Anyone had rotator cuff surgery?
Discussion
I will be having this soon so any tips, tricks, recommendations would be greatly appreciated 
Sleeping. Google says sleeping could be a challenge - recliner chair might be better?
Ice. Is an ice machine or simple gel pads better?
Any more tips and advice would be most appreciated.
Thanks
Sleeping. Google says sleeping could be a challenge - recliner chair might be better?
Ice. Is an ice machine or simple gel pads better?
Any more tips and advice would be most appreciated.
Thanks
yes!
About 10-15 years ago. Sub acromial decompression and subsequent reattachment of bicep, tendons and ligaments.
yes- Sleeping is difficult- I managed it on my back once exhaustion set in. So is getting out of bed.
Pain was manageable with regular painkillers- I had a brachial block which was brilliant until it wore off. I didn't use ice, so can't comment.
Scarring was negligible- all done by keyhole surgery.
Mine was on NHS which was brilliant at the time. Physio was weekly at local hospital- again excellent. it was painful to start (literally had no ability to move arm on my own- had to re-learn everything)
Biggest advice I can give would be to do exactly what the physio tells you to do. If you get a set of exercises- enquire if doing more than they say will do damage. If not then crack on- my recovery time was greatly reduced as a result. it hurts. quite a bit. good luck
About 10-15 years ago. Sub acromial decompression and subsequent reattachment of bicep, tendons and ligaments.
yes- Sleeping is difficult- I managed it on my back once exhaustion set in. So is getting out of bed.
Pain was manageable with regular painkillers- I had a brachial block which was brilliant until it wore off. I didn't use ice, so can't comment.
Scarring was negligible- all done by keyhole surgery.
Mine was on NHS which was brilliant at the time. Physio was weekly at local hospital- again excellent. it was painful to start (literally had no ability to move arm on my own- had to re-learn everything)
Biggest advice I can give would be to do exactly what the physio tells you to do. If you get a set of exercises- enquire if doing more than they say will do damage. If not then crack on- my recovery time was greatly reduced as a result. it hurts. quite a bit. good luck
brownspeed said:
yes!
About 10-15 years ago. Sub acromial decompression and subsequent reattachment of bicep, tendons and ligaments.
yes- Sleeping is difficult- I managed it on my back once exhaustion set in. So is getting out of bed.
Pain was manageable with regular painkillers- I had a brachial block which was brilliant until it wore off. I didn't use ice, so can't comment.
Scarring was negligible- all done by keyhole surgery.
Mine was on NHS which was brilliant at the time. Physio was weekly at local hospital- again excellent. it was painful to start (literally had no ability to move arm on my own- had to re-learn everything)
Biggest advice I can give would be to do exactly what the physio tells you to do. If you get a set of exercises- enquire if doing more than they say will do damage. If not then crack on- my recovery time was greatly reduced as a result. it hurts. quite a bit. good luck
Thanks brownspeed - very helpful. I'm just trying to prepare a little for it - I think I've probably underestimated the inconvenience of losing a limb for a few months and the pain / recovery that it brings with it About 10-15 years ago. Sub acromial decompression and subsequent reattachment of bicep, tendons and ligaments.
yes- Sleeping is difficult- I managed it on my back once exhaustion set in. So is getting out of bed.
Pain was manageable with regular painkillers- I had a brachial block which was brilliant until it wore off. I didn't use ice, so can't comment.
Scarring was negligible- all done by keyhole surgery.
Mine was on NHS which was brilliant at the time. Physio was weekly at local hospital- again excellent. it was painful to start (literally had no ability to move arm on my own- had to re-learn everything)
Biggest advice I can give would be to do exactly what the physio tells you to do. If you get a set of exercises- enquire if doing more than they say will do damage. If not then crack on- my recovery time was greatly reduced as a result. it hurts. quite a bit. good luck
Sleeping is my main concern. I don't have a problem sleeping on my back but reading a few stories on internet it is probably going to be very painful = lack of quality sleep. I have thought about buying a cheap recliner in case, or a load of wedge pillows. Ive got to think about the missus too.. don't want to lay there moaning and groaning if it's going to keep her awake!
Ice machine - lots of people recommend these but I can imagine its awkward putting it on the shoulder with one arm whilst in a sling.
I can't say I'm very excited
gangzoom said:
Not been through it myself, but plan to be off work for a while, a than lots of physio.
I'm very disciplined regarding physio so that's not a problem. Work - was hoping to be able to do a few things (manual - picking packing dispatching orders) after the sling is off but again reading a few stories online this might be being too optimistic. Bummer.Edited by Phooey on Saturday 8th February 11:27
Mine was ok until the anaesthetic properly wore off (mine was for calcification).
So I had one really horrible night/morning, but after that it was ok.
Top tip:
They gave me a 250ml of oromorph to go home with (I have friends who are nurses and they said ‘WTF’?). Tried dose. Didn’t work. On no account in the spirit of ‘youthful experimentation’ try double the dose. That made me realise how people get addicted to heroin. Took it straight back to pharmacist.
Don’t drive home (not connected to the above).
So I had one really horrible night/morning, but after that it was ok.
Top tip:
They gave me a 250ml of oromorph to go home with (I have friends who are nurses and they said ‘WTF’?). Tried dose. Didn’t work. On no account in the spirit of ‘youthful experimentation’ try double the dose. That made me realise how people get addicted to heroin. Took it straight back to pharmacist.
Don’t drive home (not connected to the above).
ChevronB19 said:
Mine was ok until the anaesthetic properly wore off (mine was for calcification).
So I had one really horrible night/morning, but after that it was ok.
