Pain after Rotator Cuff Surgery

Lynnem1112354984 over a year ago

Lynnem1112 wrote this post...registered after I posted.

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Guest over a year ago

I am 8 weeks post op on my second rotator surgery, one on both arm.. this time my dominate shoulder, with bicep tendon tear. The thing to be most concerned about is not acute pain from movement that dissipates in a fairly quick period, but acute pain from movement that does not go away. If I move my arm a bit too much, I have acute pain but it only last a moment or two. Do the exercises each day, just a little will really help. My first surgery took me almost 4 months before I could get to close to full motion with little pain. It is a very long rehab--do not lose faith, keep moving the shoulder, and it will get better, but expect a good 4 months or so. After 6 months, I could move it freely but with little strength, and it took close to 9 months before it really felt normal. This surgery is worse because they cut the bicep tendon and it wants to cramp a lot. I am 60 years old, but in good shape so if your younger you should heal as well if not better than I did. Do the work, it helps.

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Guest over a year ago

I had the same surgery over a year ago and I am still in pain

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Guest over a year ago

I am 2 months post op and 20 days today unable to turn my head to the right which is my operative side have pain constantly in the neck and the top of shoulder have to turn my body in order to turn to the right . cant sleep with a pillow any more had to by a pillow roll and sleep on my back no relief it's crazy sorry to hear but glad to know that someone else is going through only my husband and know how it affects me.

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Guest over a year ago

I am a 72 year old flight attendant, very fit until my surgery, which was 4 weeks ago. I've Reading these posts and although I agree with the above post I would never tell anyone to man up because every situation is different. In my case I started rotator passive movement three weeks postop with my PT and at home doing the exercises ( hanging alarm straight down and doing passive pendulums and movement three times a day five minutes each. My PT is really helping and I'm doing exactly what I'm told. Being a flight attendant makes it especially hard for someone like me to just be still and have my arms wrapped like a baby Bunting but I know that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Any of you read this I want you to have hope. Baby steps and you will get through it.

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Guest over a year ago

I am 62 and had rotator cuff surgery 4/5/17. It has been 6 weeks and I started light PT 3 weeks ago and now I should be starting on a more progressive schedule of PT. I was warned that this would be one of the most painful surgeries post of and they were right. I have never been injured before this and it is frustrating to be so limited. Right now I have as much pain as I did before the surgery. I go to PT 2x a week and I the other days I do it at home 2x a day, I just want this pain to go away but I am told to be patient as it could take 6 months to 1 year.

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Guest over a year ago

Did the left cause the tight to need surgery

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Guest over a year ago

I meant Right shoulder

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Guest over a year ago

I am currently going on 12 weeks post op of a major rotator cuff tear involving 3 parts of the cuff and labrum. I did not start PT until after 6 weeks of complete immobilization had passed, and I still have not started any real strengthening excercises yet. Two major concerns are sharp pain where I believe anchors were placed, and also a very sharp and annoying acute pain that radiates up my neck from the shoulder (impingement maybe?), when doing my stretching routine. Also I am having a difficult time keeping my shoulder down as it wants to lift away and towards my head and neck when doing PT. I am basically looking for a timeline for recovery and if these symptoms are all normal. Patience is not my virtue! And fyi the pain does not last when resting and I have no problem sleeping.

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Guest over a year ago

i am five weeks post op and feel same way. i hurt on and off and feels dislocated ughhh

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TJ29 over a year ago

51 year old male. Fairly active (kayaking, bicycling). Took a minor fall on my bicycle two weeks ago, less than 1mph, just fell over but landed on my back. Couldn't feel or use my right arm at all for a few minutes. I later got the feeling back but not much use. Having had tendinitis in my shoulders my entire adult life, I hoped this was simply an aggravation of the existing problem.... Nope. Dr. told me I had a complete tear of my supraspinatus and infraspinatus tendons and would need surgery. I go under the knife at the end of July. Fortunately they're just going to make little holes and not slice me open, so at least there's that plus.
Haven't really had much pain unless I try to reach for something or lift my arm at the shoulder. Still able to do most normal tasks with only minor discomfort.

A good friend went through this exact injury a few years ago, and even used the same surgeon, and has offered to put me up in a guest room for the week following the surgery. After hearing his horror stories, and reading them here, I'm extremely grateful for that offer (I really can't tell you how grateful I am!). I don't think I want to be alone right after the procedure! Still, these stories are horrifying and have me worried and frightened about the misery to come.

I've had slipped lumbar discs and kidney stones before, but this sounds much worse. Plus those didn't require surgery. It also sounds like maybe I should start shopping for a recliner. I think I'll do that tomorrow.

I'll post again in August after I've had the surgery and can post my unpleasant experiences.

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Guest over a year ago

I am a 54 year old male in good shape and very active. I had rotator cuff surgery 10 weeks ago (2 of the tendons and the bicep procedure). I have been in PT for the last 4 weeks. My pain levels have improved and I have noticed improvement in my mobility. My biggest issue at this point is similar to others in that when I try to lift my arm my shoulder wants to ride up. If pointing straight down is 6 o'clock, I am able to life to about 8:30 then I hit a wall and cannot lift anymore. When I lay on my back I can move my arm 160 degrees without resistance bands. With resistance bands my range is the 8:30 range. How long does it normally take before I should be able to lift my arm above my head? I suppose like others who have posted on this site, I worry I will not be able to lift my arm.

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Guest over a year ago

Great post. Totally agree. I think you have to push through the discomfort to see benefits. I'm 58yrs old and a week out, no pain meds, and sleep ok. Doing table stretches at home now. Painful yes, but would be much worse in 2-3 weeks were I not doing them

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Guest over a year ago

Please man.. i just had rotaor cuff surgery today and its brutal

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Guest over a year ago

I am interested in how this turned out for you. I had almost the same exact issue. After 10 months and frozen shoulder, was in enormous pain and got another MRI. I had re-torn and another surgery exactly one year after the first. Now I'm four months post op. Still in pain in my elbow and neck especially, but it's nothing like the frozen shoulder which was horrible.

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