rotator cuff surgery

d2004cute · Mar 18, 2010

yes i am one of them 24 year old and its been 8 years after surg pain a pt is so back but it takes about 6months to recover!

studentab · Mar 18, 2010

My dad had rotator cuff surgery about 3 years ago. He's still able to do almost everything he did at work before the surgery (he did all the physical therapy that he was told to do and of course there were a few months of recovery before he could go back to work (and then even more months before he was able to life anything heavy with that arm or do above-head work). Even though he does some over-head work he tries not to and his boss and coworkers are very willing to take care of something if it requires reaching above head. It does still cause him some pain too - when he uses it for extended periods of time at work of course and he can't sleep on that side anymore because of the pain - my mom says (even when he isn't sleeping on that side) that he will grab/rub his shoulder and make faces/noises as if it's hurting him. Be sure to do all the physical therapy and allow yourself enough time to heal!!

moonchild20002000 · Mar 18, 2010

I had my repair done about 8 years ago. I had an easy recovery. I did PT for 3 months and have

100% mobility and no pain.

Showering was limited until the incision healed but I was still able to wash.Driving not an option

for a few weeks. I was up and about the day of surgery(done as outpt.

pednursedeb · Mar 18, 2010

I had rotator cuff repair several years ago. It is painful. It took me 3 months to come back to work because our hospital doesn's allow light duty. I had to be able to lift 50 pounds to come back to work. I only weigh 90 pounds so that was tough. It took me about a year for all the pain to go completely away and to get back full range of motion. I don't have any pain now and can do anything I need to.

dcampbell · Mar 18, 2010

Anyone care to share how they injured their rotator cuff or did they just start to have symptoms (shoulder pain) that required a repair?

pednursedeb · Mar 22, 2010

I had started having trouble with my right shoulder and had been to an ortho doc. We first tried steriods orally, then injections. Then I really did it in. We had cattle and one got it's head under my hand and hyperextended my arm and that was it. I've also had surgery on my left shoulder, but it was a bone spur and had to be cleaned out. I didn't have a rotator cuff tear to it. I had some of the same symptoms though. I had pain when I laid on it at night and pain from overuse at the hospital. I also had trouble moving my arm above my head. I lost some range of motion before I had surgery and again had to have physical therapy. This was still painful, but not as bad as the rotator cuff repair. It didn't take me as long to get back to work either.

RNKPCE · Mar 22, 2010

My sister in law at rotator cuff surgery and she was back playing beach volley ball in 4mos sooner than the 6-9 mos she was told.

We do shoulder surgery with rotator cuff repair where I work. The first 2 days is pretty painful though a lot of our docs do intrascalene blocks which give the patients a good 18-24 hours of little to no pain. Staying ahead of the pain with pain meds is important. There are always a few patients that feel great the day after when we do post op calls even without a block. Another thing that helps is have a cold therapy unit instead of just ice packs. Most insurances don't pay for them though.

Because of the location of the incisions it is hard to cover and not get wet for showering. Most docs don't allow showering until after the dressing is allowed to be removed.

LFalcon · Jun 15, 2010

I had rotator cuff repair several years ago. It is painful. It took me 3 months to come back to work because our hospital doesn's allow light duty. I had to be able to lift 50 pounds to come back to work. I only weigh 90 pounds so that was tough. It took me about a year for all the pain to go completely away and to get back full range of motion. I don't have any pain now and can do anything I need to.

Wow - you were able toleft 50 pounds after 3 months... how did you work your way to that? Im asking as I am trying to work getting my ROM, going to PT but also doing allot at home.. that is such great progress just wondering how I can get there.. I ice and use ibuprofen for swelling... then exercise. thanks!!

TDCHIM · Jun 15, 2010

My husband had extensive injuries to his shoulder (his rotator cuff was only part of the problem) and left humerus following a car accident years ago. After his second surgery, he had a regional (inter-scalene) pain block and panicked when he woke up because he couldn't feel himself breathing. It was helpful as an additional form of pain relief after the surgery, but it also lead him to think he was in better shape than he really was. When it wore off, the pain was difficult and he was disappointed too - not a great combination.

His recovery time was longer than some of the others described here, but given the extent of his injuries, that's hardly surprising. He was in physical therapy three times per week for five months. He was not permitted to drive for three months, which drove him crazy. The early portion of his recovery, especially the first few weeks after his surgeries, was extremely painful. He is still limited to about 50 lbs maximum lifting ability on that side, but considering the area had to be pieced back together like a particularly horrid jigsaw puzzle, he is pleased and proud to have that capability. He has full ROM back now, but he does have issues with arthritis in his shoulder and arm.

LFalcon · Jun 15, 2010

Wow - sounds like your husband was in a pretty bad accident...

Interestingly, I obtained my shoulder injury in a car accident, I was rear-ended. I unfortuantely used to have the habit (idk why?? ) of sitting with my arms locked on the steering wheel.. then I collapsed and hit the ground - so who knows how, but I ended up with a torn labrum, and calcium deposits. I did not know I was getting it, but had a nerve block too - it helped for 2 days.

I ended up getting a labrum repair - 2 anchors, and my op shaved the tip of my humerous to clear up the bursitis. After 1 yr of cortisone, PT nothing else helped. Now, I wish I did not have the surgery.. It is such a long recovery. I am driving, out of the sling, but only 5 weeks post-op. I am doing allot of ROM and streatching at home along with the PT - but am anxoius to get back to some weight bearing as I have clinicals 1 day a week... my shoulder aches when used and I am starting to get terrible headaches from the tension.

Did your husband ever get massage therapy after his surgery? I try to massage the area to break up the scar tissue, relieve the tense muscle away from the surgical anchors. I was also reading today about ACT, pressure point therapy... I guess I am feeling desperate - and we all know what that leads too..

I am extremely disappointed as I am only in my 1st qtr LPN school and cannot miss clinicals. Using it 1 day for a few hours feels OK, I pay for it for a couple days afterwards...

Sorry to ramble - guess I just have so much I am thinking about with the shoulder injury - I am realizing how isolated you end up feeling - I am hoping in some cruel way this is a lesson for me - to one day understand my patients a little better and know the feeling of helplessness that comes with injury...

carebearsRN · Jun 15, 2010

My mom had rotator cuff surgery 2 years ago and it took her more than 6 mos. to recover. Diff. people heal differently... she still complains of pain sometimes.