Deb. This observation is supported by a study showing that in patients who have had rotator cuff surgery, strength in the shoulder muscles is not fully recovered until nine months after the surgery. I felt like not going back to my PT a week ago since it hurt So Bad, but I am continuing it. . If your shoulder is painful after surgery, a detailed history, physical examination, and standard shoulder radiographs can help your doctor narrow the list of potential causes. Will it ever end? The first two weeks after a rotator cuff repair are all about trying to find a comfortable position for the shoulder in the sling during sleep and wakeful times. For this website, I can type on my phone with my left hand! Another thing not mentioned before the op, was the possibility of things swelling. 5 users are following. When appropriate, non-surgical treatment may be the first line of defense, but our physicians will also inform you when surgery is needed. ?? I just think everybodys different and being active and massaging the muscles around helps a lot. I also had rotator cuff repair surgery in January of 2017, I am at about 10 weeks post op. I do know I have a bone spur on my acromion bone, the Dr calls it "thickening". I started working out again too. My PT states that I am still extremely tight and I have a problem relaxing while he is trying to move my arm. I was in my sling daily for 3 months, and then I wore it when we were going to be in crowded areas in case I got bumped. Doctors discuss this topic at your first post-operative meeting. During this time, you should avoid lifting heavy objects or doing other exercises that could cause complications. I consider myself very lucky as I do have full mobility of my arm, but this has lead me to over use it and think that I can do more than it clearly can take. It just feels impossible to keep the shoulder from moving 24/7. Excellent excellent suggestion. "longitude": -95.277671 appropriate medical assistance immediately. Just started physical therapy yesterday. I got the throbbing pain too, but on reflection I guess given the type of surgery it would be odd for no reaction to exercising. Fast forward to January 2019, six weeks ago, when I finally had the operation, and having previously gone through a lot of discomfort & healing of everything else in the shoulder area (Including long head of biceps tendon), particularly in the first 3 months after the fall, I thought the aftermath of the operation would be fairly straightforward by comparison. CC Help Jenn I guess everyone is different. DH had to help me with almost everything: dressing, cutting food, you name it. In a good way. Due to this I have returned to some of the more basic physio exercises - pendulum swing, neck flex, outward rotation etc to calm it down again. I find that sling position is critical. I have been off any pain meds since day 3, BUT I also have kept the straight-jacket, I mean immobilizeron all day. I started back to work as well. He said that I could try cortizone injections and physical therapy to strengthen the muscles around it to minimize the pain. I couldn't get comfortable at night and would get the resting nerve pain which was excruciating. Patient testimonial 16 weeks post rotator cuff surgery. After six weeks, patients should be able to resume their normal exercise routine. I thought I was going mad still having pain so many months on. After this time, youll be encouraged to start a rehabilitation program. On your "unfixable" arm you may need total shoulder replacement. Thanks for your encouragement and hang in there. Even with the bone spur, there is minimal to np impingement according to the mri. } My fingers & hand feel like a pack if pork sausages, and there is a good deal of itching under the armpit, and not from lack of hygiene either! Mine started in September with a frozen shoulder which we learned was caused by a tear in my rotator cuff. To repair a rotator cuff tear, a surgeon may perform a procedure through a fiber-optic scope or through small incisions. I appreciate the suggestion. My association pool opens next month and I will be in Santa Cruz in two weeks at a resort. It maybe helped 25% or so with the pain, so I soldiered on with my therapy. For now treat it symptomatically ice/heat, Advil/Aleve, Ace wrap and if it is still bothering you when you return, call for an appointment." Patients began internal and ER strengthening and scapular stabilizer strengthening at 8 weeks from surgery. Even walking was agony, any time my shoulder "moved". Cliffy the mailman. The first 2 to 5 weeks were the worst pain. This is because the rotator cuff muscles lack full control of the shoulder. Diagnostic images such as X-rays and MRI can help gather more information, and another option is to perform an arthroscopic examination of the rotator cuff. I had my surgery 3/20/18. The use of sling may be extended up to 12 weeks depending on your recovery which is different for different individuals. You can reach Azalea Orthopedics at 903.939.7500 to schedule your appointment today. Now, my wife just had the same surgery on January 3rd and will be wearing her sling for a total of 6 weeks. Haven't driven since surgery. Time to slow down my jets. If the tear is massive, the recovery time will be longer. Hi, may I ask your age please ? An unhealthy bursa can lead to intense inflammation and pain. If you can't get a recliner and must go the lounge-chair route, ask your steward to bring a quilt to fold up and lay on the chair, to give you a bit cushier base for sleeping/relaxing. Overnight stays in the hospital are generally unnecessary. This is now starting the 5th month of pain. It was reassuring to know that others had gone through the same and come out the other side. Because of that, I will be lucky