Lifted something a little too heavy-10 weeks postop arthroscopic rotator cuff repair
Posted , 7 users are following.
Has anyone had any setbacks with rotator cuff repair? I had a good surgery with solid repair, standard other stuff (shaved acromion and decompression along with arthroscopic cuff tear repair). I've had the typical healing (I am aware the length of time and what it takes to heal from this, so yes, I expect a year healing), but would like to know if anyone has lifted anything a little to heavy and felt pain after. I didn't feel a rip or tear or anything. I've been doing so well, I thought I could pour some soup into a bowl using that arm. Wrong. A big reminder 'Hey! You just had surgery 10 weeks ago! Don't lift that!' Anyway, just wanted to know if anyone has had a minor setback via lifting something a bit too heavy or reaching forward a little too far, only to experience pain after. How long did the pain last? What did you do to get back on track? I start PT this week, yay, and I immediately went back on my ice machine and I'm in bed resting now and don't intend to use this arm at all for a week, except for PT. Any advice or words of assurance would be much appreciated!
0 likes, 6 replies
mike1997 OF66955
Edited
I wouldn't worry about it...the surgery and post surgery makes you a bit paranoid.
Just keep doing your therapy, use ice, tens machine, etc.If you have concerns tell your doctor and physical therapist. That's what they're supposed to be there for to listen to you and relieve some of that anxiety.
I guess I was lucky with both my shoulders, it was a huge time consuming recovery period and some pain and a lot of apprehension about reinjury/retear, but everything seems as well as I guess I could expect. I mean I still have some aches and pains after 3 years on my left shoulder and 2 years on my right shoulder but they go away and happen less and less.
Don't you believe it just takes a year, it can take up to 3 years. I can attest to that as I STILL see improvements in strength and range of motion on both shoulders. I still do my therapy exercises and use those pulleys!
OF66955 mike1997
Posted
Yeah, I realize that it's 1 year to get out of hot water, so to speak, and someone here said 18 months before 'total' recovery, but even she still has minor aches every now and then. Thank you for your assurance. I had one setback that took a while to recover from, maybe a week and a half. I keep cursing myself for lifting that pot. I was feeling SO good (well, you know what I mean about feeling good. lol. You've been there, I was 'feeling good' for 10 weeks post op). But I'm taking it as a lucky reminder to be mindful, and that even feeling good, this little darling is still recovering, and will be for a while, so NO "heavy" lifting till around Christmas. It's funny to think of a pot of soup as heavy lifting! How we have to change our perceptions through all of this! THANK YOU for your vote of confidence!
jule93059 OF66955
Edited
i originally had my rt shoulder done and 7 mos out, i lifted a heavy pt like a dummy and retore it. MRI showed a partial tear. I decided not to repair it again and im doing pretty good. Had the left one repaired and have been good with it. Ive occasionally reached up high and ive been a little sore after but it passes. Its been 2 yrs since the right shoulder and 1 yr since the left shoulder. Im going back to swimming my laps. Keep doing your exercises with the resistance bands. I was told id have to them for life
OF66955 jule93059
Posted
OMG, I am so sorry that you had the re-tear, but I'm so happy that it seems to be under control. They say that a lot of people live with tears and don't feel a thing, and then someone has a teeny tear and it burns like fire. Depends on location. I start PT this week. I LOVE resistance bands for working out in general, so I don't mind that I'll have to use them for upper body after this! Thank you for reaching out. I'm so glad you are doing well, and I'm looking forward to getting back to my exercise once I'm out of hot water.
ricochetred OF66955
Edited
It was probably not so much the lift as it was the pouring action as that requires internal rotation and may have stretched the healing cuff. 10 weeks is still pretty early in the recovery phase. You will learn what your limits are whenever you do something that's a little too much. Best approach is to do things slowly so you can take it back if you start to feel uncomfortable. hard to believe it has been 3 years for me. I also had the bicep tenodesis, which continues to give me pains. But I would say a year is a pretty good estimation of back to full normal. Slow and steady wins the race.
OF66955 ricochetred
Posted
Thank you so much for this info. Iced all day and plan to do the same for the next several days, as well as not lifting so much as a glass of water. It's funny how you would not think of pouring soup as internal rotation, but it sure is! And with weight, no good. I'll nurse it all week. Thank you for reaching out. It was a reminder that this thing is going to take time to heal. Someone else can pour my soup for the next 6 months! lol.