You’ll Never Raise Your Arm Again. They Told Her. She Proved Them Wrong
The Fall That Changed Everything
She was just out keeping herself healthy. 65 years old, active, independent, and still cycling regularly. A couple of years ago, she rode from Land’s End to John O’Groats.
But one day, due to a poorly parked car and a tight curb, she was forced off her line. Her bike clipped the edge of the curb and she went over the handle bars. She hit the ground hard and that was it.
Her shoulder was fractured and the next thing she knew she was riding in an ambulance to A&E.
And then the blow that hit harder than the fall itself:
“Because of your age, we won’t operate. You’ll go in a sling for four weeks and you probably won’t get full movement back.”
That was their plan. No real assessment of who she was, what she wanted to get back to, or what level of recovery she might be capable of. Just her age and a standard, one-size-fits-all protocol.
Why Are We Still Treating Older Adults Like This?
We hear this all the time patients being told some version of “Well, you’re getting on a bit now” or…. “At your age, we wouldn’t usually…” and “You’ll just have to learn to live with it.”
It’s simply not good enough, and why is age being used as a reason to deliver lesser care?
Why is someone’s future function whether they can put a cup away, hang the washing out, or sleep pain-free being dismissed because of a number?
There are people in their 70s and 80s doing ultra-endurance events so being 65 doesn’t mean you’re “done.” It means you’ve still got decades of life to live and you deserve to live them pain-free, functional, and independent.
When she came to us, she was shocked and confused. She was told there were no options, but we’ve seen this before and we knew this needed re-evaluating.
We helped her arrange a second opinion, something we actively encourage and we’re so glad we did.
The Real Diagnosis: It Wasn’t Just a Fracture
The X-ray confirmed the fracture. But more importantly, it revealed that the bone was moderately displaced which meant it wasn’t going to heal properly on its own. It needed surgical realignment.
On top of that, she’d torn one of her rotator cuff tendons completely off the bone. That tendon needed to be pinned back surgically otherwise, she’d never regain proper lifting or control of the arm.
The surgeon explained everything in plain terms. “You haven’t just cracked the bone, it’s out of line, and a key tendon has pulled away from where it should attach. It needs to be fixed if you want to get proper movement and strength back.”
Once the surgery was done, the results were clear almost immediately.
Yes, she was sore from the procedure itself. But the sharp, deep fracture pain had settled. The bones were now in the right place and the tendon was reattached. It just felt right.
And here’s the key part. The surgeon told her, “If this had been left, you’d have never raised your arm above your head ever again. No cupboard doors. No clothes off overhead. No swimming. No return to independence.”
There would’ve been no procedure later to undo that decision and she’d have been left with lifelong restriction and pain.
Early Movement, Less Pain & Fewer Complications
Because the fracture had been properly aligned and stabilised during surgery, we were able to start gentle movement much earlier. That made a huge difference.
- Her pain levels reduced faster
- She came off painkillers quicker
- Her sleep improved
She started to feel like herself again.
And most importantly we dramatically lowered the risk of post-surgical frozen shoulder, a serious complication common in over-45s. Her rehab was structured, personalised, and proactive. Not just a wait and see how it goes approach. And it worked.
Today, she’s got nearly full range in her shoulder. She’s off all medication, sleeping well, and doing almost everything she used to. Yes, there’s still a bit of strength to rebuild and some confidence to return. But the foundation is rock solid.
She has her arm. Her life. Her independence. And that’s because she didn’t settle for a system that told her “that’s just the way it is.”
If you are reading this and you’ve been told there’s nothing to be done, that it’s just your age, or “just wear and tear” then please hear this:
You have options. You deserve care that matches your goals. And it’s okay to question a plan that doesn’t sit right with you. Sometimes, all it takes is one second opinion and the right team to fight your corner.
Joe Sharp
BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy
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