2 successful rotator cuff surgeries and outcomes...so far fingers crossed
Posted , 3 users are following.
Hi, Everyone:
I'm 65 had a rotator cuff surgery on my left and right shoulders over the past 2 years exactly 1 year apart. Left had massive tear in supraspinatus/infraspinatus, labrum tear as well. Right had large tear in suprapsinatus and labrum with torn biceps (tenedosis done). Left took about 1 and a half year- 3/4 year to feel normal with near normal ROM and no pain. Right is at 10 1/2 months and almost equal to ROM of left with no pain but still stiff. Strength is good on both shoulders.
I had therapy 2-3 times a week for the 1st 6 months then 1x a week for about 3 months after.
I just wanted to post this for people who are having difficulty. Recovery may take way longer than you read about online or what your doctor or therapist tells you. There is no set timetable for this everyone is different depending on age, state of health, size and kind of tear(s), etc. And there will be ups and downs. The key for me has been persistence and as much a positive outlook as possible. A good therapist can make all the difference.
The therapist should be positive - in fact, one of mine was always joking and kept me in good spirits. He also had major rotator cuff repair and was perhaps the most sensitive therapist I had concerning my own recovery sharing his own story and experiences.
Do your homework! Don't skip those exercises they give you at therapy. You have to do them yourself at home. I made a wand out of some pvc, filled them with sand making 4 of them weighing 2, 3, 4, 5 pounds. I used dumbells at home. I went for walks. I bought my own pulleys and hooked them up to my roof. I got an exercise ball and mat to do some of those exercises they show you on a table (works just as well on a ball). I also bought some of those resistance bands they used at therapy. I tried to duplicate everything I did at therapy, getting a Tens electro-stim unit (only $30 on Amazon) and using it before I started my exercises, just like at therapy. I also used it when I had painful days along with ice.
I joined a gym and did my exercises there, talked to other gym members who had had surgery and rotator cuff repairs. The pulley machines at the gym allowed me to also continue the more advanced resistance exercises I did at therapy along with the other cardio (treadmill, elliptical, etc.) and resistance machines, I was able to develop my overally physical fitness. REMEMBER it's not just your shoulder, it's your ENTIRE body that is affected: balance, strength, etc. Those aches and pains you start feeling in your back, neck maybe even legs may be a result of that imbalance created by your healing shoulder. Getting the blood flowing helps keep things in shape and strong. You want to be more than just adequate you want to strengthen and improve your overall strength, endurance, suppleness, etc.
In short, I did everything I could to help myself get back to as normal as I could be before I had the injuries. The doctor and therapist said I was an excellent patient and made remarkable progress because of my attitude and persistence with the exercises.
I don't have any pre-existing conditions, don't smoke or drink and have always been very active. I suppose this has a lot to do with it as well, but if you aren't as healthy, you can change and use this as an opportunity to do so.
The rotator cuff surgery and rehab has been an ordeal of sorts for me, but family support and working and looking towards a good outcome keeps me motivated. I should also mention the fantastic advice and videos of therapists, other patients on Youtube. There are some mighty kind people there who share their own experience and details.
I hope my post encourages others to do the same and share as well.
Good health to everyone!
1 like, 2 replies
jule93059 mike1997
Posted
you are absolutely correct. I had my rt rotator cuff done and 7 mos post op, retore it lifting a heavy pt (Im a nurse) but they had to do the left one because it was worse. I needed several anchors. Im now 8 wks post op and wont repeat that stupid mistake of lifting again. The pool has helped me alot. I still need to have the rt one redone but i cant take that pain again for awhile. Im 64 and in good shape but 30 yrs of trauma/flight nursing lifting heavy patients and equipment into aircraft destroyed my shoulders and back.
mike1997 jule93059
Posted
Hi...
I'm glad you are healing and getting better everyday. I assume your rotator cuff injuries were a result of wear and tear rather than trauma. It seems to make a difference regarding the outcome of the repairs.
The pain is the most difficult thing to deal with and why most patients have the surgery and their chief complaint after surgery. My left shoulder had to have surgery, there was no other option because I couldn't move it very much after a bicycling accident. I was disabled. My right shoulder surgery came about because the surgeon who did my left shoulder examined it after I told him it was making a loud crunching noise whenever I raised my arm and that lead to an MRI revelaing a large tear.
I'd say most people are afraid of surgery and if it wasn't for the pain they'd forgo it. After I'd had such good results with the left shoulder I had confidence in the surgeon and decided to have surgery on the right as well. Strangely, even though the damage to the right was less than the left, it seemed to take an extra month or two in terms of getting over the stiffness and achieving full ROM.
I think you'll have good results with both shoulders if you keep at the exercises and follow any restrictions the surgeon may place on use of your arms and shoulders. That's another piece of important information...MAKE SURE YOU ASK YOUR SURGEON if there are any temporary or permanent restrictions on movements you can make using your arms. Ask the surgeon about specific things you do in your job, exercise, daily routine. If the surgeon says NEVER lift anything heavier than 5-10 pounds above shoulder height...you should follow that advice. My surgeon said I should never lift anything above shoulder height heavier than a coke can. He said it wasn't that I couldn't, it was because doing so put my tendons at risk. So if I have to put something on a shelf I'll use a stool or ladder so that the level of lifting is never above shoulder height. He said if I followed his advice I would be able to maintain healthy shoulders for the rest of my life and he'd never have to operate on my shoulders again.
I think this is highly important for a patient to know and follow after surgery restrictions. The operations are expensive, an ordeal for the patient recovering and it's such a waste of all that if you put that at risk. I've done tons of research on all the studies and data about rotator cuff surgery and outcome results. I think the failures are many times because the patients takes risks that they shouldn't be taking. Whether the patient ignored the surgeon's advice on restricted movement/activity or wasn't told, I don't know. But it can be very easy to forget those restrictions in the heat of activity and chores. So I understand why this happens, especially if lifting is a part of your job.
I had my surgeon write down the restriction on his letterhead so that I could show it to anyone that might ask me to do something that requires lifting above shoulder level...I can tell them "I'm under doctor's orders!"
You're so lucky to be a nurse...One of my nurses at my primary care doctor's office had rotator cuff surgery too and we are like old friends when we meet and talk. You as a nurse have so much more experience and insight into all of this.
Best wishes always!