After Rotator Cuff Surgery-when will the pain end?
Posted , 94 users are following.
I am a 56 year old female who usually has a high tolerance for pain. I had rotator cuff surgery on 12/15/16. I had one anchor placed during arthroscopic surgery for a full rotator cuff tear and bone spur removal. I'm having lots of pain, especially at night. I slept in a recliner for one week. Now I'm sleeping in the guest room propped up on pillows. And by "sleeping" I mean a few hours here and there. I miss my real bed and my real life. I'm weaning myself off Demerol, because I don't want to become an addict living in a van down by the river! No offense to drug addicts; I just don't want to join them.
Physical therapy is very painful, but I'm doing my exercises daily....well, not as many reps as I should because it hurts so much afterwards. About a week ago a "therapist" we'll call Hitler just about yanked my arm from my body. Things have been going downhill since, and it isn't me on skis!😣
I'm really over this whole experience!
I want my right arm back...the one I use for everything!
I'm hoping to return to school to teach 95 seventh graders in four days. Too ambitious? I did practice driving left-handed for a month before my surgery,
Thoughts? Advice?
5 likes, 413 replies
lisa31647 TNteacher
Posted
i am so glad to find this forum! I was in a hit and run accident in April 2018. I had neck surgery in April 2019 for a herniated disc, my doctor thought that was causing all of my pain in my right (dominate) arm and hand. After 4 months off work resting without much improvement, he referred me to a shoulder specialist. After two steroid injections that offered minimal short term relief, he recommended surgery for acromial decompression and distal clavicle recision as the MRI did not show a tear. I had surgery on Dec 3rd and he found a medium full thickness tear of my suprispinatus, I came home in an immobilizer for a month. I surprisingly had no pain after surgery or at the beginning of PT which I started a week after surgery. But now, 6 weeks post op I am having much more pain and I'm scared I've reinjured it. I've had significant swelling and pain in my shoulder, primarily the front near my collar
bone. I'm following doctor's and PT orders to the T, but I'm honestly terrified I've messed something up since I had no pain for the first 5 weeks. I can't imagine going through this again and my heart goes out to those of you who have endured this more than once. My range of motion is good, doc and PT both say I'm ahead of schedule in recovery but the pain scares me. Has anyone else had swelling start this far out after surgery? Mine was minimal, almost non-existent until the past couple of weeks. Hugs and prayers to everyone going through this. I am 57 and also have to have a major
back surgery after I recoup from this one. I just want my normal life back!!
bebop lisa31647
Posted
Don't give up the ship. Things like this can be weird. Six weeks after rotator cuff my dog almost pulled my shoulder off when lunging as I was switching hands to walk her. I took a week off of rehab and rested the shoulder well then picked up on the therapy the following week. Had pain for several weeks after that, even though the pain was gone before the incident. I insisted on another MRI , which they gave me, and all looked ok. So I went back to therapy and plugged away but it still hurt. Then one day out a clear blue sky the pain stopped and I have healed perfectly. The human body can be amazing sometimes. Keep the faith.
