torn rotator cuff

[tryme]

Hi guys I've got a torn rotator cuff in my left shoulder. I had to quit boxing it got that bad. I can't sleep on my left side as I relax my shoulder slides out the socket due to my body weight being on it and it hurts more and more as time goes on.

Will the speed bag make it better or worse?

[Speedbag]

Hi guys I've got a torn rotator cuff in my left shoulder. I had to quit boxing it got that bad. I can't sleep on my left side as I relax my shoulder slides out the socket due to my body weight being on it and it hurts more and more as time goes on.

Sounds like you have a shoulder instability that allows the joint to dislocate. That may be happening either because of the rotator cuff tear, or independently from it. Shoulder dislocation, especially anterior (front direction) can happen with or without associated rotator cuff injuries.

I would suggest you see a qualified orthopedic physician immediately (if you haven't already) to get an exactly diagnosis and begin conservative treatment and physical therapy. I hate to say it, but Repetitive shoulder dislocations may require surgical consideration.

Will the speed bag make it better or worse?

At the moment most speed bag punching will probably make it worse. By your description your shoulder is acutely injured right now and medical treatment with any movement rehab done under the advice of treatment specialists would be my recommendation. If the interior tissues (muscles, tendons, ligaments etc) are damaged and swollen inside then raising the arm up to hit the speed bag can also create associated impingement problems, squashing or abrasing the tissues on the acromion, fraying them even more,.. and I guarentee you want to avoid that one.

Please get medical treament. Hope this helps.

[Tim]

Hi guys I've got a torn rotator cuff in my left shoulder. I had to quit boxing it got that bad. I can't sleep on my left side as I relax my shoulder slides out the socket due to my body weight being on it and it hurts more and more as time goes on.

Will the speed bag make it better or worse?

WORSE. I can tell you this for a fact. I had shoulder surgery in 2007 to repair a torn labrum. Focus on getting it fixed first, then you can bag.

[tryme]

this sucks big time. i done it during sparring (boxing) threw a dodgey left hook and my hand went towards the ground and with the force of the blow has torn it. this really does suck im so dissapointed.

i have got a physio appointment tomorrow to be assesed etc so we will see how it goes.

[Tim]

this sucks big time. i done it during sparring (boxing) threw a dodgey left hook and my hand went towards the ground and with the force of the blow has torn it. this really does suck im so dissapointed.

i have got a physio appointment tomorrow to be assesed etc so we will see how it goes.

I hear you man... been there done that. Plagued by thoughts of "if only I hadn't done that". The thought of weeks or months of hard earned progress out the window due to an extended rehab...

...but stay positive. My shoulder came back better than ever and within a few months (you've gotta be patient) it was as good as new. Looking back 4 years later, I'm glad I got it fixed when I did and didn't let it get worse. It was painful to walk away from the bag, and the weights, and just about everything else (They'll tell you not to even jog or run or walk any large dogs!) for 6-9 months, but in the end it was the smart thing to do. Mine had hurt for quite some time and when the pain got too bad I finally decided to go for the fix.

[tryme]

I hope they can fix me that's all I'm asking for right now. I vant even sleep on my left side

[Hannibal]

I hope they can fix me that's all I'm asking for right now. I vant even sleep on my left side

I walked around with a torn shoulder muscle for almost six years. My doctors sucked, and the injury eventually grew scar tissue and began to atrophy. Finally I got my surgery and it has taken three years but I am on the road to recovery now. I had to give up my power lifting, my boxing gym, and judo. Then one day it got well enough to start bagging. From bagging it lead to the heavy bag again, from there to the double end to work on speed, and now back to sparring. It is like someone pulls the rug out from under neath you, but eventually you will get back. Hang in there. Don't push yourself and make it worse like I did. Get yourself a pair of hand grips and work on that if you can. I can pretty much pop a tennis ball now. It was the only thing I could do when I was unable to lift or punch.

