Rotator Cuff Repair?

[bobelk99]

I had the right shoulder rotator cuff repaired Feb 13. I wear the prescribed sling 24/7 and do no labor.

Here I am at 3AM, typing with one finger, because 'it' woke me up aching, near a month after surgery.

I am scheduled to start therapy at the end of week 5.

What was your experience during recovery?

 

[J. R. WEEMS]

I fell and tore mind. Took down a whole tree and split most all the wood in that condition. When the pain got bad enough where I was having trouble driving I had it checked out then found out what the problem was. There was a lot of pain after the operation, I think partly due to some bone scraping. Some I have talked to have reported some very unwelcome after effects. When it was all said and done, I feel fine now, a couple 3 years later. Once in awhile I get a bit of a twinge, but I mark it up to old age. I have NOT fired a hi-powered rifle yet, or my S&W 500- I have used a 28 gage shotgun with no problems. For a long time, reaching overhead was not a good thing. That has cleared up, for the most part. DO NOT rush things, but do push a bit when you want to just give up. I have had many better experiences, but I have had worse as well. Best of luck.

 

[mc5aw]

I had my shoulder scoped at the end of June. I was given some strong pain pills, but discomfort was substantial. Trying to sleep sitting up gets old fast. I was in a sling for almost eight weeks, and was shocked by how much my shoulder muscle atrophied during that time. Here's a little something I learned during the first few weeks ... if you have the sling pillow (between your forearm and torso) you will most likely experience excruciating pain in your elbow and forearm. If this occurs, very carefully remove the pillow and let your arm hang straight down. The pressure caused by the pillow's angle on a main nerve in the elbow can be alleviated by carefully flexing your lower arm several times a day. I went through PT, but most of that can be done on your own with a focus on stretching and strength development. Regrettably, I still have only 75% range of motion, and I don't think I'll ever be able to throw a fast ball again, but as long as I can shoot straight, and go about my daily activities, it's a worthwhile trade-off for not having the chronic pre-scope shoulder pain.

 

[Ignatz]

I had my shoulder scoped last June, and was out of work for 3 and a half months. I too started therapy after 4-5 weeks. It starts out slow and painfull, but I improved every week. As I sit here typing right now, I have to think what side I had worked on. My surgery went perfect. My hand would swell up after a 2- hour hike, but that went away completly after 4-5 months.
The sleeping was an inconvenience but is something you just have to deal with. Within 24 hours after my surgery I stopped taking any pills and have not even taken an Alieve since. I saw the bill for my surgery...35K!..wow!

 

[shaggist]

I had a complete tear in my left cuff, and had radical(read cutting) surgery to repair it. I knew from previous experience with arm injuries, that the recuperation process would take a long time(a year or more), and that there would be pain involved. Time proved me correct.

The first thing I did to ease my discomfort from the surgery was to start sleeping in my recliner chair. I did that anyway sometimes, but not usually all night. This kept me from turning from 1 side to the other during the night and putting pressure on the surgery site. It helped a lot.

Next, when you start PT, do everything they teach you everyday without fail. If you don't, then you will never recover your strength and range of motion that you had before. This MUST become a daily routine! Increase your repetitions and amount of weight until you can do 25 of each excercise. Then, increase them again.

It has been 1 1/2 years since my surgery and I still do my excercises each day and sleep in my chair every night. Without this routine, your muscles will atrophy very quickly and then you have to go through the building-up process all over again. It takes a long time to recuperate and no time at all for your hard-earned musculature to disappear. I am still gaining strength, but most importantly, I am gaining endurance. I can now shoot rounds of trap singles(100 birds) and trap handicap(100 birds) without tiring and my average is inching up. Without the surgery and rehabilitation, I wouldn't be able to lift a shotgun, much less shoot it.

Good Luck with yours!

 

[Plottman Pops]

My wife had her right shoulder done 2/1/13...had a complete tear and tendon detach. Started therapy @ 4 weeks 3 times a week, still wearing sling, arm tied down except when in a chair supported by chair arm. Started sleeping in bed 3 nights ago. Her pain level is about a 6 on a 1 to 10 scale and improving. This week has started doing arm exercises at home 1 to 2 times a day depending on pain level.
Will start back to work 3/18 with restrictions. She had her left shoulder done in '05 turned out well...this one was worse as far as damage. Her advice is to do what they tell you as far as rehab goes....