LisaGayeH TNteacher
Posted
Glad (but also sad) to see so many going through all this. I am 6 1/2 weeks post op for rotator cuff repair - one full thickness tendon tear & a second half thickness, removal of a large spur. My experience is a little different and back to front it seems. I had 2 nights of Tramadol for pain relief and have only needed panosteo since. No PT allowed until 12 weeks. My sling came of 3 days ago and now the trouble has started. I am having sharp stabbing pain intermittently at the front of my rotator cuff. Swelling is intense and causing intense "pressure" in my shoulder. At a loss as to why this is happening. Has anyone else had a "back to front" pain experience? Please and Thank you
lisa31647 LisaGayeH
Posted
I'm sorry for the pain you are having! I have not had any "back to front" pain that you are describing, but I have had the pain in the front . I am 9 weeks post surgery, and just got back from PT. My therapist thinks the pain is due to the position I sit in working on the computer. I work from home and sit in front of a PC all day, and it remains one of the most painful and uncomfortable positions even after surgery. I continue to have swelling that goes all the way to my elbow which also makes my whole arm hurt. I am still taking Aleve twice a day, I only took a couple of the pain pills right after surgery - I was fortunate to not have any pain until I was out of the immobilizer. I have been doing PT since 1 week post-op. My range of motion is increasing, but it seems to be really slow. My PT is pleased with my progress and says I'm doing good, I'm just ready to be able to work without it hurting. Driving is also still very uncomfortable, especially when I exceed about 20-30 minutes. I just get so frustrated reading how long a complete recovery will take, if it's even achievable. It's disheartening, yet I plug along. I am facing a major back surgery after I recuperate from this one, so I too get down and feel like I will never be back to my old pre-wreck self. I am 57 and healthy - since my accident (April 2018) I have had 4 steroid injections, two surgeries and went on anti-depressants, so that has all contributed to me gaining 20 pounds. Before the accident I had no pain, no issues, and I could do anything I wanted. That changed overnight. I know you guys understand the frustration.
MC_in_NY TNteacher
Posted
So glad to have found this forum because it is comforting to read that others are going through the same pain and depression that I have since surgery.I am 9 weeks post rotator cuff repair surgery and have gone to PT faithfully 3 times per week since week 2. At this point I have gained back almost 50% of my range of motion. I'm a very active retired 58 year old woman and this recovery has been harder than I ever imagined. I miss my yoga and fitness classes so much. And sleeping well...forget about it! Mostly I am so tired of explaining to family and friends that this slow progress is normal, but they just dont understand that. i am not a patient person and knowing that it may take a year to be normal is so disheartening. i will keep working hard to get there though!
lisa70118 TNteacher
Posted
Hi MC,
I happened to see your post this morning and thought I would send a quick reply. I don't follow this forum much now--which is a good thing since it means I'm no longer in such discomfort or as anxious.
In March it will have been a year since my rotator cuff repair. My story of recovery is much the same as most people here have described. Incredible pain for what seemed like too long, sleeping sitting up, 6 months of PT twice a week, etc. Where I am now is as good as it gets, I think. I returned to the gym for lower body exercises after about three months and continued the PT exercises for another 3 months until my therapist said I was fine to begin very minimal upper body work and that very very slowly with very light weights, which I continue to do. I managed to do lower body yoga stretches even in the sling, though I did have to eliminate several at the time. I was finally able to sleep flat again after about 6 or 7 months and now I can actually lie on that side for short periods of time. Sadly, my other shoulder has begun to ache a bit and I assume that is from carrying the load during this last year.
I am 67. We heal more slowly as we age, but we do heal. My advice is not to worry too much about the percentages of healing you have achieved so far. Healing does happen over time and it's different for everyone. PT exercises will help you to avoid a frozen shoulder and you will eventually be able to work up to using light weights to strengthen your back and arms. Some shoulder exercises you should never do again, but you won't miss them as you continue to strengthen other upper body muscles. Stop trying to convince your family that this is one of the longest healing injuries there are. All ortho docs and PT's will tell you this. It's hard, but let them think or say what they will. What's important is that you understand that you WILL heal. I still have some discomfort, but that's just the way it's going to be.
Don't be discouraged. Patience is the most difficult thing of all. You'll get there.
Best,
Lisa
MC_in_NY lisa70118
Posted
Thanks very much for your reply and encouragement! I am curious which shoulder exercises I wont be able to do again? I was hoping for a full recovery with no restrictions and my Dr has not been very informative about that yet.
lisa70118 TNteacher
Posted
To answer your question most accurately, I would say two things.
First, ask your PT specifically about what weight bearing exercises you might be able to do once your doctor is ready to discharge you as a recovering rotator cuff patient. The usual time period for PT discharge is 6 months. By that time he or she will be able to tell you, given your individual level of strength and range of motion, what exercises you can do and which ones to avoid.