[Markus]

Hey tryme,

I had a very similar issue that started about 2 1/2 years ago. Took me about a year and a half of walking around in pain that would only get worse before I did anything. I ended up getting a few opinions and went with an orthopedic surgeon in Philly to go in and fix it. Turns out I didn't have a tear but severe arthritis and bone spurs inside of my AC joint. Crazy part is I thought arthritis like that was only for people over 70... I am only 36

Recovery from shoulder surgery takes some time but if you stick with the physical therapy and let yourself heal, you will come out like new. A little over a year later and I am back in the gym and started learning how to hit the speed bag. It still gets sore but it is nothing compared to the pain prior to surgery.

I hope your appointment goes well tomorrow.

All the best,
Markus

[tryme]

Hi guys little update.

I've got a list of about 5 exercises to do 3x a day with this rubber band thing. Physio said I wont be bagging for at least 4 weeks and that's only if I stick to my routine.
I won't be hitting anything properly for over 4 months but hey I will do what I've got to do to get my health back!thanks for reading

[Speedbag]

Hi guys little update.

I've got a list of about 5 exercises to do 3x a day with this rubber band thing. Physio said I wont be bagging for at least 4 weeks and that's only if I stick to my routine.
I won't be hitting anything properly for over 4 months but hey I will do what I've got to do to get my health back!thanks for reading

I've had many of these "4 months of rehab periods" in my life, and some 6 months or longer, So I know how you feel. If this is your first, then I can suggest a few things.

Realize that four months is NOT a long time in the totality of your life, and it will pass just as fast if you get treatment and follow the rehab, or not. If you do, then four months from now perhaps you'll be better, and closer to pain free. One thing is for sure, if you do not follow it and keep re-injuring your shoulder than you will be no better off and still owe a four month or longer debt to a find a healthy shoulder. And this is just "conservative therapy". If this issue gets worse, it could lead to surgery and that can add another 2 or 3 months on to your rehab time.

I don't know how old you are, but if you have ever found yourself saying "I'll do this or that when I can find the time..." Well, perhaps you just found some. Read those books your really wanted to, watch those back TV series you missed, write that poem or perhaps begin that novel kicking around in your head. If you're in school, study more. If you play and instrument, practice more, If you don't play music but wanted to, now is the time to start. You can always exercise your mind.

All is not lost physically either. You can still do some leg work. You can still ride cycles. There was a time when I "rehabed" through 12 surgeries in 10 years. ( don't ask..) and when it didn't include a knee (3 did include knees) I worked on martial art kicking. When it did include a shoulder (that would be 5) I found other outlets. It helps to cultivate interests outside of "working out" or playing sports, and I learned to use the rehab time for short "day trips" to things I probably wouldn't have done because I was a slave to endless quest of physical activity.

Look at it as life giving you personal vacation or change of schedule. It's probably just the first of many unplanned events. As far as the speed bag goes, you can still hit it with your mind. I called it "air punching", moving my hands or fingers a bit in the normal directions and reproducing the sound in my head. You'd be surprised how much you can learn about the bag doing this.

The last thing I learned was to sit down and talk to your speed bag(s) once in a while. Like loyal pets, they will sit quietly by you for hours if you let them. Espcially your older ones. They will sometimes tell you a few secrets if you'll listen.

Hope it helps and have see ya back under the board about march.

[tryme]

what a nice reply got me smilling there lol.

yeah im 22 im in full time work i got a son so you know will focus my mind else where for the time being whilst following my physio.

thank you

[crapshoot]

I'm no expert in physiology or therapy but the one thing I have learned is that you can pay now or pay later, and it's always more expensive later. Waiting sucks, but spending more time with your kid will be time you can't buy. You may want to even design some bag routines to try out when you're healthy to get going. Alan mentioned he did the same thing when he was writing the SBB. Go through it in your head and take notes.

