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Aching arm after shoulder surgery 4 months on

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cbc123
cbc123

I had rotator cuff and torn tendon repair 4 months ago. I still get an aching arm most days and have become very clicky, more so than before the opp.  I appreciate there is pain for many months after this operation, but I don't see any sign of easing, if anything, some days are getting worse. Obviously, there would be pain if something has gone wrong, so how am I supposed be be sure it is all fine? Has anyone else had these sort of experiences at this stage?

3 likes, 129 replies

129 Replies

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  • grillage
    grillage cbc123

    Edited

    I had left side rotator cuff surgery one year ago. I have some tingling in my thumb. It is SLOWLY getting better. A slight amount of pain at times but SLOWLY getting better. Had the right side done 4 mionths ago. Still another 2-3 months of rehab needed. This is a VERY tough surgery. You have to give it time and you need to have a GOOD therapist! 
    • cbc123
      cbc123 grillage

      Edited

      Thank you for this.  Your very brave going through it all over again.  How is your recovery going at the moment with your right side?
    • grillage
      grillage cbc123

      Posted

      The right side was done April. Still hurts a bit, getting better every week. Still tingling by thumb. I have to see a hand specialist next week for that. Still can't sleep on my right side. Since both were done it has affected some neck muscles and bad muscle spasms. Hopefull within a few weeks that will go away with the shoulders improving. 

       

  • scrapbooker56
    scrapbooker56 cbc123

    Edited

    Have you had a follow up appointment? For what I have read here, they could do an MRI again if your doctor thinks something isn't right. Good luck, sorry your in pain.

    • cbc123
      cbc123 scrapbooker56

      Posted

      Yes I have, not due for another one until a couple of months. The doctor thinks its alright, I am always told to expect pain, which is easier to manage if you know it is healing as it should be?! Thank you for your reply 
    • scrapbooker56
      scrapbooker56 cbc123

      Posted

      That is my major complaint. I wasn't told what the recovery would entail. It is very frustrating when you dont know what to expect.I talked with my pcp yesterday and my PT and both made me feel much better about the progress of my recovery.

    • henpen1980
      henpen1980 scrapbooker56

      Edited

      Yes, that is disappointing!!  They don't want to scare us!!  Brigham and Womens Hospital (Harvard) has a very informative 36 page document that talks about the phases of recovery, hi/low concerns, and rehabbing exercises with explanations and photos.  Keep working hard!  You, we, all of us will make it!!  Hang in there!!

  • henpen1980
    henpen1980 cbc123

    Posted

    ICE are you still icing a couple of times a day??If not, get back to icing and ring your doctor's office speak to the nurse or ask that the doctor calls you back...ask about icing and when might heat help. You can do this!!  You are still in the early stages at 16 weeks...well... half way through the recovery average. DO NOT GIVE UP!!  Take care and good luck!!  Post an update when you are able!!  PS are you still in PT?? If not you know it never hurts to revisit your passive rom exercise or isotonic exercises on your own at home.  Long gentle stretches.  Keep your chin up!!

     

    • cbc123
      cbc123 henpen1980

      Posted

      I guess your right, it is still early stage. I know the healing is different for everyone, it would just be re-assuring to hear from someone who still ached this much at this stage.  I only ice when it is at it worse really. I am still doing pt, but when I hurt bad, I find it hard to put my full effort into it. Thank you, I'm trying to remain positive!

