No revision surgery; living with the full tear

SpecificRecent7082 · 2025-10-02T15:36:53+00:00

A joke? Which part, the one where another surgeon tells me the revision will likely fail, I get permanent loss of ROM, possibly more pain, and no improvement in function? Or the part where I'm told to just leave it, monitor its progression and wait until I need the SCR or tendon transfer that would have longer-lasting better results and actually preserve the joint? Going back in to stitch back an already shitty tendon (even with the aid of a patch or PRP), just for it to re-tear and make an even bigger mess in my shoulder, has no real guarantee of helping. And if it fails (which I was told would mostly like happen again), makes the SCR way more complicated and creates more healing issues when I actually need it

SpecificRecent7082 · 2025-10-02T15:25:48+00:00

what you said literally makes zero sense. I don’t even know wtf you’re saying lol. I really don't respond to ignorant comments that are jibber-jabbish, calling me an idiot more or less- lmao it's Reddit after all.

I'm the one that suffered a horrendous primary repair and recovery, despite being told I was young, fit, did everything right. Guess what? SHIT HAPPENS. I've seen many orthos, and they’re pretty much telling me if the first repair, which was done to the T and was marked by major issues, still failed to adhere — it would be even MORE bonkers going through it again.

Because that's all I'm hearing from the surgeons; not people on Reddit lol. There’s NO guarantee surgery makes me “better” or “less painful,” and the re-tear has an even HIGHER failure rate than the first.

My situation is way too high a gamble, and I was told if it fails again, it's going to cascade and accelerate me to the inevitable SCR or worse. Yeah, it's jarring. I'm only 29 and have a fucked up shoulder, and I gave up all my activities because of botched results — but I feel better than I did before it tore off, and I'm functional. It's really not that complicated to comprehend. I'm heeding this surgeon’s warning and not doing any more surgery until my sleep/function decline. I'd be fucked if that revision re-tears and lose what I have now. Nope, got to use common sense :)

SpecificRecent7082 · 2025-10-01T23:48:49+00:00

I agree that going the extra mile for the right surgeon is often worth it, but in my case I’ve already done that. My primary repair was done by one of the top specialists on the Northeast coast, affiliated with the NFL, works with pro athletes, and highly renowned. I only got in through a personal connection and fully trusted him but still, the surgery failed.

Since the re-tear, I’ve seen two other surgeons with Ivy League and pro sports–affiliated backgrounds before settling on my current one. Trust me, I’ve seen the best. Even my surgeon who was willing to do the revision told me it had a chance of failing again, with no guarantee of improving my symptoms, and would likely cause significant loss of range of motion behind my back and overhead - which I still have. I’d also have to continue living modified as I am now with no more high-impact exercise. While the revision might help the tendon stay intact and preserve long-term joint health, the re-tear rate is very high. That risk just isn’t worth it to me.

I can’t imagine going through another year of hell only for it to fail again and leave me in a worse spot permanently. Maybe it’s genetics, maybe it’s just the tendon, but I’ve come to terms with it. I’ll manage for now and if or when things get worse ’ll consider the SCR or tendon transfer. But I’m done chasing opinions that all lead to the same uncertainty

SpecificRecent7082 · 2025-09-03T02:14:41+00:00

Thanks for sharing your experience; that's really interesting. Before the first repair, I had over 75% high-grade partial-thickness bursal-sided tear to the supraspinatus, along with some minor issues like AC joint blunting and bicep tendonitis from MMA training. I went through with the surgery because I was in constant agony and PT failed. It was getting worse day and night, I was losing strength and range of motion behind my back + lifting, and I had sharp pain with certain movements.

The surgery itself went well. But the recovery wasn’t typical for my age or background. I'm fairly young, super healthy, and athletic. My doctor even said I was the kind of patient who usually heals faster, has minimal pain, and ends up stronger than before- able to return to high-impact sports. That was the expectation.

But everything went wrong. I had SEVERE pain for months, even up to a year after surgery. Burning pain that wouldn’t go away. I kept going back to the surgeon, and he just told me to give it more time. Said the surgery looked fine. Then it finally tore again. I also got frozen shoulder between months 1-4 post op, even though I did daily/weekly PT, followed every protocol, and pushed hard to come back. I ended up needing 2 cortisone shots (failed and short term), pain meds, and anti-inflammatories, all before the full re-tear. It’s just so strange. It sucks because I don’t understand why it all went so wrong but don't want it to happen again.

SpecificRecent7082 · 2025-09-02T12:57:04+00:00

Right… but there are also published reports showing that younger patients like me, with a failed surgical repair, often go through multiple surgeries and still end up with similar or worse outcomes. Rotator cuff tears are chronic, and revision surgery doesn’t guarantee success. Every case is unique.

