Problem after rotator cuff surgery

I had rotator cuff surgery June 1, 2010. I had three tears and a cyst, also had a pinched. 3 months later, I am still in a lot of pain. Haven't had any meds for a while now and nothing over the counter helps. My neck hurts all the time radiating to my shoulder. The doctor that did the surgery said all was normal and did not need anymore physical therapy. Well guess what, I can't put my arm behind my back, reach out for anything, have to pick up cups or drinks with both hands and hurt all day at work. Sleep nights on a heating pad just to get a little relief in my neck.
Got tired of this mess, its wearing me out, so I went to another doctor and he is send me to the Pain Center here in Alabama. After evaluation, they have decided I have no strength in my right arm and I'm having a nerve block next week. Hopefully, the therapy that follows will help.
Question? If they know how long and painful it takes to recover, why don't they provide meds to help? I know all too well that over the counter meds don't help. Maybe the first one since it is different from what you were taking before, but after one or two, they do nothing. And I'm no junkie either. Never taken anything not prescribed to me.

I had (R) shoulder surgery Oct. 22, 2009. The summation of my procedures are: Distal clavicle resection, subacromial decrompression, & 1 speedy fix anchor done to repair the tendon.
Let me first state that I am a highly skilled painter who depends on his arms to make a living. I originally tore my rotator cuff in 2003 at a friend's picnic so I knew I had to keep working through the pain(after several Cortisone shots & therapy). I finally saved money for the surgery & took out a small loan to cover living expenses during the supposed 6 month recovery period. I started therapy immediatley after my surgery even though my therapist said my doctor might have been rushing things a bit. I first thought the pain would go away in time but boy was I WRONG! I went to therapy 3 times per week doing all the excercises & stretching that was prescribed & ice-packing the heck out of it the rest of the time. At no point did anyone suggest an Arthrogram MRI before or after my surgery. I went to my check-ups & informed both my therapist & doctor of my pain. Unfortunately my doctor assumed that more Cortisone injections should be done. They relieved the pain but only for brief periods of time. I finally had to tell my doctor that I had done my research on Cortisone & too many injections are bad for you, especially right after surgery, so he suggested an Arthrogram MRI & wouldn't you know it they found a delamination tear. The surgeon wouldn't admit that he either didn't see it the first time or just simply screwed up & didn't totally fix it. He then recommended (about 100 times) that I see another doctor. I saw another doctor & we did a procedure called a PRP (Plasma Rich Platelets) which they took blood from me, spun the plasma out & injected it into the site of the "new" tear. That felt better but for a short period of time. I now realize why I decided to work through the pain for 6 years & not have surgery. Before the surgery I could work (in pain) but I could at least work. Now I can't even hold up a 2 liter of soda without pain. Make sure you do your homework on your doctor before you have surgery. Dr James Andrews will be the ONLY doctor to ever cuts on me again. I am now subject to a life of pain, irritability, & mood swings. Thank you soooooooo much Dr. Spiro Pappas! You suck!
There are so many details about my case that I don't have room to put them all in but suffice it to say, make sure you are completely committed to your descision of shoulder surgery before you have it done.

Had the surgery on my right shoulder Aug. 11th. started passive p.t. the next day at home. Took prescribed meds for 2 days when the strongest pain subsided. Figured the pain was about the same at that point as it was before the surgery, so I could deal with it. Also was concerned that if the pain was controlled too well, I would do something, like move furniture, I'm like that, lol! Pain is there for a reason, and helps to let you know when enough is enough. Had enough problems without getting dependent on pain killers. So a week after surgery I went to the Dr. to remove the stitches and my range of motion was great, probably due to the fact that I had started exercises as recommended right away and was regular with them, 3-5 times a day, then icing. Was then sent to physical therapy where they move the arm, massage, ultra-sound, ice, etc. once a week. Still sore, but again, the movement is quite good. Have to keep reminding myself NOT to move the arm by it's own power, that's when the pain sets in. Remember, it takes at least 6 weeks for the arm to heal, then and only then can you work at building up the strength. Movement is important to prevent it from "freezing", but only passive movement. Hoping by the time I go back for my 6 week visit I can get my arm out of the sling and move on to more "active" physical therapy. It takes TIME and COMMITMENT to the exercises and p.t. The pain should get better. 4-6 months is average recoup time, sometimes longer, DON'T be discouraged, it is a long process. I'm looking forward to getting a good nights sleep and having complete use of my arm, but it WILL take time. May not ever be exactly as it was before, but I know some do and I'm determined to get as close as I can!! Best wishes to all!

like u surgery on monday. had to go to er to get iv for pain as prescribed meds do nothing worried something really wrong. feels like someone put a knife in shoulder and keeps twisting it. got the impression from dr should be improving every day yet feels worse. we're on same schedule so lets stay in touch. thx

I had rotator cuff surgery 8 weeks ago. I now have a very large weird looking bump on my upper arm towards the outer back side. Is this normal? I am worried that something might have detached itself.

