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I’ve been dealing with persistent pain in my right shoulder for months, and my doctor mentioned the possibility of a rotator cuff tear after an MRI. The idea of surgery is pretty daunting, and I’m wondering if anyone has managed to avoid an operation and still gotten back to normal function. My main worry is whether strengthening exercises alone can actually heal it, or if I’m just delaying the inevitable.

I had something similar last year. The doctor mentioned a possible rotator cuff tear after the MRI, and surgery scared me too. I did a physical therapy program for about 12 weeks, with a therapist who emphasized how the shoulder sits on my rib cage and how to brace the scapula. It was slow, but sleep got better and I could reach into my back pocket again. By week 10 I noticed less aching after laundry or sweeping, though overhead stuff still bugged me. I’m not back to 100%, but I’d call it a solid improvement without surgery.

Another person here. I tried strengthening and did not feel a dramatic recovery quick enough, so I kept going with graded loads. I started with gentle isometrics, then progressed to light bands and dumbbells, avoiding painful ranges. After about six weeks the pain eased a bit, but I still had mornings when it stiffened up, and I had a flare after a heavy yard project. It felt like progress was there but not a perfect fix, and I debated whether to push through or pause.

I’m wondering if the issue is more about posture or even the neck sometimes. I tried changing my desk setup and sleep position, and within a month the shoulder felt different even before any real PT programs. It didn’t erase the tear on the MRI, but it shifted how the pain showed up. Maybe I was chasing the wrong culprit for a while.

Did you get a second opinion or a different MRI read?

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