12 Weeks Post Op
Posted , 6 users are following.
I am twelve weeks post up from surgery to fix a small labrum tear and bone spur removal. I have been having horrible pain in my upper back/side of shoulder. My PT has been doing manual therapy on that spot, but it hurts so bad to lay on it, sit up, and just throughout the day. I mentioned this to my doctor at the post op visit last week, and he felt the area and said it was my rotator cuff muscle. He said to take ibprophen for it, and continue icing the area as I have been. He also said to let them know if I needed anything. Is it normal to have pain here, this far into recovery? The pain is sometimes so bad I want to cry. Should I give it a few more weeks and then try to call and make another appointment to be seen? I'm trying to get back into working out and being more active, but this is keeping me from doing so. It's just strange to me that this is becoming a major issue this far into my recovery.
0 likes, 11 replies
Roberta265 kaysie80717
Posted
i had rotator cuff surgery at the beginning of 2017 and two years later i still have discomfort. i had 5 screws, so probably some of the discomfort could be arthritis. I'll be 70 soon that being said, i dont recall being in excruciating pain at 3 months . i was however in that type of pain with the tear before surgeryI might have been uncomfortable sleeping on my side after surgery, but i could generally work into a comfortable position. How is the PT going?
kaysie80717 Roberta265
Posted
PT is going good! I am currently in the active-assisted stage. My doctor said I definitely need to work on my strengthening during PT, which I am. It's just that same spot that bothers me. Just not sure about it since it just started, and I never had issues before now.
Roberta265 kaysie80717
Posted
i know what you mean Even after all this time i fret because i have a spot that is more painful than it used to be. i was so weak after surgery, that my arms shook lifting 1 lb. I tried extra hard to rebuild my strength and the nagging pain makes me fear i reinjured myself. i think your Dr or therapist would have picked up on something, since you see them regularly. Maybe if you expressed your fear to your DR, he/she could reassure you
mia98887 kaysie80717
Posted
3 Months? Be patient. Mine was killing me until I began PT. Each month it got better...at 3 months, I believe I was crying everyday! 😦 By month six, I was 50%...by my 8th month, I finished PT, and never saw the Dr again. I had a 95% rotator cuff tear and had 2 anchors put in.
Unfortunately, NOW my other shoulder is beginning to show signs, but I will not do that surgery again.
Wayyyyy too painful.
Good luck, and remember to do the PT at home as well!
kaysie80717 mia98887
Posted
Thankfully my tear was small. I only had one anchor. My doctor said I should only need 8 more weeks of PT, I'm on week 6. I guess thats why I thought the pain shouldn't be as bad.
Roberta265 mia98887
Posted
i agree with you there I'll never do another surgery
mike1997 mia98887
Posted
Hi, Mia:
While towards the end, I'd say around the 8-9 month of rehab after my lt shld rotator cuff surgery, I began to hear a loud crunching noise from my rt shoulder everytime i raised it overhead. When I saw the surgeon and told him about the noise he immediately felt it as I raised it and said it was the labrum making that noise. He ordered an MRI and it turned out to be the labrum and the rotator cuff and I had to have surgery again, but because I was so pleased with the results of the lt shoulder and had faith in the surgeon I went ahead and had it done.
If your other shoulder is showing signs it might be a good idea to at least request an exam/mri to put your mind at ease about exactly what is going on. I have read and thoroughly believe that rotator cuff tears can become larger over time as well as put stress on other tendons and muscles making things much worse.
Perhaps all you need is physical therapy.
mike1997 Roberta265
Posted
Hi,
I've done a lot of research on surveys of people who have had rotator cuff surgeries. And a high majority of them, even those who have had re-occurring tears, say they were satisfied and would do the surgery again.
I'm one of those who have had rotator cuff surgery on both shoulders and I am satisfied even though it has taken more than 2 years for the left shoulder to get back to normal (no pain, excellent ROM) and 1 year now with the right shoulder (no pain and almost 100% ROM).
I like being fit, strong, pain free and able to function at a high level of activity. I've read that some doctors will suggest to a patient that having a rotator cuff tear is ok because that patient may be elderly and not as active as they once were. That's not me and never will be. I don't want to walk around crippled or hampered in anyway for as long as I can.
Perhaps it's just my nature that wants to fight the infirmities of old age and death. If I may echo a response from Arya (Game of Thrones) What do you say to the God of Death? - "Not Today!"
I say do anything you can - including surgery - if at the end of the road is a chance for maintaining a good quality of life.
jaycee1956 mike1997
Posted
Hi Mike i read your reply this morning and was about to respond then as i was just about to go in for a SAD procedure on my right shoulder having undergone the same on my left one four years ago . The difference being the first one was wear and tear over a period of time and this time was due to an injury (all of my own making). How ever it all happened so quickly and efficiently and I was whisked in before I had chance.
i just wanted to say how reassuring I found your comments I'm probably older than you (63) but similarly like to be fit and strong . i go to the gym regularly and until it was just too uncomfortable went to weekly Pilates classes. The consultant wanted to explore other avenues first, such as physio and a couple of cortisone injections but I suspected surgery was the only real solution to enable me to get back to a reasonable level of strength and fitness. The first surgery revealed a large rc tear and was open surgery and like you recovery was long but successful. I was having a wobble this morning wondering if I was doing the right thing and your post reassured me I am now home, with a very numb arm but no pain, which I know will come as soon as the nerve block wears off No tear this time although he said there was wear and tear on the joint that might mean replacement at some point but I am hoping to get back to fitness when the physio gives me the go ahead and ward off further surgery as long as possible. My delightful son commented that I may need hip replacements before then, This may well be the drugs talking and I know I have a fair bit of sh** ahead but I am cautiously optimistic that I can get back to an acceptable level of fitness and well being. i just wanted to let you know that your upbeat post really helped me.
mike1997 jaycee1956
Posted
Hi, Jaycee:
I'm so glad you are doing ok. The apprehension of surgery was the worst of it for me. Naturally, you have to deal with post surgery and rehab but you're over the surgery and already healing now!
Good on you!
A lot of doctors will tell an elderly patient that if they have a rotator cuff tear that they don't have to have it fixed...that they are not as active as they used to be and if the pain and lack of ROM is not bothersome, they can get away with physical therapy, maybe some occasional pain meds or cortisone injections and just live with it. Maybe that's a good prescription for an old car and you can just run it into the ground till you buy a new one, but we aren't old cars! We're human beings and have bodies and feelings and can suffer pain both physical, mental and emotional.
Besides, I take care of old stuff that I collect: books, toys, dvd's etc. I have them restored, repaired, cleaned. They're valuable to me. My body is valuable to me. I take pride.
I had one orthopedic doctor who had a torn bicep. He said he took cortisone injections to deal with the constant pain. I asked him why he didn't just have it fixed. He replied, "Noooooo, I'm afraid!" Can you believe that? I told him, "No, i had bicep tenedosis surgery and it was no big deal." He shook his head no again. Now, what kind of example is that? He's a doctor and works in orthopedics and he's afraid to have surgery?
For me, all of this has been a learning experience. You learn about yourself, about human nature, you can grow and become stronger from it all...it takes courage and a willingness to remain open to the possibilities. I can tell you, you're on the right path towards good health and a fuller active life.
Keep it up!
jaycee1956 mike1997
Posted
Thanks Mike. I expect your inspirational posts will come in handy going forward in those early hours when the ice packs and games of online scrabble just don't cut it! It's good to read about someone almost out of the other side in a positive light. interesting theory re: exercise. Resonates a bit with me regarding my first surgery.