Why don’t doctors listen.

get a second opinion. Get a third opinion. Find a new doctor. Find a orthopedic surgeon that specializes in shoulders and knees. My doctor is so good he didn’t even need an MRI he knew I had a rotator cuff tear. He did an x-ray to make sure it wasn’t something worse and told me I know what I’m doing and I know what it is. He went in it was a 95% tear, the surgery took longer than he thought because it was worse off than he thought. He put anchors in there and I healed in eight months. This doctor that you’re talking to doesn’t know what he’s talking about do not let him cut you open

Hi, Bert:

I was wondering if you could clarify. You say you brought your Primary Care Doctor the MRI or your Orthopedic specialist?

Also, the MRI shows a 75% tear of the Supraspinatus or .75 cm or what exactly does the 75 refer to?

Also when this doctor said your pain was due to the AC joint is he saying that it's merely arthritis?

I'm sorry I'm not acquainted with your case, did your pain come as the result of an trauma type injury or slow onset?

And if you really are unhappy, it wouldn't hurt to get another doctor's opinion.

Wishing you the best!

See another surgeon

agree with the other respondents - ditch this doc!! find the best shoulder surgeon available - this is not anything to mess around with

Hi, Bert:

I wanted to comment about 'magically heal'. I do believe that you will improve somewhat if you don't do anything, maybe less pain, improvement in range of motion. But to me that is not a solution if you have a large rotator cuff tear especially if there are also multiple tears involving other tendons.

At the very least, I'd think your doctor might have suggested therapy. If he told you to just forget it, you should be asking for referral to another specialist.

Let us all know what happens.

Best to you.

Oh-Oh, no-no, I believe your doctor is incorrect. Is this doctor an orthopedic surgeon? If not, find one. Supraspinatus tear 75% or greater will not heal on its own. Good luck!

Have you had a PT/Physio check you out for this one? Sometimes you can have imaging that will show one thing and completely not be relevant.

i need to apologize about my rant, just the fear of never getting better or going back to work scares me. my dr is a ortho, he gave me another nasid, and am in physical therapy. my pain is not improving. i see the dr in a few weeks. dr is right to try this first. hope this gets it better, but will see.

Hi Bert7700,

I am reaching out to respectfully encourage you to research TOP shoulder surgeons in your region as every ortho is not the same. MRIs with arthrograms are the gold standard to dx shoulder issues and help provide crucial details that guide treatment decisions. Insurance companies in the USA do dictate certain pathways prior to surgery (PT, steroid injections, etc), but a 75% tear is not likely to permanently heal without surgery and you will need a WELL respected, proven and skilled surgeon to perform the repair. Even with the best - this is a tricky surgery and they will not know the full extent until they get in there. I am very grateful to have a top ranked surgeon as I have now had 3 rotator cuff surgeries...my body's fault - not his. I learned the hard way on a knee surgery gone wrong the importance of researching the surgeon and NOT simply trusting their posted credentials. I would suggest asking the PTs and other shoulder patients at the office you are attending who they either used or have seen consistent good results from. PTs are goldmines when it comes to seeing te good, bad and ugly. Glad you are in PT...that is at least one step closer to results).

Wishing you all the best!

Don't stay home. Find a good physical therapist. Often, they know more than the doctors do about what's going on with your body.