Rotator Cuffs and Spinning

Doctor prescribing treatment to young patient with broken hand, wrist, elbow or arm

I’ve written about rotator cuff injuries to the shoulder multiple times previously, here and here. So if you are a regular reader of this blog, you should be conversant with much of the basic terminology and anatomy.

I know I am, especially having worked with many clients who have had these injuries..

I am even more familiar with it now that I have dealt with my own rotator cuff injuries over the past several years. In fact, as I write this, I am due for a right rotator cuff surgery in a few hours. I won’t be typing for a while!

Over the past 34 years, I’ve handled hundreds of cases, both personal injury and workers’ compensation, that involved some sort of shoulder injury. It is a very common injury, unfortunately, and I know exactly what to tell the client to expect when it comes to surgery, rehab, recovery, and functionality.

Now, I get to find out firsthand.

What Happened

My own journey to surgery began during the pandemic, when I tried to lift a propane heater up into my garage. I knew my right shoulder hurt and was nearly positive I’d strained the front part (supraspinatus tendon). I got in touch with my physical therapist (I refer to myself as his retirement/full employment guarantee) and started rehabbing it. Diligently, I made “wall clocks,” “spiders,” and did everything possible to strengthen it. And it did improve. It never quite returned to normal, but it was functional.

Then, of course, the left arm began troubling me, so I repeated the process with that one. My gym sessions quickly became about 25% shoulder exercises. But I thought I was going to be able to avoid surgery. After steroid injections into both shoulders, I was working out in March of 2024 when I heard and felt a snap in my right shoulder. That, coupled with the inability to lift my arm and the beginning of constant 24/7 pain that interrupted sleep every 45 minutes or so had me running back to the doctor for an MRI to confirm that I finally had a “full thickness tear of the supraspinatus.”

Normal, sane folks would have gotten the surgery then. I’m not normal or sane. I decided to pursue my first full bike racing season in three years (the previous three years had been interrupted by the pandemic, then my heart arrhythmia and surgery, neck surgeries, and assorted other injuries).

Despite not sleeping and barely being able to put my arms into the “skis” to get into time trial position, I soldiered on, ultimately finishing second in both my age group (60-64) and category 3. Not my greatest racing year, but I scratched that itch.

Now, it’s time to get this fixed.

What Next?

Surgery. Hopefully, in a nutshell, my tendon will be tied back together, probably with the augmentation of donated tissue to make it stronger. I leave that up to the experienced surgeon and his team. I trust him and his team. That’s the relatively easy part.

The hard part is that I anticipate being in a sling for well over a month. And I expect physical therapy will go on for months beyond that.

Like most people, I am right-hand dominant. I use that hand for everything from hooking the dog’s leash to her collar to putting toothpaste on my toothbrush—and, of course, things like texting and tying my shoes. I even use my dominant right hand to put my glasses on my face several times a day. It’s going to be hard not to use it.

Let’s not forget that my left arm is hardly robust. It’s been weak and partially torn for several years. To say I have zero functional strength in certain movements is an understatement. I have to hope using that arm more while I recuperate doesn’t cause it to tear more.

While normal folks don’t worry about taking a few weeks or so off working out, I do. I’m already thinking about/worrying about next cycling season and whether there will be enough time for me to get in race shape by April. Yes, that is seriously what motivates me.

Don’t cry for me; cry for my poor wife, who will have to deal with a husband who can’t work or type at normal capacity, won’t be able to exercise for a while, and will overall be a pain in the rear to her. And she’ll have to assume my dog-walking duties.

In preparation for the inevitable, I’ve done everything I can think of to “nest:” cleaned the grill, dusted the radiators, had my bike serviced, got my car washed, washed the dog’s leash and collar, and pre-wrote dozens of anticipated letters for my law practice. I’ve thought of everything, yet I’m certain there are hundreds of things I forgot. I love the autonomy of being a true solo practitioner. Except when I can’t use my right arm!

Takeaways

  • It is one thing to handle cases for clients with injuries but a totally different experience when it happens to you.
  • As doctors often make poor patients, lawyers who handle injury law might know a bit too much about some injuries and what to expect from surgery and rehabilitation.
  • Navigating work, life, pain, and uncertainty is what my clients do all the time; now it’s my turn.

Contact Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Stephen Hoffman

As in all cases involving injury, dog bites or injuries, workers’ compensation, medical malpractice, or other injury and potential liability, if you have been hit by a vehicle immediately get medical treatment, report the crash to police and your own insurance company, and contact a lawyer with expertise in your type of case, such as bicycle accidents or pedestrians hit by cars.

If you've been in an accident and have questions, contact Chicago personal injury attorney Stephen L. Hoffman for a free consultation at (773) 944-9737. Stephen has over 30 years of legal experience and has collected millions of dollars for his clients. He is listed as a SuperLawyer, has a 10.0 rating on Avvo, and is BBB A+ accredited. He is also an Executive Level Member of the Lincoln Square Ravenswood Chamber of Commerce.

Stephen handles personal injury claims on a contingency fee basis, which means you don’t pay anything up front, and he only gets paid if you do. Don’t wait another day; contact Stephen now.

Categories: Personal Injury