Secondly, if anything you choose to do, or try HURTS at all, stop! Despite what any doctor or PT can advise, only you will know what you should avoid. Generally speaking, any weight bearing exercises that involve lifting your arms straight up above your head should be eliminated from your routine. The same can be said for any standing flys that require you bring your arms up and out to the sides, or in front of you. These put far too much pressure on the repair site. Avoid the lat machine pull downs BEHIND your head (though these are not specific to shoulders they do strain them. Lat pull downs are fine in front of your body, as are rowing movements that focus on your upper back and oblique muscles. Use the weight bench at an angle, not flat, for any bench press types of moves and try not to lower your arms so that your elbows dip below your sides before pushing up again. Only lower the weights to your sides and push straight up. Again, these are not specific to shoulders per se, but any upper body work will use the shoulder muscles and can strain the area. Don't do shrugs. I read once never to use any barbells again over 8-10 pounds and have found that to be my own limit as well.
There are lots of exercises using resistance bands that involve stretching and strengthening your arms and back. I also found a lot of excellent suggestions online searching for exercises to avoid after rotator cuff repair. Shoulders are the most problematic and delicate areas. For me, as an older woman, my concern is not having strong shoulders, but rather the ability to achieve and maintain a good range of motion, strong biceps and triceps, and solid upper back muscles for posture. Again, if ANYTHING you try HURTS, just stop doing that exercise. Go slowly and start with very light weights--2-5 pounds. After rotator cuff repair, as an older person, you really do have to be careful. No exercise is worth re-injury.
Hope this helps. Hang in there.
MC_in_NY lisa70118
Posted
yes very helpful! thanks again
jaycee1956 lisa70118
Posted
Like you, I am not on this forum so much these days, but I was interested in what you were saying with regard to exercises following shoulder surgery. I had open surgery for a rotator cuff tear five years ago, and again seven months ago, just the SAD procedure on the other shoulder. I have been getting back more or less to fitness as I was before but am wary of overdoing the upper body stuff. I have been using small weights 2 - 3 kg but I have been doing overhead. As a slightly built 63 year old female, I wouldn't want to use heavy weights but obviously conscious of keeping 'bingo wings' at bay for as long as possible. Would you think that tricep dips should also be avoided? What about downward facing dog? I decided at the weekend to step up my stretching routine and picked up on some yoga positions that I have done previously and stupidly overdid these and am paying for this now as I have badly strained some muscles - QL I think, above my hip. I need to take a step back and look at just what is feasible without risking further injury. Spent a while yesterday reading blogs from yoga instructors advising against certain poses. My consultant was never very specific when I asked which exercises I should avoid, and whilst the instructors in the gym I go to are all very pleasant - they are so young and probably not particularly au fait with ongoing rehab after surgery, especially for women of a certain age. My resistance bands have been a godsend throughout both rehab periods. It's good to read the success stories on here and they were so useful to me during the dark days immediately post surgery.
richella_40978 TNteacher
Posted
Hi. okay, its been almost 3 years since i had rotator cuff surgery. i was 58 years old. let me say, i am so glad i had it done. did i sit in the recliner for sleeping? yes, for a long time. did i think i wasn't going to ever heal? well, i wondered. but, i kept at it. saw my therapist as directed. however, i did leave for another city about 8 weeks after my surgery (with doctor approval), but continued with a new physical therapist . she had a different approach and used massage and man, what a difference!! i still did my exercises faithfully. in time, everything just got better and better. i am pain free and can use my arm as if nothing ever happened. be patient, believe me, i know how painful it was. i had two anchors and a spur removed. but, you do your exercises as you should, do them up too the point of real pain, then let up. you know your body better than anyone. be patient, but faithful in exercise. this pain will pass. it probably took a good year, plus a couple months. best wishes!
