Boy this is scary. Sorry to hear you have had such miserable terrible trouble with it LF.
I have probs with both rotator cuffs. Not too bad...but always there. Worse in cold weather or if I do hard work.
Above report is not too re-assuring that you can just always go to a doc and get something fixed in your body.

I wonder if it always degrades to where you need surgery? Of if the exercises they recommend will strengthen and keep the pain away.....and therefore surgery?

good luck Soloman....hope you have great results.

Jim