A while ago I hurt my shoulder, and after seeing a physiotherapist it was diagnosed as a minor supraspinatus tear/strain. The physio didn't help so I've seen a doctor to get a referal. The physio told me that I should not climb until my shoulder is better, but my GP said it would be fine for me to do so. Which one is right?

Also, anyone got any experiances with this, how long does it take to heal and what can happen now?

A while ago I hurt my shoulder, and after seeing a physiotherapist it was diagnosed as a minor supraspinatus tear/strain. The physio didn't help so I've seen a doctor to get a referal. The physio told me that I should not climb until my shoulder is better, but my GP said it would be fine for me to do so. Which one is right?

Also, anyone got any experiances with this, how long does it take to heal and what can happen now?

Thanks for the replies, my physio said that I should stay away from all activities involving having my arm above my shoulder. I guess I should listen to her as she is probably more qualified than my GP. I'm getting a referal anyway so shoul get a quicker answer once more thorough tests have been done.

I had two physio indicate that I had injured my supraspinatus. It occurred in a static climbing move.

I ended up getting a MRI and it turned out I broke my scapula!

Look up Pete Whittaker doing Technical Master one handed in approach shoes (think it is a Black Diamond ad.) and any number of Johnny Dawes videos of one handed and no handed climbing. Do not despair!

I managed it for a short while when I had a broken collar bone (I really did walk into a door!) Found that after a week or so that as long as I kept my hand low it didn't hurt, and then just worked on it from there. It did mean that I didn't lose any fitness, and I believe it actually helped my technique, by stopping me from using my (very) long reach, and made me more aware of using my feet to keep the load off my arms/shoulder.

Initially I was stuck on slabby stuff, then found that pressing down was not painful, and I also learned to supplement hand pressure with heel and toe hooks, bodyposition and foothold pressure and foot underclings etc. Managed up to 5.10a/b in the first two weeks (before injury was at 5.11bish) and built up from there, experimenting with different techniques. Depending on what movement hurts or further damages your injury you can mostly learn a way round it. It is individual to each injury type. Get to the wall and start on really easy slabby stuff and experiment, gently. If you really enjoy climbing and want to carry on you will find a way. Now I am much older I have arthritis in some of my fingers but can still manage my 5.11 grade, by working around the problem. This will not get better only worse, but I love my climbing so am prepared to put the effort in. It will not stop me.

I had two physio indicate that I had injured my supraspinatus. It occurred in a static climbing move.

I ended up getting a MRI and it turned out I broke my scapula!

Not to get defensive, but supraspinatus originates from the supraspinous fossa, which is located on the scapula.

A fractured scapula does not rule out supraspinatus pathology. In fact, it would probably be expected.

In the USA, PTs cannot directly order x-rays or MRIs. Only MDs or DOs can do that. Without imaging, diagnosis of fracture is pretty difficult.

A fracture occuring during a static move is very unusual. I'd suspect osteopenia or worse. I hope you have no such problems. Are you certain you had no direct trauma, like a bouldering fall, before the final injury?