Rotator cuff surgery 9/6/17 complications

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My story,

On June 26, 17 I was driving to our cabin, we only had 5 miles left before we arrived, when a deer out of no where came into my path, touch the hood of my car, I swirl and drove my car 80 feet into the woods. I tore a few tendons on my left shoulder. In October 7 th had rotator cuff surgery with decompression.  Has been almost 2 months. On Halloween I was just holding some artificial spider web and stretching my good arm to stretch the spider wed, when the pain got unbearablesad

Symptoms are.

1. Can not tolerate anything rubbing my shoulder light clothes or even eyes, pain will radiate to the lower part of my arm.

2. Feels like someone punched me in my arm, extreme pain in my muscle

3. Holding my phone in my hands and texting increases pain.

4. Flexing my arm painful

5. Large knot on my shoulder and painful to touch

6. Just finished a high dosage of steroid to help with inflammation (did not help)

7) blood test to rule out infection (negative)

My doctor thinks maybe another tare?

The thing I do know the pain is unbearable,

Yes I am taking hydrocodone (refuse to take it every 4 hours) I only take one capsule AM and 1 pm with Lyrica, Aleve.

The pain is unbearable.

I do not know what else to do?  

Redo rotator cuff surgery?

Thank you

Ana

0 likes, 4 replies

4 Replies

  • Posted

    With the large knot on your shoulder have they diagnosed you with shoulder separation? It is a separation at the AC joint and can take up to two years to resolve on its own. Have you had a repeat MRI?

    Your arm pain is a concern. Did they do a bicep tendonesis when they did the shoulder rotator cuff repair? They can pull apart and drop part of the bicep down into your arm like Popeye the Sailor. They can be fixed if the doctor did not cut it too short. I think it was the quarterback John Elway who played football with the condition without it being re-attached. They told me I would have to be very careful for the first 3-6 months so the long head of the bicep would not tear out of the new position. 

    Your pain should be addressed by the physician. He/she needs to fix the "cause" of the pain, not try to bandage over the pain with narcotics and anti-epileptics. If he/she doesn't, then find someone who will. Shoulder surgery is noted to be the most painful surgery known.

    What helped me a little was a cranio-sacral manipulation which gently eased the boney structures back into place. Gosh, my heart goes out to you. When you have pain or are sick, it supersedes everything else in your life. Joni

     

  • Posted

    Plz don’t do another surgery as they don’t work you should ras more . I done two but was totally the wrong decision I must start slow pt plz n overtime should help.
  • Posted

    Sounds like my injuries. I had 2 bicep tears, 2 Labral tears and 2 tears under my armpit. Large muscle knot in my clavical area. Excruciating sensitivity in my arm. Nerve. Repair occurred back in February. I’m still recovering. I have an implant now. Arthrex Speed Bridge. My arm has range limitations. My shoulder looks deformed. Physical Therapy was horrible. I wonder if the surgery was even necessary. Keeping my shoulder quiet for months probably would have been a better option.

    Do your homework all around. Check all the doctors you can. Be careful. Don’t be in a rush. This surgery is the most painful. Even beats out hip and knee surgery.

    Good luck.

  • Posted

    Hi Volleyballmom,

    Sorry to tell you this but your pain sounds normal recovery to me. I've had cuff surgery in both shoulders. The last was July 31st.  My arm was so painful my doctor sent me for a nerve conduction study to see if I had a nerve trapped in my elbow.  Pain went all the way down my arm into my hand and fingers. This was 6-7 weeks after surgery. 

    The pain in the bicep/triceps is extremely painful. I do understand what you mean about getting punched. That pain has finally stopped for me about 2 weeks ago. Everyday it lessens.

    I used Walgreens pain patches. They really helped me. I can't take Motrin or ibuprofen so I had to find something that works. I also used Tiger Balm patches that can be cut to size. You only need a square about 1"X1".

    I was in a car accident Oct.16th. Was rear-ended while stopped at a light. My shoulder hit the steering wheel and felt like whip lash. This set me back some.

    Keep icing.

    Good luck. 

     

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