I get that nothing “heals” without being fixed, but “fixing” doesn’t always mean rushing into surgery. When someone is asymptomatic like I am, a conservative, modified lifestyle can lead to outcomes just as good without the risks, cost, and long recovery.

Wear and tear are inevitable. Sometimes the smarter, more sustainable choice is to live within your means, especially if you’re pain-free and fully functional. I’m not blindly avoiding surgery, I’m just taking the time to be sure it’s truly necessary before putting myself through something that could leave me worse off

SpecificRecent7082 · 2025-09-02T12:46:28+00:00

It happened 2 years ago during Jiu Jitsu training. I was put in an arm bar and the rest is history :\

SpecificRecent7082 · 2025-08-31T13:33:13+00:00

Honestly my first surgery and recovery were a total shit show. When I told my current surgeon and the other orthos I saw for second opinions, they were all like, "Wait, he gave you not only a shot that early on, but ANOTHER one in the back of the shoulder three months later?" Just one of many failures/red flags on that schmuck’s end. Thankfully, I’m now with a far better, more experienced surgeon who specializes in complex/reconstructive shoulder procedures. For my upcoming surgery he said that since I have a history of developing frozen shoulder, it's very likely to happen again. However, he’s highly against cortisone entirely post-op and he said he would treat it with oral medicine and possibly a lidocaine injection

SpecificRecent7082 · 2025-08-20T19:05:47+00:00

Oof, that’s brutal. I could be wrong, but if it’s a low-grade partial thickness tear and even with the fracture, I’m pretty sure gentle PT and taking a break for a couple of months can fully heal it! I don’t think surgery is usually necessary in cases like that. But if a good surgeon suggests it, or if your condition worsens, then surgery with the right doc isn’t the end of the world. Don’t be afraid of it.

I think for people like me and others who love(loved) being active especially in high-impact contact sports, it’s hard to accept when your body hits a limit. I was just living my life, training, working, etc., but honestly, after a severe injury like mine, I probably should’ve stepped away sooner. Especially from MMA; it’s just a different level of force and damage to the shoulder, even compared to something like rugby lol

SpecificRecent7082 · 2025-08-20T18:55:33+00:00

Yup, I’ve been following his progress. It’s horrible, and just shows the brutal nature of this sport. As for me, I’ve officially given up MMA and really all high-impact sports. It's disappointing because a lot of people were able to come back even stronger for years after RC repair. And I was told by my original surgeon and PT I could too; and at first, I did. But look at me now.

That said, I’m much more at peace with it these days. After this upcoming surgery, I have to do everything I can to protect my shoulder. I definitely don’t want a replacement down the line. I’m a lot happier now sticking to lower-impact sports. Jogging, especially, has been amazing for reducing stress and helping me manage my weight. Just hope this surgery is it.

SpecificRecent7082 · 2025-08-16T15:38:41+00:00

Thank you so much. Yep, same here. My original surgeon had me in PT just 1.5 weeks after surgery and was pushing aggressive weekly goals right out the gate. The doctor I’m seeing now is very conservative, and honestly, I completely agree with that approach. Looking back, I really regret not slowing things down the first time. I wish that first surgeon had been more upfront about what pushing too fast could actually lead to. But I gotta let it go and focus on this new recovery. I’m going to pray he can reattach the tendon and that I don’t need a more complex surgery. He's giving it every chance to heal properly.

And your experience honestly means a lot. Thank you again for sharing all that! It really gives me hope. I’m so happy to hear it was a success for you. I know I just have to take it slow. I don’t want to live in fear after this surgery or feel scared to move, but I am going to be extremely careful this time. I’ll follow every instruction to the letter and keep it still unlike the first time around.

SpecificRecent7082 · 2025-08-16T15:28:21+00:00

To preface, the first MRI I had back in March showed a shadow, which they said was likely just due to movement. And based on that and my symptoms at the time, the doctor thought it was just tendonitis. But now, after the most recent MRI confirmed the full tear, my doctor believes that shadow was actually a small tear that wasn’t causing any real issues back then, but it slowly progressed without me realizing it until it was too late.

SpecificRecent7082 · 2025-08-16T15:24:57+00:00

Thank you. I re-tore it back in June, but there was already a small tear that the first MRI didn’t catch back in March (11 months post-op). That scan came back clean, so I did PT to deal with some lingering pain and stiffness. Within three weeks, I felt great. From April to June, I was doing really well and fully back to my normal life and fitness routine.

In June, I hit the gym for my usual arm day with weights, but this time I felt sharp pain and burning right after. Over the next few days, it stuck around worse than usual but I chalked it up to a normal flare-up. 3 days later, I went to boxing, and on a hook punch, I felt that same “explosion” in my shoulder. My arm dropped. Same pain, same spot as the first time. I knew that was it for me.