Had rotator cuff repair at the end of April. 2 complete tendon ruptures and use of 3 anchors were needed to repair the damage from an 18 inch ladder fall. Because I am an anesthesia provider I have my choice of many sport medicine surgeons. My surgeon told me that he didn't know if mine injury could be repaired because the damage was so extensive. He informed me that the success of rotator cuff repairs in traumatic injuries is less successful than for repairs caused by over use of chronic use problems. After surgery I took oral pain medication for 24 hours and stopped because the discomfort was minimal. I did use the cold therapy for 2 weeks continuously. Because of the extensive damage I had to be in the shoulder immobilizer for 8 weeks postop and started physical therapy with passive range of motion 6 weeks post op. At week 12 I started assisted range of motion. I have been very careful not to push and do things that I am not suppose to do. If you don't know then ask! I have seen many of these operations in my career, but never knew how extensive and prolonged the rehab is. My physical therapist told me that the rehab process is longer than any other including back and total joint surgeries. At the end of 12 week my muscle mass was so weak that I probably can't do any damage on my own. I am able to lift my arm to 150 degrees by itself.

Finishing my post surgical comments posted 9/05/10 at 22:21 I would suggest first find a great doctor/ surgeon. My personal opinion is that 20% of the surgeons that I work with, shouldn't be operating and I certainly would never let them operate on me. My doctor told me after physical exam and an MRI that I had a 80% chance of successful surgical outcome. 2nd is to use the cold therapy machine 24/7. I needed pain medicine for only 24 hours postop. 3rd is to be very patient and expect rehab to take a long time. Even though I know a lot about surgery and anesthesia I don't know anything about post op surgical process and had to do Google search and go attend a rotator cuff educational class. My discomfort after surgery was because of the sling for 8 weeks post op. Had a lot of hand swelling and hand discoloration and had to go to occupational therapy along with physical therapy twice a week for the last 2 months because of the prolonged immobilization. I don't consider that my surgery was elective as I could not lift my arm at all and had to use my left arm to put my right arm even on the steering wheel just to drive. It has been 4 months after surgery and I go see my surgeon this week and am expecting that only now can I start arm strengthening exersize

I am two weeks post op arthroscopic rotator cuff tear. I live alone and am right handed.
It's my right shoulder. I know I overuse the arm. I swear by the polar care.
I use it and take percocet twice a day with Mobic. It's very painful but I am not able to wear the sling.
I can reach behind to hook my bra without pain. I'm just hoping I am not going to re-tear it.
It is very painful. Get the polar care.

Good luck everyone!

Philylady

I had surgery over a year ago and hurt more now then before the surgery, I'm going to a new doctor and hopefull they will do another MRI I think something isn't right. Im sick of hurting

I had the surgery five months ago. Honestly, I don't know what to think, whom to trust. I saw the surgeon for the last time two days ago. So I'm "signed off" from physical therapy and from him. I'm going to the hospital gym. My surgery shoulder hurts off and on, sometimes a lot. I have very little use of my right arm. I'm depressed and scared. I'm worried that I will never have much use of my right arm for the rest of my life and I'm afraid of being in pain from here on out, but I'm also hopeful that , in time, by going to the gym , being gentle yet consistent, perhaps some day this shoulder will no longer be the dominant issue in my life. Frankly, I feel I lost my life due to the shoulder injury. I don't think I'll ever be the same again.