Think of the payoff at the end and stay positive. Check out the vids and participate in the conversations and soon enough you'll be posting vids of your own.

[tryme]

this physio hasnt helped as of yet. im peed off. really dont know what to do

[Speedbag]

this physio hasnt helped as of yet. im peed off. really dont know what to do

Failed Physio can mean a few things.

(1) You haven't done it long enough to tell any difference.

(2) The Physio is being "cheated", either doing more than necesssary (..outside the clinic) or less (skipping reps etc inside the clinic).

* I don't mean this as a "dig" on you, I'm just falling back on my own experience. I've had plenty of Physiotherapy/rehab and most of the time I was so anxious to "get better" I always did more than they wanted me to, thus overdoing it in the clinic and normally again at home "doing extra". Neither is a good idea. Second, while in the physio clinic I saw lots of other patients doing next to nothing. When the therapist walked away, they'd stop, and then start again when they thought he was coming up to check. The therapist would say "do three sets of 15", and they might do two sets of 5 or 6. I'm sitting on another seat watching them not do it and lie about it. (ps: the therapist knows, they see and they can tell when improvment isn't made. pps: the therapist still charged for the 3 sets of 15)

In both cases the result is the same, the situation doesn't improve as expected, and phsyio gets blamed, when the blame lies elsewhere.

Of course, Tryme, I'm not saying either is you, but just pointing out a few ways "physio" gets blamed with failure.

(3) If Physio "only" (conservative treatment) ultimately fails than that can mean the injury is worse and/or more extensive than first thought, and the possibility of surgery comes into play. For example if a rotator cuff tear injury is suspected, an it eventually will not heal on its own with therapy, then a surgical repair may be indicated. (Best part is, you will get to do the therapy all over again afterwards, so be nice to the therapy staff: you may see them again. I was in so often I was on their christmas card mailing list..)

There is a phrase in medicine. "Patients sometimes need Patience"

I hated it too. Good luck.

[bagdaddy]

this physio hasnt helped as of yet. im peed off. really dont know what to do

I can relate to your frustration with the lack of results from your therapy. In November of 2009, I had surgery to repair a small tear in my right (strong side) supraspinatus muscle (one of the four rotator cuff muscles). I settled on the surgery only after nearly a year of unsuccessful therapy. I was in the same boat as Hannibal when he said “I walked around with a torn shoulder muscle for almost six years” and “the injury eventually grew scar tissue and began to atrophy.” I also can relate to and agree with both of speedbag’s posts.

I could probably write a book based on my trials throughout this ordeal. But I’m sure that everyone that’s had to endure recovering from a rotator cuff injury can say the same.

My doctor said that the muscle would be fully healed and reattached to the bone after one year, but I would be back to normal activity in six months. Well, to make a long story short…he was wrong. It has now been just over two years and I just last month have gotton to the point that I feel like my supraspinatus muscle is completely healed! For the sake of keeping this short, here are my learnings over two years.

1. I had atrophy prior to surgery.
2. My therapist’s recommendations were inadequate.
3. Healing took much longer than anticipated.
4. I had much more atrophy immediately after surgery.
5. Most of my post-surgery atrophy was in my scapular stabilizer muscles.
6. My weakened scapular stabilizer muscles tricked/confused me into thinking that my surgery did not take.
7. I realized the difference after doing the exercises from “The Ultimate Rotator Cuff Training Guide”. You can view it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwCIVCOEAyA
8. I further realized the difference last month after I began to hit the speedbag for the first time in my life. My right rotator cuff now feels just as strong as or maybe stronger than my left side.

For clarity, let me say that I still have very weak scapular stabilizer muscles. My plan now is to continue hitting the speedbag a few minutes each day…to continue specific scapular stabilizer exercises…and to reduce rotator cuff exercises to the bare minimum per The Ultimate Rotator Cuff Training Guide.

I tried to keep this short. If I can clarify anything, please ask.

Bagdaddy