I am 80 years old and dance four to six times a week. I was diagnosed with a tear in my right shoulder. Surgery was recommended. I have full motion and no serious pain. Surgery is recommended while I am well. But I enjoy my active dancing life now and am worried that surgery Interrupting it at my age could end it.
This is a really tricky decision so take your time and don't be bustled into doing anything you're not confident about.
Going against the trend of the other answers, I'd seriously consider surgery, but learn more about the tear and the extent.
If you were D'X'ed with a tear, I assume you had some pain or other issues. for which you saw a doctor. Or was this D'X'ed as part of an overall wellness exam, or for some other reason and was just discovered as a part of that exam?
I had a rotator cuff tear in late 2010, saw a hand and arm specialist, had PT, but not surgery as there was just too much happening in the family for me at that time and I couldn't devote the required time for stay at home healing (an out of town relative was dying and we were traveling back and forth for several months, then other issues arose with my father's health.)
As I type this, the tear has flared up again and once again I wish I had had surgery then. My upper left shoulder is throbbing and tense. Over time my arm has grown weaker, but that might be remedied with another round of therapy.
The PT was top notch back in 2010, improvements were made, but the tear did not completely heal.
Recovery after rotator cuff surgery is not easy; bear that in mind, but consider also whether you want to live for the rest of your life with whatever limitations existed to prompt you to get a diagnosis.
The only good thing about not getting a tear fixed is that your arm will become a weather prediction device. You'll be able to tell when pressure changes, when storms are coming.
I have just had a hip replacement at 78 and even with significant heart problems did very well. Recovery of course takes longer as you age but that happens to everyone.
Personally if it is not hurting and you still have satisfactory motion I would wait and see but try not to stress it. Go about your normal activities but don't strain it by moving heavy furniture or moving heavy rocks in your yard. Common sense should prevail here.
Basically the surgery may or may not help you and it is a fairly debilitating operation which will involve months of recovery, lots of PT and may possibly make your condition worse.
At 80 you are having a good life so try ad keep it that way not matter what your decision. Good luck keep on dancing.
PS I had my hip replaced from a fracture not from choice.
and neither one of them will operate.
They both said as long as I am not in major pain and I can
still use my arm surgery is not recommended .
Had a cortisone shot and it seems to have help somewhat.
If you can avoid surgery then avoid it .
Keep on dancing. Perhaps a couple of tylenol once in awhile will be best.
No, don't have the surgery - younger people don't recover well from that. Instead, ask for Physical Therapy.
I didn't even know I had that problem and I healed it myself with exercise. I was using Walk Away The Pounds at the time and needed my "good" arm to help lift my bad arm.
Recovery from that particular surgery is very hard and not always successful.
Just my opinion of course - but I tell everyone to try Physical Therapy first.
Good Luck and keep on dancing! God Bless you!
My 89 year old mother broke her humerous last year--the bone was completely snapped in half with the ball of the joint pointing upward and back at her shoulder. Doctors (and research of medical articles) said that surgery wouldn't make much difference in the final result because of resulting scar tissue, and that anesthesia is tricky in older people because they are more prone to unusual and dangerous reactions to anesthesia including death.
She didn't have surgery. The bone remains broken in half and pointing up and back but she has about the range of motion that she would have had if she'd had surgery because there would have been scar tissue. She'll always have some pain but also would have had pain if she'd had the surgery. However, that's a different injury than yours.
I'd get at least three opinions from excellent surgeons in larger metropolitan areas, not just the local surgeon. I'd also do a lot of internet research myself, making sure to read only the best sites and experts, and then make up my mind.
Take care!
You will likely have physical therapy after surgery, so ask your doctor for PT now and see how it goes. There are a lot of nerves in that area and I had a shoulder replacement that went bad...now the doctors won't touch me because they don't know how bad the nerves were damaged. I don't mean to scare you, I just say the least amount of surgery the better....if you have an active life now, keep dancing, just don't push it. I can hear the music now!!
If possible, if I was in your situation, I'd want to see a physiatrist. A physiatrist is a doctor who is an expert in physical medicine and rehabilitation. This is a specialty that arose out of the Korean War, because injured soldiers were surviving their injuries and now had to live with them. A physiatrist is who supervises physical and occupational therapists. Physiatrists are not surgeons--they don't cut. They favor a medical approach to the management of injuries. If the physiatrist thinks that it's worthwhile to see a surgeon, he or she will refer you to one. Physiatrists work closely with orthopedic surgeons, so they are really familiar with their work and know who would give you the best shot at success. They're also very good at helping you evaluate your treatment options so that you can make decisions that are right for you.
