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Aching arm after shoulder surgery 4 months on

Posted , 59 users are following.

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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  • robin98259
    robin98259 cbc123

    Posted

    I also had rotator cuff surgery April 2013 and Jan 17 2018. Same shoulder tore different places. I started therapy 2 days after surgery. Had very little pain. Therapy helped. I went back to work light duty co workers helped with all my lifting. No issues until 2 weeks ago with bad bicep pain . The pain just flies in at any given time.Dont see dr for two more weeks. After reading about others having the same pain I feel a little better hearing I might not of injured it again.
    • Roberta265
      Roberta265 robin98259

      Posted

      Hi Robin.  I had rotator cuff surgery January, 2017.  At the last appointment with my doctor, he told me I could expect continued recovery for 12-18 months.  YIKES!  18 months?  Anyway, I began golfing 9-10 months after my surgery.  I had terrible bicep pain and fretted that I tore my bicep.  My shoulder hurt up into my neck and jaw.  I would give it a couple of days rest and it would go away.  Then I would golf again and it was back.  I don't have the bicep pain anymore after 15 months, but my shoulder still aches at times at the top and sometimes still into my neck and jaw.  I think it's probably a combination of the 5 screws and arthritis setting in (I'm 68).  I hope you feel better soon.  

  • cindy_76584
    cindy_76584 cbc123

    Posted

    Just joining in on this blog... Wondering how you're doing now? I am 11 weeks out from mini open surgery for supraspinatus full thickness tear.... still having trouble laying flat and lots of soreness and achiness during the day after not wearing sling while sleeping and my range of motion is very limited as far as reaching away from my body or even up as high as my shoulder.

    • christine_61665
      christine_61665 cindy_76584

      Posted

      Hi Cindy. You need to read the blog on this site "Rotator cuff surgery 4 weeks post op". It's the best. This is a serious surgery and you're responses are normal. Range of motion and sleeping takes a long time. While no one here can walk in your shoes, we can sympathize and reassure. This recovery takes a long time and, for me, reading these blogs comforted me no end. I was not the only one surprised and struggling. Keep us posted.

  • Slim1969
    Slim1969 cbc123

    Posted

    I had shoulder surgery almost 6 months ago. My problem is a little different. After 6 weeks of surgery everything was going great. I had no pain and everything was smooth. When I went back for my checkup, I had a red ball over my incision and it would hurt. My Doctor said that for precautionary reasons I should take antibiotics. So I did for 1 WEEK. I came back and the antibiotics were not working. He said to me . I need to treat this aggressively. I went back to the hospital and had another surgery to clean up the infection not arthroscopic. That's when my shoulder hasn't been the same. It's been almost 6 months since my 1st surgery and 3 1/2 from my last. My shoulder has good range of motion but wham I bend my arm at 90 degrees to do the pt exercises it hurts. Im very clicky and It feels that something is rubbing in there.If I put my arm straight I have no pain. It's getting worse instead of better. I'm really. worried that something is wrong. Any help will be greatly appreciated so I can have peace of mind

  • gail_39378
    gail_39378 cbc123

    Posted

    Hi, I had a rotator cuff repair on 16/3/18. After around 10 weeks post op my PT. stopped my physio due to severe pain. I have since had an ultrasound and steroid injection. My consultant that did the repair has since been suspended. The ultrasound didn’t show enough detail so had an mri and am awaiting the results. The pain when moving my arm away from my body is unbelievable. It clicks and pops. I also had a bursectomy at the same time as the rotator cuff repair but had a bursectomy and bone shaved in sept 17 (same shoulder).  As long as I keep my elbow tucked into my body I can move my arm. I’m at my wits end. It’s like toothache in my shoulder. Can’t lay on my side or my belly as my shoulder touches the bed and is agony as is anything touching it, including a bag strap or seat belt. If anyone has any advice I’d really appreciate it. Thanks 
  • betsy78019
    betsy78019 cbc123

    Posted

    Hi, I would like to know if and when your pain started to improve as I am having the same continuous pain after my surgery 8 weeks ago.  I appears your operation was more or less a year ago by now.
    • ke4nu7
      ke4nu7 betsy78019

      Posted

      Yes, it did go away after months of exercise. It will bother me a little when I overuse but much better than before surgery. good luck
    • deborah07931
      deborah07931 ke4nu7

      Posted

      So after one year of me posting my my original post I ended up having to have the rotator cuff surgery again. This was 2 weeks ago. The first one didn’t work and I couldn’t use my shoulder for a year. This one was much more serious as there was more damage done. As of yesterday I have to have surgery once again as the tendon that they just repaired has pulled away from the bone in my biceps. My muscle has gone into a hard ball. I am so frustrated with this. Think twice before having this surgery as if Physio may work if caught early enough you may not have to go through this. I wish and pray that I didn’t have the first surgery 
    • Lisa6460
      Lisa6460 deborah07931

      Posted

      Oh no! I’m so sorry! I will be thinking of you. Please keep us posted.

    • tanya71990
      tanya71990 betsy78019

      Posted

      Hi Betsy yes you will still have pain I found that icing my shoulder was the best I could do along with the meds. When the time comes and you have no more meds stick with the ice. Yes and it times when you do too much it hollers at you take care don't try to push it too fast it takes time the physical therapy helped me very very much when the time comes for you to go.

    • tanya71990
      tanya71990 deborah07931

      Posted

      Oh I am so sorry to hear this I only had a bone spur taking off and some arthritis scraped out but then they found my bicep muscle was tore so they repaired that. Which was a different thing where they drill two holes and then tie it up with some sort of magic thread. That ball of muscles or tendons must be so painful. Praying for you to have a fast recovery.
    • deborah07931
      deborah07931 tanya71990

      Posted

      Thank you!! When this happened to you was the surgery also painful. We’re you also out of it for a few days afterwards? I can’t stand the feeling of the post surgery, especially the first 24-48 hours. 
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