Partial Thickness Rotator Cuff Tears and Bone Spurs: Do I Need Surgery?

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Partial thickness rotator cuff tears are a VERY common finding on an MRI in any middle aged individual. The cause of a partial tear is a degenerative condition called rotator cuff tendinosis. The vast majority of you will improve with physical therapy alone.
Important: I cannot and will not respond to requests for specific medical advice left in the comments section of these videos. Legally I cannot offer specific medical advice to people in this format. If you want to ask a question about a specific injury you have, leave it in the comments below, and I might answer it in an upcoming video. If you need more detailed information on your injury, go to my website where I share information on various Orthopedic Surgery topics. www.HowardLuksMD.com
The content of this RU-vid Channel, / howardluksmd (“Channel”) is for INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. The Channel may offer health, fitness, nutritional and other such information, but such information is intended for educational and informational purposes only. This content should not be used to self-diagnose or self-treat any health, medical, or physical condition. The content does not and is not intended to convey medical advice and does not constitute the practice of medicine. YOU SHOULD NOT RELY ON THIS INFORMATION AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR, NOR DOES IT REPLACE, PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL ADVICE, DIAGNOSIS, OR TREATMENT. You should consult with your healthcare professional before doing anything contained on this Channel. You agree that Dr. Luks is not responsible for any actions or inaction on your part based on the information that is presented on his Channel. Dr. Howard Luks makes no representations about the accuracy or suitability of the content. USE OF THE CONTENT IS AT YOUR OWN RISK.
Use this as a stepping stone to improve your discussion with your surgeon. Research is changing every month. The views expressed here may not be relevant in the coming years. This video is for your education only... This is NOT meant as medical advice.
Please remember, while I appreciate your questions, I cannot and will not offer specific medical advice by email, online, or in the comments at the end of these videos. My responses are meant to provide general medical information and education. Please talk with your physician or health care provider for your specific orthopedic and medical concerns.
Surgery is rarely needed for most people suffering with partial rotator cuff tears and bone spurs. See this post on my website for more information - www.howardluksmd.com/shoulder-...

Опубликовано:

8 дек 2015

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Комментарии : 37

@jayhawkr86 2 года назад

I had a spur, and a two full tears.. I’m in my 50’s.. 8weeks of pre op physical therapy and an injection did very little. Yes surgery is a long road but I am glad I had it many of the pain issues I had are less and I’m only 5 weeks post op. Again this is no cakewalk, it’s tough especially the PT but I would do it again in a heartbeat if I had the same pain in my other and non dominant shoulder thanks Doc for your videos!

@LotetaCartel 4 года назад

Thank you for taking your time to make this video 🙏🏼

@curtb2794 8 лет назад

I really like your style and excellent information Dr. Luks. From San Diego, California.

@HowardLuksMD 7 лет назад

Thanks Curt !

@KatrisaAshe 7 лет назад

Thank you for the honest video!

@HowardLuksMD 7 лет назад

You're welcome

@ggrr8t 8 лет назад

I agree. 59 Year old active male. Avid weight lifter. Persistent right shoulder pain. MRI showed bone spur and 50% tear in rotator cuff (supraspinatus). I was given P.T. and told NO lifting weights (working out)that would involve this tear area for 4-6 weeks. It was VERY difficult to stop lifting. I followed orders . I waited 6 weeks. Started back slow. I was amazed at how the pain is completely gone. I am still slowly working my way up to heavy weights but ALWAYS consider they stress it may cause and make adjustments with form or equipment. I have been lifting some pretty heavy weights so far and no pain. I will never do dumbbell flys or any behind the neck press again. They just are not worth the possible damage. Good advice Dr. Thank you.

