Agree 100%. I had a torn rotator cuff and labrum about 7 yeras ago, I was 58. It happened when I wrecked riding motocross. Like you I could still do certain things and get by. But some simple things were very painful.
Get an MRI and go from there. I held out as long an I could before having surgery. Finally my Ortho doc told me if I didn't get it done it would get to the point where they couldn't fix it.

A good way to tell if you think it's your rotator cuff is to lift something a bit heavy, like a gallon of paint straight up from your side with your arm staright. It will hurt like hell. Also if it's painful to sleep on that side.

If you do need surgery, it's painful at first. You'll need to sleep in a recliner for a while. Laying down to sleep is very uncomfortable.

Recovery is all in how you do the physical therapy. Do all the exercises at home religiously that they give you.

I worked my ass off doing the pt, 90 days later I was released and back in the gym. Soon after I was back riding my dirt bike.

My shoulder is pain free now and I have 100% movement. Remember, pt, pt, pt.

Good luck!

Here is my take. You don't have any medical diagnosis. Get that first. PT is usually the first option, surgery second.

But there is another possible diagnosis: arthritis/old age. If so you could consider oral or topical OTC/scripted NSAIDS or possibly a drug that changes how you perceive pain. These manipulate serotonin and/or norepinephrine something along the lines of tramadol or cymbalta

Last year I had a torn rotator cuff in both shoulders. I got a shot in the left which as the worst and very painful. Over the summer I was in the pool every day for 30-45 minutes working out with water weights doing various exercises. Today I am totally pain free! So I would suggest that you get a shot and then exercise the shoulders. Yes it will be a bit painful at first but you will be amazed how little by little it will begin to feel better!

I have had both of my shoulders repaired. Both bad rotator cuff tears that required surgery. You need to see your doctor who will refer you to a specialist. A useless X-ray will be ordered because insurance companies will require it before they will OK an MRI. If you do have a torn cuff and need surgery I am going to be very honest with you, post surgery is no fun, very painful and you will have a long and somewhat painful rehab (everyone has a different pain threshold). For the first 6 weeks post surgery you will be in a very uncomfortable sling 24/7 the only time you will remove your arm from the sling will be at rehab. Also your doctor will order some type of narcotics to help with your pain. You will need help doing many simple chores like bathing, dressing and even eating. You will be surprised how difficult it is to do things with just one arm. Do a lot of research on surgeons that do this type of surgery. Both of my surgeries where done in Ft Lauderdale by Dr Yoldas, he specializes in sport injuries and has worked on many professional athletes.
Both my shoulders today feel great, the right shoulder as good as new, my left shoulder was torn a little worse than the right so I still have some very mild pain depending on certain motions but does not limit me from doing anything. I hope you find out that it isn’t a tear and something else. Good luck with whatever you find out it is.
Sometimes if it is a small tear your doctor may recommend physical therapy only. Again good luck and if you do need surgery feel free to contact me with any questions you may have.
God bless
Ps
The sponge bathes my wife gave me after surgery I may have dragged out a little longer than what was necessary, lol.

I went to Lake Sumpter Urgent Care where they gave me a shot in my shoulder and made an appt for an MRI which showed a large tear in the large muscle. From there I went to Orthopedic Institute to see Dr. Kim and in my case he recommended therapy which was right there. They set me up with a schedule 3 times a week plus doing exercises at home and I was golfing in five months. That was 5 yrs ago and I am still very satisfied with no surgery and no pain. I was one of the lucky ones!! Excellent Dr. and therapists!!

As a person who has had two surgeries for rotator cuff I can tell you that you need an MRI to be sure of what you really have. Not an internet diagnosis. See your doctor .

Where there's a will there's a way!
I hate baths! After taking one the first 2 days I decided I was going to find a way to take a shower.

I had 3 incisions, 1 big one and 2 small ones on my shoulder. I would have my wife use medical tape and tape a quart size plastic bag over them. That way it wouldn't get wet. Worked like a charm!

