I may have frozen shoulder

[Tommy Gunn]

I had a labrum surgery on April 1. I had been going through PT but my shoulder continued to remain stiff and painful if I tried to use the arm to do things. In addition to that, my range of motion sucks.

Here are my range of motion measurements that were taken by my PT:

Supine-flexion 155 degrees should be 180 degrees
Abduction 125 degrees should be 150 degrees
External rotation 75 degrees should be 90 degrees
Internal rotation 40 degrees should be between 70 degrees and 90 degrees
Extension 35 degrees should be between 45 degrees and 60 degrees

My doc gave me a post op MRI which showed that my labrum was healing nicely. So I know it isn't because my labrum is re-torn. He says I may have adhesive capsulitis (also known as frozen shoulder).

2 questions fellas:

1) Based on my range of motion measurements taken by my PT, do you fellas think I may have frozen shoulder? Are my measurements that bad?

2) Also, if I do a belly press (seen here: http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/med/re...attach/f05.jpg ), I feel pain on the outside of my arm. Would having frozen shoulder cause pain when doing the belly press?

Thanks in advance guys.

[Tommy Gunn]

I went to the orthopaedic doctor. He diagnosed me as having partial adhesive capsulitis due to having 2 labrum surgeries in the last 6 months. In a couple weeks he will be doing an arthroscopic capsular release on me. And than I will be doing an intensive stretching program with my physical therapist and at home. Once I have full ROM I will than start rotator cuff strengthening.

Anyone ever have an arthroscopic capsular release?

Here are my range of motion measurements again that were taken by my PT:

Supine-flexion 155 degrees should be 180 degrees
Abduction 125 degrees should be 150 degrees
External rotation 75 degrees should be 90 degrees
Internal rotation 40 degrees should be between 70 degrees and 90 degrees
Extension 35 degrees should be between 45 degrees and 60 degrees

[Tommy Gunn]

I had surgery on August 5, 2008. My doc suspected before surgery that I had frozen shoulder and a partial supraspinatus tear. He decided that this surgery he would do nothing about the partial supraspinatus tear but would only clean out the adhesions in the shoulder by doing an anterior capsular release. He said once I get my full range of motion back if I still had pain he would do the supraspinatus repair in a few months.

Here is a cliff notes version of my surgery report:

Postoperative diagnosis: Arthrofibrosis right shoulder.

Operation: Right shoulder arthroscopy, lysis of adhesions, anterior capsular release, manipulation under anesthesia.

Procedure: I'll just get to the meat and potatoes of the report:

...The posterior portal was created and the arthroscope was inserted into the glenohumeral joint... Anterior, inferior, and posterior labrum were intact. He is status post repair of a posterior labral tear and this was intact. The subscapularis tendon was intact. The supraspinatus was evaluated and there was a partial thickness tear of the supraspinatus tendon off the medial aspect of the footprint...This was left as-is. The anterior portal was created under direct visualization and a lysis of adhesions was performed using a 3.5 full radius shaver. An anterior capsular release was then performed sparring the subscapularis tendon with a Vulcan chisel. A good anterior capsular release was obtained...The arthroscope was then placed in the subacromial space and the anterolateral portal was created under direct visulaization. A bursectomy was performed. This was done with the OR Tech electrothermal device. There was no anterior acromial spur. The rotator cuff was evaluated from its bursal side and found to be intact...The arthoscope was than removed. The shoulder was than manipulated...

So what do you fellas think? Can anyone explain to me the part I underlined? What kind of partial rotator cuff tear is that?

Anyone who knows my past problems with this shoulder knows I've been to hell and back with this injury.

[Tommy Gunn]

...The supraspinatus was evaluated and there was a partial thickness tear of the supraspinatus tendon off the medial aspect of the footprint...

I talked to my doc today and he said if after I get my range of motion back and get back into rotator cuff strengthening if I still have pain than he will do surgery to repair my partial thickness supraspinatus tear. He said I'd be in a sling for 6 weeks and physical therapy (stretching and rotator cuff strengthening) for about 3 months. He said I probably wouldn't be able to start weightlifting until 3 or 4 months post surgery.

Here is what it said in my surgery report regarding the entire rotator cuff:

...The subscapularis tendon was intact...The supraspinatus was evaluated and there was a partial thickness tear of the supraspinatus tendon off the medial aspect of the footprint...The rotator cuff was evaluated from its bursal side and found to be intact...

So what do you guys think of this surgery report? And is surgery to repair a partially torn rotator cuff usually a successful procedure?

BTW, I asked my doc these questions, I just want to see what you fellas think.

[Tommy Gunn]

Anyone?

[TranscriptionFactor]

Sorry, just saw this post now...so since no one's answered...and I'm a post whore right now..

The supraspinatus is one of the 4 muscles of the rotator cuff - a grouping of relatively small muscles whose function is to stabilize the shoulder (glenoid) in the socket. none of them are particular strong muscles, but without a functioning RTC, your overall mechanical advantage suffers greatly.

The supraspinatus is probably the most frequently torn of the 4. Repairs are generally successful, esp. if its only partial (if full, the two ends retract and its a bitch to get them together) and since I'm assuming your fairly young (under 45), that's also a good prognostic indicator. So the surgery ought to be helpful.

Adhesive capsulitis - you've got to bust through that with agressive rehab.