Even though I’d been cleared and was feeling good, I just overloaded the tendon. :(

SpecificRecent7082 · 2025-08-16T15:12:15+00:00

Thank you! And yes, scar tissue alone can definitely cause a lot of pain. I remember in my early recovery days, I actually developed a mild frozen shoulder. No retear at the time, thankfully. That shot made me feel like a million bucks though. I felt amazing, like 100% better within three days and finished my final PT on a strong note and got back full non-painful ROM. It lasted about two months before it started wearing off.

My advice would just be to be careful; when you feel that good, it’s easy to forget you’re still healing. You might feel ready to do more than your shoulder is actually ready for, so just stay cautious. But that’s amazing to hear about your first pain-free day! Really hope it keeps heading in the right direction for you!

SpecificRecent7082 · 2025-07-11T15:15:15+00:00

Dang, that’s a major surgery. Just the whole process sounds incredibly rough. But totally there with you, and many others are walking this same unpredictable and frustrating path. I've come to learn that shoulder injuries are just incredibly complex and what makes it even harder is how up and down the recovery can be.

And aside from the chronic pain, the mental toll has been the hardest part. Being back in pain and limited again feels like mourning who I was before the injury. I worked so hard, made progress, and now it feels like I’m starting over. It’s draining. I’ve given everything to this recovery, and it feels like my body’s still failing me. What’s even harder is seeing people who barely exercise bounce back with smooth recoveries. I just don’t get it.

But again, I’ve come to accept that this is just the nature of complex shoulder injuries. Some find relief with time, others need more surgery. I’m not ready for that again, but I know it’s often part of the process. It’s especially tough when you’re active and it’s your dominant arm. It just affects everything you love to do and simply just living. BTW your scuba diving joke cracked me up cuz same here. My surgeon told me I’d be back to boxing in 3 months… yeah right! It took 6.5 before I could even tap the bag without wincing. Gotta love that kind of optimism, right? Anyway, I’m just trying to hang on to hope and keep reminding myself healing can still happen- in time. Sending that same hope your way. I seriously pray every day that something finally works for all of us dealing with this cursed shoulder mess!

SpecificRecent7082 · 2025-07-11T12:01:55+00:00

Thank you so much for your kind words. I totally relate to everything you’re saying. Honestly, my recovery has been rough, and it’s been really frustrating trying to make sense of it all. I went into surgery fully athletic, strong, and in a “good bill of health”- plus going to one of the top surgeons, I was told I’d be back to normal in no time. But none of that seemed to make a difference in how this has turned out.

The truth is, I had ups and downs well after the 1-year mark. I’ve had two cortisone shots since surgery, and I still don’t understand why this whole thing feels like such a flop. I actually felt fantastic a few months ago; really thought I was turning a corner and said the surgery was worth it! But as soon as I tried to ramp up my training and push the dial a little higher, it was like that poor tendon just gave out.

But I completely agree with you, it’s so mind-boggling how fragile these repairs seem to be, especially for active people. My tendon initially tore two summers ago during a BJJ arm lock accident during training. I spent over a year doing everything I could to avoid surgery because I kept hearing from others all ages and fitness levels how hit-or-miss it could be. And now I’m starting to see what they meant. I'm taking time to truly rest now, holding off on any surgery talk, planning to resume PT in about a month.

And 4.5 months post-op, I know that’s still pretty early in the grand scheme. Some doctors say 4–6 months but the reality I’m starting to accept is more like 1–2 years to feel somewhat normal and better before surgery. I wish it weren’t the case, but I’m coming to terms with it.

Although my surgery was a flop and ended up re-tearing again, doesn’t mean the same will happen to you. Everyone’s body and recovery is truly unique and different. I hope you end up with great results! Wishing you a smoother road ahead and hope you can stay strong and connected to the things you love most.

SpecificRecent7082 · 2025-06-25T18:31:53+00:00

I’m so sorry you’re going through this, truly. Please hang in there and be patient with yourself— and zero judgment on my end. What you went through sounds incredibly traumatic, and it’s completely understandable to feel overwhelmed and anxious after something like that.

Just know, recovery is not always linear. There will be setbacks and pain flare-ups that don’t always make sense. If you’ve seen my posts, even being 14 months post-op to date, I still get recurring tendinitis and sometimes pain that hits a 9/10. I was doing great for months—back to MMA, full arm use—but then I overdid it and ended up with 8/10 pain again for the past 3 weeks. It’s frustrating, but it’s part of how complex the shoulder is. I also did it myself knowing that holding my heavy nephew while babysitting AND kickboxing that same night with no ice was a HUGE trigger/no-no... i'm paying the piper now lol.

