Torn Rotator Cuff

[PatientWolf]

So it looks like I’ll be scheduling some arthroscopic surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff and have some bone fragments and a bone spur removed.

Does anyone have any feedback on their experience as far as what I can expect to look forward to?

Dr is describing recovery something like this:

• Outpatient Surgery

• 2 weeks complete immobilization of the shoulder

• By the end of 2-3 months start therapy

• At 6 months I should be essentially at about 85% (keep working out)

• Should be fully 100% after about 1 year

[dave77]

Haven't had it done, years ago I thought I had torn mine but turned out to be frozen shoulder and just required a couple of months of PT.
What your doctor said is about what I've heard but their are exceptions. A guy I bowl with had his right shoulder done a few years ago and within a month or so he was bowling left handed, I don't think it was much more than another month or so and he was bowling right handed.

He is pretty exceptional though, he just had a knee replacement not much more than a month ago and is already back bowling. He's in his late 60's and just a couple of years ago he was involved in a bicycle race from Seattle to Portland (200 miles in 1 or 2 days). I might have been able to do that back when I was very young, now I doubt I could do 10 miles.

https://www.cascade.org/rides-and-event ... a-airlines

[Ozarkwoodswalker]

Had it done. What you said is about right...in a year you are fine! First four months you wonder why did I let them RUIN me. You will feel like you will never get range of motion back ....but if you keep doing what they tell you it will be fine....but a slow go.....that was my experience

[BrokenolMarine]

I had mine done Oct 17th, took five hours due to the number of bone spurs discovered and my surgeon's unwillingness to just open me up. His action saved me from six weeks in the sling.

I did have to spend a few days in a sling due to the neck anesthesia nerve block. Paralysed that arm for a couple days, flops around uncontrolled like a flipper, boneless and useless. I am leaving for therapy in a couple minutes, but you get back what you put in post surgery. I was in a lot of pain and had lost about half my range of motion. I still have some pain now, but expect to get back to a hundred percent... Eventually.

[BrokenolMarine]

PM me if you want to chat, we can talk on the phone, I will be home in the afternoon.

[JEBar]

Dr is describing recovery something like this:

• Outpatient Surgery

• 2 weeks complete immobilization of the shoulder

• By the end of 2-3 months start therapy

• At 6 months I should be essentially at about 85% (keep working out)

• Should be fully 100% after about 1 year

mine involved more bone spurs and a small tear .... joint immobilized for a short time in an effort to reduce lifting and minimize movement .... in physical therapy in less than a week 100% in less than 6 months .... from looking at the difference, your issues had to be much more serious than mine

[BigAl52]

Sounds like ouch to me. Wish you the best in the surgery and recovery

[RanchRoper]

Best of luck with that, thought I had torn my right shoulder a couple of years ago. Doc said that's likely what happened but I just hung in there with it for 6-8 months and it progressively got a little better. Not great now but I guess it wasn't torn. Shows how much docs know. Just like mechanics; good ones and not so good ones.

Hope you heal up fast.

[Grunt67]

So it looks like I’ll be scheduling some arthroscopic surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff and have some bone fragments and a bone spur removed.

Does anyone have any feedback on their experience as far as what I can expect to look forward to?

Dr is describing recovery something like this:

• Outpatient Surgery

• 2 weeks complete immobilization of the shoulder

• By the end of 2-3 months start therapy

• At 6 months I should be essentially at about 85% (keep working out)

• Should be fully 100% after about 1 year

That is pretty much what you can expect. I had the same issue a couple of yrs. ago. My recovery was identical to what you listed.
My suggestion, is to not try to shortcut your therapy. I know it will get boring at times, but it'll pay off in the long run. You can also
continue some therapy at home. Takes some will power.
I had two ligaments torn, one had to be clipped & reattached, removed a bone spur, and some arthritis.
I slept in a recliner for several days.
Hang in there, wish you a speedy recovery my friend.

[TMB]

never had it done personally. my father in law had his done a few years ago. that is the timeline they told him also. remember he worked daily at pt and was back to 85% in about 5 months. took a year before he quit commenting about it at all. one thing they told him was he only had one shot at fixing it correctly. do not get in a hurry to heal. it takes as long as it takes and if you re injure it, it cannot be fixed a second time.best of luck.

[PatientWolf]

I guess the surgery went pretty much as expected.

45 minutes in surgery. Arm was completely numb for about 20 hrs.

PT started 1 week after surgery. They tell me I am ahead of schedule for recovery - even weeks ahead.

Last week they measured my range of motion at 150-degrees and said that 160 degrees is considered normal. I’ve passed the ROM-only phase and have started some very light resistance and weight therapy mixed in with the ROM.

I do my PT twice a day at home and at a clinic twice a week.

Still a LOT of pain and not sleeping through the night. Ice (including a device that circulates ice water over my shoulder), Ibuprofen and Tylenol are my friends (I stopped the Rx stuff very quickly).

[RanchRoper]

Hang in there....

[BigAl52]

Yup hang in there you can do it. When its all over you will be like new again

[JEBar]

I guess the surgery went pretty much as expected.

45 minutes in surgery. Arm was completely numb for about 20 hrs.

good to hear that you are on the mend .... I'm curious, what orthopedic group is your surgeon affiliated with and where did you have the surgery ..

[PatientWolf]

My doc is associated with Raleigh Orthopaedics. They have a surgery center on Edwards Mill Rd.

[JEBar]

ours are with Cary Orthopedics and we are well pleased with them .... our part of the country is blessed with several top practices in most every area I know of

[markiver54]

Please feel fortunate that your condition is repairable, if you follow orders. RT cuff can be a tough one, and can take considerable time to heal...can be done though. Be patient and please follow Dr's orders. ( hopefully you have a good one ).
I personally have the spurs in my neck, at the top of my spine. Surgery is recommended, however, cannot have it done till the DVT ( Deep Vein Clot ) in my right leg is gone, because I am on blood thinners. They will not do the surgery while on blood thinners.
Point being, consider yourself lucky and nip it in the bud. Not discrediting your personal condition at all. Just think positive, as I strive to do and life goes on.
Good luck to you on this one PW.!!!

[PatientWolf]

Thanks Mark -

I do consider myself lucky. I may be impatient and frustrated as well, but I’ll recognize and own that. I’ve already been warned by my physical therapist and my doctor that I am doing almost too well, and the risk is I’ll try to do too much to fast, which also sounds like me. I just need to learn to take it slow.

2020 is starting with lots of challenges though. Both parents have had significant to major health problems and my daughter was hit twice in two of our cars (neither her fault and nobody injured so I will also count those as blessings).

[Grunt67]

I guess the surgery went pretty much as expected.

45 minutes in surgery. Arm was completely numb for about 20 hrs.

PT started 1 week after surgery. They tell me I am ahead of schedule for recovery - even weeks ahead.

Last week they measured my range of motion at 150-degrees and said that 160 degrees is considered normal. I’ve passed the ROM-only phase and have started some very light resistance and weight therapy mixed in with the ROM.

I do my PT twice a day at home and at a clinic twice a week.

Still a LOT of pain and not sleeping through the night. Ice (including a device that circulates ice water over my shoulder), Ibuprofen and Tylenol are my friends (I stopped the Rx stuff very quickly).

Wolf, you're doing great, glad to hear that. Much faster than I did, guess it depends on the severity of the injury. I got off the Rx stuff quickly too, didn't want to get hooked on the stuff.
Hang in there, you'll be back doing cart wheels in no time, LOL.