Re: Torn Rotary Cuff

Nathan Grandma · ‎12-26-2012

Had frozen shoulder but X-Ray showed a bone spur which made it difficult and painful to lift my arm. Had surgery and they found a small tear in the rotator cuff. Had to wear sling and started PT after a couple of weeks. Had to sleep in recliner. Took pain meds in the beginning.

Follow thru with PT, I went three times a week till I was able to do it at home. Full recovery now and no issues.

kate2357 · ‎02-26-2012

@riley1 wrote:
@CalminHeart- Yes, I had this surgery in 2009. I had a sling for about 6 weeks, started PT at about 4 weeks 3X a week. I was in PT for about 3 months. Also, had excercise to do at home. If you follow the instructions from your surgeon you will be fine. My surgeon was quite strict so I played by the rules as I was not about to go through that again, lol. Tips - Have your hair done in an easy to style, maintenance free "do". Wear clothes with elastic waists. I got several pair of yoga pants/leisure pants and some oversized tops. If your shower has a hand-held wand, use it. makes shower time easier. Practice doing things with your opposite hand (brushing teeth and eating). It isn't easy doing these things that are so simple with your "good" hand.

ITA w/ what @CalminHeart writes, as well as w/ other posters. I've had 3 rotator surgeries and my left shoulder needs a complete replacement -- the surgeon wants me to wait as long as I can.

Everyone's experience will be a bit different regarding after surgery pain and recovery time. It's really going to depend on where the tear is located and if they have to go deep to repair. My first surgery was the worst and the next two were a piece of cake in comparison. Pain was minimal and I transitioned to Advil w/in 3 days. The PT was different too as they had me doing PT w/in 3 days or surgery. Recovery was quicker too.

The part about the sling ... even if you think you don't need it anymore, when you go out in public, you may want to wear it to protect yourself from other people. People see a sling and they don't grab your arm or touch you, etc. Be prepared for ugly hair as you will not be able to use a hairdryer in one hand, brush in the other.

When you are thru PT you will be amazed at how much mobility you will have and w/o the pain you had prior to surgery. Good luck ... you can do this!

"What we practice daily is what we build a life on. Practice peace, love & kindness."

CalminHeart · ‎03-09-2010

@Growing wrote:
I had a similar surgery at the end of last December. I am now turned the corner pain wise. Still have pain and still have limited movement (much of mine was joint issues plus a torn bicep tendon). The pain has been unbelievable. I do not tolerate narcotics nor NSAIDS so its been rough. I tend to do too much and that has made my muscles get overworked and irratated in the biceps and tricepts and elbow area. I am trying to take more care of myself. This was on my dominate arm. Do your PT and the home exercises. Get some snap shoulder shirts and some one size larger shirts. Button front shirts will help. You won't be able to get on a normal shirt for a while. I also got one size larger fleece zip front jackets as it was winter. Have pants that don't zip but are pull up. Get a shower stool and you'll need help showering and making a meal. Get household help for someone to clean, you won't be able to. Do laundry in small batches so your surgury arm isn't being used to lift or move heavier amounts. Purchase a months worth of food supplies if you can. I was not able to drive for a while due to the pain. I am the only driver in my house so we used a lot of grocery delivery and ride shares.

I worry about the pain but have to deal with it. I found out the hard way after a knee replacement in 2015 that I hallucinate on narcotic pain meds. But I've been in so much pain since I hurt my shoulder that I look forward to the end result.

CalminHeart · ‎03-09-2010

@riley1 wrote:
@CalminHeart- Yes, I had this surgery in 2009. I had a sling for about 6 weeks, started PT at about 4 weeks 3X a week. I was in PT for about 3 months. Also, had excercise to do at home. If you follow the instructions from your surgeon you will be fine. My surgeon was quite strict so I played by the rules as I was not about to go through that again, lol. Tips - Have your hair done in an easy to style, maintenance free "do". Wear clothes with elastic waists. I got several pair of yoga pants/leisure pants and some oversized tops. If your shower has a hand-held wand, use it. makes shower time easier. Practice doing things with your opposite hand (brushing teeth and eating). It isn't easy doing these things that are so simple with your "good" hand.

Thanks for your advice. It's my dominant arm but I have always done a lot of things with my other arm... text, email, cooking, stuff around the house, laundry, etc. The few things that I always do with my dominant arm will become awkward so practicing is needed.

I love my yoga pants and comfy tees/tops so I'm set there. I just had my hair cut to an easy style. I rigged up a back scratcher with a washcloth so I can wash my other armpit (lol) because it hurts so bad now to use the bad shoulder. My sister-from-another-mother (friend) even offered to shave my pit if needed - that's a very good friend.

CalminHeart · ‎03-09-2010

Here are the results of my MRI.

Orthopedic surgeon said "you have all kinds of things going on in your shoulder." Ugh. We went over the MRI and he explained everything he saw.

Torn bicep

Torn rotary cuff (not a huge one)

Frozen shoulder (not a complete one)

Massive arthritis in shoulder joint. The ball of the joint was obviously in bad shape.

Dr said PT or surgery to fix the rotary cuff or bicep would probably cause more problems than help given the arthritis. Dr said insurance won't think it's bad enough for a shoulder replacement yet but it's coming.

He gave me a cortizone shot and I go back in 6 months unless it gets significantly worse. Just 24 hours later and the pain is a little more dull from the shot. I know it takes a couple of weeks for these to fully kick in so I'm looking forward to that.

It's interesting that I woke up with this the morning after my son and I hauled furniture and 36 large boxes of things out of the basement for charity in January. And it probably didn't help that I did a huge yard project and hauled dozens of solid cement blocks last fall.

I'm 68 so should know better but I love yard projects. I'm sad I can't do one this year. I still had kids clothes, etc, stuff from high school, university, and military in the basement. My son told me what to get rid of and what to keep and is coming to get the rest of the military stuff.

I traded my nearly new lawn mower for a push button start last week since Dr told me in my first visit to not pull the start.

Thank you for all your input. I appreciate it.

Getting old isn't for sissies.