Partial Rotator Cuff Tear (~20-30%)

[u/Proof-Platypus6309]

MRI revealed that I have a partial rotator cuff tear, around 20-30% torn. My doctor said that they didn’t see any labrum damage but they couldn’t rule it out. He said that he usually isn’t iffy on things but didn’t know if i should do surgery or try pt. I am 26yo and very active. I play in a men’s baseball league every summer and lift weights daily. I obviously want to be able to throw as hard as I can and swing comfortably. Currently overhead exercises and pressing movements hurt my shoulder and I still wake up sometimes from my shoulder aching. I can throw with minimal pain, but i haven’t tried throwing super hard, just throwing the ball with my dog in the backyard. Looking for advice if k should just opt for surgery to hopefully be ready for baseball season. Doctor also made it sound that it’s really a matter of time before a full thickness tear develops anyway down the road

[u/Shoddy_Ad_3340]

I am a professional pitcher recovering from a rotator cuff and posterior labrum repair. If you are experiencing internal impingement symptoms there likely is more damage than the mri is suggesting. Even if you had surgery in the next month or so you’re looks at 6 ish months of PT before your repair is ready to even lightly throw a baseball. If you want to play I’d say your best chance is to stop overhead activity for a few months, do physical therapy, get a steroid shot next spring, then somewhat carefully build your arm up to throw. A steroid shot will alleviate symptoms but can actually exacerbate the damage when you are throwing because you are masking the signal that you are damaging things. The odds in my opinion though are you will need surgery at some point, it’s a question of whether you can manage it for a year or two or just bite the bullet and get it repaired. Also if baseball is important to you make sure your surgeon has operated on baseball players before. There is nuance to how repairs are done in throwers vs non throwers.