Met my orthopedic surgeon about getting my torn right shoulder's rotator cuff operated on. He said I was good to go, but I expressed fears about not being able to get out of chairs/up from toilets since I wouldn't be able to push off with my right arm. That, and a few other right-arm-related concerns as well. He concluded that I probably shouldn't have the surgery after all. Oh, great.
Instead, I'm getting steroids injected in the joint. We'll see if it works. Give it a week.
@leejackson Beware the steroid shots. Shoulder may be fine but I know some people that had them who ended up worse.
My grandfather has knee problems. Got steroids and went from using a walker to a wheelchair.
A coworker had back issues. She got steroid shots, gained weight, and this multiplied the pain. Two months later when the shots wore off the weight stayed.
Personally, I think steroid shots are a great option for healthy young people. They're less effective for the old and infirmed.
@leejackson I'm #NotADoctor but my advice would be to go back to your doctor and have the surgery. A few weeks or months of having to be careful about using that shoulder to get out of chairs, etc. in my mind is a far lower risk than the potential complications from the steroids.
Ask around and see if others *in your health* and *at your age* and *with the same shoulder problem* actually got better from steroid injections.
@danielbsmith I'll be 60 in November. My problem with the chairs is that I can't simply "be careful about using" it to get out of chairs - I absolutely HAVE to use it to get up from chairs. So, since I absolutely CAN'T use the arm for 4 months after surgery, I'm screwed. Surgery cancelled. My only options are to get the shots, or to get a second opinion from someone who'll put me in a hospital for 4 months with people to help me get around.
@leejackson Then decision made. I wish you well and I hope you get every positive benefit of the shots and none of the negative ones. 👍