Rotator Cuff Tear - Now What ?!

[Southern Star]

Macbeth, I had a partial rotator cuff tear several years ago. It was, as you are aware, extremely painful - I couldn't even swim without significant pain. I chose not to have surgery, started on some physio therapy and avoided strenuous use of my right arm. In terms of starting your outboard, use your left arm. The same for sheets and halyards - reverse your usual procedure. Yes, it is awkward, but not impossible. In time it will heal sufficiently that you will be able to revert to right-handedness.

Good luck!

Brad

[mikefp60]

I feel for ya brother. I had a complete tear. Did it pulling dock line in a gale. Very painful even before the surgery. The recovery is an absolute bear. Months of extremely painful physical therapy. I had the surgery in august and am about 70% good. Redoing some systems on my boat to compensate. Got a right angle elect drill for winches for example. Still cant coils line very well. Anything that needs two hands overhead is a bear. Reefing for example. It’s a tough one. They tell me by one year I will be 100%. Can’t wait for that. Trying not to let it slow me down. Just sailed from Grenada to St Thomas. With a lot of help from my crew.

But get it fixed. All your doing now is getting weaker. Mine was screwed up for 2 months before I went to the doc. If it’s a full tear they do not get better on their own.

Good luck with it. I feel your pain.

Mike
S/V Vivo

[delmarrey]

Here ya go......... Try these guys.

Guinea Pigs Row Tiny Boat - Easier Way to Save - GEICO commercial - YouTube

[Noname]

I've torn mine 3 times over the years and never had surgery, but the best help is intensive physical therapy. The full recovery time of 1 to 1 1/2 years is about right. Try the therapist first.

[capn_billl]

I'm not a big fan of surgery, but I've recently had knee surgery to repair a tear, and a coworker got his shoulder repaired.

A local doctor has gotten quite skilled in joint repairs. Both of us were pain free in a week, and full function in 2 months. PM me if you want to come to Texas to do it.

The only scar I have is a small 1/4 dia cut.

I've lived with the pain several years before biting the bullet and getting it done. Do it now, and by next summer you will have forgotten it ever happened.

[Noname]

Macbeth has enough input from us "docktors" to make an informed decision by now. Maybe there is a forum for medical problems somewhere in cyberspace where we can find more opinions.

[zeehag]

maybe some medical ersonae are actually inputtin ginto this thread--wouldnt that be a novel idea.....
arthroscopic surgery is faster rcovery time than open surgery and should do you well. have fun and good luck. do not skimp on the physical therapy.
taking anti-inflammatory drugs is similar to shooting up horse at race tack with butazolidine and making it race to destroy more tissue---stops much of the inflammatory discomfort and does nothing to heal as long as you do not slow down the activity that caused the tear in first place.

[Noname]

Take 2 prozac and check out this website in the morning:
Rotator Cuff Tears: Surgical Treatment Options - Your Orthopaedic Connection - AAOS

[Blue Stocking]

Just got home from my Physio for the same problem. Only thing I would add is, don't ask a surgeon if surgery is required.

[S/V Antares]

Great funny stuff but the problem remains. By fitting a small pully on the hood you can have an elongated pull cord. Add a leaver anout 2 ft long and you can step on the leaver to start the motor. The lever must be long enough to give about 12-20 inches of pull. So.. start with a 1x2" x 24" long board with a groove in the aft end end that you can insert the pull handle and a hinge (metal or nylon strap) at the forward end.

Pull the pull cord out enough to attach to the leaver then step on it to start the engine. I will gin up a drawing.

[Blue Stocking]

Will is right--were not solving your problem.
Get the motor serviced and tuned correctly
I now start my 2.5 with my left arm no problem.

[S/V Antares]

Pehaps something like this:

[Noname]

Anyone ever used a drill to start a small outboard?

[Noname]

I apologize for being confused about which problem needed remediation. The rotator cuff or the outboard. Since you need a solution before next summer you should be able to tune up both the outboard and the shoulder by then. All of us who have experienced the rotator cuff tear "feel your pain" I'm sure. Lots of us have chewed out our outboards as well. Good luck with both.

[Blue Stocking]

Originally Posted by Seaduction

I apologize for being confused about which problem needed remediation. The rotator cuff or the outboard. Since you need a solution before next summer you should be able to tune up both the outboard and the shoulder by then. All of us who have experienced the rotator cuff tear "feel your pain" I'm sure. Lots of us have chewed out our outboards as well. Good luck with both.

The dog bowel function begat the trip ashore begat the balky outboard begat (possibly) the torn rotator cuff.

BUT, there is nothing like the love of a dog, right, Macbeth.