[vintageogauge]

In moving down here it appears I tore something in both of my shoulders and am now very limited as to what I can do with my arms. I could use a reference or two for a good doctor to see that will accept Blue Cross/Blue Shield supplemental insurance.

[Buckeyephan]

Dr. Thomas Wright at the Shands in Gainesville did a total reverse replacement on my shoulder in September. He developed the procedure. It is used when a rotator cuff is destroyed and there is nothing left to repair. Physical therapy has helped me regain most of my function and I can expect continued improvement during the first year. So glad to have my arm back.

[raynan]

Dr. Cook in the Sharon Morse Building. 352-751-2862 Advanced Orthopedics Institute

[biker1]

Mike Moser at U of Florida/Shands Orthopedics in Gainesville. You would have to call regarding insurance.

Originally Posted by vintageogauge

In moving down here it appears I tore something in both of my shoulders and am now very limited as to what I can do with my arms. I could use a reference or two for a good doctor to see that will accept Blue Cross/Blue Shield supplemental insurance.

[graciegirl]

Husband was asleep last night when I read your post Vintagegauge. Now he is playing golf. I can't think of the great orthopedic doctor's name who is in Ocala

Right after Irma, he helped neighbor lift a heavy generator when the power was out and damaged his rotator cuff. His shoulder hurt awfully at night for weeks.

Doctor injected cortisone. Took a week and was much better and is now fine.

I can't find the doctor's name but will post it when husband returns from golf.

P.S. I went with him to gloat when the doctor told him to rest his shoulder. (He kept golfing) I was WRONG. The doctor said moving around was the best therapy. I am wrong so often anymore. sigh.

[biker1]

Gracie, he really needs an MRI to diagnose a rotator cuff tear, although the symptoms are often pretty clear cut. The usual protocol seems to be to start out with an X-ray to rule out somethings and then PT to see if functionality returns and pain diminishes. If his pain returns then an MRI would probably be called for. In the event of a tear that is restricting his activities and/or is painful (sleeping at night is a common issue) then surgery becomes an option. The surgery is outpatient and the recovery is longish but not particularly painful, just inconvenient; typically 4 months before you can take complete golf swings (I was chipping and putting at 6 weeks) and about a year before you are fully back to where you were before the injury, YMMV. By this I mean, full range of motion with no tightness. PT visits 2-3 times per week for up to 16 weeks is not unusual.

Originally Posted by graciegirl

Husband was asleep last night when I read your post Vintagegauge. Now he is playing golf.

Right after Irma, he helped neighbor lift a heavy generator when the power was out and damaged his rotator cuff. He went to see an Orthopedic doctor in Ocala and I went with him. He saw the doctor's PA and he seemed very skilled and recommended Advil and using the shoulder normally and if that didn't improve to return. At that time took an x-ray and said it could be a torn rotator cuff but the x-ray was inconclusive. It did improve slightly but still hurt, especially at night...a lot.

We returned and saw the doctor who said that surgery was not a top option, and had the PA inject cortisone. It took at least a week but he is out there swinging his golf club as we speak, no pain.. He really liked the OLD-er doctor but I can't think of his name. I will now go look in the records. Be right back.

[billethkid]

Originally Posted by vintageogauge

In moving down here it appears I tore something in both of my shoulders and am now very limited as to what I can do with my arms. I could use a reference or two for a good doctor to see that will accept Blue Cross/Blue Shield supplemental insurance.

Depends upon what you mean by limited use of your arms.

I have a complete rotator cuff tear in both shoulders. We, my orthopedic surgeon and I, after MRI 3 years ago, agreed that as long as I can do what I want to do....sometimes a little achy, sometimes painful....including playing golf......then there is no need for surgery.

I particularly was not looking forward to the length, very inconvenient post operative care and therapy.
At my age there is no such thing as no aches or pains.

All depends how and what you want to do.

Me? I will take an ache or pain over surgery as long as I am functionally OK!!!

Dr. Farr...Twin Palms Orthopedic in Ocala....excellent by any or every measure. His PA Qwint is incomparable...outstanding.

[PPLEPEU]

I too have rotator cuff issues that became more acute this winter. I saw two doctors, one here in The Villages and one in Tampa.

The Villages ortho was Dr. Krizmanich -- a recent addition to the Villages Health network. He practices out of the specialty center behind the Brownwood Publix. He came here from Fort Wayne, IN. Not certain if he retired from his practice there (he's about that age), or if he just wanted a change of pace. Seemed very competent and straightforward.

The Tampa ortho was Dr. Mark Frankle. He was highly recommended by several friends here in The Villages. He's practiced for 33 years and has glowing reviews on Vitals.

