OT- Rotator Cuff Surgery Experiences

[Harry York 37]

I created an account for this post, I’ve been a guest here for years/early 2000’s and thought this was a good place to start. I had rotator cuff surgery on my right shoulder in 2017. I had a full thickness tear and significant partial tears in 3 of the 4 ligaments. The cartilage in the socket was also torn. No impact on the bicep tendon for me. I also had numerous bone spurs causing progressive damage. It was a progressive injury from work and from playing/coaching recreational hockey. Combined and it took about 12 months for the final full tear to occur. Once that happened, I couldn’t lift my hand above my waist. Surgery was my only option to fix it.

Successful surgery in every way possible. Titanium woven into the full and partial tears. Grateful for the success. But it is a brutal recovery that absolutely involves lots of pain and incurable discomfort. 8 months from surgery until I could return to work. I learned that the physical therapist you work with post surgery is just as important as the orthopedic doctor who did the surgery. Recovery from surgery involves consistent and grinding efforts, or it won’t heal. Having someone to work with that understands the healing process makes it easier to manage.

I’m 8 years out from that surgery and have full range of motion and zero pain. I’m reluctant to do things that involve acceleration of the arm (throwing a baseball, bowling, rock skipping…) because I can get sore in the tendons immediately. But for everything else, it works great. Weight training, golf, skiing, backpacking, making the bed, putting on a shirt, lifting something overhead; are all done without pain.

There years later I began having issues in my left shoulder. Started PT early and built enough tendon and joint strength to avoid surgery. That side still gets impingement issues and pain if I sleep on it wrong. But I’m fully functional and would not do the surgery again unless I lost use of that shoulder.

Shoulders are no joke to get repaired. It is a rough healing process. I couldn’t lay horizontal for well over a month. You can do nothing with the surgical side. You are one armed for months. You are right to seek experiential opinions. I wish you the best of luck!

Thank you so much!! Extremely helpful information.

And for Harry Deals... I actually got referred to a physical therapist whom specializes in shoulders. My primary Doctor probably for insurance reasons advised the conservative protocol and made it clear that the post-surgery time and experience is last consideration. The therapist is excellent. It helped a lot. There is a tendency for all of us to become to busy, or I'm feeling good so we slack on the prescribed exercises...DON'T!

And for you and Harry York...the hardest part is coming to the realization that I've progressed beyond just growing up. It's hard, but as one of my older golf partner friends told me, "Old Goat, you look great, but you're going to be the healthiest guy in a wheelchair." I gave up playing ice-hockey over 30 years ago. I used to skate with a bunch of other former college guys, but even in a non-check environment, it became time. Heck, a couple of years ago I was helping my young grandchildren learn to skate during a public session, caught a rut while focusing on being bent over helping a little one and also trying to avoid a flailing non-skater...I went down hard, was fine, but determined it is no longer worth it. Being injured and unable to enjoy other things is not worth it. I'm not suggesting to go into couch potato mode, but a long and often brisk walk and some lighter weights, push-ups, pull-ups (those are a little disappointing just now with this shoulder), fewer beers and smaller portions will you keep you healthy and able to enjoy other sports and hobbies.

Good luck to all of us with these dam shoulders!

I appreciate the common sense, Old_Goat.
The "Healthiest guy in a wheelchair" resonates.
A big part of me (the teenage testosterone me) wants to go out like Conan the Barbarian, with a battle axe in one hand and a broadsword in the other, making the Reaper sweat and watching the (child born out of wedlock) flinch as I, grudgingly, give ground.

Staying fit and flexible is a gentler way out.
I must give my regrets to Dylan Thomas, I reckon.

[Absolut]

My mid 80s uncle had it when he completely tore his and couldn’t put up with the pain/ lack of motion. He said the recovery sucked at first but got better pretty quick.

He’d do it again he says.

