After Rotator Cuff Surgery-when will the pain end?

Hi Lynn96534,

I had my own rotator cuff repaired about a year ago and was in a sling for 6 weeks. My dr. wanted me to remove the sling periodically throughout the day so the muscles around my shoulder wouldn't become too stiff and painful to move. I did PT twice a week after about 2 weeks. 9 weeks after surgery, I too, was still pretty much in agony. Lots of weird sharp pains, constant aching and throbbing, sleeping on my back sitting up in bed, trouble doing just about anything, sling off or on. I really thought I would just go crazy if the pain didn't start to improve. My own surgeon initially refused to renew my Percocet at my 6 week visit, but I absolutely insisted, just for sleep. He relented with one refill which I basically hoarded and took in very limited doses, just when it was really unbearable. I am on a blood thinner so could not take Advil and Tylenol was pointless. Ice didn't do much either. I also got a prescription for Voltaren, a jell to rub into the area that's supposed to help with pain. That didn't work either.

It wasn't until about 12 weeks that I noticed a slight diminishing in my pain. I was vigilant with my PT exercises and also noticed that I had a better range of motion. But I also want to emphasize that I did have pain! In fact, I still have discomfort a year later. It is much improved but my shoulder has been problematic for decades. Surgery made a profound difference of course, but at 67 my healing is slower and my recovery not that of a 35 year old. I honestly believe that while some people are lucky enough to never have pain again after repair, probably most people will always suffer some level of discomfort.

As far as your current pain is concerned, it's likely that this is very common so soon after surgery. The magic 6 week marker is just that, a general standard for how long it takes a surgical site to heal--NOT a measure of pain. Doctors use this 6 week time frame as a way of discharging you from their regular care, not as milestone for being suddenly pain free. Problem is, they never tell you that, so when you enter week 7,8,9,10.. and still have pain, you think something's wrong. It's not. It takes months, maybe a year or more, to get to the stage where you really don't think about the discomfort any more.

You just have to be patient. The pain is debilitating physically and emotionally, but it will diminish. Don't panic about the sharp pains and pulling, sometimes tearing sensations. I had them too. Give it another few weeks, talk to your PT (most of them are great) and do your exercises. Slowly it will begin to feel better.

Good luck.

Lisa

Just checking in to see if you have any relief yet? I had a full thickness tear (undiagnosed prior to surgery because it didn't show on the MRI) as well as an acromial decompression and a distal clavicle excision on December 3, 2019. I didn't really have any pain from the surgery until the immobilizer came off. After that, the pain continued to increase and I was following all of the doctor's orders and going to PT 3x per week. When I went back for my 12 week check up, my doctor diagnosed me with a frozen shoulder which happens to about 10% of rotator cuff surgery patients. He gave me a steroid injection (my third) and I started getting some relief in a couple of days. My range of motion has finally started to improve and the pain is no longer constant. Could you increase your frequency at PT? Might your doctor consider a steroid injection? My pain was also primarily in my arm, some in the shoulder but more in the arm. I work on a PC all day, and I cried from pain many days. It is better now - not perfect, still have a ways to go, but definitely improved. Hang in there!!

HI Lisa, thank you so much for checking on me. no idea what happened or why but for the past 7 days I have shown SIGNIFICANT improvement from the pain in my arm. four nights in a row I have slept all night,until about 6:30, then I have to get up and get my bed buddy heat wrap. then fall back to sleep.

For few hours Sunday I was able to work on my stained glass projects for just a few hours.

When I had called Dr to inquire about the horrendous pain after removing the immobilizer he cut back my PT to once a week. made NO sense to me since I do all those exercises at home too.

These doctors just do not get that the severe pain starts after the sling is removed. i see my surgeon on 30 march and I believe he is gonna hear about it, not that he will care now that the pain is better. when a patient has pain so severe that they are crying and or throwing up, like I did, then pain meds are in order.

i was finally shown an exercise to do to help with ROM reaching behind my back. ouchie

i actually vacuumed and steam mopped my hard wood floors, since Christmas. used my left arm to push and pull. Hubs did a little vacuuming since surgery.

glad to hear you are getting better.

HI LIsa,

i went to see my surgeon, for my scheduled appt, the end of March. he told me I have frozen shoulder. most of the pain subsided but it still feels like someone is slowly trying to break my arm. i sleep all night but wake up in pain between 5:30 and 7:30 each morning.

doing these exercises is NOT helping. I see him again the end of June. he will want to either manipulate my shoulder under anesthesia or surgery to remove scar tissue. i already told him NO more surgery.

this whole experience has been a nightmare.

Hi guys,

I really feel for you with your frozen shoulder.

I switched p therapists about 3 weeks ago and he thought my shoulder was frozen.

Through the last several weeks he really stretched and manipulated my stiff shoulder back to almost where I should be.

I was, and will continue pt 3 xs a week.

Another patient at the same 12 week stage that I am, is frozen.

