Should I do rehab or surgery for a partial rotator cuff tear?

[JosephH]

I’ve been dealing with a stiff, painful shoulder for months, and my doctor mentioned the possibility of a rotator cuff tear. The imaging showed a partial-thickness tear, and now I’m trying to understand what that really means for recovery. I’m not sure if this level of damage typically leads to surgery or if a structured rehab program could be enough.

[Olivia.G]

I had a similar rotator cuff tear a while back and the stiffness stuck around for months. I did a structured rehab with a good physical therapist, started with gentle range of motion and then built up strength. It was slow but over several months I got more reach and less pain, and I avoided surgery.

[JackWL]

For me the real surprise was how little the daily pain changed from week to week. Some weeks felt better and then it would flare again. I kept notes on pain and what helped but there was no magic cure.

[ElizabethM]

Are you sure the pain comes from the shoulder not the neck or upper back I have heard that mix up happen more than people expect?

[Paisley.L]

Sometimes it felt like the tear was overblown in my mind and I pushed through rehab only to stall at a plateau.