Rotator Cuff Surgery-4 weeks post-op

I remember reading somewhere that swimming was not recommended for about 6 months. I am not a swimmer, but my Dr also said don't swim when I saw him at 4 months. I would think that just floating around and doing watter assisted ROM would be ok but the actual act of swimming is stressful for the shoulder. 

Helene after my last few nights I am completely with you on not wanting to go to sleep!!!

I dred it. Waking every 30 minutes or so and well chuffed when I had nearly 3 hours the other night.

I feel yours and everyone else's.

My wife even told me she read all about the recovery after surgery, but didn't tell me because I would probably have cancelled!

3 weeks in after surgery, full tear and progress is slow. Sling on most of the time and very light non weight

bearing exdercises. I can do a bit more each day so going okay so far.

Seeing surgeon for 1st time this week and physio Thursday.

I was driven to search the internet after yet another crap nights sleep!

It has made me feel so much better reading all the comments on here.

Thanks to all and best of luck with your recovery.

Nights are the worst! I am almost 4 months post op and some nights i still get real sore and keep waking up. I was in a sling for 6 weeks and could only take it off for showing and straighten my arm to stretch it out. I also had a full tear/detachment on both shoulders from a fall at work and tried catching myself. So lucky me, I go for surgery on my other shoulder in two weeks and I'm still having a lot of pain from my first surgery. Like you said, I had no clue what I was getting myself into with the pain and recovery. We will get through it. I know wire a few people that are 1 to 3 years post op and they are back to loving life.

3 weeks post op and ok so far.Daytime is great. Night time not so.Last time ran a marathon at 10 weeks.......can only hope

I hope you are feeling better and able to sleep in the bed again.  I know for sure I was not allowed to do push ups till about 14 weeks along. You did say they were inadvertent. Even at 4 months now, if I over do it, I have increased pain. Then I have to use cold packs and prop the arm on pillows in bed. I woke up one morning last week in tears and just didn't know what I had done. Then I propped the arm on pillows for a few nights and things went back to being better. Last night, I was draining a big pot of pasta and just tipped it the wrong way and it immediately felt like too much weight and I had to sit with cold pack again all night and feels sore as I type this. Sometimes there will be pain for no apparent reason and other days everything almost feels normal. Hang in there and go slowly. window.post_1495948899258_40 = function(win,msg){

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Good luck Robert! I hope you are back to running in a couple months. My PT actually said ok for me to start short easy road bike rides 3 weeks ago. Now I'm up to 25 miles with 1800 miles of climbing and will hopefully manage a little more climbing tomorrow. 

Huge difference between week 4 and 6. Pt going ok. Stiff shoulder capsule because I waited 4 months before surgery. Will all come in time

Thanks for the kind words. I go to 2nd PT tomorrow. Just doing the home exercises is killing me. They say patience is a Virtue! Getting out of the immobilizer was huge.

Hello, has your PT done anything with a large exercise ball with you??  My new PT after the re-repair (revision) surgery the second time in nearly 5 months...introduced me to the ball week two.  AMAZINGly helpful!! 

Not yet. This week she says we will go active. She's busy worrying about maybe a frozen shoulder. And I'm worrying about the pain! I'll ask about the ball. Thanks for the tip. Of course this is my right arm! I feel like such a whiny baby.

How did the surgeon repair your RC?  Do you have any movement?  Measurements?  Can you do pendulums? 

Yes. It's just very tight in the front. I can't move it to my waist very well. All the other movements are better than they were (which is comforting) but that back one is awful. Today was a painful day but my movements are definitely better than when I started. I know I just have to keep at it. Sometimes I wonder if it's the bra strap. I thank you for your caring. The PT didn't seem as alarmed yesterday. Since this really seems different every day I have hope for tomorrow.

Bicep tendon inflamed?  That can ruin everything with this recovery.  Painful and frustrating.  If yes, I find that pinching my shoulder blades (ask your PT) reduced and now eliminated the tightness, putting my shoulder into (better) alignment equaling better movement.  Make sure you are icing after PT (do it at home)  It does help.  Internal rotation is a tough one i.e. hand on your hip eventually moving it behind your back.  Slow and steady wins this race.  Pace yourself.  Remember you need to stretch.  Remember to drop the shoulder and pinch your shoulder blades (kinda upper middle of your back).  That alignment should take pressure off the biceps tendon which you think may be from your bra strap.  You are right every day is different with this recovery.  Hang in there and good luck!!

I removed the strap and the pain eased. Go figure. She gave me the exercises you mentioned yesterday. I did this morning. This surgery is a bear! Luck to you too and thanks.

