and a friend also suggested PRP that they charge 600.00 for. It isn't likely a full tear. I can sleep and use my shoulder just fine unless lifting. It isn't the tear where you can't raise your arm. It's the tear where if i even take a 3lb weight extended to the side my arm starts shaking. Raising straight above my head and things like that are fine.
Anyways, I was thinking before an MRI, or looking at surgery, or not lifting I should look into the PRP. The doctor who does my injections in my shoulder has been trying to get me to do it the last 3 or 4 shots. If anyone has any experience with PRP i would gladly listen.
Thanks
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Just to update I had PRP done. If you think you have pain from weekly injections then go get this done. Wow I felt like I had a full tear and a fire inside my shoulder for about 8 hours. Some say it doesn't hurt, mine did. I won't know the results until I start working out again. I can't touch a weight for 7 days. Looks like I have no excuse on cardio for the remaining 5 days. Yesterday I just did 8 sets on the leg press and an hour on the treadmill as I saw everyone else doing the fun stuff.
Just an FYI
I had the exact same headaches with Insurance and Shoulder Specialist, etc
Without an MRI.....I don’t see how the Doc is doing PRP to know exact what he’s dealing with
My Stem Cell Doc wanted MRI first
Then used ultrasound to do PRP/stem cell injection
It’s not the same as doing a cortisone injection
There’s a technique involved
Did they use ultrasound for your injection ?
Yes they did use an ultrasound. My arm felt really tight when I woke up this morning, now it feels normal, but I haven't tested my range of motion much and no weight whatsoever,
I gotcha
I know it can be a pain
Especially at night trying to sleep
Hopefully you get some relief
Just an update on the Rotator Cuff. I guess the tear wasn't to bad. The PRP seems to have worked. I'm not doing anything over my head yet with free weights, but have maxed out the shoulder press and chest press machines with no pain and when I am putting 45 lb plates on the Smith Machine I don't feel that little pull or give to the other side anymore.
Mobility isn’t a tell-tale sign of the damage. When I fully tore mine, I couldn’t do an external rotation with 3lbs. I had full mobility however. I actually worked out for 6 months knowing it was fully torn as I prepared for surgery over the winter holidays. I ws able to do my normal routine, just weaker in shoulder press and bench. Everything else was unaffected. I was diagnosed with a partial tear about 5 years prior which slowly worsened each year. Mine was full 2cm tear by time I had surgery. From my experience and in talking with my doctor, a small tear only gets worse with time. You may be able to stabilize it, but it wont get better. The good news is the surgery isn’t too difficult and you will recover just fine. I would request an mri to be sure; I delayed my rc surgery and my bicep tendon ruptured after fraying from the instability.
Thanks for the advice. My doctor told me to go into the ER and claim excruciating pain if an MRI is turned down by insurance because the ER can do an MRI if deemed necessary without approval. I would love to be able to only be stuck with 20% of the bill, but I will see what they say Wednesday.
PRP sounds like a good option for you! Sounds like you have a good doc, so you might want to listen to him!
I will see what he says Wednesday. Thanks
I looked into buying a DIY kit recently
pricey enough and I couldnt find a centrifuge at a decent price
If I was you Id let it heal, then learn how to correctly stabilise your upper thoracic and exercise accordingly
You're pretty creative, but I doubt I have the balls for that one. I am going to listen to the doctor I guess. Just made an appointment for Wednesday. Sadly, most of the doctor's I can afford aren't real smart. You have to see the Nurse Practioner a few times before an ortho will even see you.
Ah more stupid than creative! I draw my own blood all the time, and have done a bit of self surgery, so this just seems easy as pie. There isnt much to it mate. Take the blood, spin the blood to separate, then inject the prp
The cost of the centrifuge was too high though. I tried to find a second hand one, just missed out on one on a deals site. They are too heavy to order from abroad though you see, for shipping costs.
This is a global problem mate!
Good luck on Wednesday, hope it goes well for you, keep us updated.
I had it done Friday. It was either worth thousands or I wasted 600.00. Time will tell.
Well done!
Keeping fingers crossed for you.
Any idea of the turnaround time you are looking at?
I was told it is almost immediate, but some people require three doses, which is 600 a dose or 1700 for 3. They are saying it will heal almost anything that isn't a complete tear, but there is also a reason insurance doesn't cover it so we will see. I could start reusing it after 3 days, but with what I lift I am taking his advice and waiting a full week.
Oh yeah do that, definitely take the time out. It is worth it. Get some decent sleep in too and you are bound to grow elsewhere as the body gets some downtime/recovery.
I've been getting 8 hours a night. That's been my hardest battle. Until I started studying a few years ago I usually ran on 4-5 hours a night and didn't think it effected me that much.
Once I started forcing myself to find time to rest my belly fat went down or it was easier to lose. Back when I didn't sleep I would bet money if I had tests ran my cortisol was probably high. Thanks for saying that though. I am a little stubborn on the sleep and I am sure there are many people here that will never listen about the sleep.
Jesus mate - A DIY kit, thats a bit extreme!
Does it have a rust free drill & saw with it? ...
LOL
Special belt and all!!
Hahaha. I can handle a few pins, I don't know about starting a central line
Find out for sure before messing around with anything. Get an MRI bro
Full Tear : surgery
Partial Tear : stem cell (worked great for me)
Talk to your Doc about getting an MRI first to determine exactly what is going on
Kind of what I was thinking HailRazor. When I went on the initial tear years ago it was the ER part our orthopedic center has. They basically take an xray, not an MRI, and tell you that it is a partial tear and doesn't require surgery and give you a shot. The doctor is Basically a Nurse Practitioner.
I went back for a follow up with the real doctor and insurance wouldn't approve an MRI so I have just lived with it. I hope its a partial tear and the Plasa therapy will do it. Thank God I hadn't already started my cycle.
StevebI had that surgery in April of last year. Since you're already having those problems just stop lifting shit over your head. It's not worth it and you'll regret it when you finally mess it up completely like I did. And cortisone shots only weaken your tendons over time.
Thanks Steveb. I believe you. I saw somewhere people were still able to do heavy shrugs. I think I slowly started feeling it on a curl machine and when I moved to any kind of bench press, shoulder press etc it made me want to scream like a little girl. I want to stay healthy and keep gaining. I lost some inches this month in my legs and stomach pre cycle and I don't want to have to stop everything.
I had a shoulder injury and discovered the reverse grip bench. It's easy on the shoulders and honestly I think it hits my upper chest better than inclines.
Heck yea it does. Love some reverse grip. I have to start out in smith machines cause of shoulder on those tho
Thanks Sam I Am. Are you talking about setting backwards in the bench?
Shoot. I had bad dirtbike accident where I dislocated, destroyed, and tore my cuff. Granted I had to have surgery to fix it
Don’t wanna mess with a tear man. Those need to be fixed
I have battled it. The problem is it gets better, then bad again. I have read so many things. I guess I'm just doing legs until I get into the doctor. i took 6 weeks off for it to hel before. They said it would. They were wrong
I guess this PRP they are talking about will probably be smoking mirrors. It confuses me that insurance won't cover it if its so effective.
Yea. Def don’t wabna aggravate it an make it worse
Find a good ortho surgeon and talk to him