 

[indiandave]

I had the surgery done 6 years ago. I had 3 tendens completely torn. It did hurt like hell right after the operation. After a few days It didn't hurt as much. I had a lot of the Vicodin left over. As others have said, sleeping with the sling was bitch. I did a lot of stuff I shouldn't have done. But being self employed I had no choice. I used my arm a lot at work. When I started the PT. They were suprised that I could move the arm so much. I didn't tell them that I was doing my own "physical therapy" at work.

 

[JOERM]

bobelk99, you weren't joking about starting this thread, thanks.

I damaged my left shoulder by trying to start an outboard motor when my right arm got tired. Felt some pain but not much at first. Later that night was a different story. Been about 6 weeks now. Finally have an appointment for PT next week. Been working it the best I can and seems to be improving some.

Obviously mine is nothing like your guys are.

My dad used to say, "Ya gotta make it hurt to heal it."

Joe

 

[Lee Barner]

i've had both shoulders MRI'd. the right one has a torn rotator cuff, torn bicep and other shredded tissue(old tears). surgery not an option there. the left has a partially torn rotator cuff. i did a month of PT on the right one first, then the MRI and PT on the left one. amazing what stretching, isometrics and light weight exercise has done. also found out i have arthritis in both shoulders and that is where some of the discomfort is coming from. i'm taking shakley alfalfa pills for that. i still exercise every other day and will continue that to keep my range of motion. i elected not to have the surgery on the left one for now. i don't do push ups or pull ups anyway these days. i can push the lawn mower and do most things around the house i need to. if it's something i really don't want to do i just tell my wife it hurts too much. lee

 

[1950jcb]

Scope job

I had mine fixed about 9 years ago at age 56. No tear, fortunately, but a massive bone spur that was abrading the tendon, and a lot of cartilage flakes floating around. They removed those and smoothed out what was left-about 50% by their estimation. He said the damage was typical for someone that works at a manual trade. Recovery time (surgery) was minimal, and I was back at work in less than 3 weeks. I started doing exercises within a few days per the Doc's instructions, and never did go to "therapy". I told him I would do what he asked, and he could check my progress, but I wasn't wild about someone yanking on my arm with no personal feedback. We agreed, and he was more than impressed. Obviously, your injury was more severe than mine, but as another poster mentioned, the key to complete recovery is doing what they tell you, no matter how tedious or uncomfortable it seems at the time. It took a year to get back to 100%, but it was worth it.

Jim

 

[brick]

Had mine repaired June 14, 2012. Had large bone spur ground off, inflamed bursa removed and 3mm tear sewed up. Started therapy 2 weeks after surgery and went for 4 months. Had no pain during therapy (was on oxycodone for a month and hydrocodone for 3 months). At this time, there are a few things that I still can't do but I am working on them.

 

[bettis1]

I had my left shoulder (I'm left handed) done several years ago. My surgeon sent me home with an indwelling local anesthetic pump and I just hit that button when the pain got uncomfortable so it stayed pretty numb. I slept in my recliner for a couple of weeks. The healing took several months. The only down side was that my renewal as a CHL Instructor came up while my arm was weak and I couldn't begin to hold a handgun out at arms length.

The best advice that I can give you is to do the therapy religiously. Do all of the stretches and motions that are prescribed and do them multiple times a day. I was given the directions, rubber bands, etc. and did them on my own at home. If you do NOT do the physical therapy you will be sorry and regret it in the future!

My surgeon told me that it would be a year before I forgot that I had had it done...he was exactly right. It is now better than it ever was.
Bob

 

[Bat Guano]

Had both sides done, fairly extensive repairs, 4" incisions on both, 3 and 2 years ago respectively. Had a great surgeon. When we were planning the surgery he asked what kind of guns I had (this is Wyoming). When I asked him why he wanted to know that he said that way he would know whether he wanted to buy them from me after the surgery.

