I Need Surgery for Detached Tendon in Shoulder

zogger

zogger

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Just talked to the doc and they need to do shoulder surgery to reattach a tendon. It is my left arm but fortunately I am right handed.

Doc says 5 weeks in a sling, a couple of months rehab, and should be good as new in 6 months. Outpatient procedure so I don't have to eat the hospital food....so I have that going for me!

Any feedback, hints, etc. for anyone who has had similar surgery would be appreciated.

Thanks!
 
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zogger52 said:
Just talked to the doc and they need to do shoulder surgery to reattach a tendon. It is my left arm but fortunately I am right handed.

Doc says 5 weeks in a sling, a couple of months rehab, and should be good as new in 6 months. Outpatient procedure so I don't have to eat the hospital food....so I have that going for me!

Any feedback, hints, etc. for anyone who has had similar surgery would be appreciated.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

All I had in that department was a fractured shoulder and it took a bit of PT (rehab) to regain strength.

What I can do is wish you a good procedure and a fast healing.:)
 
I had a 100% rotator tear with both biceps brachia detached in 2012 in my weak arm.

I had the rotator repaired and the brachia reattached in the same surgery.

I had to wear a "straight jacket" for my left arm (immobile, against my chest) and sleep sitting-up for five-weeks. Any stress placed on that arm would tear apart the mending brachia.

I started physical therapy at the sixth-week. It was the devil. I had to take narcotics before each session. Mine was complicated because you would normally start the rotator therapy much sooner. Because of the wait, my rotator had scared over and it took a lot to break it loose.

I did the prescribed home exercises per the book. I walked two-miles per day. I had a wonderful therapist! IIRC it took six-weeks of work to get any use out of that shoulder.

My repaired shoulder is better than new! I workout daily and mine is a complete success.

Now I need to do the right side. LOL!

I've have friends that had similar surgery and they are whimps and wouldn't do the work and follow the therapist's orders. They will murmur and fuss about how bad their surgeon was when it was their laziness that is the real problem.

That painful rehab ain't no joke. The home exercises are as important as the supervised therapy sessions.

Best of luck with the repair!
 
Had both tendons and bicep reattached two years ago! Hurt like a mofo! But, after 6 months of PT x3 weekly and home exercising good as new. Now, for the other side...
 
Had it done 4 years ago- Slip in the ice detached tendon on top of shoulder. Just be rigorous on doing your PT and you'll be fine.

Also ask your surgeon if they're going to cut the proximal bicep tendon, if so, have them pin it. (else bicep can slide down and make a large lump by your elbow).

And arthroscopic is much better than open surgery.
 
I had rotator cuff surgery and some spurs removed 3 weeks, 5 days ago. Still in the immobilizer for at least another 9 days when I see the doc again.
You'll likely be laid up for 4-6 months so try to get everything done now. I had 3 weeks notice and had to get the winter wood cut, split and stacked in that time.
I had to go to the big city for surgery and as long as I was there bought a new 12ga the following day. Haven't shot it yet but it gives me something to look forward to.
 
I had trouble with my shoulders dislocating when I was in my early thirties. They would dislocate sometimes in my sleep. The operation at that time was to cut the tendon, drill a hole, put the tendon through, tie a knot in it and use a couple staples to hold it. They don't do that now, but I am sure the pain is still there. DO THE THERAPY! I am now eighty and have had no problem since except for a little lack of motion.
 
Plan on sleeping in an upright position for a few weeks as at least in my case,... full Rotator Cuff tear and various and sundry torn Ligaments and Tendons necessitated this.
 
I'm looking forward to a similar procedure in a few weeks after my elk hunt. Torn cuff and ruptured biceps tendon. I hope I don't have to learn to flycast left handed.
Best of luck to you.
And me!
 
CScott said:
I'm looking forward to a similar procedure in a few weeks after my elk hunt. Torn cuff and ruptured biceps tendon. I hope I don't have to learn to flycast left handed.
Best of luck to you.
And me!
Click to expand...

Good luck. I hope you get an elk! Post a pix!
 
