Rotator Cuff

[rolylane6]

Thanks for sharing all the experiences. Reviewed the MRI results with dr and have 3 tears, 2 major tears. Referred for surgery so more to come. Ha, he also said I had arthritis in my shoulder; guess if you live long enough you get a lot of age-related ailments. Full recovery may take up to a year, we'll see. I'm pretty impatient.

I would say he's pretty spot on at 1 yr for full recovery, but you should be at 75% or better in a 3 to 4 months, maybe sooner. Don't be impatient with therapy though. Stick to the plan and give your all in your exercises. I used to think therapy was just a money grab. It's not. It really is a necessity to rehab that shoulder after surgery. Make the most of it.

[fishfeeder01]

Good luck ,and welcome to the old persons club. ( i am 55 ) i had two heavy tears in my left, and the pain kept me up at night. one tear in my right shoulder. but i have had the surgery on my left. working the PT daily to extend range of motion, i can hold things over my head, but not a lot of strenght to lift them. ( ie light fixtures, ceiling fans, ) but its getting there. my right shoulder is probably just going to be pt for repair. Trying to avoid another surgery if i can. the great benefit is my left shoulder burns for a day before each cold front, to remind me i got screws and other hardware in there. its like the weather channel for free.

[bigjohntex]

A few things from my experience with rotator cuff surgery.
*Get an ice therapy machine before surgery!
*Get a comfortable recliner to sleep in for several weeks. You will not be able to sleep in a bed.
*Do your therapy! Take pain meds on schedule before therapy.
*It's gonna hurt really bad. Pain is much worse after surgery.
good luck!

John

[rolylane6]

A few things from my experience with rotator cuff surgery.
*Get an ice therapy machine before surgery!
*Get a comfortable recliner to sleep in for several weeks. You will not be able to sleep in a bed.
*Do your therapy! Take pain meds on schedule before therapy.
*It's gonna hurt really bad. Pain is much worse after surgery.
good luck!

John

The ice machine is wonderful. After about week four of therapy, get you a weighted heating pad too. It loosens up the shoulder when doing exercises at home.

As far as pain meds, I think everyone's different. I have a decent tolerance for pain and don't like meds. I took the pain meds right after surgery to alleviate the initial pain when the nerve block wore off and then only took ibuprofen or tylenol after that. Hydrocodone and such constipates me and I'd rather tolerate the shoulder pain which really wasn't too bad.

The recliner is a must!

Oh, be sure and ask your Dr about the ice machine before you go buy one. Mine sent one home with me after my 1st surgery because it was covered by insurance.

[1riot1ranger]

Appreciate everyone sharing experiences. surgery is tomorrow morning. I'm asking everyone to keep my wife in their prayers

[Snowflake Killa]

I wouldn't do surgery unless you exhausted everything else.

[1riot1ranger]

I wouldn't do surgery unless you exhausted everything else.

Ha, Surgeon said if I delayed any longer he wouldn't do surgery either.

[PYBUCK]

Star away from the opioids, Get them to prescribe some Tylenol 4. Only take the meds when you hurt, don't buy into the myth of staying ahead of the pain. The opioids are very addictive, and they plug you up something fierce.

[ThisLadyHunts]

Tore both mine, No surgery, home therapy. Takes time but both are stronger than before, avoid the knife and suck it up for about 6 mths and you'll be wiser and stronger for it.

Better yet, swallow a little semen from a Gila Monster. That’ll fix you right up.

[ThisLadyHunts]

this varies so much from person to person the only real answer with the information provided is "it depends"

I had one healed with injections, then years later I had one repaired by simply cleaning up torn tissue and bone spurs which required minimal PT and recovery. Others have to have required staples etc and had a lengthy stay in a brace and then intense PT

Injections…PRP? Stem cell therapy?

[Bard]

Better yet, swallow a little semen from a Gila Monster. That’ll fix you right up.

Push your poison...pay the price.

[Chew]

My MRI is tomorrow. It sucks getting old.

[hft47]

A few things from my experience with rotator cuff surgery.
*Get an ice therapy machine before surgery!
*Get a comfortable recliner to sleep in for several weeks. You will not be able to sleep in a bed.
*Do your therapy! Take pain meds on schedule before therapy.
*It's gonna hurt really bad. Pain is much worse after surgery.
good luck!

John

^^^^^^^^ All the above is correct. One other this needed is an I-Pad to stay on top of things as you will be in the recliner for a few days if you are smart. Also if the wife is not around and you are using the meds use an alarm to stay on top of them. One the pain starts it is difficult to catch up. Good luck.

[rolylane6]

^^^^^^^^ All the above is correct. One other this needed is an I-Pad to stay on top of things as you will be in the recliner for a few days if you are smart. Also if the wife is not around and you are using the meds use an alarm to stay on top of them. One the pain starts it is difficult to catch up. Good luck.

Agree with all but this:
"Also if the wife is not around and you are using the meds use an alarm to stay on top of them. One the pain starts it is difficult to catch up."

Everyone's different. I took hydrocodone once after my surgery, mainly because I hate the feeling of the nerve block when it wears off, then I only took ibuprofen or tylenol occasionally as needed after that. I had 5 anchors, bone spurs removed, and 6 sutures. There is some pain but it is also tolerable. Others experiences may vary. Set your own standard, not someone elses.

Take pain meds if you need them but don't automatically think you do because someone else did.

[bboswell]

Injections…PRP? Stem cell therapy?

mine was just steroids (pretty sure PRP wasn't a thing yet when I had those injections. My wife has had PRP in her knee and saw no positive results.