I tore my rotator cuff when I stepped onto some sheetrock laying on the floor. How was I to know there was a hole in the floor under the rock? Hit a cleat in an ajacent wall on the way down, pulling my arm back, tearing the cuff.
Sore as hell. Never had the surgery, treated it with pain killers and anti-inflammatory meds. Now, every few years, it flares up again, and I treat it as before, and after about 4 months it goes away. My doc said if it (the pain/discomfort) lasts more than 6 months, may need surgery.
If you are in good shape, and can stand pain, you should be able to do therapy after surgery, in order to strengthen the arm.
Will you be able to do the same work? Depends on only you, dude. Do the surgery as a last resort, but do do therapy, and grin and bear it.
Good luck.
Rick Miell