I had a sports ortho doc as well. He didn't believe in giving strong pain meds right off the bat. So he basically gave me very strong Tylenol. I had no desire to take anything stronger like an opioid. Wasn't ideal, but worth a little extra discomfort to me.

As a longtime runner it was killing me not running. So I did cardio on the eliptical at the gym. About 3 weeks of that and I was ready to try running with my sling on. I asked my doc, he said as long as I snugged up my sling it was ok.
I'm sure I looked goofy, but who cares?
I'm a firm believer that cardio helps the healing process.

If you do everthing they tell you to do, your shoulder can be 100%

Had shoulder surgery on February 28. 3 tears, 2 shoulder, 1 bicep and a bone spur. I’m in the third week of recovery and from what I understand I’m the exception very little pain, already have most of the motion back. Stop guessing, get it diagnosed! And if you do opt for the surgery lots of ice 24/7 seems to have been the key. Also be ready to be in a sling for 5 weeks. I used Dr. Cook at Advanced Orthopedics Institute. Good luck!

Where did you get the shot?

Go to the doctor. I had a pain in my shoulder, not bothered by golf or lifting or exercise. Went to the doctor and was sent for an x-ray. Turned out it was old-fashioned arthritis. I'm 86 and live with it. If it gets really bad, I take a Tylanol.

My wife started having right shoulder pain a few months ago. She’s a tennis player who used to play three or four times a week. She rested for two weeks and started wearing Staminapro patches, one every three days while she rested. Now she puts one on before she plays and has reduced her playing to twice a week. Her pain is now under control. She does play golf twice a week; that has never hurt. She uses the 2”x10” patches. You can either wear patches during physical activity or after. She prefers during because she claims it acts like a brace for her arm while swinging.

Earlier this year, I had both tennis and golf elbow from playing those games. I used the 2.75”x 4” patches for a couple months. Pain in both elbows is completely gone(I must admit I used the patches for left knee pain and it didn’t work. I got a cortisone shot for that.)
You’re supposed to keep them on for 24 hours. They are water-proof so you can bath with them on. They are recommended by some professional golfers including Tony Finau and Justin Rose. They work by electrical stimulation (causing a small electrical current to run through your joints). They are expensive so it might help to lighten the thing in your left pocket making it easier to lift. Good luck.

Rotator CUFF. surgery is a 3 to 4 month recovery. Just had it done by Dr. Locker
 

I was getting cortisone shots every 6 months. Arthroscopic surgery repaired a medium tear in the cartilage. Going to have the second shoulder done when we come back from the great white north in the fall. Dr. Locker in Ocala is the best he can answer what can be done.

Good luck

Physical Therapy and Surgeries
 

As someone who has had over 24 orthopaedic surgeries (thank you Marine Corps,) let me dispel some myths regarding "useless" physical therapy. Many of you have gone through months of physical therapy only to exclaim "physical therapy never helped me and I had to have surgery anyway." We always hope that physical therapy will "fix" the injury, and many times it does, BUT physical therapy will also build up those muscles surrounding the injury so that when surgery does occur the muscles will support the injured ligament/muscle/tendon. This is turn will make your post-surgical physical therapy easier, and sometimes, faster. That doesn't mean post-surgical therapy won't hurt! Sometimes it's a killer, BUT if you hadn't done the pre-surgery therapy you would be in a world of hurt and an extended recovery time! DO THE THERAPY BEFORE AND AFTER - your body will thank you.

I have had rotator cuff surgery on both shoulders. In each case I put it off for years but when the situation reached the point I could not get my bag into or out of the overhead on a plane or put a stack of plates up in the kitchen cabinet I decided I better get it done. Good thing I did. Bone spurs had grown to the point they were sawing through tendons. Other damage was done but that was particularly scary. I was fortunate enough to find an orthopedic surgeon who worked on professional athletes in the LA area. Also had a wonderful physical therapist. If one wants to retain as much range of motion as possible following up with rigorous physical therapy is a must. In my case I had little pain recovering. I find out that ice alone can usually handle it and it did after a few days.

rotator CUFF
 

Rotator Cuff