I am 6.5 weeks post surgery. Haven't worn a bra yet I get the tank tops and wear them under a shirt. Im too scared to do the bra yet. Today was my first PT. It was less than I expected.He rubbed my arm for about 15 minutes, asked me to raise it. I couldn't so we just went on to more exercises. I didn't feel debilitating pain, although it is much worse tonight. We can do this! I did get discouraged but I am also feeling a small bit hopeful. I am still on pain meds, although they are cutting them down, which is ok. I mainly need them at night.

Today I'll use the strapless I bought for this reason. Exercise and see what happens. Who cares if I'm crazy as long as it works! Thank goodness for this site.

girls, i bought Hanes or Fruit of the Loom inexpensive cotton sports bras.  3 for $10 I think. If you aren't able to get the surgical arm/shoulder through the arm hole skip it and adjust your breast.  This gives you support, and it is comfortable.  I will admit that I bought these because they are cotton and if needed they can be cut off and thrown out or turned into rags or quilting squares.  You will need to bend over to get started and take them off.  A clothes hanger (ruler) helped push down the bra in the back.  Keep moving your arm.  Pendulums bent over circles, north-south, east-west.  Hang in there and good luck!

 

I'm doing the shoulder squeeze more often. Good advice. You've been through it that's for sure.

yes and two weeks ago I was stuck in one of those sports bras!!  LOL  thank the Lord it was inexpensive and I was liberated via three snips of scissors!

yes pinching the bottom of the shoulder blades together aligns everything, then do your exercises (while pinching) result should be the reduction or elimination of bicep tendon pain, soreness, inflammation!!

i think  i have 16 or is it 20 of those bras!    LOL  no way  i am going to struggle or cut off a $50 Bali bra!!  lol lol lol

 

I hook around the waist and then pull up. Like when we were 11!!

LOL!!  And these cotton things... left arm first, head second, finally right arm.  Pull down... I'm bending over when this goes on and comes off.  Normal ones don't work, yet...LOL

 

17 weeks. Almost 4 months. So much better. I'm still achy but I had a muscle spasm in my back last week that put this ache in perspective. I still can't get my arm up my back but I can work on that. The pain is so much better that I am not reluctant to do all ROM and strengthening exercises. I just have to remember not to do too much. I was cutting up tree branches today saying to myself "be careful!". Take heart all - it will get better.

Great to hear from you!!  GLAD YOU ARE IMPROVING!!  Yes, keep reminding yourself to be careful!!  I do it all the time!! 13 weeks from re-repair surgery.  Still restrictions overhead and over the shoulder.  No strengthening over the head, yet.  Active ROM is improving.  Still struggle to touch the back of my neck, middle of my back, all external and internal rotation is tight.  Laying on my back on the floor, my shoulder is still tight when I attempt to extend 180 degrees plush fully.   I am having a rough go with the scapula and lats.  TIGHT which is keeping the scapula from moving freely.  It's functional but awkward.  I love my PT the second time around, outstanding PT...but...I think I may have reached my success rate with this PT too.  11 weeks with this PT, nothing this week, then once next week, nothing the following week, and once the week after.  My PT has to go out on medical leave (serious stuff) and honestly, I don't want another PT working with my shoulder...so...lots to think about...  Go on my own?  Seek another PT?  I am a bit unwrapped with going alone truthfully.  I am not sure how to do the overhead strengthening.  ANYHOW... I started work again a week ago.  Glad to be back.  I missed 27 weeks of work since January.  Blah!!  AGAIN, delighted to hear FROM YOU!!! KEEP doing your ROM!!!  We have to keep going!!!  Take care and GOd BLESS

I can already tell I'm going to pay for cutting up the tree branches! I know I have a way to go yet but I'm not so depressed about it. I just have to do what they say. What makes me angry is all the news about pain meds. They gave me Celebrex which was $324.00. Not. Then Tramadol which from what I've read is very dangerous stuff. So no to that as well. But Norco is out because of all the addictions. I read that in Vermont they only prescribe Tramadol. Read up on it. Very scary worldwide problems. So. Mind over pain! I have a way to go still but I see hope. I no longer feel that I'm crawling over glass to reach the light at the end of the tunnel.

STAY ON THE PATH!!! YOU WILL MAKE IT!!!!

I'm 64 and have always done it this way.  How can you see behind your back to hook?

I'm 9 weeks post-op so I hook on the side and turn it around.

I realize that this is an old post but I have been rereading to look at posts from people who are past the 18 mo. mark . My shoulder is all good, ROM and strength fine. As I've posted before, achy in bicep especially in cold weather. I do tap on a tablet a lot which causes me to hunch over.

Anyway I reread this about pinching the shoulder blades which I had forgotten about. It helped a lot! That and getting off the tablet. Just a thank you to henpen for this advice and hang in there for those whose family and friends are very tired of hearing about your shoulder!