From personal experience, I can tell you that the time immediately following shoulder surgery can be extremely painful. For obvious reasons, you will want to minimize the use of any heavy duty pain meds. My strong recommendation is that you ask your doctor to prescribe the use of a cold therapy "ice machine" which greatly reduces swelling and pain. Some insurers do not cover the cost but in my view they are worth paying for out of pocket.

There are a number of such machines on the market. The one my doctor recommended was the Game Ready machine. For me it worked great. I think my recovery period would have been a whole lot worse for me without it.

Ice-therapy-machine-and-a-patient.jpg


Good luck!
 
My wife had her tendon repaired about three years ago. Day surgery, and the first three days were miserable for her. Fortunately, it was her right shoulder and she's left handed.

She spent the first three days sitting up in a recliner because she couldn't lie down. She had an ice machine, which was paid for by her supplemental insurance. I spent most of those three days running down to the local convenience store buying bagged ice.

The ice did a great job reducing the swelling and made her recovery much faster.

After that, she started to recover quickly, although it was some time before she could drive. She did the PT and had excellent results.

From what I saw, I would advise not to skimp on the pain medications for the first three days. After that, she tapered off pretty quickly.

ordnanceguy said:
From personal experience, I can tell you that the time immediately following shoulder surgery can be extremely painful. For obvious reasons, you will want to minimize the use of any heavy duty pain meds. My strong recommendation is that you ask your doctor to prescribe the use of a cold therapy "ice machine" which greatly reduces swelling and pain. Some insurers do not cover the cost but in my view they are worth paying for out of pocket.

There are a number of such machines on the market. The one my doctor recommended was the Game Ready machine. For me it worked great. I think my recovery period would have been a whole lot worse for me without it.

Ice-therapy-machine-and-a-patient.jpg


Good luck!
Click to expand...
 
I had full RC tear on 3 tendons and biceps tenndon 2015.(Also fell on ice) I fell and retore it later that year ( wet tile floor) More surgery and fell again 2017 and tore it again (icy steps at daughters). Then replacemnt with reverse shoulder replacement. Still mending some from that. All in all it went very well if I had not kept retearing it. That is my fault not Docs.
Retraing it at 1st is key.. then Rehab is key and using it alot (after Doc says its ok) is key. God speed.
 
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So last week I slipped on ice and damaged my previously good right shoulder. Saw doc and got MRI....the right has two torn tendons!

So minor change of plan. Surgery still on for tomorrow but doc will do right shoulder instead of left. After right is better (6 months or more), he will do the left.

Obviously I have to pamper both arms since if I hurt the left too much, I will have issue with both arms until the right gets better.

Wife is being great. I hope I don't drive her nuts.

Ofcourse no shooting for quite a long time.
 
zogger52 said:
So last week I slipped on ice and damaged my previously good right shoulder. Saw doc and got MRI....the right has two torn tendons!

So minor change of plan. Surgery still on for tomorrow but doc will do right shoulder instead of left. After right is better (6 months or more), he will do the left.

Obviously I have to pamper both arms since if I hurt the left too much, I will have issue with both arms until the right gets better.

Wife is being great. I hope I don't drive her nuts.

Of course no shooting for quite a long time.
Click to expand...

Look at the bright side, no snow shoveling for you!:)

All kidding aside I hope your now changed surgery goes well and you heel fast.
 
That's a rough go, sorry to read you dinged your good arm.
Best Wishes for an uneventful recovery and follow up.
You're going to find out who your real friends are when they find you can't reach behind with either hand!.
Good Luck with the procedure.
 
zogger52 said:
Just talked to the doc and they need to do shoulder surgery to reattach a tendon. It is my left arm but fortunately I am right handed.

Doc says 5 weeks in a sling, a couple of months rehab, and should be good as new in 6 months. Outpatient procedure so I don't have to eat the hospital food....so I have that going for me!

Any feedback, hints, etc. for anyone who has had similar surgery would be appreciated.

Thanks!
Click to expand...
I had this done in Oct 2018, Do the physical therapy as prescribed and you'll be fine. I couldn't shoot any large rifles for quite awhile, Or magnum pistols. I was in the sling for 3 weeks 24/7 and ditched it a week early. It took about 8 months to get all my shoulder strength back. My problem was I'm right handed and it was my right shoulder.
 