How do I know this? I had a really good physiatrist. He eventually did send me to a surgeon for a consultation, from a surgeon he trusted that wasn't a 'cutter' (that is, a cut happy surgeon). The surgeon thoroughly evaluated me and we decided that the surgery was just too risky--that I would be better off following a more conservative approach. When my mother had surgery at that hospital, he gave me his opinion about my mother's surgeon ("If I was in your mother's situation, that's the guy I would want operating on me.") and told me which anesthesiologist to request (the surgeon was happy do do that--the surgeon personally liked that doc).
The good thing is the tear is not causing pain. If the tear is small, then it could heal on its own - but it can take quite a while depending on other factors with the most important being your overall health. You're still dancing at 80 years old?? AWESOME for you! This reads you have some good circulation going on in the body. The priority right now is to limit your shoulder's mobility to give the tear time to heal. Consider purchasing a shoulder sling - today.
Also, consider purchasing a TENS unit. The TENS can calm inflammation surrounding the injured nerves and muscles to usher in blood flow which is absolutely required for any type of injury to heal. You can buy a good one of off Amazon.
Also ask your primary care doctor for a referral to a physical therapist who can suggest muscle rehab exercises to reduce scar tissue build up from the healed injury and also to slowly increase mobility without being too traumatic on the actual tear and its surrounding muscle groups.
The first doctor (orthopedist) would not do surgery and told her NO doctor would operate on her at her age. She went elsewhere and had the surgery, including the at home PT after. She is now (since January) in MC, but just turned 94. She never had any additional issues with the shoulder.
In your case, if you are NOT in pain, get the other opinions and recommendations. Certainly one should try non-invasive methods if possible, so if one doctor can recommend PT, to strengthen and aid in the body's self repair, go that route. If the tear is bad enough, PT might not cut it and you will end up needing surgery even later in life. Even if it does not cause pain, you should avoid anything that might aggravate it and make it worse. Give it time to heal!
Surgery of any kind has its risks and rewards. If rest and rehab can help "cure" this, go for that. If it does not help, then you will need to consider surgical repair.
However, if someone is in continuous severe pain, then surgery would probably be worth it even if things do not go perfectly, because living with severe long term pain also causes issues.
Sorry you have a major decision to make. I recommend you get a second opinion from another specialist. Then go to your regular 'family' doctor, tell him what specialist say, and your concerns, then ask their opinion on shoulder, shoulder rehabilitation, and on your risk of problems from anesthesia.
I also believe in praying for divine discernment and absolute clarity, especially when making major decisions.
2) Consider the effects of anasethesia especially with age.
3) Get PT first + possibly cortisone shot(s) - then make decision on surgery.
I Went through all of above because surgeon was a specialist and took conservative routes first. I did require surgery at age 64 but had an easy recovery with perfect results and I'm not active at all - wish I had had dance lessons younger. I had rotator cuff + bicep tendon surgery (about 5 different things were done).
It was important to do the exercises, starting day after surgery. As a dancer, you probably have the discipline to do them religiously. My exercises were 2 and 3 times a day and would be considered gentle if not for the surgery. But all the mobility + range of motion are there now. Had PT for few months after surgery - again be religious about exercises.
IF you have the surgery, get the nerve block which will last for many hours to head off the pain. I got some button front cotton tops + dresses in dark colors to wear. Lived in those for 3 weeks I think. (Underwear is pain to deal with for first few days so have something dark to wear + skip it.) Best of luck with decision.
94 then. She had OT three times a week ( provided by Medicare) and enjoyed the use of her right arm with little to no problems. The OT was very good for her overall.
Generally speaking if you go to a surgeon he will want to do surgery. That's his trade. Our dr didn't recommend it for either parent. He didn't recommend the therapy either though. I requested that through her primary.
I've read that the best outcome for patients having surgery is to do therapy before and after. If you do it before you may decide not to have it.
The muscles in your arm will help compensate and protect the tear.
Try to get therapy ongoing and dance away.
I had an uncle in law whose two sisters in their 90s dance every week. He died at 95 but didn't dance :(. They look and feel great.