ky196812 richella_40978
Posted
I don't remember where is jumped into this conversation, but here is my view. Had surgery on March 5, 2019. I has been 11 months. The best description of recovery is that when you don't think about it anymore. I still do in several thing that are daily activities, shower being the first. That being said, I don't think about it when I lift things anymore. I am a postal letter carrier and I am right handed, the shoulder that was repaired. There are a few things that still give me pause, but for the most part, I've mended. The physical therapy was stopped as soon as I went back to work in July. My choice, working 10 hours a day, just wasn't something I wanted to add on top of my day at the end. Be patient, don't push it too much in the beginning and it will get better. I had a tear and the bicep tendon cut and anchored, along with all the muscle tissue that was cleaned out . I still can't reach the middle of my back like I used to, but the pain before the surgery.... I have a tear in my left that I'm dealing with. Actually, it was the first. When the doctor saw the results of that mri, he said try physical therapy to strengthen the muscles around it, but when you can't sleep, you will have to have it repaired. Then the right shoulder happened. Because I'm right handed, I decided the pain there was more of a problem than my left and went that route. Now, because I'm carrying a load, and sometimes those loads are weighty, in my left arm, I'm going to get it repaired with the doctor's recommendation. There is good news and bad. Both the same, I know what to expect. It is a job related injury and I have to muddle through trying to get approval through the governments shared services operation, no pun intended.
lisa70118 ky196812
Posted
Hi Jaycee,
I enjoyed reading your post. Your exercise routine with yoga and weights sounds much like my own (I have also used a stationary bike nightly forever for cardio). It's nice to hear from another woman in my age group who works out regularly, especially with weights. I admit that I have developed several more aches and pains over the years that I have used resistance training (machines and dumb bells--don't use barbells any more), but I have modified my routine as I age. I had the beginnings of a rotator cuff problem diagnosed over 35 years ago, actually. The pain came and went for over 3 decades until I got to a point where it never went away and was definitely debilitating--hence surgery last year. I'm pretty certain I aggravated the original problem with weight training exercises specifically for my shoulders. When I was younger, I just kept going regardless of any pulls or strains. Now, I respect my limitations and in particular my shoulders.
In PT I was told never to use the trap pull down machine behind the back of my neck, but in front of my body to chest level was fine with light weight. This helps to strengthen my upper and mid back. I could do shoulder rows on the bench as well. Always with light weights. I do not use a machine for triceps as there are a number of dumb bell exercises I like better. In addition, when you push down on a triceps machine you tend to shrug your shoulders as part of the movement. This hurt so I stopped. I do triceps kickbacks on the bench and also use the triceps pull down attachment on the universal machine while standing. This allows me to isolate the triceps without compromising my shoulders. I also so a bench press with 8-10 pounds. Any more weight hurts my shoulder.
As far as yoga goes, I think probably a downward dog is fine as long as your wrists are in good shape and holding the pose doesn't cause any pain in your injured shoulder(s). If your back muscles are strong and you can keep your shoulders down and back without pain, you're probably ok.
I tend not to listen to yoga instructors anymore, or even research their blogs. I've spent a lot of time and energy trying to figure out a way not to injure myself and continue to rehab and get strong, and unless the instructor is a trained yoga therapist with a background in physical therapy (NOT massage therapy), they don't generally know what they're talking about. Plus, a lot of them injure themselves and their students with inappropriate instruction. I rely on my own knowledge from years of experience and trial and error to cobble together my own program. Bottom line again, after surgery if it hurts after a few movements, just stop. There are too many variations available to exercise different muscle groups to bother trying to power through something that might cause reinjury. And you're right, most of the trainers are too young and inexperienced to work with an older population.
Good luck.
jaycee1956 lisa70118
Posted
Hi Lisa
Thank you so much for your very informative reply. I particularly like where you say you respect your limitations. This is what I am currently trying to get to grips with. I try to remind myself that if I overdo it I will pay for it with down time and therefore it's counter productive. Your advice with regards to exercise with weights will be very useful. Thank you again for taking the time to respond.
Jaycee
jac49092 TNteacher
Posted
Are you pain free now?