Posted , 18 users are following.
Any input on shoulder decompression surgery? It's been two weeks and it's still pretty achy. I have great movement but I thought the pain would be gone by now.
1 like, 30 replies
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thechefshat tami33436
Edited
Hi,
Yes, you're not the first person to report this. Did your surgeon advise you of the recovery time for decompression? It's typically 3-6 months.
The reason for this is the tendons in your shoulder (the rotator cuff) have been squeezed and inflamed by the bone-spurs or lack of space. So your surgeon removes bone to make more space for this. However, it still takes time for the tissues to settle and this can be 3-6 months. You should notice gradual improvement.
If you're at two weeks, the incisions themselves are likely to be tender and causing some pain. Expect that to ease after 5 or 6 weeks. Though the deeper tissues inside the joint take time to settle, plus you also need to rehabilitate the muscles to restore balanced movement to the shoulder. A weakened shoulder tends to be painful in itself.
Sorry it's not the news you might've liked, but stick with it - it should get better.
Thx, NICK
tami33436 thechefshat
Posted
Thanks, I figured as much. I'm always in a hurry for everything. I dumped the sling as soon as the block wore off and the Dr. was amazed when the stitches came out that I have such good range of motion. I'm back to the gym tomorrow for light duty work outs and spin classes for a while. I guess I was curious as to how long it would take and to be sure they didn't leave anything behind or miss anything. I appreciate your time. T
richella_40978 tami33436
Posted
Shoulders take a long time to heal as there isn't much blood flow. If you can move your arm in any direction, you are doing great. Just follow docs orders, and or therapist. In time, your pain will ease.
tami33436 richella_40978
Posted
Gazp tami33436
Posted
The worse pain following my surgery was around the 2weeks mark - But it will get better .
Susan1942 Gazp
Posted
I consider I am doing pretty well but still got quite a lot of pain over my deltoid area For the most part I am not using a sling . I tend to forget and find myself reaching up or across my body
It reminds me sharply that healing is still occuring Sue
jane319 Gazp
Posted
Everyone seems to have recovered quicker than me...I had my op on 8th July. Had my second Physio session two days ago and my shoulder is in more pain now than it's ever been. I've ditched the pain killers as a waste if time...Do they actually work or am U not patient enough? I just hope it was worth it!!....It's been a while since this first post so how is everyone's recovery?
Bridgfordmassiv jane319
Posted
I had shoulder decompression 6 weeks ago along with tennis elbow surgery on the same day.
Still very painful in the shoulder despite codein etc - can you let me know how you are getting on now please as I can see no end to this pain despite physio and doing all the right things.
regards
angela12925 Bridgfordmassiv
Posted
Hi, I was wondering if you are fully recovered ? I has shoulder decompression 23/5/18 I also have golfers elbow flares which is still restricting me (i can't straighten my arm) i seem to have a few good days then really bad days the majority of my pain is in my bicep and currently neck stiffness which i think is possibly pinching nerves, im hoping you are fully recovered so maybe I ave to be more patient ?
Regards
toni13466 tami33436
Posted
Hi i had decompression surgery on the 08/11/18 and after 2 weeks the pain was pretty much gone but the past 3 days it feel really sore and hurts when i move it which has meant im back on pain killers at bedtime because i feel like its on fire.
angela12925 tami33436
Posted
Hi,
Has your shoulder settled down,? I was coping with my pain and muscles tightness by not using my arm too much (useless) i went back to the hospital last week and had a hydrodilation injection and have been back on the excercises which is what causes my nerve to trap so back on cocodamol & amitryptline, seeing physio again next week been 6.5 months now, here's hoping .
arj50436 tami33436
Posted
I had shoulder decompression on my right shoulder and had almost immediate improvement from the pain I had been experiencing due to frozen shoulder. I was able to move it within a couple of weeks with p/t. My surgeon was amazing. It took about a year for all of the pain to recede but you would never know that I had the surgery if not for a little arthritic bump (but no pain).
