Shoulder surgery - how did it go for you?

[gsxrken]

Exactly 48 hours out from shoulder surgery. I was having difficulty pulling a T-shirt over my head, turning the steering wheel, or reaching back for anything and it was getting tough at night as well.

53M very active lifestyle- I went to see an ortho and did three months of PT, turned out to be a complete waste of time. Also got to Cortizone injections which did very little to relieve it. Finally an MRI and it was revealed that I have partially torn rotator cuff.

Coming out of anesthesia, I learned that I got more work than I expected, but I trust that it was warranted. I had post installed to sew up my biceps tendon, to sew up my rotator, some deburring of my shoulder bone to make more room for the tendons to glide by, and a shredded labrum was addressed although I’m not sure what was done to it(?). Arm got a nerve block that lasted a good 30+ hours or so. Bought Machine that recirculates ice cold water through a pad and it appears to be a wise decision. I have weaned myself off the oxycodone today, and seem to be getting by with Toradol and Tylenol.

For anybody out there who is gone through this before, any tips on recovery? I I’m supposed to do hanging arm circles and elbow flexing for the next few days but that’s it. Maybe still nerve blocked or swelling but it doesn’t listen to brain commands too well.

[Dmitry at Pelican Parts]

Broke the surgical neck of humerus snowboarding. Had surgery and PT for 3x and 2x/week about 3 months after. Couldn't lift or straighten out my arm for about 2 weeks. It SUCKED!

Get well soon man!

[T77911S]

I had a torn cuff years ago.

I never used the sling, just let in "hang" and move naturally on its on as I walked.
never did any therapy.

I did not use it, just let it move.

[LakeCleElum]

Tips on recovery - Be prepared to sleep in a recliner at night. Took 7 weeks before I could sleep in bed. Do recommended exercises and PT....W/o pain meds, push yourself till it hurts, then back off. Use pain meds in the evening and at night.

My dirt bike crash 3 yrs ago required 2 surgeries to fix.......Doc to me no motorcycle for a year. 5 weeks out, I started with a short 20 minute ride...Took a different motorcycle everyday as all have different handlebars and sitting positions.....5 weeks out, did a 110 mile dirtbike ride with our search and rescue group. 6 weeks out, left for a 3,000 mile motorcycle trip....

Shoulder surgery can cover quite a wide range.....Sounds like you are about mid pack.....

[white85carrera]

I was a 53M, mine was torn and frozen. doc said "don't miss PT". Was 6 months 2-3 x week. total PITA, but now it's my best body part.

Had my rotator cuff done two years ago. It's a long recovery. If you are still on the nerve block, expect the shoulder to wake right up when it wears off. It will hurt like a mother for awhile.

Unlike the knees I had replaced, the recovery was mostly just waiting for it to heal--not a lot of PT besides the arm circles. The ice machine is a must, and I agree that sleeping in a recliner helps. I went back to work to soon and got involved in lifting bags of insulation, which was dumb and got me an ear beating from my doc. Probably best to resign yourself to taking it easy for a bit.

The good news is that it worked great once all healed up.

[gsxrken]

As long as it ends well I can do the time. Good to hear the happy endings. Typing with one hand sucks for sure

[latunabernie]

I had reverse shoulder reconstruction surgery on both shoulders.
I will see my doctor for my 2 year follow up in November.
Get into therapy ASAP, you need to find a good therapist.
I would push myself doing things, but knew when to back off.
Yesterday 2 of us hung 15 sheets of drywall on the ceiling in my garage.
Today we did finished the walls.
Last week I started & ran a chain saw & used a log splitter.
I feel great and started to work on cars again.
It's a slow process you will feel helpless for a while.
Try to get off the meds as soon as possible.

Bernie

[mattdavis11]

Subscribed. Blew mine out 20 years ago, never sought any medical advise, just let it heal on it's own. I couldn't do squat with that arm for weeks. Now and then I'll over do it and it will resurface. It pops around in the socket, I live with it. 45M.

[rattlsnak]

I had an accident playing sports and my shoulder, and every tendon/labrum etc., came ripping out of the socket. I had surgery a few days later and went to therapy for about 3-4 months but still didnt get the range of motion back so had to back in and they put me under for @ 10 minutes and proceeded to force the range and they said it sounded like ripping a burlap sack. (ripping away all the scar tissue) and after that it was literally like a brand new shoulder.

Someone mentioned it earlier, but yes, sleeping somewhat upright in a lazy boy type of chair is a must do!

[Bugsinrugs]

I had rotator cuff surgery last March. I got the nerve block and it lasted five days. After it wore off I expected the pain to arrive but it never did. Ibuprofen now and then was all I needed. I get a little sore in the shoulder now and then but overall it has gone better then expected. In fact I’m getting my right shoulder done on the 24th.

[Jandrews]

I am 9 weeks today from rotator cuff repair on my right shoulder. I had two tendons completely detached (supraspinatus and infraspinatus) from a mountain biking incident. They reattached the tendons with anchors into the head of the humerus. I also had sub-acromion decompression for nerve clearance and distal clavicle excision where they cut the end off the clavicle for pain free movement of the joint. Lastly, they cleaned up some fraying of my labrum (debridement).

I had nerve block and the first 20 hours after surgery were fine. Just getting used to the big sling and side pillow. After the nerve block wore out, the pain was very, very intense. I have had lumber back surgery, and this shoulder pain was worse. Oxycodone barely took the edge off of it.

I wore the sling for a full six weeks before starting any therapy at all. I did just hanging pendulum swings and elbow flex/extension during those 6 weeks. I have been in PT now for 3 weeks, but it is still "passive", i.e. the movement is done either by the therapist or by my left arm. I am not to use the muscles in that shoulder at all yet. Active exercises will likely start in a few weeks.

The recliner was a must. It will likely be a year before I can get on a bike again. This surgery is no joke. I don't recommend it.

Edit: Let me clarify "not recommending it". I don't recommend tearing your rotator cuff. Jury still out on the surgery, but I am hopeful that I can regain full use of my arm after a long recovery and therapy. I am 55M, so I wasn't keen on living with only half of my shoulder being connected, so I didn't view the surgery as optional. But you need to be prepared for a LONG slog.

JA

[Arizona_928]

I had my shoulder done in 7th grade. It sucks ass. Week of living in a recliner and no showers. Think my spine surgeries sucked much more ass. So it could be worse!

[zakthor]

My surgeon said something cool: You see these little swollen scars from the surgury? Well the body heals everywhere at about the same rate, so if youre seeing these scars are inflamed you should think of the inside being in a similar state. I was doing too much too soon because the pain was so much lower than before. His observation dialled my activity right back.