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
denise_60538 ricochetred
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Dave902 denise_60538
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For the first 6 weeks or so after mine, I wondered what I had gotten myself into. Gradually .... things got better.
I'm sure yours will get better too ... several months later I was lifting weights (light) and trying to return to sports. 7 Months later and mine has failed but thats no reason to think yours will to. I'm a diabetic and don't heal very well and I think between weight lifting, life and trying sport specific training .... I am partially at fault here. Hang in there, use the sling when walking (anything that causes the arm to jiggle). listen to your physio people and keep a positive mental attitude. Supplements like Omega 3 help a little too with the imflamation.
hrkda916 ricochetred
Posted
I too had bicep pain after surgery. I had surgery in oct of 2017. I’ve been in therapy & complaining constantly with bicep pain. Dr finally did another mri. I have a torn & out of place bicep tendon. Another surgery set for apr 5 th. He says he had never seen this before. Get them to do an mri!
ricochetred hrkda916
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It's been a little over a year now. I definitely can't afford to take more time off work for anymore surgery. I have tendon pain at surgery site for bicep and rotator cuff. But I am still functional. I just can't do much in way of repetitive lifting or strengthening because it flares up the tendon pain. I am one of those people that reacts with inflammation to tendons very easily. My guess is that the little anchors cause irritation. I have considered asking for cortisone but don't want too much of that as it can make tendons fragile. Thanks for the input. I hope your next surgery goes well and it takes care of the issue.
elaines314 ricochetred
Posted
Yes, exact same thing. Continue with your therapy, get rid of that sling, they placed me in pool PT and I also would lightly rub a dry wash cloth over the affected area to desensatize it. The pool therapy helped me get over that pain hurdle, now this week it has moved to behind my shoulder and muscles below my shoulder blade. I am getting a little better ROM, but it almost feels like the pain in the biceps has moved into this area. This area is also the weakest muscle and area before tbe surgery. Today they tried massage, but that was extremely painful, pool went better afterwards. Put your mindset into "this is only temporary pain" and continue with your PT.
ImMiserable ricochetred
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I'm 17 days out of rotator cuff and slap bicep tendesis surgery and absolutely miserable. Sharp stabbing shoulder pain throbbibg and numb for arm and an arthritic hand. They just don't prepare or explain this will happen to you in advance
ImMiserable ricochetred
Posted
I'm 17 days out of rotator cuff and slap bicep tendesis surgery and absolutely miserable. Sharp stabbing shoulder pain throbbibg and numb for arm and an arthritic hand. They just don't prepare or explain this will happen to you in advance
ImMiserable ricochetred
Posted
I'm 17 days out of rotator cuff and slap bicep tendesis surgery and absolutely miserable. Sharp stabbing shoulder pain throbbibg and numb for arm and an arthritic hand. They just don't prepare or explain this will happen to you in advance
ImMiserable ricochetred
Posted
I'm hoping to hear from you as you and I had the exact same thing I'm having a complication above all others I'm not even going to ask you about the bicep , shoulder or forearm pain I want to ask you about hand pain I feel like I have crippling arthritis and I can't bend my fingers particularly my middle finger and have no strength did you have this also and did it go away?
ricochetred ImMiserable
Posted
As to the hand pain, it's hard for me to reply to that because I broke my neck almost 10 yrs ago in a bike accident and I have pretty severe neuropathy in my arms/hands as a result of spinal cord injury. So my hands have had some degree of numbness/tingling/burning and hypersensitivity since then. I did have an increase in nerve pain after shoulder surgery that was new to me but that has, for the most part, resolved. I also have pretty arthritic thumbs as I have been PT for over 30 yrs, doing body work and was rock climber for 10 yrs using hands a lot. I know many people have some issues with nerve pain in hands after shoulder surgery. It's probably result of nerve impingement possibly by scar tissue, swelling, muscle spasm or combination of those. The mechanics may also change due to weakness causing muscular imbalances. I hope your situation has improved. It's very difficulty living with dysfunction.
ImMiserable ricochetred
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Dave902 ricochetred
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Had 2 surgeries in the last year ... no pain /stiffness in fingers hand at all ... about to go for third in 2 weeks. Seems to "far away" to be referred pain. Check back with MD?
ImMiserable Dave902
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Ur scaring me cuz I don't think I can survive another surgery after all this pain and I'm only 3 weeks post-surgery
maryelen64930 ImMiserable
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ImMiserable maryelen64930
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Your reply is most useful and thorough and I thank you. I played tennis 5 days a week until this and don't think I'll ever return to the court that said I went down on the tennis court then so my problems began hey I have a question for you did you have any throbbing in your hand and severe pain in your fingers?
maryelen64930 ImMiserable
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Yes, I hear you. I am a life long skier (since I was 3) - it was my happy place - but I can't imagine getting back on the slopes again at this stage. Everyone says you will feel differently after one year but I want to do everything to avoid this horrific surgery again and if that means no more skiing then so be it. To answer your questions, I had sever nerve pain radiating down my arm and bicep (scar tissue pinching nerves) but it did not extend into my hand or fingers. This surgery throws EVERYTHING out of alignment (rig cage, back muscles, shoulder blade, etc) and it is entirely possible you have some deeply pinched nerves. I really empathize with you - it is frightening, exhausting, painful, but somehow with time and all of the above mentioned things I've been doing it has dissipated for me. I would say a really good PT, acupuncture and highly qualified deep tissue massage therapist have saved me (also calming deep breaths) The other thing is that it is not lost on me that I am so fortunate to have the time - I did not have to go back to work - this has become my full-time job. And I am deeply sympathetic to those having to manage work, this surgery, a family, etc while recovering. Nothing about this process is easy! This online support group has been very helpful to me too. Keep me posted.