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Frozen Shoulder after Rotator Cuff Surgery

Posted , 13 users are following.

sarah58176
sarah58176

Hi - I'm 3 months post Rotator Cuff Surgery.  Felt like I was doing well in terms of overall ability to function, but certain stretching has not improved for the last several weeks.  I felt like I was developing a psychological block as PT is excrutiating with the external rotations.  Sleep is not good, though not as horrible in the beginning.  But I haven't really slept since surgery.  Yesterday I went for my 3 month checkup and my surgeon said I have frozen shoulder.  I got 2 cortisone injections into the joint (not fun).  She said it wasn't anything I've done or didn't do, my muscles just don't relax.  I'm pretty unhappy.  Feeling like a wuss with no pain tolerance.  Wondering why did I get this surgery at all - life is a mess after.  She said we'd see how this did and if it doesn't help with opening up the joints she'd do surgery to clean it up more (paraphrasing poorly here).   Any advice, pep talk, similar stories????

1 like, 27 replies

27 Replies

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  • Burtpies
    Burtpies sarah58176

    Posted

    If it makes you feel any better everyone in here knows exactly what you are feeling, the pain, the lack of sleep, the frustration. I’m in the middle of it now, going into surgery next Saturday for an arthroscopic release and MUA. Praying it works even though I’m not religious. 

    Just keep at it and do your best if it helps it could be worse. I have 2 frozen shoulders at the same time. 

    • sarah58176
      sarah58176 Burtpies

      Posted

      Thanks - it does help just because it's so extreme and chronic I can't help think something has gone terribly wrong.  Surgeon says no, but you can't help but wonder if you didn't do enough PT

  • Hems06
    Hems06 sarah58176

    Posted

    Hi there, I am so sorry to hear sad 

    Yes, I am suffering from the frozen shoulder after my rotator cuff repaired. It was don beginning of this year which is 10 months now. Same as you I was doing well until post op 3,4 months( slow progress I would say) and all of a sudden got frozen and so much pain. PT and exercise would make it even worse then I decided to see another specialist and he adviced me to stop exercises as it would aggravate and make it worse, also asked me to have cortisone shot and see him 3 months. I had the shot and just didn’t do anything for 3 months but didn’t improve at all. I saw him on October Then he ordered an MRI which showed joint is thicken with scar tissue as well as acromion is also type 2.  Luckily, repaired is still good which means tendon is intact. He has suggested me to clean up joint and shave off the bone spur. So, I am going to have it done mid of next month.  May be, do what the surgeon says. I was told it could go away between those period but didn’t .so I don’t wanna wait any longer as it is not going to be better I guess. I was a full time chef and very active (play sports and spend lots of time at the gym ) but now my life has been hell after the surgery. It’s Almost going to be a year since I am away from my life. And not sure if I can make it again sad I am 30 now and it is too early to give up !! Wish you a good luck for your recovery! 

  • Armygirl
    Armygirl sarah58176

    Posted

    Right now I am waiting to be taken back for athroscopy and manual malfunction; nervous. Tried PT for four months and did not get full range of range of motion. Originally, Dr thought it frozen shoulder. I had frozen shoulder on the right side in 2013 and I always said this was different. About to find out 😳! Pray for me. Then follow up with 12 weeks PT at 3x per week. Wondering what anyone results and journey were with what I am about to embark upon?  Thanks..

    • roberta42728
      roberta42728 Armygirl

      Posted

      I'm in a similar situation. Curious how your procedure went... Pain? How's your range of motion now?

  • sarah58176
    sarah58176

    Posted

    Wow.  It does really suck when you can't go on with your life.  Mine is split between desk job and animal rescue.  What I can't do is the animal rescue part, outside of admin, which is my passion.  Trying to be patient.  It's humbling to say the least because I thought I'd work like a crazy person through PT and get my life back in 4-6 months.  I guess I can't affect the outcome.

  • Miarch23
    Miarch23 sarah58176

    Posted

    Hi Sarah - 

    I had rotator cuff surgery on 3/6.... PT was horrible and my ROM was extremely limited.  In June it was determined that I had frozen shoulder & they suggested manipulation surgery.  The 6 weeks that followed it was PURE HELL!!!! The pain was worse than my original surgery and there was a time I thought I had nerve damage.  After 4 weeks my PT wrote a detailed report to my Ortho describing my pain & discomfort.  My Ortho gave me a cortisone shot & told me to take a week off from everything... no PT, no extreme use of the arm.  he said my nerves were inflamed from two surgeries and the PT.  I started seeing a therapeutic massage therapist once a week a few weeks later.  I went to her in addition to my regular PT.  IF you can afford to do the same, do it.  Regular PT's focus on getting the arm to move no matter what, whereas the TMT focuses on healing the trauma.  It's now December & though my arm isn't 100% yet, I am at about 80% and I am sure by my initial surgery anniversary (3 months) I will be closer to 95%.  Sending you healing vibes!!!

    • Armygirl
      Armygirl Miarch23

      Posted

      Wow, you really went through it. I am nervous about the PT because she does focus on the movement but she has a massage therapist there as well. Is there a difference between  therapeutic massage and massage therapist? Glad to hear you are better.. 
    • Miarch23
      Miarch23 Armygirl

      Posted

      It was pure hell and I even became slightly depressed because of my limitations (talking to one of the most independent females there is right now - lol).  