His surgeon didnt allow pt till 6 weeks.

I started at 4 weeks.

He has to go back and have it fixed as yours does.

The therapist told us he wishes surgeons would let patients start pt earlier so they don't freeze.

I've read that surgeons normally make people wait for therapy so the tendon has more tome to grow back and not tear, thus resulting in more stiffness and potentially frozen shoulder.

Now that I have an awesome p therapist that I trust I would have insisted on having my pt moved up to 2 weeks just so he could get it moving at least a little.

When my husband had rc surgery 15 years ago surgeons sent patients to pt at like 2 weeks and therefore my husbands recovery was easier.

I now know the key to success is early, skilled physical therapy.

More surgery has to be a tough decision after living through this!

I know for me, I want my activity level back and would go for it.

I can't imagine it would be as bad as the original surgery.

You'll have to let us know.

I pray you have better days ahead!

I haven't had any of this excruciating pain you are describing, but I just wanted to say that I'm sorry for what you are going through and I will be praying for you. I tried Lyrica for nerve pain, and it was terrible - made me feel worse than just dealing with the pain. My neck and shoulder surgery have been pretty effective at eliminating the constant nerve pain I was having after my accident. Nerve pain is so different than muscular, and if you've never experienced it, it's hard to understand. I cannot imagine having it to the degree you are describing. I hope your doctors will be diligent in finding a solution for you. God bless you.

Thank you so very much for the prayers. The dr this morning increased the gabapentin. I hope it helps with my sleep. Sleep and rest is so important for healing. if I could just sleep through some of the pain, but I cant. Praying for a good outcome. thanks again

HI PHH, I take gabapentin for restless legs. Previously for nerve pain from a disk pressing on a nerve. Not sure if I had nerve pain in my arm but it darn sure felt like it. that pain shot down my arm from the shoulder to my fingers. basically left my immobile until it calmed. So I started taking my gab twice a day, as previously prescribed. i was only taking at night. my cousin suggested a TENS unit so I got one. What a life saver.

Suggestion. i put a small pillow under my elbow and a bed pillow across my chest, resting my arm across both when TRYING to sleep at night. still woke up a few times at night, but this position really helped me rest when I was not in pain.

thank you. I'll try that position. I'm usually just so afraid I'll roll over.

I feel for you and I hope by now you are getting some relief. I can only relate to the nerve pain you mention. My surgery went well (both my shoulders) so I have a hard time understanding what you are going through but the nerve pain I had subsided in a few weeks. Don't give up. I thought it would never end and then one day out of the clear blue it was almost one and soon it was gone for good. Everyone is different but that is my experience. Also, I know friends who have had the wedge under their arm after surgery and most of them had some kind of problem.My doctor doesn't use the wedge and I was fine. I started therapy within two weeks, just gentle movement out of the sling, leaning over a table and dangling my bad arm and doing very slow and gentle circles just to get some movement and then progressed weekly after that to more challenging things. Many people think therapy sessions will bring them to full recovery but it wont. Doing exercises at home are every bit as important as doing them in a therapists office. I found using a cane worked best for me in therapy. Take a cane or solid stick in your good hand and place the hand of your bad arm on the other end and lift it gently as high as you can until it starts to hurt and also then go left to right with the same cane and hand positions. Do each of these five times a few times a day. MAKE SURE that you have a firm grip with the hand of your good arm and DO NOT use your bad arm for anything except going along with the movement. It should feel good. Only do what your shoulder will allow. But that will keep it loose and in movement so it doesn't freeze. Maybe I just have an exceptional surgeon but I never took any of my pain pills when I got home. I got a nerve block at the time of surgery and that kept the pain in control for 24 plus hours and after it wore off I never had any pain other than during therapy. The BIG problem for me was sleeping with my arm in a sling for nearly 5 weeks. I had to sleep only back and I have trouble falling asleep on my back. Small price to pay I guess. God Bless & good luck. If things don't get better fast I would go to another orthopaedic surgeon for another opinion.

Thank you for your reply. It sounds like you had a great surgeon. I felt my surgery went well. I really just dont understand the nerve pain lasting so long but I guess that is normal. It had eased quite a bit, so I decided to slowly decrease the high dose of gabapentin they had prescribed. After several days the pain in my elbow and lower arm has returned. This was so upsetting to me. I truly thought this pain was leaving....but no, even though it isnt as bad. it's still there. It's been 11 wks now. almost 3 months. The pain, burning sensation and numbness has return to my two fingers. PT is going well. I still cant lift my arm on my own, but movement is good and the joint is not stiff. I guess strengthening will begin this week. I thank God for taking the horrible pain away and for the pain ointment that gives some relief from pain, and for allowing me to get up to 6 hours of sleep! Little blessings are big to me!!!

