Questions re: pain mgmt. Day 6 post rotator cuff repair and open tenodesis

Had both my meniscus surgeries I was sent home with anabiotic’s for five days. When I had my surgery on my rotator I was also sent home with anabiotic’s. I think it is better safe than sorry protocol and I think it’s a good thing.

Sorry your Dr didn’t and you ended up getting an infection 

Had same  surgery Bill 

And was on them for a full week after!

Hi Rannap,

While I am sorry to learn that you are hurting - I am grateful to see your post this AM.  I was able to discontinue the abductor portion of my sling last Thursday...but am still using the sling for the periods I am out in public.  I started back to work on Friday, too.  I had started PT on day 14 post sgy (ONLY passive ROM) so had not really experienced too much pain with that for the first six weeks...in fact parts of it actually felt good.  HOWEVER, that all changed this week when they started adding in the active ROM and therapist was a bit more aggressive with the stretching.  The appt. was in the AM - and I went straight into work post session.  By early afternoon I was in agony - and that eve I would rate the pain as a 7 on a 1-10 scale.  I struggled through 4 hours of work and a painful drive home (at least I am driving again FINALLY), and spent the rest of my painful evening with double ice packs on my shoulder.  Felt better yesterday, but am absolutely dreading the PT appt. this AM.  I have the remainder of them scheduled for a time in the PM so I can come straight home.  I do plan to discuss with therapist today so we can figure out if this is just par for the course or if perhaps we need to go more slowly.  Unfortunately, as I am working - do not have the option of narcotic pain relief...and am already taking a round the clock NSAID/anti-inflammatory, Diclofenac...which didn’t keep me out of the pain I experienced on Monday.  Maybe it would have been even worse had I not been on it.  My question to the community is:  At what point did you begin to NOT feel so much pain?  While certain movements may elicit discomfort...I am trying to find the window in which the discomfort won’t be such a constant that is borders on distracting.  I do understand this is a normal part of recovery - but it would be helpful to have a point on which I can focus to help me get through this phase.  Thanks and Rannap - hang in there...we will get through this!  Perhaps you could speak to your doc to see if any of the twice daily anti-inflammatory meds might be helpful for you to take on a routine basis?  While I still am experiencing pain - logic tells me it would be even worse without them.  

Hi Ed....not sure how many weeks post op you are, but I suspect you are about  7-8 weeks out?  When  I started PT it was not bad because everything was passive and assisted so I wasn't using any of my own muscles which have been not been used in quite some time.  As the PT started adding in more active modalities, it  started hurting.  Luckily I didn't have to go to work,  so I could come home and take it easy and sometimes take a narcotic.  I was so proud of myself for only taking them for 2 days after surgery, well  so much for that.  What I can say is every time my PT has added an exercise, I thought it was impossible to do and very painful.  The next time it was easier and  then next time was easier again.  Then I found myself thinking,  this is easy and doesn't hurt.  Of course about that time he added another exercise or added weights and here we go  again.  It's a process  I am 3 and 1/2 months post op and I don't have any pain now.  A  little aching, mostly muscle fatigue.  Certainly it is nothing like the pain before surgery.   I would say about 3 months I noticed I wasn't in pain every time I moved.  I hope this gives you a point of reference to focus on.  That being said, my PT tells me it is okay and expected to feel some pain, but if it is up in that 7-8 range on a scale of 1-10, then stop and tell the PT what you are feeling.   Hang in there.  Any kind of shoulder surgery is very traumatic to the joint and takes some time.  I had surgery on my left 15 years ago and I try to keep that in my mind as I am able to do anything with that arm but I would say it took nearly a year to regain full strength and motion

Hi Grammie48, 

Thank you so much for sharing!  This does give me encouragement and a point of reference and focus.  You are correct - I am 7 weeks out tomorrow. I did speak with my PT person today and she indicated, as you said, that perhaps we had added on too much our last session.  Today she backed off just a little and while I am sore - it wasn’t the “7” that I felt on Monday this week.  I truly appreciate you taking time to reach out and wish you all the best in your recovery .  

Well, ED2018, I have had 5 PT sessions (I am post op just over 7 weeks)  and although painful, I have seen improvement.  I know it's working, just not fast enough! lol.  Hope your sessions have become less painful -- they tell me my surgeon has very non-aggressive protocols, but I can't imagine what aggressive would look like!

Hang in there, and I hope you are progressing with minimal pain!

Thank you Mia98887!  It is very encouraging to hear that you are doing so well.  My PT was very supportive today and adjusted what we were doing.  She also asked that I send her an email tomorrow and let her know how I felt.  I am fortunate to have her and my doc.  But - I still am VERY appreciative to have folks like you on this forum for support.  Good Luck in your continued healing and I will be looking forward to that 12 week mark!  Take Care.