[Old_Goat]

My mid 80s uncle had it when he completely tore his and couldn’t put up with the pain/ lack of motion. He said the recovery sucked at first but got better pretty quick.

He’d do it again he says.

That's good to hear!

[SpacemanSpiff]

I had a 90% tear of my rotator cuff and after surgery with 9 pins installed, the one big piece of advice I can give you is simple.

Take your rehab seriously.

Go to the gym.

I go to the gym religiously now, and even now (it's been a while) I still do some of the basic exercises that the therapists worked with me on.

[Harry S Deals]

I created an account for this post, I’ve been a guest here for years/early 2000’s and thought this was a good place to start. I had rotator cuff surgery on my right shoulder in 2017. I had a full thickness tear and significant partial tears in 3 of the 4 ligaments. The cartilage in the socket was also torn. No impact on the bicep tendon for me. I also had numerous bone spurs causing progressive damage. It was a progressive injury from work and from playing/coaching recreational hockey. Combined and it took about 12 months for the final full tear to occur. Once that happened, I couldn’t lift my hand above my waist. Surgery was my only option to fix it.

Successful surgery in every way possible. Titanium woven into the full and partial tears. Grateful for the success. But it is a brutal recovery that absolutely involves lots of pain and incurable discomfort. 8 months from surgery until I could return to work. I learned that the physical therapist you work with post surgery is just as important as the orthopedic doctor who did the surgery. Recovery from surgery involves consistent and grinding efforts, or it won’t heal. Having someone to work with that understands the healing process makes it easier to manage.

I’m 8 years out from that surgery and have full range of motion and zero pain. I’m reluctant to do things that involve acceleration of the arm (throwing a baseball, bowling, rock skipping…) because I can get sore in the tendons immediately. But for everything else, it works great. Weight training, golf, skiing, backpacking, making the bed, putting on a shirt, lifting something overhead; are all done without pain.

There years later I began having issues in my left shoulder. Started PT early and built enough tendon and joint strength to avoid surgery. That side still gets impingement issues and pain if I sleep on it wrong. But I’m fully functional and would not do the surgery again unless I lost use of that shoulder.

Shoulders are no joke to get repaired. It is a rough healing process. I couldn’t lay horizontal for well over a month. You can do nothing with the surgical side. You are one armed for months. You are right to seek experiential opinions. I wish you the best of luck!

Thank you so much!! Extremely helpful information.

And for Harry Deals... I actually got referred to a physical therapist whom specializes in shoulders. My primary Doctor probably for insurance reasons advised the conservative protocol and made it clear that the post-surgery time and experience is last consideration. The therapist is excellent. It helped a lot. There is a tendency for all of us to become to busy, or I'm feeling good so we slack on the prescribed exercises...DON'T!

And for you and Harry York...the hardest part is coming to the realization that I've progressed beyond just growing up. It's hard, but as one of my older golf partner friends told me, "Old Goat, you look great, but you're going to be the healthiest guy in a wheelchair." I gave up playing ice-hockey over 30 years ago. I used to skate with a bunch of other former college guys, but even in a non-check environment, it became time. Heck, a couple of years ago I was helping my young grandchildren learn to skate during a public session, caught a rut while focusing on being bent over helping a little one and also trying to avoid a flailing non-skater...I went down hard, was fine, but determined it is no longer worth it. Being injured and unable to enjoy other things is not worth it. I'm not suggesting to go into couch potato mode, but a long and often brisk walk and some lighter weights, push-ups, pull-ups (those are a little disappointing just now with this shoulder), fewer beers and smaller portions will you keep you healthy and able to enjoy other sports and hobbies.

Good luck to all of us with these dam shoulders!

