An important study in Clinical Orthopaedics & Related Research [468(10):2678-89], reports that over time the function of the shoulder deteriorates in a significant number of patients who underwent rotator cuff repair, despite continued pain relief in many of the same patients.
The conclusions published in the abstract are found in the next paragraph:
“The early high functional scores after primary rotator cuff repair or reconstruction of the types we performed in the 1980s did not persist. The function achieved postoperatively was lost, as ROM and strength decreased to less than preoperative values. However, alleviation of pain was long-standing in most patients. Based on our data, we should warn patients to expect less
than permanent relief with those repairs. We cannot say whether the same will apply to currently performed types of repairs.”
I treated a 60 year old man with a diagnosis of rotator cuff tear. Because of severe shoulder pain and restriction of movement in his shoulder, he was unable to brush his teeth, hold utensils to eat, or comb his hair. He was scheduled for surgery to repair his rotator cuff. He was found on examination to have six muscles in his shoulder girdle that were causing his pain.
These muscles were injected over the course of 3 weeks and following each injection a physical therapy protocol was used that restored his range of motion. His pain was eliminated. His surgery was cancelled. He remained pain free for the two years that he was followed.
In view of the findings reported in the paper and my results with this patient and others diagnosed with shoulder pain from rotator cuff tear or impingement syndrome, it is important to evaluate muscles as a source of pain prior to performing surgical repair.
~ Norman Marcus, MDNorman Marcus Pain Institute, New York NY “Your New York City Pain Relief Doctor”
Tagged with: pain free • shoulder pain
Filed under: muscle pain posts • pain management
Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!