@nbenhaga 8 лет назад

+ggrr8t thanks. those damn dumbbell flys caused my RC tear. 44yo male.this is my second week off training, but I still train lower body. do you think I should stop all together? because, when I do squats, I still feel pain in the shoulder. thank you

@ggrr8t 8 лет назад

+nbenhaga hack squats, leg extensions, kettle or dumbell lunges, leg press are all viable without having to reach up and back for the barbell squats. You can experiment with different grips on the barbell squat. Don't do any behind head shoulder press, or pull downs. When better and able start bench press with dumbells. When able on barbell bench press tuck your elbows down just and inch or so. That will take tremendous strain off of the rotator cuff. Flys, only if you don't go all the way back, make up for it with strict form and squeeze for second on top. Good luck

@ggrr8t 8 лет назад

Exact length, I did not ask. I was told it was about 50%. At the moment it is great no pain. I am lifting a decent amount but not BIG. I am stress form and slow movement with a intentional squeeze for a second at the peak of movement for all the upper body moves. NO jerking anything as that can be very bad.

@HowardLuksMD 7 лет назад

glad it helped !! I hope you're still doing well

@abdulbade 7 лет назад

im 33 with a partial tear or surface tear. its been 2 month and i cant lift weights without aggravating it. doctor told me no weight forever. can you give me a suggestion pleaseeee?

@OlymPigs2010 7 лет назад

...Dr.Luk after a backwards fall on the ice I got shoulder x-ray and the subsequent diagnosis of "rotator cuff insufficiency" - what does that mean.My G.P. advised physio but I'm wondering if the rotator cuff was damaged or torn to cause this condition?

@randywissler9923 2 года назад

About 12 years ago, I started having extreme pain in my right shoulder just out of the blue. Finally was able to see a specialist, and after the MRI, was determined that I had a bone spur. Well they set up a surgery date, unfortunately at the last minute I had to cancel it. About a year later it stopped hurting. I had full range back and everything. I just assumed it had broke off or just disintegrated. Fast forward 11 years. In Nov I was got covid and spent the next 2 months in the hospital. First 11 days I was on a ventilator and once finally awake, had to learn to walk and everything else again. When I first started doing therapy while I was still in the hospital, my shoulder started doing the same thing as before. Majority loss of motion, sharp stabbing pain. I can't even sleep on my right side now. What can I do to try and fix this, instead of surgery.

@greenfee100 5 лет назад

Hello dr, just would like to know that keeping my rotator muscles strong helps to protect the rotator cuff in good condition, I'm 65 year d Male. Thank you.

@irfansohrani6227 2 года назад

Partial thickness of supraspanitus tendon can be recovered through medication either through orthoscopy

@commandershepard7110 3 года назад

Dude I have a lump on my shoulder and I just want to know what it is

@ki8417 3 года назад

How about for full thickness tear does it heal naturally or not

@mjtuf1 5 лет назад

30 y/o male, weight lifter for 10+ years.. started developing shoulder pain about 5 months ago.. persistent pain but not severe, no pain at night... MRI revealed partial supraspinatus tear focally heavy grade... Doctor does not want to do surgery.. said to just monitor it, and take it easy with the weights.. she didn't even tell me to stop lifting weights she said just lift light. Full range of motion. just upset because I can't do the full activity I used to. Will a partial tear heal eventually and get me back to where I was?

@HowardLuksMD 5 лет назад

Jonathan... I've seen it take 4-8 months for these injuries to feel better. Some of these partial lesions have healed over time. Some will not. If the pain subsides, most docs will allow their patients to return to lifting weights, but you need to get that clearance from your own doc or a second opinion. If your pain does not improve then we can often fix these partial tears IF we feel they are the source of your pain. Get a few opinions from good shoulder docs and go from there.

@prankmonkey650 5 лет назад

So I had a traumatic injury to my left shoulder. 2 weeks ago. Dr sent me for an mri. High grade partial-thickness articular-sided tear in the anterior and mid fibers of the distal supraspinatus tendon adjacent to the humeral insertion. Super painful, weak hand, fingers. See dr in 2 weeks to see what he recommends. Hopefully no surgery. Greater then 75% of the tendon thickness.

@londonengland7096 3 года назад

What happened? How are you now?

@prankmonkey650 3 года назад

@@londonengland7096 better. Found a great ortho. Went through pt, shots, no luck. 2 surgeries, but 100% now.

