As I type this, I've a moist heating pad on my left shoulder. I have a torn rotator cuff. I had one on my right shoulder in 2007. I got that one while changing my t-shirt while keeping my seat belt on. I wasn't driving and was not exposed in the process. Anyway, that time, I heard a pop and didn't go to the doctor until months later. I had an xray, and MRI, a cortisone shot and 12 weeks of PT and all was well. The last time that I saw my right shoulder doctor, he said, "it'll happen to your left shoulder too." Why would he say that, and why didn't he tell how to not have it happen to my left shoulder?

Last summer my left upper arm started to hurt the way my right did.  It's referred pain from the shoulder. I tried to work it out, but it got worse and I finally went to the doctor, same group, but a different doctor. I like this new doctor; so far, I've had an xray, and MRI, 12 weeks PT and 2 cortisone shots; one from the back and one from the front. After 12 weeks of PT, I decided that I can do the exercises myself.  I do work it out daily, but it's just not getting back to normal. It's painful when I reach past the hurting point. If I don't push it though, I could develop a frozen shoulder like what happened to the other shoulder before I finally went to the doctor.

My massage therapist had surgery for her shoulder, but I'm really scared of that, but I'm so tired of the pain in doing simple things like putting on a coat or reaching to push the buttons to start the drive-through car wash.  Even putting my hand in my back pocket or scratching my back causes pain. I'm tired of complaining about it too.

I know I don't have many followers, but have any of you had the surgery? What was it like? Would you recommend it?