rotator cuff surgery

angieleighbyrd

have any of you been through it? im just wondering what the recovery time is like.

tcbutler

I've had both of mine repaired. First one was the rotator cuff and bone spurs removed, was back to limited duty at work in 4 weeks and full duty in 2.5 months. I was back to lifting like I was before the injury in about a year.

The second one was just last June and was a lot worse. Rotator cuff and two biceps tendons repaired, bone spurs removed, and part of clavicle cut off. It was about 8 weeks until I was back to limited duty and 4 months until back to full duty. It feels good now, like I could lift like I did before, but there will be no more lifting like that (heavy) any more. I've learned my lesson.

Make sure you keep up on your pain medication so the pain doesn't get ahead of you and do your therapy at the therapist and at home.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask.

Good luck.

Tim

rdfhunter

100% tear of the right as well as AC joint scrapping.. I was back to work in 5 weeks with zero use of right arm just because I could not sit on my couch any longer . Solid 6 months of PT another 4 months on my own & I'm still 4 years later not back to the strength I had before the injury. They will offer you a nerve block but read up on them first. Mine collapsed my right lung, very bad news.


A lot of ppl think they have RC injuries but don't understand the pain from a RC tear in mostly back pain & not being able to lift arm higher then chest.

angieleighbyrd

I've had both of mine repaired. First one was the rotator cuff and bone spurs removed, was back to limited duty at work in 4 weeks and full duty in 2.5 months. I was back to lifting like I was before the injury in about a year.

The second one was just last June and was a lot worse. Rotator cuff and two biceps tendons repaired, bone spurs removed, and part of clavicle cut off. It was about 8 weeks until I was back to limited duty and 4 months until back to full duty. It feels good now, like I could lift like I did before, but there will be no more lifting like that (heavy) any more. I've learned my lesson.

Make sure you keep up on your pain medication so the pain doesn't get ahead of you and do your therapy at the therapist and at home.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask.

Good luck.

Tim

Thats a long recovery time. it jus happened yesterday. i see the surgeon tomorrow. im sposed to start a job end of august. mostly computer work and i have a 1 year old. right now im useless cant move my arm at all. my husband had to help me shower and dress me. sorry about my typing. im typing one handed!

angieleighbyrd

100% tear of the right as well as AC joint scrapping.. I was back to work in 5 weeks with zero use of right arm just because I could not sit on my couch any longer . Solid 6 months of PT another 4 months on my own & I'm still 4 years later not back to the strength I had before the injury. They will offer you a nerve block but read up on them first. Mine collapsed my right lung, very bad news.


A lot of ppl think they have RC injuries but don't understand the pain from a RC tear in mostly back pain & not being able to lift arm higher then chest.

i cant lift it at all. im in a sling right now and i scream just moving it that little bit to take it on and off.

rvagnoni

May have this in the near future.... interested in the replies.

Serah87

I had one done, rotator cuff tear, right shoulder, about 5 months to 6 months, make sure you have someone to help you and you will need a recliner to sleep in, as won't be able to sleep in a bed for awhile.

mikeschratz

I am 11 weeks out from my surgery. I had my bicep cut and reconnected at the top of the humerus, bone spurs removed, clavicle shaved in two places, labrum was tore, and had two tears in the rotator cuff. I went back to work after 5 weeks (I am a cube dweller, which is to say I sit at a desk and type) and just got cleared two weeks ago to go back to Karate. I don't do full pushups yet, and when it starts to get tired, I have to rest (when it gets tired, I can't lift it above my shoulder).
And asking for help to do things, that was the hardest part of this whole thing. I am starting slowly to lift weights, starting light and working my way up. It has been painful, I am in a twelve step program for alcohol, so the pain meds were a concern. I did not take them as often as I should have, so the pain was pretty rough sometimes, but not so rough that I couldn't cope...
Therapy is the big thing, three days after surgery they were moving my arm (without my help) and getting things loosened up. The Physical Therapist (PT) that I went to, they were awesome, but pretty tough. It was painful, no doubt, but I am back to riding my motorcycle, Karate, and lifting. The doc said it would be six months before we knew what we did right and what we did wrong... so I will let you know in about 13 weeks how it all turned out...