@londonengland7096 3 года назад

@@prankmonkey650 omg well done man I’m glad to hear you are better I fell off bike 9 days ago and I’m severe pain and depressed can’t sleep at night from pain. I had an MRI done today let’s see what report says

@ErinM-2024 10 месяцев назад

Are tendinitis and tendinosis the same thing?

@harsh1822 6 лет назад

I am suffering from partial supraspinatus tear.. can I learn martial arts in future after recovery WITHOUT surgery?

@ki8417 3 года назад

How are you now did you went into surgery

@jadawilliams2277 7 лет назад

Do you have a question and answer page

@HowardLuksMD 7 лет назад

I answer many questions on my website at howardluksmd.com

@whodahellru8124 7 лет назад

I'm one month post rotator cuff 20% tear repair and bone spur removal. It's been two years after the initial accident and I went through cortisone shots and PT. I felt as if I was gaining range back, but still had that dull aching pain. One day I was reaching over my head and felt a horrible pain, another MRI and it was found the tear had gotten larger. I had no idea it was going to be this painful and the recovery time so long. I just hope it's worth it in the end. Informative video, it's making reconsider the surgery on my other shoulder ... yes, I have/had a tear in both shoulders. I'm wearing myself out! 😐

@jlouis5217 5 лет назад

I fell a year ago around Christmas. Tripped over something and landed exclusively on right shoulder. Pain has worsened slowly since then with the last two months having extreme pain at top of shoulder back of upper arm and severe night pain. Received steroid injection last week with good pain relief in just a few days. Surgeon wants to try PT for 5-6 weeks but will be ok jf I want to get an mri. Says my complaints indicate a problem with the rotator cuff area. But he does not see anything that concerns him as far as an actual tear. Some tests do result in pain but do not have decrease in strength My diagnosis is tendonitis. Since I got a good bit of relief with injection does that mean there is very low percentage I do have a tear? Also if my pain is improved with PT there is not much chance I have a tear either? I have a difficult situation where I must obtain a job by early summer and I dont want to go through 6 weeks of therapy, then get an MRI, wait for the results and if there is a tear scheduling surgery may not be til end of January beginning of February with a 6 month rehab. And who's going to hire someone who just had surgery or about to and has 6 months rehab ahead of them. Just wondering if you had any suggestions.

@Celtokee 8 лет назад

I have bilateral (L & R shoulder) subacromial bone spurs, and bilateral partial thickness supraspinatus tears. Hence I'm skeptical that the bone spur is unrelated to the supraspinatus tear. In fact, my right shoulder bone spur is more pronounced than the left, and--correspondingly--my right supraspinatus tear is worse than the left. Comparing subacromial bone spurs with heel or ankle bone spurs is mixing apples with oranges.

@HowardLuksMD 7 лет назад

It's always good to have a healthy bit of skepticism, but just because you have a spur doesn't mean it caused a problem. As we all know, association doesn't prove causation... The proof in this area is fairly definitive. And no, comparing them is quite accurate, they're all "traction spurs". I hope you're doing well.

@annrappaport220 4 года назад

Arg, thank you for explaining this. Can’t say I have a decision on my problem, but that’s not due to you! The bone spur is my wild card.

@cynthiaedwards9354 5 лет назад

I am 60 years old,been diagnosed by and MRI on right shoulder recently, that I have a partial tear and bone spurs. also have bursitis and tendonitis and degenerative arthritis, is scheduled for surgery this Friday (March 1st).. i try to avoid surgery.can move it,but it is sore.. question is, do I really need surgery? 4 days before surgery and I am sick and not feeling well.. any help would be appreciated..

@HowardLuksMD 5 лет назад

HI Cynthia... As physicians, we cannot dispense medical advice via RU-vid. That being said you should have a long discussion with your doctor about why they think that surgery is needed. A bone spur is not considered a reason for surgery. Neither is a partial tear which tends to occur due to degeneration in most of us as we mature. I would also not have surgery if you are sick or have any doubts. Consider another opinion too. Good Luck

@cynthiaedwards9354 5 лет назад

@@HowardLuksMD thanks for writing back. I have to cancel surgery today, cause sick.. I am checking into other options to do,so do not need surgery..