Sudden Bicep pain after rotator cuff and bicep repair
Posted , 62 users are following.
I am 6 weeks post rotator cuff/SAD/bicep tenodesis. Everything was going normal until today at 6 weeks when I was allowed to remove my sling. I slept fine and woke up with no pain. I got up, happily removed sling, went to bathroom, pulled up my pants and went to adjust pants by slightly reaching behind and got a stabbing, knifelike, cramping in my biceps. I went to lie in bed, struggled to put the sling back on...started walking to kitchen and the bicep started stabbing and cramping again. I almost passed out from the pain. I have called my Ortho (he was in surgery today) and sent e mail to my PT for advice and have not heard from either of them. I can do pendulums without pain and the shoulder flexion exercise carefully, but any bicep movement and it starts to cramp and stab at me. I am now scared that my arm will never get better and don't know how this good go from good to bad so quickly. Has this ever happened to anyone? I hope I hear back from my Dr tomorrow. I am really worried.
8 likes, 151 replies
Evie1963 ricochetred
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I've had both shoulders repaired and it takes months to heal. U will need physio. My specialist got sick of me complaining abput the pain I'm sure but they aren't the ones going through it. He ended up putting me into a physio exercise program and it was the best thing for pain. I reported to him how good it was in alleviating pain and because of that patients behind me were also given the same program for chronic pain.
I too took my arm out of my sling to try and cut a rose off my rosebush and was positive I had reinjured my shoulder because of the sharp pain I felt but it was because I hadn't used it in weeks post op. Be prepared for more sharp pains and aches, in fact be prepared for the possibilty of chronic pain. I have had chronic pain in my right shoulder since 2006 because I didn't get it repaired immediately and kept using it with a full thickness tear to my supraspinatous tendon. Further down the track exercise will give u more relief than opiates.Good luck.
jill64818 ricochetred
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ricochetred jill64818
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I hope your days and night will start to get better. I know I was doing pretty well at 10 weeks but would not want to have had to go back to work to use the arm all day. I have found that between 3-4 months my pain level significantly reduced and I think it's because of the strength I had gained from the exercises. Although I have found that I am experiencing more muscle soreness just from doing the exercises. It's a different type of pain (more like discomfort) as though I had a hard workout. Hopefully, as your arm gets stronger you will have some reduction in pain. There were days where I decided to do no exercises beyond my bike ride because the shoulder was getting too sore. On the nights that I had done exercises I had more tenderness in the shoulder upon awakening. Now I am almost 5 months. I will be back to work next month. I'm glad I have been able to take this much time off work. 10 weeks is still early healing in the grand scheme of things. Wishing you the best.
david66549 jill64818
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david66549 jill64818
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david66549 jill64818
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david66549 ricochetred
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Well, I now have a clear pattern. I am 13 weeks out. Was fine until PT week # 6 or so as we were fnishing up ROM and getting ready for strengthening. If I rest all sharp pain goes away leaving just ordinary crappy intermiitent aches/pains.
BUT, if I resume PT the stabbing comes back next day. Don't know whether to stop PT entirely or just go at snail's pace. Or whether the sharp pain means something surgically-related (oh god no!!).
jill64818 david66549
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david66549 jill64818
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Wish they would tell us why this happens.
argill69 ricochetred
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david66549 argill69
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6 weeks is nothing. You aren't close to healing yet. Deal with it best you can. All part of the process unfortunately.
argill69 david66549
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david66549 argill69
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bjhodg ricochetred
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Checking in - almost 12 weeks post op for rotator cuff repair. Movement range is getting fairly good and exercises for moving the shoulder are only causing mild to moderate pain on occasion. The doctor has had me avoid lifting weight until my next visit in 10 days. But at least the excruciating actions of getting dressed, buckling a seat belt, and reaching my arm out in front of me are now no problem. I sleep well at night and only occasionally have sharp or stabbing pains, and usually they are in the bicep. I often feel an overstretch sensation in the muscles in my upper chest, near the affected shoulder, but no significant pain. I have talked to a great many people who have had this type of surgery and their message is always the same: "Do what your doctor says." "Do your exercises and your physical therapy." "I wish I had been more diligent in my rehab." "Be patient, it takes a long time to fully heal. 6 months to a year."
Life is not all roses....I have ear surgery on Monday and foot surgery next Friday. But everything will be alright. By that, I mean right shoulder, right ear, and right foot. All right. I haven't lost my sense of humor!
david66549 ricochetred
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Ordinary activities are ok. But doing rowing or curls etc at home triggers moderate pains AFTER not during. Weird.
PT is also ok when at his office.
He is still ROM focused but that is fine.
What ya think? Thanks
ricochetred david66549
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Hi David. It sounds like you are doing more activities. I am almost 6 months now. I also find that when I do the shoulder strengthening exercises like you have mentioned, I get pain in the tendons afterward...especially the biceps near the shoulder and the muscle belly aches. Ordinary activities are fine. I just went away for two weeks and was not able to do anything but minimal theraband and some bench push ups and had less pain overall. Sleeping on the surgical side causes some achiness but to a lesser extend than at 4 months. I feel like the muscle that had atrophied is improving in size...but that tendon burning pain continues when I work out. My ROM is good. I used the cold whenever needed and am planning on going back to work next week if the PA clears me on wednesday. How does your Dr feel you are doing? Mine seemed to think that at 4 months I was more like a 6 month patient. I feel like a big improvement between 4 and 6 months. I do the exercises even though they cause pain. I don't see any other way to get stronger. Hang in there!