Ever had this happen to your shoulder

37chief · Nov 3, 2015

I was on a ladder scraping leaves off of a tin roof yesterday. I was reaching way out with my rake. I felt something let loose on my in my shoulder, I actually heard a ripping sound also, then instant pain. I am going to see the doctor next week. This the soonest I can get in. Any one experienced something like this? I thought it would feel better today, but it's the same. Stan

David G · Nov 3, 2015

That is not good at all, take it real easy for a while.

Kickinbull · Nov 3, 2015

Do not P... around with Dr. that wants to run the insurance gamet. Don't do therapy until you absolutly know what is the problem. Push for MRI. Don't settle on the first opinion. Friend of ours lost his ability to use his arm above his chest. No longer working.

David G · Nov 3, 2015

I pretty much wore my shoulder out, surgery made it a lot better, do as the others suggest, and do NOT use it unless cleared.

Greg K · Nov 3, 2015

I've had the ripping sound/feeling but it wasn't followed by any pain. However several years later that shoulder did start to ache like perhaps rotator cuff issues but nothing any more.

JF in MI · Nov 3, 2015

I have an issue with my shoulder also (not the same thing). The specialist also said that an MRI would be the only thing to tell for sure but the insurance company won't pay for it unless therapy (less expensive) is tried first. This is very common with insurance.

Ted in NE-OH · Nov 3, 2015

I think you should have gone to the emergency room or urgent care.

Frank (N.Mi.) · Nov 3, 2015

That is exactly what happened to my wife two years ago. She was lifting a heavy trash bag onto dumpster, same noise ,pain, etc. She had torn loose two of the bands/tendons? that attach the arm bone into the socket. Arthroscopic surgery and about 3 to 4 months of physical therapy was the fix. Bad news but if that is your situation and you don't get it fixed fairly soon your shoulder will never work right...Hers is pretty much good as new now...

ShadetreeRet · Nov 3, 2015

About six years ago, I lifted a automobile battery into the trunk of a car and tore the rotor cuff in my left shoulder. Like you said, instant pain that almost brought me to my knees. I could not lift my arm above my head, nor could I lift any weight with it. Endured a MRI to confirm it and had an operation to repair it and went through several weeks of physical therapy. Now have about 90% use of arm. I'm not saying that this is your problem, but it sounds like it could be. just don't try to do much with that arm until you get diagnosed, or you could make it worse. Here's hopeing for the best.

bcdave · Nov 3, 2015

I injured my shoulder 35 years ago. I was told then that the risk of damage caused by surgery was high and the end result could be worse than the injury. 30 years of pain. Four years ago a ladder slipped on ice and I went down and wrecked it worse. My doctor got me a MRI and they could see the damage. I got to a specialist. New technology surgery I was in and out the same day with four little holes in my shoulder. After 6 months of doing absolutely nothing but therapy I am pain free. It was worth taking six off to retire pain free.
Dave

Frank (N.Mi.) · Nov 3, 2015

Yup, the ER doc put my wife's arm in a sling pretty much of the time 'til the operation to fix it...

Richard G. · Nov 3, 2015

About 7 years, my shoulder was killing me. Kept getting worse. Asked my family doc to send me for an MRI. Then went to the ortho surgeon and had him look at it. Saved a bunch of time and money that way.
Ortho surgeon put my rotator cuff back together, but said I may never use that arm again. I have full use now, but have to be very careful. If I feel pain, I quit doing whatever I am doing.
Don't wait like I did. I almost lost use of my arm.
Richard in NW SC

MarkB_MI · Nov 3, 2015

Remember, this is your livelihood you're talking about! If one of your machines broke down, you'd get it fixed. A good shoulder specialist will probably order an MRI and go from there.

A friend of mine has had numerous orthopedic surgeries, but he says his rotator cuff surgery was the worst in terms of pain, recovery time, and overall experience. I had surgery to my shoulder after a dislocation and recovery took over a year. I'd still go through the surgery, knowing what I know today; you just can't get by with a bad shoulder.

L.Fure · Nov 3, 2015

(quoted from post at 01:38:23 11/04/15) I was on a ladder scraping leaves off of a tin roof yesterday. I was reaching way out with my rake. I felt something let loose on my in my shoulder, I actually heard a ripping sound also, then instant pain. I am going to see the doctor next week. This the soonest I can get in. Any one experienced something like this? I thought it would feel better today, but it's the same. Stan

Ice and aspirin should make it feel better until you see a doctor. Try not to use that arm until you do see him.

I've been through the gambit with my right shoulder. Two surgeries that didn't help with the pain. Now they are telling me that the joint needs to be replaced. But the surgeon that told me that doesn't want to do it because he thinks I'm too young (57) and would most likely wear the new joint out before I die, then I may be too old to have the surgery done again. I think it's time to see a new surgeon.

Bob Harvey · Nov 3, 2015

Rotator cuff. Did the same thing installing vinyl siding. A few years later I completely dislocated the other shoulder (x-ray shows ball totally out of socket). Guess which one still bothers me. Yep, the rotator cuff injury. Take your time to rehab, don't even think about doing stuff the doc or physio guy says not to. You ain't 18 I suspect. You can return to 'near' normal but it takes a looong time. Good luck

K Effective · Nov 3, 2015

The shoulder is the weakest joint structurally in the body, and extremely complex. Depending on your age, therapy alone may be your best bet. Consult a good orthopedic surgeon after the MRI and carefully weigh the options. I've torn seven different tendons/ligaments now, and only opted for three surgeries. Best of luck to you!

