torn rotator cuff.

[billpratt71]

Thanks everyone. This really is a great forum. Encouraging to hear from all that had shoulder/ back issues and played again. The plan right now is ice/ ibuprofen and rest. Get it re-evaluated in a week. Orthapedic, MRI etc. My boys want me to go out today and start working on lefty but definitely gonna wait a while. Besides, my wife would kill me. Ya see, I have 5 kids and my 2 boys and I play. The girls dont. She and the girls have been watching me "mope" around the house depressed like someone stole my puppy all weekend. (Probably a thread for another time)

 

[Timeetyo]

. Besides, my wife would kill me. Ya see, I have 5 kids and my 2 boys and I play. The girls dont. She and the girls have been watching me "mope" around the house depressed like someone stole my puppy all weekend. (Probably a thread for another time)

Play those cards right - a few more days of moping around and she'll be begging you to get out and play lefty...

 

[twhit28]

That sucks. I blew out my rotator cuff in high school playing baseball. Mine was so bad I couldnt even lift 10 pounds. I had to go though 6 monthes of physical therapy. Listen to your doctors and you will be playing again in no time. If you have to do physical therapy make sure to work out both arms like they suggest. I didn't and when I was done one arm was way bigger then the other.

 

[BirdieMachine]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkZ437BtMzc

This is an exercise I do to prevent injury and strengthen the rotator. I've had minor rotator injury in the past and now I make sure to do these to help prevent any future problems. Start off with very light weights if you haven't done these. 5 pounds might be enough at first if your rotators are weak.

 

[billpratt71]

Thanks for the link. Cant really lift anything now but I'll definitely save the link for later when its healed. My attitude is much better today. Really down yesterday about all this but feel positive today that if I follow Dr's orders I'll be playing again at some point this summer. (Power of positive thinking?????) And definitely going to learn lefty. Who knows, might a be good lefty. That would be hilarious. Thanks for everyone's help.

 

[discgman]

I've been playing with a bad rotator for last 5 years. Trick is to strengthen the muscles around the tendon, if you can.

 

[billpratt71]

I've been playing with a bad rotator for last 5 years. Trick is to strengthen the muscles around the tendon, if you can.

Did you get it fixed or let it heal and then strengthen muscles around it? I want so bad to avoid surgery and have it magically get "better". I still cant even lift above like waist level though. Only been a few days. Guess I'll see in a week or do and after MRI and stuff.

 

[Van1]

Lefty is the right thing to do. If you keep playing your back will stay strong and also you are adding shots to your bag. DX stingrays and cobras beat to crap are the way to go for drivers. And putters of course for all else. Play the shorts and in a few weeks you will be in business.

 

[Jessy]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkZ437BtMzc

This is an exercise I do to prevent injury and strengthen the rotator. I've had minor rotator injury in the past and now I make sure to do these to help prevent any future problems. Start off with very light weights if you haven't done these. 5 pounds might be enough at first if your rotators are weak.

These are also known as "Cuban rotations". I've incorporated Cuban rotations and reverse Cuban rotations into my workout lately. They're really helping with a subscapularis injury that's still bugging me from two years ago. These, combined with stretching with Voodoo Floss around my shoulder, have done more for me than anything else I've tried. Lacrosse ball smashing is also useful.

 

[Jessy]

It's really important to make sure you don't just do one or the other. Cubans focus on the teres minor and infraspinatus, and reverse Cubans focus on the subscapularis. You don't want an imbalance. I lie on a box I made out of 2x6's for reverse Cubans, to get more stretch at the beginning of the movement but lying on the floor, to start, is okay.

 

[BirdieMachine]

It's really important to make sure you don't just do one or the other. Cubans focus on the teres minor and infraspinatus, and reverse Cubans focus on the subscapularis. You don't want an imbalance. I lie on a box I made out of 2x6's for reverse Cubans, to get more stretch at the beginning of the movement but lying on the floor, to start, is okay.

I'll have to look those up and add them to my routine. :hfive:

 

[billpratt71]

Thanks Jessy and birdiemachine. Good stuff.

 

[brickdoctor]

52 years old tore my rotatar cuff about 8 years ago had surgery , does not bother to play back hand but thumers and thomahawks hurt like crazy , you will have to go easy on those , My doctor said 80% of rotator cuff can be cured with p.t so please give that a try before you let them cut you, I have had pt in other shoulder and seems to be fine now Get a second opinion if he wants to do surgery right away. good luck it is a long process

 

[billpratt71]

Thanks. Boy its amazing how many people have shoulder problems. Really don't want surgery man. Been hearing both sides. Some say get surgery. No if's, ands or buts. Others say dont let em cut you. I will definitely get a 2nd opinion.

 

[Moose33]

I am so sorry to hear it. I have about a quarter tear in mine which limits my backhand max D but have learned to work around it. Don't rush back only to re injure yourself. Do the rehab, get some resistance bands!

Good luck on the road back.

 

[simpletwist]

I had rotator cuff surgery in February 2013. It was a large tear and it was scarred up pretty bad because the tear was at least 15 years old. I followed the doctors orders and maybe more importantly the physical therapists recommendations to the letter. And once I was given the green light to start EASING back into playing I did just that eased into it. Initially just the wife and I. Best shot from the short tees. I also maintained my physical therapy exercises at home increasing the weight slowly. It was a long tough road to recovery and to be honest it's still not 100%. It may never be. But at 60, what is?

I have gotten my distance back (300-325) and it doesn't hurt much after a round, and it no longer feels like my arm isn't connected. This year I expect to play competitively again.

Get a good surgeon and a good physical therapist, and do what they tell you. You're still young. Next year you'll be back at full steam.

Good luck.

 

[billpratt71]

300-325 a year after surgery. That's awesome. Good for you. Very encouraging. I'm feeling a lot better about it all today. (Not happy, just better). Tough when the weather here in Maryland has been so nice this week. All my buddies and my 2 boys out playing all the time. The guys I work with go play at lunch. Torture!!! Tough when it's your favorite thing to do in life. Except spend time with my darling wife. (Never know if she's reading this)

 

[Stoney J]

Just diagnosed with torn rotator cuff today. On 8th hole today just lost all strength in right arm. It's been getting worse but today blew it out. So bummed. Been playing about a year. (42 years old). My 2 boys and all my buddies play. My favorite thing to do in life. (One of them. Haha). Anyone have a good encouraging story of a rotator cuff "recovery". Feeling depressed. So bummed.:wall::doh:

Been there done that. Had both my shoulders scoped. I'm older than you and it took me about 6 months to rehab. Actually disc golf is a great sport for rehabbing. Start slow and get your range back. Use the rubber bands/power bands or whatever you want to call them. I ain't lyin. It's gonna hurt like a beeyatch when the local wears off, but buck up little camper. Determination and consistency will win the day :thmbup: :clap:

 

[billpratt71]

Waiting to get into specialist. (Insurance issues.) Oh well. Tough watching everyone go play. Wah. Poor me. Tried a little lefty in a field today but it messes with my right shoulder some how. It was ugly. Gonna just rest everything another week and push to get MRI and Ortho apt quicker. Haven't played in 6 days. WITHDRAWAL:doh: