There is some good advice here, especially to young Rudy. If you have a rotator cuff injury it's very important to rest it and get medical advice before doing anything else. I had an injury for a long time and eventually it was exercises and stretching that helped alot but it's critical to make sure you're doing the right exercises in the correct manner as otherwise you can make things alot worse - especially if overuse was what helped cause the injury in the first place. Those that found cortisone helpful were lucky - it did nothing for me and I've heard it can have some negative side effects too. If anyone would like to find out more about which exercises can help and how to do them I've included a link. Just make sure you see your Doc before you start the exercises! Here is a link that might be useful: Rotator Cuff Exercises

I don't see anything in your post that says diagnosis to me other than the subject line and that doesn't say it came from a doctor. So, if you haven't been officially diagnosed, then, that would be the first order of business. Confirm or rule out rotator cuff damage. If nothing shows up on xrays then my next step would be a Rheumatologist or orthopedist to see if the accident hasn't caused some arthritic activity that could be corrected with surgery. There's always the possibility that the accident damaged something around the nerves in the neck/shoulder area which can be extremely painful. When it's determined that the doctors can't help then have them refer you to a good massage therapist. They can help loosen the tightness of the muscles in that area and teach you stretching exercises to help correct the problem. This is coming from personal experience. Three years ago I had excruciating pain in my right shoulder. The pain caused the muscles to tighten so much that one doctor asked me if anyone had ever told me I had scoliosis. I went to doctor after doctor. My regular Rheumatologist to chiropractors. The muscle was so tight that the Chiropractor was afraid to adjust my back for fear of causing damage. He referred me to the massage therapist. She first worked on getting the muscles to relax and then gave me a series of stretching exercises to do to keep the tightness from returning. It took some time but I can say that I am now pain free. Your treatment could be successful at any step along the way. It all depends on what's causing your pain and then determining the best treatment.

Thanks to everyone who has given me suggestions so far- I am still trying to figure out the process. I spent a month in the recliner with a fracture a couple years ago, and know it tooo well. I have had the facing wall painted a different color, got rid of the rolltop desk, and put different pictures on the wall....lol...at least this time I have some control over what I will be staring at...also got an ereader since I won't have both hands to hold and turn pages. I am gathering up necessities, chapstick, emery board, tape, pens (like I will be scribbling with my left hand...not...) and things like that in a basket next to chair. I will have my husband fabricate some kind of handle that we can remove later to flip up the recliner. He can build anything.. I am still worrying about clothes, I have checked out the thrift stores for some 3x mens shirts, maybe I could "femimize" them a little. Haven't found any yet..will only need maybe 4-5, then should be able to use something else. I hope. At least with some before time planning and help from my garden web friends, I should have this under control when it happens... Now, if somebody would make me quit stress eating...I should get a couple 6-packs of SlimFast since I won't have my fork hand to feed me for a while... Pam

I spent six weeks with my sister ( age 71) who had rotator cuff surgery at Duke. She had a donor graft so that her own tendon didn’t have to be stretched as much. That helped with pain and her recovery. The ice machine helped a lot, and she had a TENS unit that she used faithfully. She also slept in a lift recliner and had physical therapy twice a week. The one thing that helped a lot was a shirt she got on Amazon that had Velcro closure at the shoulder and down the sides. Otherwise she would have had to struggle getting in and out of clothes and the ice machine. I saw them on Etsy with snaps, but hers were Velcro. You might want to google “surgery shirt” or lrotator cuff shirt” or something similar. You really need someone to help you take the ice machine on and off, load and empty the ice machine, place the TENS unit patches, and drive you back and forth to therapy. The whole thing was a hassle, but thankfully, not too painful ( didn’t need the prescription meds after a day, only Tylenol). Surgery was successful, and after five months my sister has full use of her arm and shoulder. Good luck!