1. Community
  2. Bones, joints and muscles
  3. Shoulder Problems

After Rotator Cuff Surgery-when will the pain end?

Posted , 94 users are following.

TNteacher
TNteacher

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

413 Replies

Prev
  • linda79931
    linda79931 TNteacher

    Posted

    I am happy to have found this forum and read what others have experienced following shoulder surgery.

    I am an active 68-year-old woman. Four weeks ago on 6/25/20 I underwent arthroscopic surgery for biceps tenodesis, rotator cuff repair, subacromial decompression, and labral debridement on the left shoulder. Since I'm medically illiterate, the surgeon explained that she repaired and reattached torn rotator cuff, biceps tendon and cartilage, and removed two bone spurs. I was sent home with my arm in an immobilizer sling.

    This seems similar to what a lot of you have described, with one apparent difference: My PT started two days after surgery. The therapist explained that my surgeon likes to start patients on passive ROM early to avoid stiffness later.

    So far the pain is tolerable. I'm getting by with only extra-strength Tylenol. My main concern is a popping sound in the rotator cuff area. This happens fairly frequently even when I'm wearing the sling, often when I involuntarily flinch or tighten my muscles if something startles me, or when I'm straining while getting in and out of bed or the recliner.

    So I have two questions:

    1. Have any of you started PT only two days after surgery? Do you think it helped?
    2. Have you had any loud popping sounds in the shoulder area? Are they cause for concern?

      Thanks so much for any insight you can provide. I hope you're all healing well.

  • alex45247
    alex45247 TNteacher

    Edited

    I just had rotator cuff surgery using a new technique using the Regeneten Bioinductive Implant. Find a surgeon who knows how to do this. My sling was off on the 3rd day and was off heavy use of the pain killers by the 4 day. In the first week I was already getting range of motion back and into the second week I was using my arm pretty normally but no weight lifting above 5lbs. It's the 3rd week now and I'm doing some light yardwork going about my day using just an Aleve in the morning and evening. I use the ice machine pump they gave me a couple of times a day and would say after PT yesterday I have 75% motion back already. I spend half the night in my recliner and then move to the bed. As long as I lay on my other side and there is no pillow under my shoulder I'm comfortable for a few hours. This surgery was just outstanding and can honestly say I'm looking forward to getting my other shoulder done in a few months so I never have to worry about this again and get my summertime back. This procedure may be cutting edge but do your homework and find a surgeon who is up to date.

    • OF66955
      OF66955 alex45247

      Posted

      Hi there. Very cool technique. I looked it up. Is this still experimental? Or is now covered by insurance?? THANK YOU

  • Bb74
    Bb74 TNteacher

    Edited

    This has been a good thread to follow. Hearing all your stories has given me a but more confidence in what is happening to me. I'm 47 and had everything done to my left shoulder done that can be done - SLAP2, long bicep tenectomy, SAD, bursectomy,and rotator cuff repair with inplant and 4 anchors. I'm in my 4th week and its been more painful this week than week1. Of course I'm not taking the hard meds anymore. I ice more often for less amounts of time now rather than 24/7 ice. I don't prefer ice as my shoulder seems hot all the time already. I have 4 anthroscoptic holes healing and my deltoid seems very angry and hurts all the time. It feels like I have sticker weeds sewn up under my skin. Massage both hurts and makes it feel better. I'm told to wear my immobilizer for 6 weeks by my doctor, I never want to stop wearing it cuz not wearing it hurts my arm so bad to just hang there. I cannot lift my arm myself at all. I go to PT twice a week. I just bought a recliner cuz I cannot sleep - I'm hopeful things will be alright soon. I'm praying

  • editta202104
    editta202104 TNteacher

    Posted

    Thank you very much everyone for your thoughts, comments and you engagement on this forum.

    I had surgery on my dominant hand, right shoulder. I had a tear and the operation was done 8 weeks ago.... I have days when I feel like the surgery was done like 2 days ago! I'm starting PT tomorrow though was to start 2 weeks go but been dreading it!

    I have slept on bed since surgery, I've tried Andrew times, but i have only managed 36 mins!

    unlike so many of you, I've been on painkillers for the most part as the pain is from another planet and I'm not very good with handling pain at all... I weaned myself off opioids 2 weeks post surgery, so grateful for that.

    I just need positive vibes to keep me going... I wake up thinking that its gonna be a better day but only get my Hope's thwarted..... I'm hopeful that it will get better, but when??

