After Rotator Cuff Surgery-when will the pain end?

It's good to read a reassuring post whilst in the early rehab stages. I am three and a half weeks post op for SAD procedure and yes, I have forgotten what a decent night's sleep feels like. I also had a slight set back when I overdid the exercises given to me by the physio but hopefully back on track now.

Thanks for the update and the reminder that it really is only time that effects a good outcome.

Time and faithfulness to your rehab routine!

Funny how these things go. I'm back to work now, and I'm still feeling my way around how much I can do. The good doctor, wanted me to take more time off, but March 5 was quite some time ago, and I'm not getting any thinner from lack of work. I'm a USPS letter carrier and most of the weight is carried by my left arm and the surgery was on my right. I stopped going to PT once I went back to work 2 weeks ago. I'm finally sleeping now that I've gotten a script for zolpidem from my internal medicine doctor. Has a little hangover that a couple of cups of coffee takes care off. My biggest problem at this point is the ability to reach behind my back and sudden movements with my right arm can be painful also. That said, I have most of the other range of motion back and I'm certain that the behind the back ability will return in time. Like you though, I have a bad tear in my left shoulder also, and it was found before I had the right shoulder diagnosed and repaired. So next year, I'm seriously considering what you have done. I'm 59 and planning to be able to do things without pain when I do retire.

I am post surgery 15 months and the behind the back thing takes the longest. I am just now being able to reach behind my back, although not fully. I say this not to discourage you, but to know that this particular motion seems to take the longest to regain. wishing you success in returning to work. 😃

My surgeon and my physical therapist said the behind the back/internal rotation is hardest to regain. I'm almost 10 months post op and have about the same back reach on the surgical and "good" side. There's still some mild-moderate pain involved.

I am over two years and behind the back is fine but I do feel tightness. I do have a tip that might help someone. Right handed, right shoulder repaired. I confess to the bad habit of playing cards on my tablet whenever I watch TV, or sometimes just sitting. Which means I hunch my shoulder. My bicep was very achy, even when it wasn't cold and damp. I think I made the connection and made an effort to break that habit. Then I had a deep tissue massage which hurt and bruised but my bicep is much improved. Now we'll see what happens in the winter. I'll keep my trusty heating pad handy! Thanks for listening.

It's also been awhile since I posted but I've been receiving several notices in my email from others talking about pain after rotator cuff surgery. I wanted to just quickly summarize my progress which might alleviate your fears and anxiety.

I had my arthroscopic surgery for two full tears on my right shoulder (dominant side) on March 6th. Honestly, I have never experienced such intense pain in my life---with the exception of childbirth. I was given Percocet that I made last for the first couple of weeks. Agony. I cannot take motrin because I also take Warfarin, so I was told to take Tylenol. Useless. I "slept" sitting up in bed propped up on pillows with my arm in a sling for 6 weeks. I first posted to this site because I had become desperate emotionally with the intensity and never-ending nature of the pain. I started rehab after two weeks and the early exercises seemed ridiculous---they were so simple and painful, I couldn't believe anything would ever help. Several times the discomfort was so intense I too thought I had re-injured myself. My surgeon gave me a very conservative, and slow protocol for rehab because the tears were complicated and difficult to repair. He emphasized that it could easily take up to a full year before I regained maximum movement. For the most part, I performed the exercises daily, but sometimes I slacked off. During this time the pain continued at a level 7--I just hurt all the time. I was finally able to turn partially onto my left side to get a few hours of rest after about 10 weeks.

It's now been 5 months since the surgery and in general the pain is 85- 90% gone. This didn't even begin to happen until the fourth month, literally over 16 weeks. It was a long, slow, depressing time. I too, was afraid that I'd made a mistake to have the surgery and thought more times than I can count that the whole experience was total BS from beginning to end--including arguing with the doctor for a second prescription for pain relief AND going to physical therapy. But, now at 20+ weeks I just want to encourage anyone reading to remain patient and persevere. I still have discomfort (some days more than others), lack full range of motion, have to be very careful holding/carrying anything heavy (which I do more than I should, groceries, grandbaby, etc.) but the worst of it seems to have passed. I think for most people, this surgery does work, but it's so hard to remain positive when the pain is constant and wears you down psychologically.

