Oh no, Cassandra, that sounds horrible! I'm so glad you turned out okay.

I messed up my rotator cuff 6 months ago and my advice is to start the healing process now and do NOT be afraid to tell them when something isn't working. I was seeing a chiropractor who was trying to help for 2 months, who then sent me to PT who tried to help for 2 months, and then I had an MRI which didn't spell "surgery" clearly, which led to possible steroid injections, which led me somewhat trepdiatiously to acupuncture... I am healing on my own, maybe with assistance, who knows, but finally improving to the point that I don't think about it constantly.

The earlier you start, the earlier you'll feel better. Tell them (whether you go to a PT, or you stick with your MD, or a chiropractor, or all of the above!) everything you are feeling. Write it down if you have to -- where exactly it hurts, what sensations you are feeling (are you getting the tingles? stiffness? is it directly in the rotator cuff area over the shoulder or is it in your armpit or elbow or neck or all of the above?). You will be off the bike for as long as you can stand, probably longer -- a trainer might be possible to keep your legs going.

If you go to more than one place (a PT, a chiro, MD, your grandmother for free healing or at least good tasting cookies, anything) try to get them communicating, and at the very least know how you are being treated so you can relay this information yourself. I thought sending "reports" to my MD meant he would read them, not true. I tried to relay how many treatments I'd had, what they had done in each, how long they did things for... it was mesmerising at times.

I really wouldn't be afraid of telling them when things are NOT improving. If you feel like you've felt the same way for a week with zero improvement or change at all, they need to know. Encourage dialog and interaction, share as much as you can, and still try to make progress.

I've been down a hard healing road for not being completely torn, and it's been frustrating. Hopefully my experience can help someone