How long does it take a subscapularis strain to heal?

Five month seems a very long time. Return to your orthopod and ask him. You need accurate information and another evaluation.

If if were my shoulder, I would not wait another day.

I just checked on your similar question of a week ago. What did the orthopedic surgeon say? What did the MRI show?

I just got back from the othropedic. he said all thats wrong is a strained the muscle, no tares or anything showed on my MRI. he said all to do is exercise the muscle and strength it back up

A moderate strain should’ve cleared up with rehab in about a month maybe two depending on your conditioning. It may have been more severe than you or your doctor realized, scar tissue might be what’s causing your pain at this point, even a partial tear probably should’ve healed by now. Regardless, visit your orthopedist (or a new one) mention any pain, particularly during motion and try to be specific as to where it is, also if you hear any clicking sounds when you move be sure to mention it. Have them test your strength and range of motion, and then they can give you some exercises that are specific to the muscle and should help get you back to fit. This can give you an idea of what could be going on, read it before your visit so you have a better understanding of what’s going on and what to ask. They may send you for CT or MRI but if they don’t feel it’s warranted and you want some piece of mind ask for an ultrasound it can actually catch some things MRI’s tend to miss.

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@twiggles90 Sorry didn’t see your response. Disregard as needed. I’d still consider asking about an ultrasound, and they definitely should’ve given you some exercises to build strength after some rest and ibuprofen. Also, if you feel they’re not providing you with an acceptable level of care, get a second opinion.

I have exercises from the first time I went to PT. I went through PT for 8 weeks already and was released and my shoulder started hurting again once I returned to work. When it started hurting again they sent me to the orthopedic and he sent me for a MRI. So I will start doing my exercises again. But shouldn’t my shoulder be better 5 months later? Should I wrap it or put a brace on it. will it help it heal any? we didn’t sling my shoulder or anything when we started trying to fix it…

I’m not a doctor, don’t take my advice over his diagnosis.

With that said, if it were me and I was concerned he’d missed something I’d get an ultrasound and a second opinion. Treatment is different for a tear, even a small one. If it’s scar tissue rehab will hurt, but it will help. Definitely check out the .pdf link. It discusses tears but also diagnosis and different levels of success with different degrees of injury and different diagnostic procedures.

If it is just a strain, as your Dr. said, follow his instructions (it’s certainly possible you re-injured it). In my experience RICE(medicine), sparing ibuprofen, and a couple weeks to a month should be enough to be noticeably better and rehab will help strengthen it. I wouldn’t immobilize it without discussing it with your Orthopedist first, that can cause the muscle to deteriorate, which changes the type/duration of rehab and exercise you need.

I don’t know about that muscle (or is it a tendon?) specifically, but I know when my back was injured it was only muscles and it took 9 months. I have a shoulder injury since March, and it still is not completely healed. I have a friend who injured her shoulder 10 years ago and it took almost a year.

Did your doctor give you a note not to lift more than 10 pounds? I think I mentioned that to you on a different Q. I believe it is good to use the muscle so it strengthens, but not strain it. Straining sets you back in my opinion.

I’m not a doctor, it’s just been my experience.

@JLeslie:

“The subscapularis is a very powerful muscle that rotates the arm inwards and is part of the rotator cuff group of muscles. It is often injured by throwers and can be stubborn to treat.”

Source

@gailcalled ”...Stubborn to treat.” Well, there you go. I would not be surprised if that is exactly the muscle that is giving me trouble. Thanks.

@twiggles90 They can see there is athritis?

It has gotten a lot better over the past 5 months. at the start of this i couldn’t move my arm at all. I couldn’t move more then 30 degrees couldn’t reach with it or put it over my head or do anything with it. so its a lot better then it was, but not totally better. My doctor said since my shoulder hurts when theres a change in pressure and hurts a lot when it rains there a really good chance i formed arthitis from all of this

@twiggles90 I see. I couldn’t move hardly at all either, but I don’t beieve I have arthritis. I am not sure what arthritis feels like. Of course, we probably have somewhat different injuries. I wondered if he xrayed your neck? I think I told you my orthepedic surgeon believes some of my shoulder pain is because of a disk problem in my neck.

I’m not really sure what he MRI. I looked at them when I had my cd, but I wasn’t sure what I was looking at. lol. I did have whiplash in my neck, but that got better. The arthitis didn’t form till about 3–4 months later. I can only tell I have it because when it rains my shoulder has the worst pain ever and I wanna cut it off.

@twiggles90 That sucks. I don’t think my shoulder is reacting to the weather? It rained all day today. I did wake up in pain this morning, but that has been happening anyway, because I am a left side sleeper and it aggravates the shoulder. Once I was awake for a while the pain was gone. I can be completely pain free, but then if I try to put my hand above my head…uh oh.