Top tip:
They gave me a 250ml of oromorph to go home with (I have friends who are nurses and they said ‘WTF’?). Tried dose. Didn’t work. On no account in the spirit of ‘youthful experimentation’ try double the dose. That made me realise how people get addicted to heroin. Took it straight back to pharmacist.
Don’t drive home (not connected to the above).
Thanks. Does that operation involve cutting and repositioning of tendons? Hoping not to have to use too much of pain meds... So I had one really horrible night/morning, but after that it was ok.
Top tip:
They gave me a 250ml of oromorph to go home with (I have friends who are nurses and they said ‘WTF’?). Tried dose. Didn’t work. On no account in the spirit of ‘youthful experimentation’ try double the dose. That made me realise how people get addicted to heroin. Took it straight back to pharmacist.
Don’t drive home (not connected to the above).
Phooey said:
I'm very disciplined regarding physio so that's not a problem. Work - was hoping to be able to do a few things (manual - picking packing dispatching orders) after the sling is off but again reading a few stories online this might be being too optimistic. Bummer.
I think 8 weeks of is the guide, I would be amazed if you could be back at work in 4.I had mine done 5years ago which morphed into bicep attachment and everything your first reply had.
I had one night in hospital as the op was last thing in the day.
Sleeping was fine but you need to get pillows to support everything and stop you rolling.
Pain for me was fine with paracetamol but I have always dealt okay with it.
Physio started second day and then I had weekly sessions all private but twice daily very gentle movements with the arm.
Bathing was harder but with a good wife showering was fine with plastic bag over wound.
I went back to work after two weeks none manual and driving three weeks but automatic so not too bad one armed.
Overall good movement after two months and back in gym at month four but to be 100% was 12 months.
The advice about following physio plan spot on as everyone is different and age does play a part
Good luck
I had one night in hospital as the op was last thing in the day.
Sleeping was fine but you need to get pillows to support everything and stop you rolling.
Pain for me was fine with paracetamol but I have always dealt okay with it.
Physio started second day and then I had weekly sessions all private but twice daily very gentle movements with the arm.
Bathing was harder but with a good wife showering was fine with plastic bag over wound.
I went back to work after two weeks none manual and driving three weeks but automatic so not too bad one armed.
Overall good movement after two months and back in gym at month four but to be 100% was 12 months.
The advice about following physio plan spot on as everyone is different and age does play a part
Good luck
Slightly off topic but I know a few bike racers who had sever issues here, Fogarty Hodgson and Ben Spies, none were ever the same again and were never close to having enough power to do what they did, it is a very serious place to have an issue (for bike racers lol) and I wish you well and hope it all goes fine
Phooey said:
Thanks. Does that operation involve cutting and repositioning of tendons? Hoping not to have to use too much of pain meds...
Mine didn’t, no, it was basically removing calcium deposits (looked a bit like toothpaste!) from my rotator cuff. Any pain from the op was immeasurably better than the absolute bloody agony I was in beforehand.Cheib said:
I think the protocol these days is get it out of the sling as soon as possible after surgery.
You might be getting mixed up with shoulder replacement. Rotator cuff surgery (reattachment) is reliant on not moving and activating the rotator muscles. I read somewhere that even at 4wks the tendon is only 20% attached. spaximus said:
I had mine done 5years ago which morphed into bicep attachment and everything your first reply had.
I had one night in hospital as the op was last thing in the day.
Sleeping was fine but you need to get pillows to support everything and stop you rolling.
Pain for me was fine with paracetamol but I have always dealt okay with it.
Physio started second day and then I had weekly sessions all private but twice daily very gentle movements with the arm.
Bathing was harder but with a good wife showering was fine with plastic bag over wound.
I went back to work after two weeks none manual and driving three weeks but automatic so not too bad one armed.
Overall good movement after two months and back in gym at month four but to be 100% was 12 months.
The advice about following physio plan spot on as everyone is different and age does play a part
Good luck
Thanks everyone for replies. I had one night in hospital as the op was last thing in the day.
Sleeping was fine but you need to get pillows to support everything and stop you rolling.
Pain for me was fine with paracetamol but I have always dealt okay with it.
Physio started second day and then I had weekly sessions all private but twice daily very gentle movements with the arm.
Bathing was harder but with a good wife showering was fine with plastic bag over wound.
I went back to work after two weeks none manual and driving three weeks but automatic so not too bad one armed.
Overall good movement after two months and back in gym at month four but to be 100% was 12 months.
The advice about following physio plan spot on as everyone is different and age does play a part
Good luck
Reassuring to hear your movement was good after 2 months. Good idea re pillows - I’ve head propping the arm with pillows is a must.
Phooey said:
Thanks everyone for replies.
It will really help if you clarify with your doc exactly what you're having done. Like ChevronB19, I had a decompression via keyhole surgery and the pain from the op was all over in 48 hours and pretty much back to normal within a week (the new normal being a massive improvement on the previous year of shoulder pain).
No tendons or muscles were damaged or needed repair; they just enjoyed relaxing into their new-found space, instead of being squashed and scraped against some rough old bony bits ...
If you have soft-tissue damage, or the surgery is going to involve that, then it'll be very different (per some of the other replies).
2015 I had fast track surgery planned. I had slap tear and rotator cuff. The Surgeon explained that they'd also shave off parts of my bone in three places.
Mine had that 'juddering' feeling when lifting/moving my shoulder/arm.
I wanted time to think and was told I'd go to the back of the queue so I said no I don't want surgery. I gave it a year to heal.
I used resistance bands and within two years started Judo.
Mine had that 'juddering' feeling when lifting/moving my shoulder/arm.
I wanted time to think and was told I'd go to the back of the queue so I said no I don't want surgery. I gave it a year to heal.
I used resistance bands and within two years started Judo.
Edited by Hugo Stiglitz on Tuesday 11th February 07:51
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