When injury threatens to take you away from the activities you love most, the right care can change everything.
This patient’s journey recovering from a shoulder injury shows just how far expert care — and a lot of determination — can take you.
Here, he shares his rehabilitation journey — from a rotator cuff injury to treatment and surgery with Matthew J. DiPaola, MD, followed by physical therapy with our UBMD Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine team:
“Grateful to Be Back on the Course — and Better Than Ever”
“I never imagined I’d tear my rotator cuff trying out a new driver at Golf Galaxy — but that’s exactly what happened. One sudden swing, and I felt a sharp, searing pain in my left arm. I couldn’t lift my arm above my belt. After days of icing with no relief, I called Dr. Matthew J. DiPaola’s office.
Dr. DiPaola saw me promptly and ordered an MRI, which confirmed a rotator cuff tear. We scheduled surgery, and I’ll be honest — I thought my golfing days were over. But Dr. DiPaola reassured me: he’d helped many patients return to the game. I was skeptical.
He performed the surgery, and I began seven months of physical therapy. Progress was slow but steady. Each month, I regained more strength and mobility. I took a full year off from golf, then cautiously returned — and to my surprise, I kept improving.
Today, I have nearly full use of my shoulder. I’m hitting fairways 90% of the time and recently finished second in my golf league. At 70 years young, I’m playing the best golf of my life.
Thanks to Dr. DiPaola and the team at UBMD Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine in Depew, NY, I’m not just back — I’m thriving.” — A.T.