hi ,,i had a work injury an i have had a 6mm to 75% rotor cuff tear in my left shoulder since 2006 oct ,mine can not be operated on,,it causes me pain everyday, i cant not use my arms normally anymore , they say if they operate it will make my pain worse an the disability i have useing my arms even more difficult,,an that was told to me by a sports shoulder surgeon, so im stuck with it an it is not very nice ican not lay on my left side i have trouble sleeping ,all the time,my arms are weak i can not exercise, an this is all because it was seen to quickly,my insurance company stinks,,Deb :-(
Sounds like we are peas in a pod! :-( I am 8 weeks out post mini arthrospoic repair with a/c joint reduction and release of small bicep and clean out of crude. Someone told me a truism- the first post op visit with doc you would hate them. 2nd visit you would think he was ok and the 3rd (6months) you would love them. o.O From my experience ice,ice , ice after every excercise time. Do not push the limits- Make sure you are clear on PTs directions. 6 months back to work as a firefighter still seems like along time- but I have great trust in my team and have to believe they do this every day with lots of us. My PT said not to compare shoulders as they tend to be apples and oranges . Just slept on my operative side last night without too much ache. If you have not slept in a recliner early on (4-5week) that really sucks but helps.
this too shall pass - good luck to us!!
this too shall pass - good luck to us!!
I visited the doctor last week after two years of physical therapy they did an mri. I have arthritis, over 50% torn tendons and bone spurs. It's painful but I am concerned about pain after the surgery. After reading everyone's posts here I am wondering what to do. If you had the option of elective surgical rotator cuff surgery would you do it again? Thanks
I am in Florida and Dr Steven Mirabello did my surgery on my rotator cuff in 1999...ten years later I am STILL in extreme pain with that shoulder. Of course he had me sign a waiver not to sue him. The pain does NOT go away. And it sucks that's for sure. :(
I am in MN Dr. Chadwick did my surgery 02/09. I am still in pain...I can not even pick up my children. When I told him, he acted as if I was looking for drugs...and as a matter of fact notated that in my file "has problem with narcotics." I am so mad....I went in for another Mr today, and I am hoping to find out what is wrong...I think the pain after surgery is worse than before the surgery....not to mention he took out a piece of my collar bone and now I have a huge hole....does anyone else have this?
I recently found my mother, 51 years old, dead 2 days after coming home to my house for post-op recovery from having rotator cuff surgery. She had no other health issues and was given an EKG prior to surgery to ensure she was in proper health prior to having the surgery. Her doctor did not even suggest physical therapy to her, nor did anyone at the hospital get her out of bed for 30 hours after the procedure. We are not sure the exact cause of death until the autopsy result come back, however I feel had she not had the surgery she would still be with us. She was a single mother of 3 (2 grown-up) and left behind a 13 year old daughter. Please if anyone is considering this surgery try physical therapy first!
Fascinating posts..... timely to have stumbled upon them.
Full tear rotator cuff, bicep tendon, surgery 2 1/2 months ago.
I was miserable the first month (no sleep), very positive results via PT the second month, and half way into my third month I find myself worried about a different kind of pain and new stiffness. Upon hitting the very specific injured/repaired areas with resistance training, I've been in constant discomfort for almost two weeks now (???) Approval for more PT sessions has not yet been processed, so I can't bounce my concern off the physical therapist yet. I constantly ask myself what I've possibly done to (re)injure myself. And all that I have done differently is begin to ride my motorcycle again; street bike, standard seating position, nothing too demanding.
Based on the posts in this message board, I needn't be worried, just keep up the flexibility exercises, gut it out through the resistance training while avoiding heavy weight, use proper form, and listen to the therapist. I hope this is the case, as my job requires that I be 100% before I can return to work; and I need to put in (at least) three more weeks before I can retire in the classification I've been working prior to my injury!
What I find disturbing about the pain I've been feeling these last 12 days, is that drugs seem to offer NO relief?!? It's as if the source of my discomfort is deeper than just muscle, almost within bone...... At the very least, I've been sleeping my best this last week despite the discomfort. In fact, for the first time in 5 months I actually managed to take a nap today!?!
Full tear rotator cuff, bicep tendon, surgery 2 1/2 months ago.