I am one year post op and can relate to all the above pain etc. but it does get better!! i am finally out of pain (at around 10 months) and am backin the gym. I started my rotary cuff excercising with elastics and then slowly moved to weights. I'm still careful and do not use more than 2kg when doing shoulder but already up to 5 or 6 kg bicep curls etc.... i was pushing about 8kg before. Also had doctors looking at me like i'd lost it when i complained about pain. agree with one of the above posts DON'T DO CORTISONE... IT REALLY IS TEMPORARY AND DOES NOT WORK.... i tried it twice before opting for surgery. The coritsone only causes more scar tissue and is short lived. I had keyhole surgery which was a big plus. For all of you who are less than 6 months post op... hang in it does improve... but real slow. my best advice would be to do slow gentle excercise to start and stop when you feel pain. my pt just reduces the angle when im uncomfortable doing an excercise... so instead of doing the full motion, stop where it hurts and you will find that a month later you are able to go much further. INITIALLY less weight and more reps is the best way to get your shoulder strong and remember the pain is more likely just your muscles straining not due to a bad op.

im so glad i found this too. i used to be really fit and play football, gym, swim all the time. at my lightest i weighed 12 stone. im 6,1 height. after a football hack, i fell on my shoulder and smashed it inside. i had the surgry and i was told i couldn't do anything for a while. before the sergry my arm would simply "drop down if i moved it out infront of me, i was in so much pain and my mates called me a "puff." for complaining about it. i went on the sick from work and tried my best to recover. i was so depressed. it took me two hours just to get out of bed after my op. i play guitar and i was told by the sergan that i would never play again. before my op i could not feel my fingers and they kept getting tingerly, pins and needles. well its a year later and ive changed jobs, i try to get to the gym. BUT there is a postive ending to this. i wrote two novels when i was on the sick. being at work stopped my brain from openning up and i couldn't help myself. (the only bad thing was last week i woke up at 3am with my arm behind my head. i must have tried to scratch my back in my sleep. i felt so much pain and some times my arm "clicks." im so worried that ive damaged myself as i could not go through the same op/recovery again.) i feel depressed as i used to be so active and ive put on a few stone. i was told not to use lat pull down, chest prest ect at the gym. even cross trainer hurts. im going to try swiming again when im not at work. i work 2pm-10pm callcentre. i want to progress in my movement and my novels. dont get me wrong, im a postive person but this op has knocked my self estem. forgive any spelling mistakes as its 2am and im knackered from work.
cheers :-)

simon 32

Wow, I'm glad I found this....I had a subacromial decompression and partial removal of my distal clavical in July. According to the Dr. all went well and no tears had to be repaired. In less than five days post op I was putting a pillow into a pillow case and when I shook the pillow I screamed and dropped to my knees because of the tearing burning pain that shoot through my left shoulder. Went to PT and kept telling the PT that is was still in pain. Finally Dr did an MRI Arthrogram and found a full thickness tear of supraspinatus. Had rotator cuff repair on Oct 27 so I'm about 4 weeks post op. I was feeling pretty good the first 3 weeks or so. After 2 wks Dr said sling only needed to be on at night or if I went out. Have been doing all the exercises given to me and am due to start PT for this surgery in early Dec. I have now begun to have pain again. The pain is sharp and a deep ache all over the shoulder area and down my arm to my elbow. I'm scared to death that I have been doing too much and might have screwed up the repair. There is no way the my job will let me be off much longer. I was already told,in a round about way, that if I didn't come back before Christmas the I wouldnt have a job. I'm in the imaging field so I need the use of my shoulder to perform my job. Hopefully this new pain is just part of the healing process!!

I had the same sharp pains at around 4 or 5 weeks and the doctor said that all the doctors that do this type of surgery report that their patients all experience the same thing. I was sooooooo scared that I may have done something stupid and would have to repeat the surgery! Well it's been 3 months and I'm working on getting my strength back. Still in p.t. and should be doing pretty much all I did before in 2-3 months. Pain is minimal, sleeping well at night. It IS a LONG process. Make sure you are diligent at doing your at home physical therapy exercises, it is the key to retaining full recovery. And remember that everyone's recovery time varies depending on the individual, and severity of the tear, etc. It WILL get better, just don't overdo it and be patient. God Bless!

Thanks so much 827jecm for your reply. Sadly patience is not one of my strong points so I really need to work on that! I'm just so darned paranoid about this shoulder now since I've had 2 surgeries in 3 months. I keep hearing how easy it is to retear the repaired tendon. Im still using my ice machine several times daily and taking ibuprofen since I don't like to take Vicodin. This constant pain stinks. Like today it goes up my neck, down through my shoulder through my elbow and down into my wrist. I want to start PT but I have to admit that I'm a bit nervous since Ive been hearing how painful it can be. I also have internal dissolvable stitches that are sticking out of 2 of my 4 port incisions. Not sure what I'm supposed to do with those. Oh well, I see the Dr on Dec 3 so I guess I'll see what he has to say. Thanks again! :-D