I hope my own story encourages anyone reading who is hurting and scared that along with the pt exercises, patience is really the key. It does get better. Best of luck to all.

Lisa - I also just read DMN's post and empathise completely having spent a very restless night once more following shoulder surgery. Although mine was nowhere near as extensive as either of yours this time (SAD procedure although four years ago RT tear) the night time pain is just as bad as previously. You are so correct that time does make the difference - no medication seemed to help at all as it just threw up different problems. It is very comforting to read positive posts. When you are lacking in sleep it has a knock on effect on your whole life and you go through the day zombie like. Thank you for posting and reminding us that it IS going to get better. I can't offer any better comfort to DMN than you have, except to say that I agree with you and although we do go through a period of wondering what we have done, we have to play the long game. I am a couple of weeks behind DMN and still using ice packs on a regular basis even though at the moment they are not helping as much as I would like. I hope everyone going through this continues to improve, albeit slowly.

Thank you. I appreciate the encouragement!

Thank you!

In reading the various posts about post op pain and difficulty sleeping, I'm reminded of my almost opposite experience. I never had the level of pain I expected! I was prescribed percocet which i took around the clock as directed. After about 3 days I switched to tylenol during the day and the percocet at bedtime which would get me through the night. If I woke up it wasn't pain, it was being uncomfortable in that recliner! I started PT a week post op. I took a pain pill before the sessions, as directed, but I was able to cut it down to half before and tylenol after about two weeks and just tylenol after about a month.

My surgeon was very emphatic about sleep! He believes sleep/rest is necessary for healing and that you should get it however you can. Icing before bedtime as well as medication was the primary recommendation. I used an ice machine 24/7!

I'm almost 10 months out. I have an almost constant dull achiness in my shoulder and upper arm. I use ice, a percussion massager and sometimes my TENS unit. I rarely take anything for pain. I sleep well but am careful about positioning.

Regardless of where you are in the process, I'm sure it's better than last month, last week or even yesterday. I saw a post by a ortho surgeon on the subject of the length of recovery. He tells his patients that recovery is when you can use your shoulder without thinking about it..:

I hope I didn't sound like this has been easy because it certainly has not been and is not now. There have been "I can't do this/why did I do this days". Days when it seems my whole life revolves around my shoulder: if I do a full exercise routine, percussion massage, then ice and TENS, then another 10-15 minutes of ice, that's pretty much my morning; with no guarantee what I'll be able to get done the rest of the day. Frustration runs high over not being able to do small things without causing pain/discomfort. Actually considered putting a hole in the milk carton because it was too hard getting that plastic cap off. Forget cutting into a melon. Grocery shopping still takes planning: how am I going to get it inside? Dressing still takes planning: do I try for the back zipper? Cooking still takes planning: can I lift the pot/pan?

I have decided to reclaim as much of my life as I safely can knowing that everyday I am a day further in the journey. It is hard so cry when you feel you need to. I have and do. Whatever it takes to get you through the roughest patches.

Good question. Maybe because they don't want to scare us, or because everyone is different and they don't know. I really think they don't know. How ignorant I was, I didn't know what a nerve block was, and no shared that it would wear off. So I thought this isn't so bad and didn't take the meds they gave me until about 16 hrs later when all wore off. Ow!!. Then after 3 mos I was told no more meds because that's our protocol. I didn't take all the time but occassionally when my patience wore down. This forum cheered me up, I wasn't crazy. I'm still replying 2 years later. Keep at it, don't try and be tough. My neighbor just had this surgery and he's doing way too much.

It will improve. Best!