    • henpen1980
      henpen1980 cbc123

      Posted

      well friend, i was 15 weeks through with my reattachment of the infraspinatus and supraspinatus muscle tendons to the humeral head.  both ripped into two pieces right off the ball when i dislocated my shoulder.  i also ripped the subscapularis in half but the middle remained intact.  Infra and supra were reattached using sutures and anchor screws 1/27/17  My pt flaked out having me do some overhead stuff that was too much and POP the supraspinatus tendon reattachment exploded inside and the healing tendon RIPPED completely off the anchors.  It was horrible...the pop and pain...than the mother of all pain at 3 am which lasted 40 minutes as the tendon finished ripping off the anchor and humeral head.  I howled in pain, sobbing, swearing unable to do anything to stop it.  Then the pain stopped.  Once it was free from the humeral head it stopped hurting.  My surgeon re-repaired the supraspinatus AGAIN during a five hour surgery.  This time he put in a double row of anchors.  I am 8 weeks out of the re-repair (revision) 6/2/17.  New PT started six weeks ago. Very pleased.  Slow and steady.  Some days are better than others...we all go through it.  IcE ICE ICE  pack that shoulder in ice and relax.  Process what you are going through and keep on trucking. You will get better.  This is temporary.  Do not forget it!!  Do your home exercises you must.  DO NOT GIVE UP.  YOU CAN DO IT!!  YES YOU CAN!!! HANG IN THERE!!!  
    • cbc123
      cbc123 henpen1980

      Posted

      Wow, you have been through it! So thats what the professionals are talking about when they say, you will know if you have damaged something!  I hope you have changed your PT!  Its interesting you now how a double row of anchors, that must help give you peace of mind after last time.  It has been four years for me, since the pain first raised its ugly head and to finally discovering what the problem was, then the opp.  Yes hopefully the end is a short distance away now, I wil try lots more ice! Good luck with your recovery this time round.
  • claudia96851
    claudia96851 cbc123

    Edited

    cbc123 I had rotator cuff surgery Feb. 24th 2017 it was intense pain beyond anything I could imagine for the first two weeks at least. On my third week I started physical therapy 3 x a week then after three months I went down to 2 x a week for about a month then down the a week. Point here is physical therapy helps big time. I also had exercises I do at home. I'm not 100% pain free but I most certainly am very close to what I was before. Doctor did say it would take from 6 months to a yr before I'd be at 100% so I'm at half way there and getting better everyday. I just have to build my strength little by little. After surgery i felt like I wasn't ever going to be able to be able to put my hair up button my bra, sleep on my right side, the simple things in life we take for granted. Just hang in there go to physical therapy if your PT isn't helping much find another one. Feel better soon.

    • cbc123
      cbc123 claudia96851

      Posted

      I realise it is a slow recovery, just feels like there is no improvements whatsoever at the moment. My pt is  positive and happy when I improve in my range of movements, but all I think inside is I want the pain to stop!  When would you say you have noticed a big change in the pain easing?  
  • denny76163
    denny76163 cbc123

    Edited

    I am also 4 months post op and am having exactly the same issue. I an very worried that something is wrong. I just had the same surgery on my left shoulder and have very low pain from day one. Sounds like I had about the sane surgery as you. I had the anchors screwed into the bone to reattach the tendon. If you get any answers, please let me know.
    • henpen1980
      henpen1980 denny76163

      Posted

      Are you icing and using anti-inflammatory meds?  Are you pinching the shoulder blades while using the repaired shoulder?  Are you practicing at home?  KEEP YOUR CHIN UP!!
    • melissa81406
      melissa81406 denny76163

      Posted

      If you get any answers please let me know  I had the sam june6 2017 I feel it is gettin worse 
    • cbc123
      cbc123 denny76163

      Posted

      Hopefully this is a good sign that we both have simular symptons and it is what happens.  My pain is the same as before my opp, is this the same for you? And medication has never helped to ease it.
    • denny76163
      denny76163 henpen1980

      Posted

      I ice quite a few tomes a day.  My doctor doesn't like anti-infammatory meds, hes says you don't heal as fast while taking them.  He says to ice as often as needed.

    • henpen1980
      henpen1980 denny76163

      Posted

      Are you using your sling at night?  I need to use mine when I sleep.  I have tried without but 3-4 hours into my sleep my shoulder is very sore.  I put the sling/immobilizer back on and viola improvement.  On these nights I do wake up sore and painful.  It takes a day or so to get back to normal.  What about ES Tylenol to help with pain management?  Ibuprofen has been associated with slowing or stalling tendon healing in some research.  What about EST?/  Keep your chin up...ICE ICE ICE!!!  Slow and steady.  What does your PT offer?

       

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