I wish that I could say that about my left shoulder. 9 months post op for SLAP tear and I still don't have full ROM. I was not prepared for this at all! These are completely different surgical experiences. Good luck in your recovery.
angela12925 arj50436
Posted
Fingers crossed that things will improve for you. My ROM is fantastic however I still have intermittent elbow/inside upper arm nerve like pain and get tight muscles in shoulders and neck-i have been told this week that it is most likely stress. Off for an MRI on monday?
Kira111 tami33436
Posted
i had decompression of ac and little shaved of clavical and tendon cleaned up and cysts removed 12 days ago i am in so much pain on 8 co cocodmol 30/500 and 2 5ml valium and cant stand it cried yesterday im very used to pain from arthritis degeneritive discs but this is worse than chilbirth and constant help any idea how long this will last please
angela12925 Kira111
Posted
Hi,
Im so sorry you are having so much pain unfortuanately you have had a lot more done with your shoulder than I did so i can't coment on how long you will be in pain for. I have been taken cocodamol on and off for a year now but not sure if they really help with my nerve pain so i am taking naproxen as i too have degenerative disc issues (neck and lumbar) and 30 mg amitriptyline, which help me to sleep also. Good Luck
arj50436 Kira111
Posted
It's only been 12 days! I agree it's comparable to childbirth. Most people are going to be in a lot of pain after shoulder surgery. I think it's ranks pretty high on the pain after surgery scale.
You need to ice your shoulder constantly at this point and I mean constantly. Consider one of those cyrocuff ice machines, the mechanical ones. I borrowed a cyrocuff from someone who had had the surgery. It made a huge difference. I live alone so I used to walk around the corner every few days and buy a bag of ice which I carried home with my good arm!! Do whatever little stretching exercises you are allowed to do.
Sleep in a recliner chair or, like me, on the couch so that you can lie on your good side. Buy an elevated pillow. Get a heating pad, you're going to need it down the line.
I still use Diclofenac cream on occasion. I can't use it very often because it aggravates my heartburn. Most doctors wont let you use anti-inflammatories this early in the surgery but I would ask your surgeon when you can use it.
If you can get a hold of some CBD oil, it might help with the pain a bit. I took 3 drops and mixed it with coconut oil and rubbed it into my shoulder. This is on top of ingesting it.
Kira111 arj50436
Posted
hi thank you for your advise how long before your pain left you nearly three weeks now and if i wasn't taking 8 co codamal and 5 ml diazapam its still so painful doing light stretches pyhsio we dont want to go as its to sore and they just think do it or wont get better but will keep icing so thank you for taking the time to reply
arj50436 Kira111
Posted
I'm at around 10 months and I still have pain sometimes and don't have full range of motion but the pain is nothing like it was post surgery. I have friends who told me that it took a year to get full range of motion back. I may never get it back but at least I don't have the pain any more.
I remember the first time that I was able to lie on my stomach at around 3 months. It was still painful but that was great! Progress is slow.
I got cut off from p/t after 20 visits and my surgeon dropped my insurance company. I do get a massage every week or so and do exercises at the gym. At some point, I was told to switch from ice to heat so I use a heating pad. I'm in the process of finding a new doctor so I can go back to p/t. Stretching is important.
arj50436
Posted
Also, I said that the pain is nothing like it was post surgery. It's also nothing like it was before my surgery!
Simplymie Kira111
Posted
I’ve posted about this once before, but I would like to get a few more reply’s, and hear about others who have had similar surgery. This may be long winded, as I’d like to give as much details as possible.
I am 25, and a dealer in the casino business for the last 4 years. About a year to two years ago, I was having pain in a very specific area in my right shoulder, along with ALOT of clicking, popping, and grinding.
Come to find out, it was my AC joint. Several cortisone shots, physical therapy, and pain relievers later, I decided to have surgery, in hopes that this pain would go away, or get some kind of relief. My surgeon told me he shaved my ac joint, cleaned up arthritis, bursa, and any spurs I had, and also discovered I had a post labrum tear. I believe I got a couple of anchors and sutures, and was in the big sling for about 3 weeks before ditching it and beginning PT. Everything was “fine” and my ROM improved very quickly.