I was miserable the first month (no sleep), very positive results via PT the second month, and half way into my third month I find myself worried about a different kind of pain and new stiffness. Upon hitting the very specific injured/repaired areas with resistance training, I've been in constant discomfort for almost two weeks now (???) Approval for more PT sessions has not yet been processed, so I can't bounce my concern off the physical therapist yet. I constantly ask myself what I've possibly done to (re)injure myself. And all that I have done differently is begin to ride my motorcycle again; street bike, standard seating position, nothing too demanding.
Based on the posts in this message board, I needn't be worried, just keep up the flexibility exercises, gut it out through the resistance training while avoiding heavy weight, use proper form, and listen to the therapist. I hope this is the case, as my job requires that I be 100% before I can return to work; and I need to put in (at least) three more weeks before I can retire in the classification I've been working prior to my injury!
What I find disturbing about the pain I've been feeling these last 12 days, is that drugs seem to offer NO relief?!? It's as if the source of my discomfort is deeper than just muscle, almost within bone...... At the very least, I've been sleeping my best this last week despite the discomfort. In fact, for the first time in 5 months I actually managed to take a nap today!?!
I had surgery last April and I have pain everyday they say it is just me. I am a 42 year old woman and I work every day I take no pills and I am not crazy. How can someone tell me how I feel. It is a hard pill to take that I paid 6000.00 for the pain to still be daily issue, and still can't get a good night sleep. Also I had PT for 4 months and I am only at about 60%
Thanks just needed to vent
Thanks just needed to vent
No problem. PLease let me know if you ever have any other issues. I would like to hear anything else you're having problems with if you don't mind. THanks!
Hello all. On September 3rd I underwent shoulder surgery followed up with 30 days in the sling. On the beginning of the third week I started Physical Therapy. PT started out with some very mild movement exercises and stretching. I am getting some movement and flexibity back. Now lets talk about sleeping.......... or lack of. I was taking Percocets for pain but stopped taking it due to a nasty side effect of RLS (restless leg syndrome). My legs would twitch and kick all night long. Awful! All that had passed after about a week of no meds. I have the sling off now but I still can't put any pressure on the shoulder or sleep on my stomach due to the pain. The pain basically keeps me up all night long. Every once and awhile my shoulder will feel like its tearing out of the socket. Spasms I presume. I am hoping over time the pain will start to subside. Anyone with the same sleeping trouble after surgery? by the way I had a full tear of the suprasponatus.
I know a lot of people who have suffered from sleeping issues after surgery like you're talking about. Take a shower before you go to bed and it helps a lot with the RLS. Have you tried tha tyet?
Ok gang! I am one day out of rotator cuff surgery. It's my second trip to the OR on the same shoulder. I have been 20 years pain free but took a fall against the same arm. I went to the same surgeon that fixed me the first time. I've been 100% since the first surgery so I am looking for the same conclusion. My suggestion is to go to the right surgeon. These guys are people too. If you want a good contractor, look for one. Same with your doctor. I did my homework. It pays off big time. Good luck to all my rotator cuff injury buddies out in cyberspace.
Glad to hear that your rotator cuff surgery went so well! YOu sound like you're in a very good mood so that's good. Where di you end up going?
Well I'm here to join the club. I had rotator cuff surgery (1 rotator cuff tear, 1 bicep tear, a bicep release and a piece of collar bone removed) on May 12, 2009. I ended up going to Ft Myers, Florida because my daughter works for a shoulder specialist (he loves this kind of surgery)I actually live 3 hrs from there. Thank God my doctor has his own physical therapy people and they were wonderful. I went for my first 10 days there. After going back home my daughter found me a PT group close to me and after going faithfully 3 times a week for 60 days they ended up freezing my shoulder. I ended up going back down to Ft Myers to start physical therapy from scratch. After 2 months I was where I should have been 4 months ago. I am now back at home looking for a closer (GOOD) PT facility. I'm not having very good luck. After 6 months I can't put my arm all the way up and I can't reach around to my back and sleeping well forget what that used to feel like. Also the stiffness and pain I still have quite often. It's quite depressing, thinking I going to never be normal again. To top it off I also have a tear on my left side. I refuse to have anything done on that one. Well thanks for letting me blow off steam, it's been building up for awhile.
Had rotator cuff repair after calcium deposit removal in 2008 and surgery again in 2009 to remove scar tissue and to redo acromioplasty. best advice I got was to go get another opinion as after first surgery.......pain DID NOT go away. Surgeon sent me to a pain specialist who recommended another surgeon. Best thing that could have happened. If you are still in pain.........and think it's been too long.........get another opinion...... also consider acupuncture and a chiropractor.....they can help with pain as well. good luck!!!