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Neurology (Expert Forum)
rotator cuff tear or not
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rotator cuff tear or not
by christineh, Jan 08, 2006 12:00AM
I was injured at work. employer had me pic own doc. this doc said herniated discs at c4-5 and c6-7. had 2 level ACDF with plates and screws. also saw DDD at c5-6. still having neck/shoulder/arm pains and some headaches starting from base of scull going to temples. will i live with this forever? also, first doc diagnosed small tear in rotator cuff. IC(insurance company) docs wanted to put this off till surgery for herniated discs. now, after surgery, IC sent me to their choice of doc and he said rotator cuff tendonitis. prescribed 3 wks of PT. therpists noted no improvement after 3 weeks and doc released me without furthur treatment. from time shoulder started to hurt till now, it is "hanging". most movements hurt/burn. I requested another doc from IC. this was an IME and he said it's arthritis. will arthritis cause your shoulder to hang and constantly be in pain? can diagnosis go from small tear in rotator cuff, to rotator cuff tendonitis to arthritis? I have no health insurance of my own. I don't feel like this is good. any answers would be helpful.
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-Neuro-M.D.-PW, Jan 14, 2006 12:00AM
I cannot give you a clinical diagnosis over the internet unfortunately
I would need to see the MRI scans and have more details also, such as what kind of truama and how long ago.
Surgery for herniated discs is mainly done to prevent neurological disability and does not garauntee relief of pain - there may be alot of muscle spasm after surgery also. If persisent of worsneing neurological symptoms develop like loss of use of the arm, spasticity in the legs or difficultyt urinating this needs another evaluation, such as for a retained disc fragment.
Rototor cufftears are a clinical diagnosis, although MRI of the shoulder can also find them. They are usually treated conservatively, so surgery is not necessarily done.
A hanging shoulder after surgery can be due to a nerve injury to the muscle that holds the shoulder up. A neurologist should evaluate this as if a nerve injury is present it may be repaired if diagnosed within a few months.
Good luck
I would need to see the MRI scans and have more details also, such as what kind of truama and how long ago.
Surgery for herniated discs is mainly done to prevent neurological disability and does not garauntee relief of pain - there may be alot of muscle spasm after surgery also. If persisent of worsneing neurological symptoms develop like loss of use of the arm, spasticity in the legs or difficultyt urinating this needs another evaluation, such as for a retained disc fragment.
Rototor cufftears are a clinical diagnosis, although MRI of the shoulder can also find them. They are usually treated conservatively, so surgery is not necessarily done.
A hanging shoulder after surgery can be due to a nerve injury to the muscle that holds the shoulder up. A neurologist should evaluate this as if a nerve injury is present it may be repaired if diagnosed within a few months.
Good luck
getting my "funny bone" bumped.
I get rotator cuff tendonitis (and tendonitis in other areas too) because of thyroid disease. I really don't know why it causes tendonitis but treatment has helped some. I'm not suggesting that you have thyroid disease...just relating.
Kelly