How long should I put up with the pain ?second opinion

[hurtingforsure]

I am a 65 year old woman recently diagnosed with a recently diagnosed "torn rotator cuff". I began having pain over a year ago which worsened about two months ago (interrupting sleep, gone from aching to stabbing and throbbing). I was referred by my family physician to a university/teaching hospital after two weeks of physical therapy and NSAI's (and sometimes Darvocet) failed to relieve the pain AND after I had an MRI. (Actually the pain got worse with the PT although my range of motion has improved.)
This is what the MRI says: (summary anyway)
IMPRESSION
"Extensive tendinopathy of the supraspinatus, the infraspinatus and the subscapular tendons. There is a full thickness tear of the anterior leading edge of the supraspinatus with extensive undersurvace tearing of the rest of the supraspinatus
High grade undersurface tear of the infraspinatus.
Undersurfacetearing of the subscapular and the medial subluxation/dislocation of the long head of the bicepts from the bicipital groove.
Tendonopathy and partial tearing of the long head of the intrarticular portion of the bicepts tendon.
Synovitis. Subacromial bursitis."

The orthopedic surgeon that I saw gave me a cortisone injection, and prescribed eight more weeks of physical therapy and return to him then for x-rays.
The Physical therapists told me that he says the therapy is for a "small rotator cuff tear".
I have gone to this same hospital to ortho and sports medicine departmant before for other problems and have had surgeries on my foot and arthoscopic repairs on my knees and was very pleased both with the physicians and the care I got.
Frankly this time I felt "marginalized" and given the kind of treatment that said "OK another one of these ..." The cortisone injection did nothing (well the local anethetic helped for about four hours) And when I told the doctor that I would be travelling in two weeks and would be out of Darvocet by then, he told me the cortisone and therapy would "do the trick" and he wanted to "get me off narcotics" --(by then I was taking two or three Darvocet a day, usually at night the pain was so bad).
After telling my family doctor how I was treated he called the orthopaedist who then had a nurse call me back and rather curtly ask me for the number of my pharmacy to call in the Darvocet Rx --I told her I did not need it and might not need it at all but it was just to have the prescription in hand when we traveled IF I needed it..She insisted, so I let her call it in... By the way, I did not see the MRI report until AFTER I had been to the orthopaedist and then I got it from my family physician.
Anyway -- generally at this teaching hospital the MD's show me the x-rays/MRI discuss it in terms I can understand (I am a retired nurse by the way) and ask if I have any questions.....this fellow did none of this and seemed to address more questions to the resident rather than me...
I think I need a second opinion -- my family physician agrees -- something doesn't seem right here. And after two more weeks of PT the pain seems to be getting worse. I do not WANT surgery, at least not now --I want to go visit my new grand children (twins) What I want is pain relief and to be able to hold them in my arms!!
Can anyone comment on this or give me any advice??......

[Cindee56]

Hi, I'm sorry you have this problem.  My husband and my 20 yr. old son have shoulder problems.  It's very frustrating for my son, especially because he's young and wants to do sports and lift weights.  We are now on the third doctor for him.  

I would go for another opinion.  Sometimes it takes several doctors until you find one who takes you seriously.

[hurtingforsure]

Thanks so much for your input.  I am planning on seeking a second opinion.  I can't have my life revolve around this pain/problem.