Rotator Cuff Surgery-4 weeks post-op
Posted , 82 users are following.
First two weeks after surgery the pain was intense and I could not sleep unless I was in a recliner. Have been wearing the immobilized but have a tendency to remove it when I know that there is no risk of injury. I do wear it at night but find I can't sleep good because I am not a back sleeper. If I try sleeping on my side with a pillow under my arm my shoulder hurts more. My other problem is that I am 4 weeks post-op and I can only do 2/3 passive exercises. The one where you hold the wrist of your bad arm and raise it above your head is impossible! I can only raise it to my waist because of the pain. My surgeon told me I have to do it! Easy for him to say! Any advice would be helpful. By the way, at this point my pain is manageable with extra strength Tylenol and Tylenol PM's at night. It sounds as if that will all change when I start P.T. !
5 likes, 315 replies
henpen1980 KJean
Posted
Hi, well I have recovered 100% range of motion and strength. If you recall, I dislocated my shoulder ripped three of four rotator cuff tendons. Infraspinatus and supraspinatus completely ripped off humeral head requiring reattachment with screws — subscapularis 60% tear-no repair. Fifteen weeks of physical therapy and my therapist ripped the supraspinatus repair completely off its screws requiring revision surgery three weeks later. The new therapist did a great job with the passive massage, and movement-she never pushed it. Having a great Phys cal therapist makes a world of difference. The same surgeon conducted my revision surgery. The revision surgery was supposed to take three hours, but this time, it took FIVE hours! My surgeon put in a double row of anchors. I think he cleaned up more than he let on. Before the revision, I told him I needed him to make sure everything was moving unobstructed. Having a good relationship with your surgeon helps too. The revision surgical team was the same as the first surgery. i never completed my physical therapy. i asked to be discharged early. i needed a break from pt. my surgeon was ok with. pt was iffy but left the door open for a return if needed. well, i saw my pt a couple of months ago-she was in awe of my recovery. 100% range of motion, full strength. im told that im in a minority of patients with such a positive outcome. i still pay attention to my shoulder two years later just to make sure i don't over use it. stay positive, ask questions, ice and more ice for pain relief. remember the more we use the arm during recovery the strength will return. good luck!
christine_61665 KJean
Posted
Some new advice that many probably already know. Be kind to your non operated arm. I had right shoulder surgery 2 1/2 years ago, (right handed). Of course I am still favoring it. All is fine, a little achy at times, but seemingly the same as it was. But now I have apparently developed tendonitis is my left arm. I will go to PT. So now I must favor this arm, and use my right which is starting to fuss a little. Sigh. It seems that being lopsided has its downsides. Moral: Keep building strength in your repaired arm, and if you can't share the load with both arms, don't do it.
cathy87114 christine_61665
Posted
This is so interesting - talking about follow-up things that happen this far out. I am almost 2 1/2 years out and have residual effects from the surgery. After surgery, while still wearing the sling, I developed carpal tunnel syndrome in the non-surgical arm/wrist. It also developed in the surgery arm/wrist, but not to the same extent. My surgeon, who is an excellent surgeon, says we can "just go in there and nip it and I'll be on my way." That just doesn't float with me, as I don't want to go through more surgery unless absolutely necessary. Sleeping with the braces just made it worse, so I am using a vitamin therapy to break up the inflammation and it has gotten better. I have also had extreme tightness in my neck and shoulders that started earlier this year. My neck really bothered me during the "sling" period, but I don't know if they're related. I am doing a lot of work on my own to help alleviate this also. Would love to hear from those who might encountered similar circumstances
LauriePro KJean
Posted
Like many of you I found this site in the middle of the night when I woke up from pain! Since my two week visit I haven’t seen my doctor and won’t for another two weeks. I am seven weeks postop from my surgery, And have been feeling a little bit lost. Not sure if the pain I was experiencing was normal. It sounds very much like it is. Its been so comforting to know that iI am relatively on track. I took a fall last weekend and landed on my shoulder and arm. Horrible! And have been feeling a little bit lost. Not sure if the pain I was experiencing was normal. It sounds very much like it is. I did take a fall last weekend climbing some stairs and landed directly on the surgical arm and shoulder. Horrible pain the next day, but kind of back to regular pain now. I don’t think I did any actual damage. Looking forward to getting the sling off, also terrified! I don’t start physical therapy until mid February. I have been doing pendulums etc. here at home. Ice is king! Thank you again for blazing the trail and sharing your experience! It’s been so helpful!