First shoulder gave little pain, second more so. Sleeping was hell; I went for weeks without a decent night's sleep. Therapy, on the other hand went well; I took it as a challenge. The therapist said not to cry as it only amuses and encourages the sadistic. but I did what I was told and a little more.

Both times getting rid of the damn sling was a major milestone. Full recovery took about 18 months or longer, but I'd say that in 8 months I could do most of what I wanted to. The trick is to decide exactly what you are trying to do with the game arm and don't get too fast or forceful. And yes, atrophy will set in fast. My therapy started one week after surgery which was a very good thing.

All in all I'm glad it's over, but it could have been worse.

And no, the Dr didn't get any of my stuff!

 

[Mickey D]

I've had both of mine repaired. First one, I was rolling paint on week two. Wasn't supossed to, but I was bored. Amazing what you can do on Vicodine.
I suggest doing what the doctor ordered, keep it in the sling and don't rush it.

 

[WardenRoss]

dang! juss had my left shoulder "rebuilt" lass monday, march 4th.

typing wift juss one hand so bear with me bro..

steel beam hit my left shoulder while back.. broke the collar bone

90% torn roatator..had to be reattached with screws.

haven't slept a wink since surgery...gotta wear the straight jacket 24/7..

pretty ruff recovery and i've had a handfull of major surgerys in the past

life is a pain when ya can't tie your own shoes

 

[walkin jack]

I have a BIL and several friends that have had RC surgery. None of them got where they wanted to be in much less that a year. Going just by the experiences of those guys I hope I never ever have to have it. Therapy is brutal. They all eventually got relief and improvement but it came at a price.

 

[bobelk99]

haven't slept a wink since surgery...gotta wear the straight jacket 24/7..

Found the couch is my best friend. Slept a few days in recliner. Now I stand a pillow or two on end of couch, and sleep 'sitting up' with my legs sort of comfortable. Still sleeping 2-3 hours 3-4 times a day, cause arm discomfort won't let me sleep after a while.

 

[perrazi]

had both shoulders worked on about 20 yrs. ago,done one year apart. remember ths sling deal,but always slept in bed. have other issues so not sleeping was not an option for me. had some good sleeping pills the first 3 wks. and after that was ok. started therapy about 10 days after surgery. was not fun,but if you take your pain meds it will help with the exercises. you also need to trust your therapist when they say to do something you don't want to do.life is such a pain and getting old is not for the weak,per my urologist.

 

[Straightshooter2]

I had my right shoulder done in October, 2008. It had been getting worse and worse over the years but I finished it off in July, 2008 lifting a bucket of water in Ireland (don't ask). According to the MRI, I had a complete tear of the rotator cuff but during surgery, the doctor found only a partial tear. However he also found heavy calcium deposits under the bone over the shoulder joint. The calcium deposits in turn had frayed tendons and ligaments. So he ended up going in and scraping the underside of the bone (subachromial decompression?) cleaning up some of the fraying. So what was supposed to be about a 45 minute surgery if even that long (rotator cuff) turned into at least 2.5 hours. He ended up going in from the rear, the front and the side of the shoulder. I only had to wear a sling for a week and he also started me on physical therapy at one week after surgery. Loved the heat/electro-stimulation they did and didn't mind the exercise routine. However the manipulation where the therapist would hold my shoulder flat and move my arm up behind my back was excruciating to say the least. I confessed to kidnapping the Lindbergh baby, being on the grassy knoll in Dallas in 1963 and told them where Jimmy Hoffa was buried! As for recovery, the only motion really affected was behind my back. I still have to carry my wallet in my front pocket. And as someone else said, I think I've lost my fastball so that career with the Braves will never come about. It was about October of 2011 before I could shoot a .243 and this past year before I could shoot a .30-06. I do still get twinges in it but nothing compared to how bad it was before surgery.

CW

 

[walkin jack]

I confessed to kidnapping the Lindbergh baby, being on the grassy knoll in Dallas in 1963 and told them where Jimmy Hoffa was buried!

WOW! I'm guessin' that it was all pretty painful.