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supraspinatus tendon tear 8-Aug-2011 At 10:08:55 PM AndyRicho

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I am just rehabing the same, or a very similar injury. I found out (june 7)that i had "at least 7-8mm high grade tear" when i was getting an ultra sound on my shoulder, there was also impingement and thickening of the bursa and biceps tenosynovitis. A few opinions suggested that i should get surgery ASAP and i was quite bummed about the idea of that. My physio felt that we could get a good result from a non operative approach but also felt that he should get me to see another sports doctor for second opinion. I was happy with that as my physio understands what i do (that it's not walking up a hill with a big back pack) and what i want to get out of it. It would be 6 weeks before i could get to see this doctor so we started on a program of strengthening and stabilizing the shoulder.
Things felt like they we're coming along well, but the big question in the back of my head was "should i get it operated on now, would it be better in the long run or keep going along the way i am as it seemed to be getting better every week."
This is the big question, as it is all just opinions (hopefully well educated ones) but there is no 100% guarantee either way.
After six weeks of extensive exercises i was able to see my sports doctor for another opinion. Besides having a great respect for his opinion it was even better when i first walked in and he said that he had had the exact same surgery for a complete rupture of the supraspinatus, so he know's a bit about it. After assessing strength, stability and mobility of the shoulder he too has suggested non operative and feels confident of a positive outcome and suggested to do some light climbing.
I've done a few sessions at the climbing center and so far so good, the shoulder is feeling good and quite stable, the bicep tendonitis actually feels like the real problem that i still have to keep working quite hard on. It felt that good that i was able to step up the intensity quite a bit, including some moderately hard bouldering and it is feeling almost to good. I could easily get carried away and start climbing way to hard to quickly so i have to keep patient and keep focused on the job of strengthening the shoulder properly and the climbing will come along soon enough.
Obviously every case is different, but in the first week i was told everything from, surgery ASAP and you'll be out for a least 12months (by a non expert but knew a friend who once had a shoulder injury.....), which had me so bummed thinking "i'm f#$%ed", too "let's look at all the options but it might not be that bad"
I've still got a while to go but i'm pumped to think that i'll be back at the crag in not too long.
Anyway, try and find the best advice and help you can get near you. I'm sure it will be a hard decision as to whats best for you to do, but if it's operative or not it will need a fair bit of rehab and a fair bit of motivation. Do all the exercises they get you to do keep psyched cause if it's 3 months or 12 i'm sure you'll back at the crag before you know it.
Good luck