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Should I go for surgery or just live with it?
I had an MRI which shows I have a rotar cuff injury to a torn tendon in my right arm. I am right handed. I have been living with this since the end of Feb. and am going for physical therapy. I have about 50 - 60 per cent of the use of my right arm. My surgeon said if I don't have surgery, my shoulder and arm will never work the same again. I don't really want surgery. I will have to go through all the stuff I did up to now after surgery. I live alone. It was hard to comb my hair, get dressed, etc. by myself and have already gone through that and can now do it alone, o.k. There are some things I still can't do. I have pain but refuse narcotics. I don't want to get addicted. Should I go without surgery or not? I have until September to decide. Thanks. If it helps, I am a 55 year old woman. I am fairly strong, too.
7 Answers
- 1 decade agoFavorite Answer
If you don't have surgery, you'll have poor use of your dominant arm forever. If you have the surgery, you'll be limited for a short while while you recover and go through PT, but you'll get back most or all of your function. You've got a long time to live with your outcome. Do you want to keep yourself disabled intentionally for the next 20-30 years? Or do you want a more active life. You can get some home health to help during your recovery if needed. You can get a second surgical opinion if you like, to feel better with your choice.
Source(s): I'm a physical therapist. - Hummingbird HILv 51 decade ago
Tendons don't repair themselves, and with a torn tendon, you may lose more of your function and range of motion. It is a personal decision, so please get as many FACTS as you can, not just the opinions of us "think-we-know-it-alls" on YA. Talk earnestly to you doctor about the pros and cons. With out the surgery, you may have to commit to doing your PT exercises daily to maintain what you have recovered. With the surgery you are reasonably looking at at least a year for a full recovery, maybe longer. Tendons take what seems to be forever to heal, and even with the surgery, you may still experience problems. Again, have a good talk with your doctor. Also, talk to you Physical Therapist. You need information to make this decision, and they would be a good resource.
I had a left foot tendon repair in 2007. Still bothers me from time to time, but because it was my foot, I felt the surgery needed to be done.
- 1 decade ago
If you were my mom or my sister, I would recommend having the surgery. I understand you already went through the PT but going through it again one more time, may be worth it. Did your Doctor say that it will be back to normal after the surgery? If so, its definetely worth it, if not, then it is something you really need to decide. Good luck and I hope you get better real soon.
- 1 decade ago
I would do as my Dr says and have the surgery! You will have less pain after it is over,as opposed to having constant pain in the future.As far the narcotics,they would be regulated in the hosp and I don't think you would have a problem with getting addicted. Good luck
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- VitalaniLv 41 decade ago
I would get the surgery.
It may get even harder for you to maneuver as you get older.
The surgery would probably be worth it but in the end it's up to you.
