Torn tendon in shoulder. Has anyone successfully treated without surgery?

I had a rotator cuff tear some years ago when I fell and caught my arm on a low wall as I went down. Referred to consultant who showed me a scan picture of torn fibres and told me I would need an operation. I asked him what my arm function would be like afterwards, and he said 'back to 80%'. I didn't fancy that, and a friend experienced with horses told me to wait as 'they always take six months to heal' I decided to see what would happen, and in six months it was better! This may have no relevance to your case, but a bit of caution doesn't usually do any harm!

Sorry to give you an answer you don’t want, but if you’ve been offered surgery it will be because the surgeon doesn’t think it will heal properly otherwise, they prefer more conservative treatment so only offer an operation if it’s the best chance. I’d gird my loins and go for the operation I’m afraid.

I think if I had a torn tendon I'd have the operation.

When I tore my rotor cuff I was given the option of a repair but apparently it's not always successful in older people so I declined. It won't repair, I'm told.
However, a tendon repair is more essential, I think.

I do know how you feel but I'd go for it.

Yes I had a rotator cuff tear, very painful, especially at night. It took a good year to stop being painful, and I have full use now of it. The physio was useful, but in fact you can find everything you need on you tube.
It still very occasionally plays up a bit when laying on that side in bed, but I am quite happy with it, considering how much better it is.

Rotator cuff again, after falling on my shoulder, painful, nerve damage and shingles. Cured the shingles and a steroid injection settled the joint damage.

I don’t do step ladders now!.

OH had quite a nasty injury to his rotator cuff, was in a lot of pain and had very reduced mobility of the affected arm. He saw a surgeon who said he'd operate but couldn't guarantee the outcome. After much thought OH went to an excellent physio and although it took a long time he is now pain free and has almost all of the mobility back.
Coincidentally, I slipped over just before Christmas, broke my wrist and a couple of fingers but it is my shoulder that gives me the most discomfort. Again, some damage to the rotator cuff with a little instability of the joint but it is slowly improving without treatment.

Sorry meant to add that every injury is different and I'd follow the advice of your doctor, shoulder mobility is really important.

I had what I think was damage to my rotator cuff. I had stood up to get off the bus, which stopped suddenly and I wrenched my shoulder. It took just over a year but it did heal up.

When I tore my rotor cuff I meant rotator cuff

Thank you so much for all your replies. I’m a fairly active 72-year old and I like to swim 20 lengths a week and I go to a dancersize class, walk miles and use my exercise bike. I am now very restricted in what I can do which frustrates me, but, at the moment, really can’t face an operation.

I know how you feel. I need a TKR but can't face it just now.

A friend of DS had a shoulder tendon repair and is fine now; he needed to have it done as he's still working in a physical job but he does have employees who were able to cover the extra work while he recovered.