Well, here I am, 3 months post opp, and the pain in my ac joint area is unbearable..MUCH like before surgery. Minor clicking which I’m told is normal. And I have noticed the very large bump that was there before, is there, but minimal and still painful.
I am going on Monday, to get a second opinion, as my doctor doesn’t understand why I am still in pain. I have been referred to a rheumatologist, as I have bad cases of arthritis related diseases in my family. However, how can I possibly be in so much pain this late in the game? I’ve had a cortisone shot last month, which didn’t help. Has anyone had a similar surgery, that has experienced this, and hopefully got better?! Yes, I’m aware this recovery takes time, but to be in the same exact pain as before surgery freaks me out.
Any feedback would be great.
jacqueline01135 Simplymie
Posted
I Had more or less what surgery you went through,minus the arthritis.Doing fairly well .nagging pain, caused probs ,as I am left handed .and.. was given VERBAL physio for three meetings ,given the exercise sheet and sent home.I asked my doc to refer me to the consultant/ surgeon..and surprisingly, this did NOT happen ,but was sent to another physio dept ,in a health club / The physio ,made me lift a 1 kilo dumb bell .I couldn't lift it off the table . Managed 12 lifts then pain came in. I was told to do this am and pm increasing the number of lifts. P.M that evening ,the pain was really bad .from shoulder to wrist.Next day .everything was swollen ,with unbearable pain. The next morning ,,I cried ,the pain was worse, I eventually got dressed ,and went to the Health club, and asked to speak to the man, NOT THERE.. asked for him to ring me,
By now it was Friday,.following Tuesday ,I rang again ,and spoke to a manager. I explained that I was in agony ,due to the physio's over expectations of what I would be able to do, with the arm. I now have to meet a very experienced Physio April 2nd.
rmal day to day> Too late i think I am damaged , in lots of pain ,cannot lift my arm up straight ..O K prior this incident. Lots of normal daily things I can no longer do ,wash .the pots .cook. do my hair ,,,and more ,,Hope this helps ....
Simplymie jacqueline01135
Posted
So what was the outcome of your situation?
It makes me feel that something is very wrong, if im in the same exact pain and agony as BEFORE surgery!
And as for the pt, healthclubs etc, mine have been lovely, but sometimes I myself question if they know what the hell is going on!
Kira111 jacqueline01135
Posted
hi its about 5 weeks now and have 50% range back went to 2 visits with physio given sheet of exercises desided its a waste of time just doing my 5 movements every day and resting it as much as possible still taking painkillers iceing few times a day and cant sleep on it it hurts but personly you know your own body and pain so just do what you feel comfortable with hop
e you feel better ☺
jacqueline01135 Kira111
Posted
Hi, just popped in at the right time ,but not for long. Since my last encounter with the "NEW " physio ,my normal doings have been restricted ,,typing ,pot washing ,peeling veggies ,doing hair . Seems as though physiotherapy has now gone Verbal, and damaging because of it .Seeing a top physio tomorrow ,, so he can explain why I was treated like a body builder ,and consequently damaged ,probably beyond repair, Bet you "SORRY " will not enter the discussion ..Will let you know ..Muscle pain now setting in ,will say ,it is a muscle that never hurt before .!!!!!
Simplymie Kira111
Posted
Well, second opinion doctor is ordering an MRI with contrast for Friday. He thinks a lot of it is just healing, but wants to get to the bottom of why I have pain in my AC Joint still. Since I’ve been taking the steroids I’ve had tremendous relief, but will stop after today. So I’m praying I hold up. He also mentioned how the pictures of my AC Joint weren’t on the arthroscopic pictures but the X-ray showed the widening of it. Praying everything comes back normal and it’s all apart of the process!
Kira111 Simplymie
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hope so just take it easy ☺
david97107 Simplymie
Posted
hi , how are you now in terms of recovery ? i am coming up 8 months post surgery. i have found the process very challenging and more so than knee operations i have had including acl. my range is now at around 90 percent but still in pain daily and im far weaker than before the operation and considering getting another opinion. ive had ostenil , PRP and prolotherapy injections which have made inlrovements but pain constant and i ice using cryo packs daily.