Rotator cuff/Shoulder impingement Recovery time

[PrestigeDave45]

Hello
Just wondering what is a reasonable estimate on recovery time for a rotator cuff/shoulder impingement type of injury?
Also is there a good programme for recovery anywhere?
Just packed my rackets away today. Cant do it anymore and bear the pain.
A real bummer for me as the tournament season really gets in swing for me about now.
Any help on this issue appreciated.
To date Ive had physio on the shoulder and a diagnosis of subloxation. The physio had told me I could continue to play however im thinking that was a bad judgement call on her part at the moment.
My hitting partners tell me to pack it in for 3 months and hit the gym to retain fitness and form refraining from doing any shoulder strengthening exercises untill the pain abates.
Im also going to get an MRI scan done.
Thoughts folks?

 

[NE1for10is?]

I had that once and it's not fun. What worked for me was going to a physical therapist and getting some counterbalancing exercises for the shoulders. The problem with tennis is that is over-uses the front shoulder muscles and pulls the shoulders forward impinging on a nerve in a small space in the bone structure of the shoulder, so you need to do muscles to strengthen the back and back of the shoulders to compensate and pull the shoulders back to get the pressure off that nerve. It takes a while, but you should make a full recovery if you are diligent with the exercises.

 

[PrestigeDave45]

What was the time scale involved?

 

[Ramon]

A few years ago, I had some kind of a muscle tear on my rotator cuff. It came from hitting a hard twist serve before I was sufficiently warmed up. I totally quit playing for about 2 months, then I slowly went back hitting only light serves for about a month. The good news is my serve and shoulder flexibility actually got better than before injury! I guess the tear actually got rid of whatever was causing the stiffness in my shoulder.

During recuperation, I strongly recommend a series of exercises called the Thrower's Ten. You can do a search on it. It's basically a series of isolated leverage moves to exercise your rotator cuff. Unfortunately, you'll probably have to live through a little bit of embarrassment at the gym working out with very light weights while you recuperate.

 

[harry47]

You need the MRI results and diagnosis from a surgeon. If it's a RC tear, only surgery can fix it. Continued tennis or gym work could result in a massive tear. Recovery is 4 - 5 months with lots of PT. Hope it all works out for you.

 

[PrestigeDave45]

Ramon. Thanks I looked up that. Very helpful.

 

[NE1for10is?]

An impingement is very different than a rotator cuff tear. You should definitely get a diagnosis from a physician before you start thinking about what to do about it.

 

[scotus]

I had a rotator cuff problem. The MRI did not show any tear, and although the radiologist suggested an impingement, the orthopod didn't think much of it. The latter referred me to his colleague who specializes in chronic conditions and had me do physical therapy.

Took about 6 months.

 

[daniel42]

http://www.shoulderhorn.com/

 

[dunya]

I had a rotator cuff problem. The MRI did not show any tear, and although the radiologist suggested an impingement, the orthopod didn't think much of it. The latter referred me to his colleague who specializes in chronic conditions and had me do physical therapy.

Took about 6 months.

How long did you have Impingement before getting therapy?