      Yes, I believe there is a difference between the two.  For example, my TMT was able to get my arm straight up in the air the first day I saw her.  Now, when I left I couldn't do it....lol.... but she would gently push & prod on my arm & back and VOILA! Arm all up in the air.  Another example; after my second visit (I only saw her once a week), she asked me if I had tried getting my arm behind my back, like to wipe myself (I know, TMI) or to touch my bra.  I told her not successfully (my inner rotation was shot to hell and my nerves were still somewhat inflamed).  She worked on me for about an hour & 15 minutes that day and told me to TRY doing either movement when I got home that evening.

      Well... as soon as I got home I had to use the restroom.  I attempted to "wipe" myself after wards with the arm...and I managed to do so.  I started BAWLING from happiness!!! I called my guy, in a fit of tears....he thought something was wrong! I was like nnnnoooooo!!! I am ssssoooo happy!!!!

    • Armygirl
      Armygirl Miarch23

      Posted

      I, too am independent, strong willed and have a high tolerance to pain LOL! With my right shoulder, I had just came off a tour to Afghanistan. Actually I was doing yoga over there in between missions and noticed one time the right shoulder would not go down. Odd but as you said too strong for my britches. Did nothing. As I started saying I came home and the frozen cane fast and furious. My first PT was not good then I recommend to another one and he was India and he a  phenomenal job. About a year ago noticed something in the left shoulder just minor;  and sought out the PT from India but he was deceased. Fast forward to April 2017-fell at a military school-left shoulder took the blunt of my weight. I stayed at the school not seeking medical help. Being gun hoe and needed the leadership course. I kept saying the left was different than the right. Four months of PT and Yesterday was surgery. Thanks for the explanation of difference. My PT is about the progress of movement. BTW, I am Army Reserves. I, too can’t put the left arm behind me or strap the bra-learned to improvise. I have lost so much upper body strength and push ups are out of the question. I, too understand the excitement of small victories 😄. 

  • Miarch23
    Miarch23 sarah58176

    Posted

    OH - and I am STILL sleeping in a recliner...... because I still can't get completely comfortable in my bed yet.

    • Armygirl
      Armygirl Miarch23

      Posted

      Really, still in a recliner after all that time. That’s crazy yet we do what we have to. I was propped up in my bed last night after surgery then ended up in the recliner. Pray this isn’t for long...
  • sarah58176
    sarah58176

    Posted

    WOw. I agree that massage is extremely helpful.  I haven't done Theraputic, but did deep tissue with a sport massage therapist that really helped.  I will find a way to make that happen.

    Definately not what I thought I was signing up for!  And I'm in a rental and can't fit a recliner but thought about putting my bed in storage and renting one LOL!

  • PJS1710
    PJS1710 sarah58176

    Posted

    In August I had rotator cuff surgery. A few weeks before the 3 month mark I stared getting frozen shoulder. (Painful). My physical therapists’ didn’t work on my ROM enough. & trust me, I did my exercises at home too. So my dr recommended “manipulation under anesthesia”. I had it 6 days ago. He removed a lot of bad scar tissue. Mention that to Your dr. It’s not pleasant, but I am glad I did it. It had to be done. If it’s really bad, it can take up to 3 years for frozen shoulder to go away. I am left hand dominant, & so I was completely on board doing M.U.A. I had a lot of bad scar tissue. I’m glad i did it. You’ll be very sore and hurt, but glad you did it In the end. 

    • sarah58176
      sarah58176 PJS1710

      Posted

      My surgeon mentioned this if the cortisone doesn't work.  I return to PT in 2 days and I'm currently with a nagging feeling of everything sewn too tight - sleep is still not possible.  How long after MUA did you feel the benefits and what kind of recovery is required from that?

    • PJS1710
      PJS1710 sarah58176

      Posted

      After my nerve block wore off I could tell a difference the next day. yesterday I was hurting pretty bad. I went to PT and could still get my arm up higher then I could in a year. I’m still not released back to work yet and have at least 6-8 more weeks of PT. I’m trying to go 3 times a week. My dr. Wrote on my disability paperwork that recovery time approximately 1-2 months. But everyone is different. I hope it’s only 1-2 months. Are you currently working? I’m curious how many other people are on short term disability/ long disability? I still have a long way to go in my recovery. I do home exercises on days I don’t have PT so I can keep my arm moving. 
    • robert_98259
      robert_98259 PJS1710

      Posted

      I’ve been going thru this for 13 mos now and Dr has kept me on restrictions and unable to work I was once an Ice climber and 100k runner now I’m not able to do much Hopefully it goes better for you 🙂

    • Armygirl
      Armygirl PJS1710

      Posted

      I am doing good-post op five days; follow up tomorrow with the doctor. Maybe the stitches will come out. I am faithfully doing my home therapy. I should return to work Monday. With continued PT 3x per week with pain medication. As I said my physical therapist said I have better range of motion. There is a certain movement that will take much longer..With  Technology the way it is, there should be a better way that folks wouldn’t have to suffer as much and have better outcomes! 
    • PJS1710
      PJS1710 robert_98259

      Posted

      Are on long term disability? Waiting on a call anyday now to see what happens. What stinks is you will only get 60% of your paycheck. I’m sure laws are different each state. I’m in Texas. 
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