MRI next Monday, seems like after the exam i did at Mercy its actually been more painful. I think therapy will be the play but im anxious to find out Im a pretty active dude and this is slowing me down a bit which is now driving me mentally insane and my wife too for that matter! Great advice and input its much appreciated

[Sweetred95ta]

I've had labrum tears in both of my shoulders. One was fixed in my 20's and the other was fixed in my 30's. I dove into a shallow pool to hurt the first shoulder and fell back and reached to catch myself to hurt the second one. The second one dislocated when it happened. PT didn't fix either. For the first one, I had a kid on the way and didn't want this to linger after he was born. I bit the bullet and did the surgery. For the second one, I had no choice. I messed it up pretty good.

Bone spurs were found and cleaned up during both surgeries. I'm not sure if those would've eventually caused pain or not, but they were removed. Post surgery sucked, but since I sit at a desk, I think I missed a total of 2 days of work each time. I used pain meds for the first week or 2 to help with sleeping. It was a lot of dull pain, if that makes sense. I'd sleep for 2-3 hours, be up for an hour, sleep for another 2-3 hours, etc. Using the bathroom, showering, driving, etc. is all a challenge because you now only have 1 hand to work with. It drags, but time goes on, and I'd still say it was worth it.

I started PT 4-5 weeks after the surgery. Some doctors start it immediately. It seems like it's dependant on the doctor, specific surgery, etc. I made quick improvements and only needed a couple of weeks of PT before I felt pretty good. I was back playing hockey and throwing baseballs ~10 (maybe 12 - I can't remember) weeks after surgery. I'm sure some of the recovery time was attributed to my age, as I felt like I healed pretty quickly. When I was given clearance, the surgeon told me that the repaired area was healed, and if I could deal with any pain/soreness, then I could go back to physical activities.

I still play some hockey from time to time and have learned to not reach during any sort of fall. Just tuck and brace. I do honestly believe that shoulder injuries happen more often to people with weak shoulders, though (genetics, lifestyle, etc.). You can do all of the weight lifting and excercise you want, but there are several stabalizer muscles in there that don't get worked with traditional excercise. I learned that when the physical therapist humbled me with a 2 lbs. weight.

Fun fact, if you have the surgery, you will move, bump, etc. your arm at some point and swear that you tore it up. I did it with both of the surgeries. I think it'd take a pretty drastic action to cause damage, but I vividly remember being paranoid about it. All was fine, though.

You're older than I am, and that will weigh heavily on your decision, but for me, both surgeries were a success. I try to keep the mindset that I'm not getting older, even though that is not true. If I was in your shoes and otherwise healthy, I would trade 3-6 months of recovery for 5-10 (or more) years of pain free shoulders. Good luck with the decision.

[Harry York 37]

This might be helpful.

Posture and positioning and, of course, proper breathing have helped me immensely, thanks to an Accupuncturist I see. His English is very limited, but he is knowledgeable, and his simple words are much easier for me to "get" than long, multisyllabic phrases.Yesterday, I was stressed at work because Tuesdays are my Mondays and there is much catching up to do. As a result of the stress, I could not lose the great stiffness and pain when I needed to do almost anything with my right arm. After a good night's sleep, I woke up and walked into the hallway calm and relaxed. I did my routine from "Master Yohan":
Arrogant Chest- rotated up and proud, but Humble Chin-my head was level and a bit low and relaxed.
I used ONLY my Rhomboid muscles to rotate my scapulae a bit to the inside and down. That aint easy, but all the back work I do at the gym has made them strong, and isolating them is not that difficult.
Then, the breath. Two consecutive and smooth inhales- first using the intercostal muscles to expand my lower rib cage and then completing the inhale up top to just below my throat. Breathing out requires a smile.
After I did that... which took maybe ten seconds, I raised my arm straight up. I felt that goofy twinge when an impingement (or two ) slid through the shoulder capsule, but then... everything was free, smooth and easy.
Master Yohan is a god.

When I finally see the Orthopedist a week from today, I will weigh his input and Master Yohan's equally.
I KNOW that Yohan knows his [shirt]. I'm not convinced the Orthopedist does, just yet.