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Probably 25 years ago I made a stupid mistake and pulled a tendon out of my shoulder. My orthopedic doctor said that he could do surgery or I could let that tendon mesh with the other with about the same results. It took awhile but I have most of my movement and no pain unless I cause it by doing something that I should not attempt.
 
Now 6 days after surgery, seeing doc tomorrow to remove stitches, etc.

Pain no real issue, so I am off any pain meds.

One issue is that I had a major panic attack Friday night. First one I have ever had. Really shook me up. Working on getting my positive perspective back.

When I no longer need the sling, what can I expect to be able to do right away?

Thanks for all of the support.
 
I had tendon reattached in both elbows at different times. What I learned was go slow and think about what I was going to do. Did not want to go through that procedure again. Was week at first but it got better in time do exercises slowly take care
 
I suffered a torn left bicep. Good surgery and recovery going well.
I also had a torn meniscus in knee 15 years ago.
Rehab and Strength training are your new part time job for life. After your
Train your whole body.
Do jay it takes for 100% recovery
 
I am now about 8 weeks post-surgery. I have been to 5 rehab sessions so far.

My range of motion is very good but my strength needs to be built up. Doing the exercises as prescribed and trying not to overdo things.

No real pain in the arm, but sore alot of the time. An Advil or Tylenol once in awhile gets me through. Also a shot of whiskey (for medicinal purposes only!) helps as well.
 
Yesterday I had meniscus surgery on my left knee. The Army surgeon said I shouldn't need any pain meds, but when my wife filled the prescription at the FT Belvoir hospital pharmacy, I ended up with two bottles of 500 mg acetaminophen, a bottle of naproxyn, 30 oxicodone tablets, a bottle of antinausea pills and a bottle of stool softener, the last two to deal with the oxy side effects. Seems like a huge waste of resources.
 
The Missus had surgery 13 weeks ago. Partial rotator tear, partial detached bicep muscle, had some bone removed along with calcium deposits.

She came home tethered similar to one of those ice boxes pictured above. A Bregg polar care cube. 72 hours straight in a chair with that thing pumping ice water. Slept a whole week in a recliner.

Doc says she's doing excellent, and the damage was cumulative over some 20 years or more.

the PT folks have her down to once a week. She followed all instructions to the letter, very important.

It was not easy, and in fact, the icing, stretching and light weight lifting will continue for another 3-6 months. Then she decides if she wants the other shoulder done.
Right shoulder done for now, she's left handed. The next one is going to be real tough.

Follow the professionals advice to the latter.


Edit: to Charlie's point, the insurance company denied paying for the cold box but payed for the arm attachment, initially, saying it was "not medically necessary". Huh, How does one device work without the other??? And they sent her home attached to it, it was not optional.
Eventually they paid, it may have been that a wrong code was entered into billing.
 
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When you start your physical therapy, make sure you and the therapist are on the same page. I had two for my rotator cuff and bicep tendon reattachment. Know how far you can go and let them know when you can't go anymore. I don't mean stop when you feel pain but when the pain is too much tell them. One of my therapists was very observant and watched me closely. When I said I had enough, she knew I had met my limit. The other I called Helga from the North. A Viking woman only missing the hat with the horns. One session (the last) she was stretching my arm backward. The arm was in a 90 degree position and she was pushing my forearm backward while holding my upper arm straight out from the body. She kept going farther and farther. I said it was hurting and I couldn't take any more. She just kept going. I looked at her and realized she was looking off deep in thought. I took a deep breath and just held it. She then said something about my hand going cold and looked at me. She yelled for the other therapist and said I wasn't breathing. I was in shock. After recovering, I said I was done and didn't go back. I did my exercises at home and made a full recovery. Make sure they are paying attention!
 
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ChuckS1 said:
Yesterday I had meniscus surgery on my left knee. The Army surgeon said I shouldn't need any pain meds, but when my wife filled the prescription at the FT Belvoir hospital pharmacy, I ended up with two bottles of 500 mg acetaminophen, a bottle of naproxyn, 30 oxicodone tablets, a bottle of antinausea pills and a bottle of stool softener, the last two to deal with the oxy side effects. Seems like a huge waste of resources.
Click to expand...

While every situation is different, I only ended up taking 3 pain pills.
 
Good luck. Do all of the required PT, but not more.


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