FWIW, I could no longer sleep and had lost significant use of my right arm by the time I saw Dr. Krizmanich last fall. After a review of X-Rays/MRI, he recommended Physical Therapy before a follow-up visit.

The PT alleviated 80% of the blinding pain and helped me regain about 50% of the lost range of motion. Excellent work on which I followed up with a home exercise program.

I saw Dr. Frankle to obtain a 2nd opinion after several friends recommended I do so. To me, it seemed like he was a true specialist, seeing hundreds of people with shoulder/knee issues.

Both doctors now say the next steps are up to me -- shoulder surgery decisions are all about quality of life issues. For now, I'll keep exercising and wait.

BTW, I had BC/BS insurance and both doctors were in-network.

Good luck with your treatment!

[biker1]

You will know when/if you need surgery. However, keep in mind that the repair may become more difficult as time goes by. You can probably find tears in the shoulders of many older people if you went looking for them. As you already noted, the issues are pain and can you do what you want to do.

Originally Posted by PPLEPEU

I too have rotator cuff issues that became more acute this winter. I saw two doctors, one here in The Villages and one in Tampa.

The Villages ortho was Dr. Krizmanich -- a recent addition to the Villages Health network. He practices out of the specialty center behind the Brownwood Publix. He came here from Fort Wayne, IN. Not certain if he retired from his practice there (he's about that age), or if he just wanted a change of pace. Seemed very competent and straightforward.

The Tampa ortho was Dr. Mark Frankle. He was highly recommended by several friends here in The Villages. He's practiced for 33 years and has glowing reviews on Vitals.

FWIW, I could no longer sleep and had lost significant use of my right arm by the time I saw Dr. Krizmanich last fall. After a review of X-Rays/MRI, he recommended Physical Therapy before a follow-up visit.

The PT alleviated 80% of the blinding pain and helped me regain about 50% of the lost range of motion. Excellent work on which I followed up with a home exercise program.

I saw Dr. Frankle to obtain a 2nd opinion after several friends recommended I do so. To me, it seemed like he was a true specialist, seeing hundreds of people with shoulder/knee issues.

Both doctors now say the next steps are up to me -- shoulder surgery decisions are all about quality of life issues. For now, I'll keep exercising and wait.

BTW, I had BC/BS insurance and both doctors were in-network.

Good luck with your treatment!

[vintageogauge]

Thank you all for your replies. What ever it is, it's something that popped and I swear I heard it, first the left shoulder, later that day the right shoulder. If i raise my arms above my head they tend to lock up, if I try to use a simple screw driver with my left hand my shoulder pops and really hurts. I have no problem lifting and carrying low but cannot lift anything up onto a shelf that is higher than my shoulders. I'll get an appointment as soon as I can get in with one of them.

[graciegirl]

Here is the doctor. He trained at University of Florida at Gainesville and he is older and very smart and nice. Dr. Cannon is his name.

Ocala Orthopaedic Group - Home

[jimmemac]

I fell on a shoulder that had had a torn rotator cuff and could not raise my arm even to my waste. Saw Dr Mitchell here in the villages on the advice of people I knew. Dr Mitchell said I was hurt really bad and needed to have an inverse shoulder replacement but that I wasn't old enough and that I could outlive it's usefulness. He told me he would do a repair job using pig guts and if I did the rehab the way he said he would promise me two things, one way less pain, two that I would have good use of my arm. Warned me it would be between 9 months to a year before I was normal again. Well he was fantastic!! I did the rehab like he said and after 10 months I was playing golf again. Is it all perfect? Nope just 95 % of the time and I thank him dearly. He was honest with me and pulled.no punches. He did his job and I did mine. I would recommend him extremely highly.

[bagboy]

Originally Posted by raynan

Dr. Cook in the Sharon Morse Building. 352-751-2862 Advanced Orthopedics Institute

Absolutely second this recommendation !!! He took great care of my wifes shoulder problem.

[ronsroni]

Call Dr. Botner in Lake Sumter Landing. He is a Physiatrist... one who specialized in Physical, Medicine and Rehabilitation in his training Medical career.
He is an MD and brilliant.
My husband Ron is using him for horrid low back muscular issues and there is a robotic arm involved in his treatment. It is helping immensely!
Ron is also going to start a targeted shoulder PT there as he has a messed up shoulder (severe) and this is a non-surgical intervention. Ron plays softball 4X/week and this is getting him back what he has been missing for years.
Do the work and it can pay off. TRY him. Call the office. You have nothing to lose.
Bryan Botner, MD
352-430-2720.
Tell him Ron Goldman sent you!
best of luck.

[Chatbrat]

Whatever you do stay away from Dr. Mehta, pushes cortisone shots