topic Re: Rotator Cuff Surgery- when were you able to return to work? in Wellness

Rotator Cuff Surgery- when were you able to return to work?

CritterKeeper — Mon, 07 Nov 2022 15:07:58 GMT

Rotator Cuff surgery may be in my future. :-/

Anyone that has has this- when were you able to return to work?

I work in an office and can do light duty so I hope to not be off too long.

Re: Rotator Cuff Surgery- when were you able to return to work?

DrKelli — Mon, 07 Nov 2022 16:02:06 GMT

I had labrum surgery (the tendon under the ball joint) and was able to go back to work about a week later. I was in a very administrative type job and didn't have to lift anything--mostly desk bound. It depends on how fast you can get your pain under control.

Re: Rotator Cuff Surgery- when were you able to return to work?

CritterKeeper — Mon, 07 Nov 2022 16:57:06 GMT

That's good to know- thanks!

Re: Rotator Cuff Surgery- when were you able to return to work?

gaga — Mon, 07 Nov 2022 16:59:47 GMT

I have had 2 RCS & 1st one was ok but 2nd one got reinjured because Dr put wrong Post Surgical notes & he sent PT over 3 days after my surgery. I was not supposed to have PT for 6 wks. Also had a Partial Shoulder replacement on that same shoulder. Pay attention to what your discharge instructions are. That Surgeon is no longer practicing Thank God. I am in constant pain & may need another Surgery but cannot do just yet The other shoulder Surgery went much better & was without pain within a wk.

Re: Rotator Cuff Surgery- when were you able to return to work?

wagirl — Tue, 08 Nov 2022 21:17:42 GMT

I went in for surgery on my rotator cuff--but dr found frozen shoulder instead so he fixed that. Was a horribly painful surgery that took me at least a month just to be able to position it so i could sleep--after that it took nearly 9 months with p/t, for me to be able to use it near normal--think around 6 weeks i went back to work. I worked in retail so there was some difficutlty doing my job. but i worked very hard with my home p/t and was happy with the results. Was 54 at the time---

Re: Rotator Cuff Surgery- when were you able to return to work?

kate2357 — Tue, 08 Nov 2022 21:41:12 GMT

@CritterKeeper wrote:
Rotator Cuff surgery may be in my future. :-/
Anyone that has has this- when were you able to return to work?
I work in an office and can do light duty so I hope to not be off too long.

@CritterKeeper

Depends on where the tear is located ... at least that's how it worked for me. I had three RC surgeries and the tear for the first one was deep and it took a long time to get enough movement so I could go back to work. I had to take paid medical leave. Part of it too is that I was not able to do my hair, button pants or wear a bra. I also couldn't drive.

With 2nd & 3rd surgery I was back to work in a week because I was able to get movement back fairly quickly and could manage the hair thing and using keyboard, yadda yadda. I also could drive.

So ... as I said, it's just going to depend on your specific surgery and what kind of job you have. You are saying office, but at least in my company, they did not allow light duty UNLESS it was related to a work injury. Otherwise, I had to get a release from the doctor to go back.

Good luck. I will say for all the bother of the surgery, once you get thru operation and PT, it was so great not having pain. And to add what another person wrote, I also had to sleep in a chair for about 4-6 weeks, due to the pain of laying down.

Re: Rotator Cuff Surgery- when were you able to return to work?

BoopOMatic — Fri, 11 Nov 2022 03:24:03 GMT

I've never had shoulder surgery but I did have frozen shoulder once. I didn't go to the doctor for it, I found some PT exercises on youtube, did them at home, and it gradually cleared up.