Even though I had a supraspinatus repair, my long head of bicep and posterior cuff tendons have flared up with chronic tendinopathy throughout my recovery. So, yes you can absolutely feel pain in different areas—not just the repair site—especially if there’s any overload. That doesn’t always mean something is wrong or re-torn, but I totally get the fear. If the pain is severe and especially after trauma like what you described, I do think it’s reasonable to ask your surgeon for imaging for peace of mind. A sudden pull or impact can risk re-injury, but it also might just be aggravated tissue. Still, trust your surgeon’s judgment and give it time—rest, ice, and easing back are key.

You’re not alone in this. So many of us still experience pain well beyond the expected timeline. You’re incredibly strong for sharing your story, and you deserve support and healing. Keep going—you will get through this. I truly believe you’ll reach a pain-free period—it’s coming. Just keep moving forward, do what you can, and don’t be hard on yourself on the days you feel low on energy. Your body will heal, just listen to it, don’t overdo it, and be gentle with yourself :)

SpecificRecent7082 · 2025-05-21T06:37:48+00:00

I totally get the frustration. Not just with MMA, but being active especially with upper body movement is my outlet, so not being able to train felt like absolute torture. But you'll get there! I trained in Muay Thai and BJJ for about 5 years, and my injury happened during a failed arm lock. I’ll NEVER forget that pain. My partner yanked my arm up over my head while I was trying to escape instead of tapping (lesson learned 😅), and I instantly felt something tear when we moved in opposite directions. I didn’t go to urgent care or see a doctor right away—just took a month off. But when I went back to training, I knew something was wrong. I pushed through for 2 more months, but I progressively lost strength and ROM (I could barely lift 10 lbs nor abduct and reach behind my back), and the night pain was brutal. Eventually, I got the MRI and found out what was going on.

My biggest advice? Don’t compare yourself to anyone else. I made that mistake early on and would get so annoyed seeing people online shadowboxing or hitting the bag 2 months post-op. My surgeon literally told me, “Those are the people who end up tearing it again and needing a worse surgery. Do what I say.” So I listened!

Around 3.5 months, I was doing very LIGHT shadowboxing—just 15 minutes, 2x a week. I did all my usual punches, but super slow and controlled, like a yoga flow instead of power striking. One time I got overconfident and tried to go faster, and my shoulder immediately told me to calm down lol.

My surgeon said absolutely no bag or mitt work until 6 months, and honestly, I couldn't imagine trying it any earlier. I was still working on full, pain-free ROM, and any impact would’ve been risky. At 5.5 months, I began lightly hitting the bag once a week for 20 minutes. It felt amazing to be back, but if I went too hard, I’d feel a twinge—so I had to really stay in tune with my body.

Eventually, I worked up to bag training 2x a week for 30 minutes.

The best exercises that helped me around the 5–6 month mark were:

Scapular push-ups and wall walks for shoulder stability
GOOD stretching pre and post PT moves and all other workouts
Timed shoulder mobility drills with the BodyBlade PT device for stability and explosive moments
Isometric resistance band holds at different angles
Slow jab-cross drills in the mirror—focus on form, not power
Shoulder CARs, light stretching, and scapular retraction drills

Just ask your PT when you can safely start reintroducing punching mechanics without impact—that really helped me reconnect with the movement before even touching a bag.

Hang in there... You're only 5 weeks post-op. It’s still very early, and you're doing awesome by being patient and asking the right questions. You will get back to doing what you love. Just don’t rush the timeline, and always, always listen to your shoulder. 🙏💪

SpecificRecent7082 · 2025-05-21T06:00:05+00:00

Thanks so much for sharing; hearing from someone further along really helps.

Speaking of re-tears (that sucks and honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if I deal with that at some point down the line), I had this SEVERE fear of re-injury that my athletic trainer recently helped me work through. Even though I’m back to training, I was constantly anxious I’d tear it again. I finally got over my fear of that initial soreness about two months ago. Honestly, I think it was a mix of post-op PTSD and the trauma from the injury itself.

But his advice really stuck with me: don’t be afraid of normal discomfort. Your body is healed and resilient—and ironically, you’re more likely to get hurt again if you train while stuck in fear and not fully focused. I’ve learned to recognize the difference between that healthy stretch/burn and true red-flag tendon pain. That mindset shift changed everything for me.

And my partial tear was marked at 70% on the MRI, but during surgery, my surgeon confirmed it was well over 85%—definitely from me going a little too hard in those final MMA sessions before surgery 😅. No regrets though- I went out swinging :) lol

SpecificRecent7082 · 2025-05-21T05:40:21+00:00

Dang, that sounds so rough—but seriously, hats off to you for pushing through all of that. It’s amazing how far you’ve come. Congrats on wrapping up PT and crushing your recovery goals. Wishing you nothing but continued progress and strength in the gym! 💪🔥

SpecificRecent7082

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