A Trip for Ice Cream Turned Into Shoulder Surgery: My Rotator Cuff Story

It started out as a simple bike ride to get some ice cream. My daughter, Penelope, and I wanted to ride our bikes to our local scoop shop to grab a cone. We grabbed our helmets, hopped on our bikes and barely started down our street when it happened: I wrecked my bicycle. And-oh man-did I wreck! Long story short, I had to go to the ER because I couldn't move my left shoulder at all. Thankfully, nothing was broken.

I needed an orthopedic follow-up appointment, so I went to see Dr. Namdar Kazemi, an orthopedic surgeon with The Christ Hospital Physicians - Joint & Spine who specializes in shoulder and elbow surgery. He sent me to get an MRI and, unfortunately, I have an acute rotator cuff tear and need surgery. As I began learning more about my injury, I discovered that rotator cuff tears are incredibly common and, in many cases, highly treatable. That's why I reached out to Dr. Kazemi to help answer some of the questions many patients may have.

Just How Common Are Rotator Cuff Injuries?

When I asked Dr. Kazemi how common rotator cuff injuries really are, his answer surprised me. He said, "They are very common. There are about 9.6 million visits to the primary care for general shoulder pain. And about 4.5 million of that-so roughly half-is for rotator cuff disease."

He added that shoulder pain is the third most common musculoskeletal complaint seen by primary care physicians, behind lower back pain and a tie between neck and knee pain.

Those numbers were eye-opening to me. Before my injury, I had never given much thought to rotator cuff tears, but clearly, they affect millions of people every year.

What Causes a Rotator Cuff Tear?

My rotator cuff injury happened as the result of a bike accident, but traumatic accidents aren't the most common cause of rotator cuff tears. "The majority of patients presenting with rotator cuff disease have degenerative tears," Dr. Kazemi explained. "But some people, like yourself, can have acute rotator cuff tears after traumatic events."

These injuries are often caused by falls, motorcycle accidents, bicycle accidents, motor vehicle crashes or other high-energy trauma.

According to Dr. Kazemi, some warning signs that should prompt a visit to an orthopedic specialist include:

• Significant swelling
• Bruising around the shoulder
• Inability to lift the arm
• Persistent pain following an injury

"After any acute injury, if you have symptoms, you should see someone for an evaluation," he said.

Do All Rotator Cuff Tears Require Surgery?

With my type of tear, Dr. Kazemi recommended surgery, but that isn't always the case.

"The majority of rotator cuff tears are treated without surgery," Dr. Kazemi said. "A lot of times they get better with physical therapy. Sometimes we do some form of anti-inflammatory medication. Sometimes in a form of a pill or sometimes we consider injections."

Dr. Kazemi cautions against relying too heavily on injections. "Generally, we do not recommend more than two or three in one area," he explained. "Injections increase chance of infection after surgery, and they also increase the chance of retear if the patient ultimately ends up getting the rotator repair."

What Recovery Looks Like

When it comes to recovery, Dr. Kazemi said, "Usually, patients are in a sling for six weeks. At three months is generally when they turn the corner. By five or six months, patients can return to high-demand activities, such as playing tennis or lifting heavy objects. Full recovery takes one year."

I am not looking forward to wearing a sling for six weeks, but I am looking forward to living without the shoulder pain. I am also looking forward to having the full use of both of my arms again so I can do simple things like fix my hair. LOL. It's been a lot of ponytails lately!