to get 80% function back in my bicep and I am only 33. Nobody here can answer that for you. Physical therapy is an important part of recovery from rotator cuff surgery. No matter what type of procedure you receive, your doctor will ask you to rest your shoulder and arm as much as possible for the first few weeks post-surgery. I share a lot of your same issues. This allows a skilled surgeon to examine the joints key structures. I don't know when that will stop. I am at 4 1/2 weeks, had surgery March 5, 2019. I am so sorry for your pain. Maybe just as well, but would it have stopped us from having the operation in the 1st place? I wish someone had told me what to expect- the pain that never subsides, and the inability to sleep at all at night! I've just done my second shoulder. I am exhausted, emotionally. The more I move around the more my soreness went away. Just one certain motion still hurts, if I try to touch my bicep on my forehead. Tolerable, but it is unnerving me because I am not doing much and its hurting. CC Help Jenn Question: I had rotator cuff surgery and bicep tenodesis surgery 11 weeks ago. I had the MRI and it basically came back I'm ok. If you're only able to sleep a couple of hours in bed now, it won't be much better next week. Without seeing the knee, and possibly getting an x-ray, I cant be sure. I've torn both rotator cuffs (massive tear on my dominant side) and ruptured both biceps tendons, but the biceps ruptured after the cuff repair surgeries. "@id": "https://azaleaortho.com/contact", For the first 30 days, your arm should be in a sling. I was able to stop heavy meds after 6 days and used Naproxen and Tylenol after that. I seem to have turned a corner where the pain is not bad and Im able to sleep, drive, & do many things. Of course Ive talked to my therapist and doctor. Fortunately, many people can find relief with a variety of medications that are available. If youd rather request an appointment online, click here. My brother warned me as he had similar surgery 10 years ago and I can remember him crying quite vividlya grown, strong, tough man who works in construction reduced to tears. It gets to you emotionally. Usually, rotator cuff surgery is performed as an outpatient procedure. I am 9 months out from my rotator cuff surgery. Registered in England and Wales. I am always nervous that maybe I harmed based on the pain I am starting to get. I saw a physio up until the middle of March when lock down stopped it continuing but as that was three and a half months post surgery and my surgeon said I didn't need any further physio therapy I continued to do my exercises at home, increasing the exercises to above my head and behind my back to build strength. I dont need lectures and Im not looking for medical advice. For severe, massive tears, a complete recovery can take anywhere from 6 to 12 months. Ohio Shoulder Center Dr. Eric Parsons, Rotator Cuff Treatment, Surgery Dr. Eric Parsons, rotator cuff treatment, surgery. I start PT in 11 days. As many here have described, the pain is shocking and I have had to take Percocet off and on since the beginning. After the first PT visit I got smart and ice like its my job afterward. I do hate trying to sleep in it, but I'm afraid I will wake up crushing my arm by tossing and turning. Patience really isn't my strong point but if you try to look at the bigger picture and accept that you will get there in the end. Shoulder bursitis affects the subacromial bursa, which sits over the rotator cuff. Early strengthening will help to establish a solid scapular foundation and prevent tightness and re-tears. The physio says that the overall shoulder inflammation is likely to continue for 3 to 6 months, which came as a surprise to hear. Patient- and tear-specific demographics were analyzed in a retrospective series of patients who had undergone arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. One thing I noticed that helped me that i want to share was to not sit around and wallow and watch TV. Our team of doctors at Azalea Orthopedics specialize in shoulder injuries and conditions; they treat complex and simple conditions with the latest techniques available. Maybe a bit winded, but I found this thread while awake at 4 in the morning. ] The day after surgery was . While this stiffness may be unpleasant, the study found it typically resolved with six to 12 months after the surgery. My PT started at 4 weeks and has been a roller coaster. They did an mri and the Dr. said I have a tear in my rotator cuff. Powered by Invision Community. While most rotator cuff tendons heal after surgery, some do not, and in these cases, additional surgeries are necessary. I haven't visited this site in quite a while, but I just read your entry. Could say much more but L. hand has taken 35 min. Goals: My early recovery was unbelievably painful. The success rate is 70 to 75 per cent with primary surgery, while the failure rate for revision surgery is only two to five per cent. Patient is a UK registered trade mark. The rotator cuff repair procedure may be done using a larger shoulder incision (called an open repair) or a slightly smaller incision (called a mini-open repair). Full recovery typically takes four to six months. Hi. If your pain is not controlled with a pain reliever, or for any reason, you cannot tolerate the medication, contact doctor. "Monday", Ouch! Each patient recovers at a different pace. How do I know if my rotator cuff surgery failed. 9 Weeks Post Op shoulder rotator cuff surgery recovery. However, you won't need to take 5 months off from work to recover. PT is critical -- are you still doing physicaltherapy now? I still have some pain, but, my arm can do more things that it could do even one month ago. 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