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
sfatula TNteacher
Posted
Week 17, have to say things are really improving. First time last night, I was able to do some weights in the gym without feeling awkward or shoulder not stable. Did an entire 50# shoulder press, and, entire 70# chest press. Pretty wimpy, however, a start. Legs improving too. Running a mile is getting easier, and, rowing is a little better too. I don't hurt as much the day after. Raising window blinds has become virtually pain free. Range of motion continues to progress, albeit slowly. I can always get a back brush as far in the shower as with my other arm. Pain is very little for the most part. The only thing I feel for the most part is a nagging tiredness or it's more of a slight stretch perhaps when sitting at my desk typing like this. I feel fortunate but hope all my persistence and hard work really was worth it.
brandi_83588 TNteacher
Posted
kate.soft0 brandi_83588
Posted
Hi brandi 83588,
I’m 8 weeks after surgery and feel exactly the same like having razor blades inside, even took morphine as I can’t bare the pain. It was fine until now. I’m not sure what’s happened guess need to be back to hospital for some scan to check it out ??
latonya72909 brandi_83588
Posted
Hi Brandi, I am 9 months post op and I still have some stiffness and pain after a 12hour shift. If you are a hairstylist and post op 13weeks am sure you are using your neck muscles to help with raising your shoulder because I didn't have a lot of strength at 3 months. I can't believe you are done with PT, are you able to reach behind your back and extend your arms above your head?
brandi_83588 latonya72909
Posted
latonya72909 brandi_83588
Posted
Hi Brandi I can't reach my bra strap either, my pain is so much better but it takes a while and if you don't do your home PT your arm/shoulder will get stiff, stay on top of it this can cause pain if you don't do your PT and you build up scar tissue. I can now curl my hair without pain but it took this long. I tore my Supraspinatus, what area of your shoulder was torn?
brandi_83588 latonya72909
Posted
william25046 TNteacher
Posted
Brandi. I'm at 4 1/2 months and still in some pain. However it's intermittent. So I went to the surgeon last week. Believe it or not he was happy with my progress. This was after I took control of my own PT. He mentioned that I'm forgetting that he had two shave the bone down. (which it true). So then he asked if I would like another cortisone shot to calm it down. I had three previous shots. I did not feel anything from those three shots. Not even as he was administering them. However, this time he inserted the needle (no big deal) then seem to push it down right to the bone. Oh ya, felt this one this time. And I felt it for the rest of the day. (my arm was killing then) But since then it has felt better. I'm still icing two or three times a day. Seems to get a little worse as the day goes on. They did tell me that recovery was going to be 6 to 8 months. So I got to hope that they are correct. Hope this helps.
kamibri TNteacher
Posted
It's been awhile...just checking in to see how everyone is doing!
rannap kamibri
Posted
yes, wondering how everyone is doing as well. I have hit the 3 month mark for PT (rotator cuff surgery was the end of april) and am hoping for release soon. My surgeon's PA has discussed the possibility of a joint injection, as I am progressing, but still having some strength and range of motion issues -- especially the behind the back motion. also, some slight discomfort. just wondering how some of you were progressing at this point. best wishes for good health to all!
sfatula rannap
Posted
Not what you asked for specifically. But I am at week 26 (but who's counting!). Strength in the last 2 weeks has finally started to improve, at your week 12 or so I could lift my arm up hardly at all, without immense effort and a lot of pain (straight out front). At week 26, I can raise my arm straight out and it doesn't hurt (barely does). Also, the behind the back thing was just awful for me at week 12, now, I can even use a back brush with the rotator cuff arm, not even remotely possible before. It just happened one day, the day before, no way. It's not quite 90 degrees behind the back, but, fairly close at last. I can't go straight up but, I could before surgery due to arthritis. I would say I feel I am 80% there.
christine_61665 rannap
Posted
The up the back movement takes a long time. I could hook my bra in the back at 5 mos. This all takes an unexpectedly long time, but it does happen. Just keep up the exercises you will get there! You're not alone.
rannap sfatula
Posted
that is encouraging to know there is hope! lol. had my doc visit today and the NP thought I was doing great enough to NOT have an injection. YAY. having a few more PT visits, but she agreed that the "back" thing was the last to return. Hoping that one day it will happen just as you said it did for you. So glad to be on this side of recovery. This thing has really kicked my butt! thanks to all for the encouragement, so glad you are so far along
rannap christine_61665
Posted
jake123456 TNteacher
Posted
Hi...
I've had surgery on BOTH shoulders for large and massive tears of supraspinatus, labrum, bicep. The left was worse than the right (my dominant arm). Yet, here I am 9 months after surgery and I STILL don't have full range of motion. When I lay down my right arm still doesn't go all the way straight back behind me to the point where the hand will touch the ground. And when I stand and try raise my arm from my side laterally, it is even worse and falls short of vertical maybe 145 degrees.
The left arm regained full ROM, and if I recall it took about 10-12 months before it was able to do that. So maybe it's just me but stiffness and regaining ROM is very difficult. The therapists say this is normal for me. I'm guessing all those articles you read that say it will take 3 months to regain full ROM are for small tears in very young people. I'm a senior citizen 65 years old.
However I must say my strength began returning much quicker. But like my therapists say: ROM is everything. You have a lifetime to regain strength but it's that range of motion that you want to get back as fully as possible.
All I can say is, KEEP AT IT. Do the exercises especially the stretching, pulleys, etc. If you can get that electric stim, massage, ultrasound massage and manipulation by your therapist, insurance permitting. It takes a long time to heal tendons and you want to give it all the best chance of healing by following whatever protocol you were given by your therapist.