Shoulder pain - Rotator cup?
 

OK, this might be a familiar to golfers but I also do Martial art called "Kendo" which is "Way of the sword" representing one of the sword fighting techniques. Anyway, I have a shoulder pain possibly due to some problem with rotator cup. I still play golf everyday and Kendo once a week because those motions do not stop me. But when I try to get my wallet out from the left hip pocket, it hurts me. So I researched my options and did all I can to do physical exercises recommended by various MDs and Physical Therapists on Youtube. It is manageable but not getting any better. So, before I consider shoulder surgery, I ask you experienced people who have gone thru this. what, if any, options have/have not worked? I had what you call "50's shoulder" 20 years ago. As I recall, I had one steroid injection and it fixed it. So if I consider that option, where in the villages should I go?
Any recommendations and sharing of your Good, Bad and Ugly stories would be appreciated.

Cheers!

There IMO is no point in asking if your problem is rotator cuff on the internet. Nor can we help you with what works or doesn't work as that 100% depends on what is actually wrong with you. And you don't know what is wrong, neither do I.

So I would suggest you get a diagnosis of what is actually causing you the pain from a doctor. This website has had many discussions of whom people like for shoulder care. The search function is in the green stripe near the top, 2nd from the right edge.

if you haven't seen a physical therapist in person, you should. You may need an MD referral depending upon your medical insurance. A physical therapist, in addition to having you do exercises, can help make a diagnosis by moving your shoulder into various positions, against resistance, and seeing what hurts, and evaluating your range of motion.
An MRI may or may not be needed.
In addition to helping diagnose, and giving you exercises depending upon the diagnosis, the PT can also massage and manipulate your shoulder manually.
I have had shoulder issues in the past, and thankfully, PT helped very much. I never had an MRI, and I never needed a cortisone shot. That doesn't mean I never will, and it doesn't mean you won't or don't right now. However, since I prefer non-surgical methods be tried before any cutting, I'd recommend getting yourself to a PT as soon as you can.
Good luck.

Yes, rotator cuff issues differ per person. And exactly as you stated, doing one motion...no pain, then another rather simple motion can cause extreme pain.
Can I ask, are you a side sleeper? Not having proper neck support and hips aligned can result with pressure on that cuff all night long, possibly waking you from the pain. Cortisone shots help...temporarily...
they mask the pain for a few months, but it returns.... then you have to decide surgery or not. In the mean time, waking with pain during night, 3 advil usually calm it down enough to get back to sleep.

Great answer!

Find a correspondent video here. Your neck is likely forward which is common over time. Full explanation in the videos

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SN-wOhpUZM

The problem was in the neck which was out of alignment. Other Chiropractics treated my symptoms, not the problem. Over time I got back 90 percent of motion. Non invasive, no medication. Amazing results. He treats pro golfers, mma fighters, etc. one of a kind

These folks can help. The Orthopaedic Institute
Summerfield - The Orthopaedic Institute

An MRI will tell you if something is torn. However, except for golfing eagles, none of us have a medical degree.

I did PT for a year before going to an orthopedic doctor. Come to find out my rotator cuff was torn and no amount of PT was going to fix it.

Insulting. It’s the chiropractor doing the therapy. Read the post closely. Never will use your service,

I have proven results as do many others. The only thing that matters. Had far too many useless stretches and physical therapy. You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make him drink

Try moving wallet to right hip pocket.
If that does not work, I would suggest you see doctor for X-ray and diagnosis.

Big skinny wallets has actually helped some

I had a fall recently, really screwed up by should, no broken bones, but movement of the associated bones, I went to Fyzical therapy, for around 2 months, back to bowling (with a 10 to 15 pin increase in average), and little or no pain on the shoulder. I still have some clicking in the shoulder, but that is it. I can recommend this company, and Dr. David Kuhns chiropractor to look at your shoulder.
Hope this helps.

Great to hear you are back to normal! and great to see that it fixed your bowling handicap!

I am currently recovering from surgery. My process has been long. I believe my pain started two years ago but one incident last June pushed it over. I can tell you the CUFF is a group of muscles and no two injuries are the same. I put off surgery or rather the doctors recommended putting off surgery until January. Before the surgery I went through many physical therapy and rounds of shots. Also MRI a few times to see the problem. I had tears, an impingement, and some arthritis. But I will say while in the sling for 6 weeks I had complete strangers tell me their story. Everyday. Every outing. Anywhere I would go. That sling was like a magnet for anyone to approach, tell me what was wrong with them, how painful it was, how to fix mine, and what doctor I should be using. My favorite ones were the people who “had this shoulder done three times and this one twice”. Why would I follow your directions on doctor or care if it took five times to fix two shoulders?
Anyways started the healing physical therapy a few weeks ago. Up to five pound weights! I am 54 and could lift 50 for same exercise back in December, it just hurt the next day. But getting better daily. Sure it hurts. But everyone has different levels of pain. Not saying they don’t feel it but if your injuries in life were greater than mine, you scale of pain is different than mine on scale of 1 to 10.
Only advise- see the doctor first. Physical therapy might be all you need but could be a waste of six months like me. Second piece- don’t listen to anyone, at least completely. Everyone injury is different and interweb doctors have the same training as the guy sitting next to you at the bar. Just have another beer and smile.

I had this issue over 25 years ago. I couldn’t reach over my head (tennis serve) or open the passenger car lock but I could waterski everyday. I saw a friends surgery and seeing the drs hammering the screws in your arm during surgery so my dr gave me an ultimatum: stop playing tennis for a year but I could keep waterskiing, and do all the exercises in the rotator cuff book and you won’t need surgery. I did this and never needed surgery and play tennis and pickleball everyday without pain