Anyone on here deal with a rotator cuff injury? No range of motion issues, there are just certain things where my shoulder doesnt feel right And doesnt quite do what I want it to do. Getting ready to to see the doc and my AME just wondering if anyone has been down this road before? I know I know treefiddy, union sucks, robby rangers, retired vets...

Make mine a double.

Had the repair a few years ago, down for about 6 months.  Mine was workers comp and the Doc wanted to fully see what I was going to be capable of before releasing me back to full duty.  Rehab needs to start right away, mine at day 3 post op, wasn't much initially but starting early helped in the long run.  Co-worker had it done and his doc didn't start rehab until a few weeks post op and he paid for it, rehab harder and took longer.

I had the drywall anchor repair, google Arthrex SpeedBridge.  The repaired is better then the other side.

Thanks for the info. Every once in a while this forum surprises me with a real answer. Did you have a sudden injury of one of those sneaky ones where you just start to notice itd not right anymore?

Sudden injury.  I also tore 3 muscles, supra, infra and long head of the bicep.  Complete tears with retraction so injections would have been meaningless, unless they tried superglue.  Agree with the poster below, there would've been no way to fly.  

Thats kinda where I'm at. still working out, just a bit lighter. Hoping for some PT/injections to help with the discomfort. Arm is still functional just not what it should be. 

 I tore my right supraspinatus, infrspinatus, and teres minor all in one injury. The pain was pretty bad but then calmed down. I had limited movement and couldn't muscle around a 500 anymore. An MRI showed 3 tears. The supraspinatus was completely torn and retracted the others mostly torn but attached.

 Surgery was about 2 hours, home by Noon.  minimal drugs and an arm sling 24 hours for 5 weeks. Therapy started 3 days in, simple stuff and supported 50% range of motion. By 3 weeks I could do  most light stuff supported by the sling and no lifting anything.

 By 5 weeks I was back flying with no lifting more then 5 pounds and no over head  arm movements.

 Although the early PT 4 days a week hurt like a bi****ch it's for the better. I also had the 'drywall ancor/ speed bridge hardward which would probably hold fine right away. If this private injury get the ball rolling for short term disability right way. Got about half my salary from insurance and my boss made up the difference to base rate. I'm thankful fot that .

 Next medical my AME did a couple range of motion exams and issued a 2 nd class medical

Unless it affects your ability to safely do the job now, hold off on involving the AME.

Get it diagnosed, surgery if needed. "Self-ground" with short-term disability until you're released for work by PT/ortho.

Return to work and report it with documentation from your ortho at your next FAA medical exam.

That is the procedure. For your peace of mind, the FAA is primarily interested in conditions that potentially result in immediate incapacitation. Joint repair isn't one of those. Your AME will just watch your range of motion, ask if you're having any problems, and issue your certificate. Call AOPA's medical section if you need assurance.

(Just in case you need to hear it, Army rules aren't FAA rules)

Anyone on here deal with a rotator cuff injury? No range of motion issues, there are just certain things where my shoulder doesnt feel right And doesnt quite do what I want it to do. Getting ready to to see the doc and my AME just wondering if anyone has been down this road before? I know I know treefiddy, union sucks, robby rangers, retired vets...

I had surgery 9 months ago, in the doc's in-office surgical theater- no hospital. I had retired, so no AME or Ok City issues at all.

I have "bullet hole" scars on the shoulder top, front, side and back where the surgical repair and 'clean up' of the rotator cuff happened. A couple hours post-op recovery and then went home.

No really good pain meds- probably a good thing because I'm right handed and wanted to use that side within a week. Whatever the Rx was, it made me sleepy and didn't touch the discomfort. Months later, the shoulder hurts less and less, a chronic discomfort, slowly improving such that I was unaware of it.

The sling is required for weeks, as posted elsewhere in the thread. You will appreciate the sling for a couple weeks! Putting a load on the arm got my attention pretty quick, there's no way I could have flown or even do a good preflight for 3, 4 months. I couldn't even do "12-oz curls" for a while.

Physical therapy was a joke. Therapist demonstrated the exercises, gave me some info and that single visit was it- I did the therapy at home.

I had two torn rotator cuffs and rotator cuff tendinosis

I did PRP (platelet rich plasma) on both, about 3 or 4 times each. Completely healed and never had another problem. Torn labrum, etc.

Regenexx is one of the best in the industry at that.

You may be a candidate for either PRP or Stem cells depending upon the severity of the issue.

Also do not recommend having a cortisone shot if there is any tear. Cortisone winds up causing more issues than help quite often.

PRP and Stem cells are probably the safest (but not the cheapest)

Platelet-rich plasma for rotator cuff tendinopathy: A systematic review and meta-analysis - PMC (nih.gov) - This is if you have tendinosis 

Nonsurgical Rotator Cuff Treatment with Platelet-Rich Plasma: Salt Lake Regional | A Steward Family Hospital | Salt Lake City UT - For smaller rotator cuff tears

Treatment For Torn Rotator Cuff Without Surgery | Regenexx - Rotator cuff PRP - Little to no downtime -