M-MAN · Nov 3, 2015

Did the same thing several years ago reaching out too far for too long. Took me over a year to get halfway back to normal. There were lots of times during that year just raising my arm up brought tears. I hope you get better much sooner than I did.

ss55 · Nov 4, 2015

Please take it easy, and look for a doctor who can see you sooner.

JerryS · Nov 4, 2015

I've with the problem for the past year: painful shoulder, inability to do anything overhead, even screwing in a light bulb. MRI showed rotator cuff tear--where the tendon attaches itself to the bone--plus some arthritic bone spurs. Doctor said he could probably fix it, but he hinted that at my age I might be better to let it heal itself as much as it can. He said I would probably be better off to have shoulder replacement; that I'd know when it was time. It's better now, though I still have weakness above shoulder height.

There are some good videos of rotator cuff surgery on the internet, both actual and animated. They have to drive pegs into the bone to tie the sutures pulling the tendon back to the bone. It's kinda like putting on new guitar strings.

Dick2 · Nov 4, 2015

Go to the ER right away; time is your worst enemy right now! You don't want to lose the ability to use that arm. After I broke my shoulder and went through PT, the doctor told me that I would not regain FULL movement of my right arm. I probably lost 30% of the movement even by doing the right thing in a short time.

Pair-a-dice farm · Nov 4, 2015

As others have said you need to go to the emergency room. A few years ago I dislocated my left shoulder. My right shoulder had a calcium buildup an I was planning on getting that taken care of later. I was in the middle of hay season and was having to do everything with one wing. I was climbing off the tractor and my foot slipped off the step and I felt a sharp pain in my right shoulder similar to what you described. It turned out that it broke loose the calcium in my right shoulder. I haven't had any more trouble, that was a lucky "break".

Leroy · Nov 4, 2015

I was dismounting a stuborn tire manual changer when I did mine. Went tochiorpractor several times, dit not start to get better. Finally made apointment with family Dr. So happens the day for appointment I was getting 5 pluming changes in my chest. So when I was finaly able to get taken care of after 8 months of waiting on my heart pluming to heal I was able to get it taken care of, torn rotator cuff. after about 3 years started getting full use of arm. Should have gone direct to family Dr and then the shoulder Dr.

cuby · Nov 4, 2015

I had 4 tears in my right shoulder. did this in May of 012,had surgery march 013 was out for 12 weeks,have 99% pain free use now.

I had a good surgeon and a good therapist. To heel good just do what they say. The shoulder takes longer to heel because it can do many functions.

JML755 · Nov 4, 2015

Like others, I had surgery 40 yrs ago to fix a chronically dislocating right shoulder. Then over a year ago, I developed a problem in the left shoulder from walking 4 dogs every day for 2 weeks and the 2 that I held with my left hand about pulled my shoulder out of the socket. Was painful for about 6 months and decided to get it checked out. Thought it was rotator cuff tear. X-rays, MRI, visit to EXCELLENT ortho surgeon determined that the likely rotator cuff tear had healed but I had bone spurs and arthritis that were causing the limited range of motion (can't raise my left arm above the shoulder) and pain. Options ranged from a) take Advil when it bothers me to c) total shoulder replacement or d) a specialized "scraping" of the joint. I opted for a) as the recovery from c) and d) would take about a year and results would be iffy. (I'm 65 so I don't want to waste a year being incapacitated this late in the game). He said that shoulder replacements for some reason don't have the same success rate as knees or hips. Doc said I couldn't damage it any more than it is with exercise, so I just do what I can. Lost a LOT of ability to lift things but I continue to stretch it and use it to try and rebuilt strength and mobility.

Good luck on your situation and as others said, see a good ortho surgeon.

Blackhole49 · Nov 4, 2015

I'm 62 and also couldn't raise my left arm above my shoulder. This problem hadn't improved in 8 months. I had bone spurs removed and minor
rotator cuff damage repaired on August 18th. Both the doctor and physical therapist said it wouldn't happen, but I was back to 100% by the
bow season opener on Oct. 1st.

mj · Nov 4, 2015

(quoted from post at 18:38:23 11/03/15) I was on a ladder scraping leaves off of a tin roof yesterday. I was reaching way out with my rake. I felt something let loose on my in my shoulder, I actually heard a ripping sound also, then instant pain. I am going to see the doctor next week. This the soonest I can get in. Any one experienced something like this? I thought it would feel better today, but it's the same. Stan

Yep - started with a dislocation and an audible 'pop' - hurt bad but got better - heard a 'pop' while wrestling a 90# bale on top of stack some years later and had pain for awhile - Went to Doc & discovered a loose tendon inside my shoulder - he sent me to specialist in another, bigger city - that doc said that the muscle and tendon had atrophied and surgery COULD reattach it BUT surgery would make it worse or, maybe the same or, maybe, better. Then he said if you can do all of the things you need to do if the pain goes away I'd advise against surgery because at your age (53 then) Physical Therapy will be [b:26aa19d27b]TOUGH[/b:26aa19d27b]. So I went back to my doc and told him that I was going to forego surgery if he could make the pain go away and he injected my shoulder with a dose of cortisone for the first and only time - the pain went away and I have done 'whatever' since, that was in 1998. Based on your post I would get it checked out, pronto! Then, get a 2nd opinion, find out what level of Physical 'Therapy' you will experience and be wary of advice from a guy with a 'vested influence' on the procedures used that wants you to pay for his yacht. :roll:

David G · Nov 4, 2015

I had the arthritis scraped off mine along with the rotator cuff and labrum fixed.

Ever had this happen to your shoulder

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