Catherine’s Story: From a Rotator Cuff Tear and a Scheduled Surgery to Back at 100%
Age: 52 | Active in: Gym training & pickleball | Condition: Rotator cuff tear, left shoulder | Care: About 6 months, then ongoing maintenance | Outcome: Back to 100%, no surgery
The Problem
Catherine came to RXN Performance with a rotator cuff tear in her left shoulder. She stays active, with gym sessions during the week and pickleball. She believed she needed surgery, and by the time she found us, the surgery was already scheduled.
What Catherine Had Already Tried
Catherine had gone through physical therapy before, and surgery was still the plan. Then another RXN patient referred her to us after a great experience with one-on-one care. One-on-one care was exactly what Catherine was looking for, and she was willing to give it a shot if it could help her avoid surgery.
What We Found in the Assessment
Catherine’s range of motion was actually very good. Her shoulder was not stiff. What she needed was better motion around the shoulder, and improving that was the key to bringing her pain down.
A tear on paper does not tell you everything about how a shoulder moves and feels. That is why every shoulder case at RXN starts with a full movement assessment.
The Treatment Plan
Catherine’s care lasted about six months, a little longer than many of our plans. The focus was on improving the motion around her shoulder and then building strength on top of it through performance rehab. When the six months were up, she chose to stay on for maintenance.
The Turning Point
Around the halfway point, Catherine realized her independence was back. From that point on, her focus was on getting stronger and stronger.
The Outcome
Today, Catherine is back to 100%. She can walk her dogs, clean her house, and play pickleball freely. She can lay out by the pool comfortably with her arms above her head. And she got there without the surgery that was once on her calendar.
In Her Own Words, One Year Later
About a year after Catherine started care with us, she sent Dr. Ryan this text. She is still maintaining her results.
“I just can’t believe how I am able to do so much more than I used to.”
Catherine, RXN Performance patient, one year after starting care
Why This Worked for Catherine
Catherine wanted one-on-one care, and that is how every plan at RXN works. Dr. Ryan is the only clinician here, so she worked directly with him from her first assessment through her maintenance visits. Once her independence came back, the plan shifted to getting her stronger.
Could This Work for Your Shoulder?
If you have been told you need shoulder surgery, or your shoulder pain has not settled down with other care, a movement assessment is the right next step. We will tell you honestly whether what worked for Catherine is likely to work for you. Not every shoulder problem can be solved without surgery, and we will say so if yours is one of them.
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Written by Dr. Ryan Giniel, D.C., founder of RXN Performance in Uptown Dallas. More about Dr. Ryan →