    • melber
      melber editta202104

      Posted

      Hi, it is good to see a new poster on this thread! I am new myself, but have taken comfort in seeing everyone's earlier posts--at least I'm not crazy, or even all that unusual. I am 7 weeks post surgery (just supraspinatus anchored, about 2.5 cm, after a fall skiing) and am in extreme pain 24/7. I thought it would get better when I was officially "released" from the sling, but it seems to be even worse! My surgeon said, "throw it away," but my PT said, "keep it, you'll want it sometimes," and indeed I do. I still use it for when I workout (AirDyne bike, stair stepper, various lower-body crossfit moves) and walk (all of which I've been doing since week 2). It helps relieve some of the stress for sure. I also just got back into the pool to do some kicking, with my arms to the side, which was really nice--I'm a life-long swimmer and have not been able to do any arm work since Dec 2020, but at least the kicking gets me in the water. I started PT at 1 week post-op and have now moved into the phase where I am using the arm bike and bands for strengthening, which I think is aggressive, but I live in a sport-focused town (ski area) and so I guess this is normal for around here. I had sever stiffness at week 3 and my doctor was concerned, so we stepped up the ROM work then. The pain is still insane--I cry through PT--but my ROM has definitely improved. But during the day it is just always there, at least a 4 and often a 7. I can't do pain meds, they mess me up too bad in other ways, so it's just Aleve 2x day for me. I was told "4 months and you're good to go" but everyone on here says a year, so that's what I'm adjusting to now.

  • editta202104
    editta202104 TNteacher

    Edited

    hey there

    i started doing PT and i agree with you all, its a real rollercoster and hell of a process. the pain is not something i had imagined, its been 3 weeks and i feel like its too much. I like my therapist as he has decided to call it the good pain as it will lead me to my complete healing! This weekend has been a bit rough and this is after 6 sessions. The pain has been a bit crazy and i would say out of the norm for the most part. did anyone else experience that?

    how is everyone dealing with this process mentally? I'm finding it exhausting and i end up sleeping most of the time to help me deal with everything..... i would be glad to hear thoughts from others. My family and friends don't seem to understand what I'm going through..... someone actually told me the other day, hasn't it been 3 months post surgery? Why aren't you healing? These words cut me deep and i sometimes just want to be alone...... when does it get easier? anyone? please let me know.

  • editta202104
    editta202104 TNteacher

    Posted

    Hi there,

    i am 3 months post surgery and i seem to be progressing well. PT is rough but i have come to accept it as good pain. Does anyone else have hell of pain when its cold? I'm based in Nairobi and its the onset of the cold weather and my shoulder has been really really painful. Please let me know before i start pulling off my hair.

    Happy healing everyone

  • gene93912
    gene93912 TNteacher

    Posted

    I had my rotator cuff surgery 6 weeks ago and I still can't do my ROM exercises without a lot of pain. What am I looking at here?

  • william21582
    william21582 TNteacher

    Posted

    I am 68 at present time, I had a rotor cuff operation in 2019 and have been in constant pain ever since I have slept in a different bed to my spouse ever since as the pain is unbearable, even after all these years I would not recommend this operation to anyone , when I went for a consultation I was not given this information about not getting better and the lack of mobility in my arm and constant pain, I have had several drugs that has been recommended by surgeon and doctors and had physio but to no avail can anyone help me as doctors and surgeons dont care about my pain it has ruined my life cant work now as pain is to much ,have little movement in my right arm my hand swells up as well so dont ever get this operation , even through the day its hard to move my arm I have tried different drugs recommended by doctors useless I slept upright on a armchair after operation in hospital as pain was so bad in the bed ,was given morphine every hour but it did not help was given a cortizone injection did nothing for me surgeon said it was 4mm out when I complained and got a second opinion but nothing they could do what can be done help help help

  • Missi50
    Missi50 TNteacher

    Posted

    If I new how bad this surgery was going to be I would of lived with my tear!! Four weeks out and I cant believe the pain Im still having ! I start PT in two days time to get the pain pills out !! I guess Im lucky since I'm back in my bed I can sleep most nights!

  • morgan30885
    morgan30885 TNteacher

    Posted

    my surgery was similar to yours. Looks like its been a few years since your surgery, I hope you healed well. I was wondering if you experienced elbow, wrist and finger pain. I still wear the immobilizer. I"m at 4 1/2 weeks. I try to take it off if I"m sitting watching tv, but i still have pain down my arm. Also, I have 2 psin pills left and I don"t want to ask for more bur I"m still in pain and not sure of how long the pain will last. I also don"t want to rely on them. thank you

Back to top
Prev

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.