Pain after Rotator Cuff Surgery

Hi everyone, I took my aunt for Rotator Cuff Surgery in October 2015 in suburb of Chicago. She is in her 70's, unmarried and limited with English. After the surgery, the doctor had little information about the follow ups. Each follow up lasted less than 5 min with this angry and rude looking doctor. She did not have her first physio until two months later due to her work compensation insurance. Is it normal that my aunt has pain while he is sleeping at night? Thanks guys

THANK YOU!!! Seems like only the ones in pain reply. I go in on Monday for complete tear and bone spur. I appreciate your positivity.

I am in week 8 recovery full tear I suggest be honest with yourself and do your exercises let your PT stretch you it helps so much do your exercises and everyday gets better. Yah it hurts like hell no pain no gain

Hi- I've been reading these posts as I'm looking for answers and can't seem to find any on my issue. I am 13 days post rotator cuff surgery (arthroscopic repair and acromioplasty). My concern is that I have zero pain. None. Not since waking from recovery even! I know this sounds stupid, but Ive yet to find a single post or person who claims zero pain. I've heard it some of the most painful surgeries and recoveries, so this concerns me. I asked my surgeon about this and his response was that I have ".... A high pain tolerance." Maybe so, but my point is that I don't have pain. Not that it doesn't bother me.......? My arms are not numb or swollen. I can move the fingers, elbow, wrist, shoulder, etc., so I know things are mechanically ok, but it's not like I'm a super hardcore athlete, macho dude. I'm a 50 yr old housewife :-0 Does anyone know anyone who's had a complication and the major indicator was lack of pain?

Thanks,
Tamee

First. I am not a guy. But this is the worst thing I have ever been through. I am 51. But I fell and broke a bone in shoulder and had full rotator cuff tear with ligaments in bicepps strained. I could not do PT until 6 weeks due to.the fractured bone. So my shoulder was frozen when PT started. I can take.a lot of pain. ( I have had children any woman knows that pain.). But this is.horrible. If this was an elective surgery I would have never done.it!

Thank you sharing these experiences. I am 7 weeks post-op and doing PT at home. I have cried during some stretches because of the pain. I can relate to the reports of feeling dislocation, pulling, sharp pains. I'm debating contacting the doc. I was told to expect pain but not sure of where I am in the parameters of usual.

I have had rotator cuff surgery in both shoulders, seven years apart. The first 3 days are the worst. I managed my pain with Tylenol 3. Pain discomfort I felt was more along the lines of what I call a "healing pain" which nothing like the pain prior to surgery. Contact your doctor you should be feeling considerable better and not be in pain.

Should start PT after seven days.

I had rotator cuff surgery and the procedure that requires the biceps muscle to be cut at the tendon then reattached. That was 4 1/2 months ago, with regular physical therapy and my doing the exercises at home almost every day as well. I still have some soreness that increases to actual pain when I do the exercises. The process for me has been slow, but I am improving. My condition was made worse when I fell hard on asphalt 1 1/2 months after surgery. I couldn't take any pain meds except for Tylenol during the whole process. I started being able to sleep at about 3 months into healing. My orthopedic surgeon had told me the entire healing process takes about a full year. All of you fellow sufferers: hang in there, exercise and applaud your small victories!

On April 12 2016 i had full rotator cuff repair and partial tear surgery. im 59 year old female. PT is very painful. The pain did get less as each month went by. I could raise my arm 180 degrees. i was so proud of that after all that pain and hard work exercising. i was released to go to work on July 5th. Two Sundays before july 5th i fell on my same shoulder and tore it all again and then some. had surgery at end of June. I am having excruciating burning pain in back of my neck and muscle spasms in my arm. I did not have that the first surgery. The PT is way harder and hurts so much more this time but i make myself do it. Like all say no pain no gain but i'm tired of pain. Also my job only allowed 12 weeks of FMLA out on injury so they terminated me July 5th. I had been employed there since 1995 . So i lose my insurance also. I will only be able to go to PT once a week self pay. Sucks, but i will push myself to get better and get back in the work force.

June 12, 2016 (I'm nine weeks post surgery, now) - rotator cuff, bicep, subscapularis and supraspinatus tears. I'm a dentist, just so you know. I lift weights 2 - 3 times a week and run 2 - 3 times a week for strength and conditioning (before the tear).

LISTEN UP! NO anti-inflammatory meds, people! Not for 13 weeks (the time it takes for full tendon to bone healing). No ibuprofen, Advil, or Aspirin. It slows and almost stops the healing process (bone remodeling). I know - I do orthodontics and when kids / adults take too much of this, tooth movement STOPS.

Now, as I step down from my soapbox... My pain is better. Still wake up 2 pm to 4 pm in pain and can't go back to sleep. I've been out of a sling for 4 weeks. Still passive stretching exercises. My doctor doesn't believe in PT. Big study shows people who go to PT have 2X re-tear rate and get to the same place in the same amount of time as those that do exercises at home.

My biggest 'cheat' is I rest my arm on my center console and desk at work and put too much weight on it. I hope this isn't really bad for it. Seems to bother the armpit when I do it too long. I now walk for conditioning and to get my arm swinging naturally again. I went on too long a walk on Sunday and it was sore for three days. Stupid me. My bad posture makes my back sore. I feel like a mess!

Can't wait to sleep through the night. Have a doctor's appt in two weeks and he said he will release me to active exercises. Yeah!!! I think that's when it will start turning around.

I'm glad to read a positive note. I'll be getting surgery on Thursday. All these notes scare me to death. I'm glad that's someone is doing good. I pray my recovery goes well. Glad you're able to get things done even w pain. I pray for everyone. Hope y'all feel better soon. Remember me on Thursday 4/4/16 at 6:30 am. I'll be under the knife.

To Mike M , I as well had my surgery 4 weeks ago today.my dr gave me minor excersises to do because some of us are prone to frozen shoulder. It is great to know that you are doing so very well. My first day of pt will be this Wednesday. I will make it through. This does not mean it will not hurt. I think people that post are really trying to get an idea of when and if ther is a light at the end of their struggles. Some of us have greater tolerance for pain. Personally after surgery Drs don't tell you if this that and the other is normal pain.

Immediately after surgery I could tell the difference between the pain before and after surgery. I call this healing pain, it was different, in time ( 1 year) and with PT I have no pain.

Well it's just the most excruciating pain I've ever experienced as far as surgeries and I have plenty trust me I am 9 weeks out of my rotary cuff surgery impingement Spurs 5 anchors, put back in my arm..
Physical therapy is nothing but a damn nightmare, pain meds don't touch the pain that I have had very extensive arm surgery, just ready to get my life back tired of being in pain all the time