I do have one question. How often have you seen the surgeon after your surgery? I've seen my twice and Ive had to call to get those in a reasonable amt of time even though I've had these major issues. I really dont understand that part. For that reason alone, I could never recommend him. A surgeon cant just be someone who operates. There must be care prior to and afterwards. I've been very disappointed. And as for your pain control, that's amazing. I was so hesitant about having this shoulder done, just because I knew what the pain was going to be. BAD!!!! I've had breast cancer surgery and reconstruction. This has been sooo much worse.

Thank you again for your prayers,

Sincerely,

Pamela

This is a reply to PHH. So sorry to hear of your extreme pain. Couldn't begin to imagine what your extreme pain problem is. My initial thought is that you have a crummy surgeon, a crummy hospital, a crummy nurse and perhaps a crummy PT department. I have had both my shoulders done twelve years apart and have had some bad pain on both of them for the first few weeks. I never took pain pills after the first two days. The only severe pain I had after a few weeks was from physical therapy when the therapist would stretch me at the end of every session. Otherwise, I had less pain with each passing week. I don't know what you are calling a brace but I had to wear a sling for five weeks after each surgery. I took therapy after the first week in both instances and it's a little painful until about the time the sling comes off (5 weeks) and after that just a pain in the butt trying to dress myself. Anything with a far reach hurt but only for a few seconds. But you do have to stay within your means. Do just what your arm and shoulder will allow and cut it at that point. After a few weeks some very light weight curls, starting with one pound weights and then next week two pounders etc. Never do more than your body can accept but you do have to push to the max with mild pain. I found using a cane or stick to lift your arm up over your hear and swinging side to side was extremely helpful to me. You use your good arm to the the lifting and swinging and the bad arm just goes along for the ride. But it is getting it moving up and sideways without using the muscles and tendons etc from the bad arm (kind of like a car towing a broken down car with a chain or rope). It definitely sounds to me like you are at wits end with the situation and you'll only make it worse by getting depressed. My advice would be seek the opinion of another orthopaedic surgeon for advice. Just the fact that they may agree with your surgeon might put your mind at rest or let you know that you are not the patient from hell. Sometimes a change of scenery can be the best therapy. By the way, I know how tough it can be to sleep at night. When you wake up it's extremely hard to fall back to sleep but you have to try. don't let that get you down. You are very normal in that regard. What helped me was sitting in the recliner during the day and watching some TV and just allowing myself to fall asleep for an hour or so. Get sleep any way you can during this depressing time. It doesn't have to be eight straight hours. That won't happen. As a closing thought, I can tell you that the second surgery went a little harder than the first, mostly because I was dumb enough to take my dog for a walk and holding the leash with my surgical are while I put my keys away with my good arm and in a split second my dog saw a stray cat and lunged and nearly pulled my arm out of my socket. I thought I would die. Excruciating pain for a minute or two then a lot of pain the rest of the day. Went to my Dr. the next day and he said it should be ok, just take a week off of therapy and let it heal. It worked, and only set me back a week and the Dr was right, I was alright and healed well after that. Don't be discouraged, The pain was tough but all of a sudden one day without any warning it kind of went away and my healing progressed well. God Bless and good luck to you!!

Thank you so much for the advice and feedback on your experience. it helps so much to hear others made it through. I still haven't heard of anyone with this nerve pain. saw my neurologist and she said this can happen due to the extreme positioning of the arm during surgery. it can stretch and inflame the nerves and it takes along time for them to heal. She said it could be months up to a year. the thought of dealing with this pain that long is very difficult to cope with...at least at this time. trying to get out when I can, sit in the sun, when we have some and walk the yard. thank you again for responding. it was very helpful.

my bf got nerve damage during his rotator cuff and bicep tenodesis surgery. He is 14 weeks post op and it has not let up. He is up all night from the nerve pain that gets worse when he sleeps so he gets about 4 hours of sleep everynight while working a full time job. The physiatrist said it was his c6 so they did an mri and cervical epidural which did NOTHING for him so they determined the nerve damage was in his bicep. He just recently did a Nerve Conduction Test which came back normal so the next step is a contrast MRI on his brachial plexus to check for inflammation that may be pinching on the nerves. His nerve pain runs down his forearm into his hand and thumb it is killing him and we have both lost a lot of weight from the stress and sadness of it all.

His doctor is also impossible to get a hold of. YOu would think his surgeon would be available to him after major surgery but NO! My bf couldn't get anyone in the office to return his phone calls or emails since they literally never answer the phone so he had to drive hours to the doctor's office (my bf lives far away) and take the day off work to walk into the surgeon's office since nobody would return his phone call regarding serious complications he was having from surgery. Sounds like you guys may have the same doctor!

How are you doing now? They put my bf on lyrica and amnitryptiline for nerve pain and to help him sleep but he would fall asleep all day. He couldn't deal with that with a full time job so he stopped the pain meds and takes NOTHING for pain. The nerve pain is so excrutiating he cant go hard on PT and I'm so worried about him.