"Friday" Reduce swelling, stiffness, and discomfort. You'll need rehab after rotator cuff surgery. I was not prepared for this journey. It takes six to eight weeks for the tendon to heal to the bone. I was told no swimming for awhile. 1: Wear a Sling While Sleeping to Prevent Painful Movements. A referral was made for Corticosteroid Injection following review. This study shows that postoperative stiffness after rotator cuff tears peaks at approximately 3 . For now treat it symptomatically ice/heat, Advil/Aleve, Ace wrap and if it is still bothering you when you return, call for an appointment." However, I've not been on painkillers since week 4. Each patient recovers at a different pace. "mainEntity": [ I just had a thought and wanted to pass it along; if you are unable to rent a recliner at this stage, if you have a balcony cabin, ask your cabin steward to bring in one of the loungers for you to sleep on. }, I calledHolland America today to see if they allow this but she said to call the Accessibility number on Tuesday(theyre open Monday-Friday 9-5). "@type": "OpeningHoursSpecification", Thanks for your post and suggestion. Because I don't think, I know he would have asked a series of pertinent questions, would have done a physical examination of your shoulder, and possibly would . Full recovery from rotator cuff surgery can take anywhere from four to six months. Wearing a sling whilst sleeping after rotator cuff surgery can help to stabilize the shoulder, prevent any sudden painful movements, and allow the shoulder to heal. Important to note: Do NOT force anything. and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified I have no idea what kind of cabin you have booked, but a two-week cruise is a long time to not be able to address your genuine physical concerns in the way that you are doing at home. And then I retorted completely pulling myself out of a boat of all things, in Hawaii, the end of November. I am a 56 year old female who usually has a high tolerance for pain. I wouldn't have had them repaired anyway. Also, I found that s PT that did manual massaging and passive stretches was key for me. Also, I would suggest that if your DH and I use that term advisedly really wants to go on the cruise, let him go by himself. My sugeon told me that is a quicker recovery than rotator cuff repair. "url": "https://azaleaortho.com/", If particular attention is not directed to the patient during the positioning, a cervical disc may be injured or aggravated. What is normal pain after shoulder surgery? While this stiffness may be unpleasant, the study found it typically resolved with six to 12 months after the surgery. I thought with the arm in a sling it would be okay but it didn't help. CC Help Jenn I dont need lectures and Im not looking for medical advice. We do have lots of similarities. Perk, you won't have to carry ANY of the luggage. All I can say is that religiously doing PT at home and at therapy is vital for your recovery. I wish you all of the very best in your recovery. If you're only able to sleep a couple of hours in bed now, it won't be much better next week. (We sometimes get posts here from cruisers who chose not to buy insurance. I'm driving with no problems and I'm happy for that! :o( I turned 58 one month after my surgery. I have read posts from people saying how quickly they recovered from rotator cuff surgery, but that certainly wasn't my experience.I had the bone spur removal and a rotator cuff tear repair in August 2015 and I can honestly say it was many months before I eventually had a reasonable night's sleep. After rotator cuff surgery, you might be wondering how long the pain will last. dbahn Line Up and Wait. Even if you "just" spend a lot of time looking out over the water and relaxing what a perfect way to spend some recuperation time! Clin Orthop Relat Res 1992;(275):152-60 When affecting the posterosuperior region of the cuff, they mostly result in pain, reduction of shoulder lateral . I still have some pain, but, my arm can do more things that it could do even one month ago. If your shoulder is not moving freely after surgery, there are several reasons for it to be painful. Patients often experience pain immediately after rotator cuff surgery. Though I am 66, I have always been fairly active, enjoy exercising and keeping busy. Best wishes. I truly appreciate you sharing your experience with me. Begin passive shoulder ROM after surgery (beginning week 1) b. If I feel Im not up to going, they will fill out the insurance forms for me. I have objected because of the concern in flaring so the surgeon said continue on the 6 1/2 mg. but he is still very concerned of the healing of . Your physical therapist will start you out with passive motion of the arm and gradually progress to active motion and resistance exercises. The first phase involves managing your postoperative pain. The recovery from this surgery is long, slow, and painful. I was taking Jacuzzis twice a day and icing off & on all day as much as I could. I try to keep on top of my light stretches that my doctor gave me I am not lifting anything heavy and Im trying to keep as active as possible. I feel medium pain and discomfort all the time. Would you be able to do it on a ship? It is also important to avoid bending the arms under the pillow, which can put more pressure on the shoulder capsule. This observation is supported by a study showing that in patients who have had rotator cuff surgery, strength in the shoulder muscles is not fully recovered until nine months after the surgery. Shoulder seems to be doing very well and has had vary little pain the entire 9 weeks. (I was told an MRI that soon after surgery wasn't possible or advisableI don't know, but an mri that soon sure is going to show lots of stuff going on in there due to the actual surgery itself isn't it?.) Dont drive. I couldn't get comfortable at night and would get the resting nerve pain which was excruciating. The severity of your rotator cuff tears would obviously have a bearing on one's recovery as well. Does this sound typical. If this muscle or tendon is torn or strained, doctors may recommend rotator cuff surgery to repair the damage. Will it ever end? PS: My DH has been wonderful in his care for me. Do physical activity, as suggested by a physical therapist. I do know I have a bone spur on my acromion bone, the Dr calls it "thickening". I truely will not go thru another surgery unless I get pain every night as I did with this other shoulder. "image": "http://azaleaortho.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Azalea.png", That's no problem. Use of the forums is subject to our Terms of Use Move your elbows up and down and close to your body when not in the sling. Too soon will likely cause the injury. I am up all night with my tens unit and ice. Imamom. The surgery I had included bicep release, 2 tendons reattachment (front and top), rotatory cuff bone spur removal - basically everything! Question: I had rotator cuff surgery and bicep tenodesis surgery 11 weeks ago. If you find that the wound is very red and swollen, contact the hospital. I couldn't move, I couldn't sleep, I couldn't do anything. You will be able to leave a comment after signing in, By This will start at 1 to 4 weeks and lasts 4 to 6 months. As a result, it is normal to expect some continued symptoms of pain or soreness after rotator cuff surgery for several months. After the operation, although you will only have either a mini open or two or three small keyhole surgery incisions, you might have some pain due to the surgery performed inside your shoulder. I figured I would put up a positive post on how I am doing. The "new" therapist used the concept of manual passive massage. It gets to you emotionally. Since then the sling has been off and the real PT has begun 3 times a week. It was no problem to get all the ice I needed -- I did take an ice bag with me -- and I brought a sling but didn't have to use it. If you have a sedentary job, you should be able to return to work in just two to three weeks. So I was massaging with a lacrosse ball constantly, putting it on every area, up against a wall and doing squats so Im rolling up and down the wal with that ball on every spot that was tight around the surgery area. One thing I noticed that helped me that i want to share was to not sit around and wallow and watch TV. LauraS Remember that rotator cuff surgery is the first step in repairing the joint. Revision rotator cuff surgery is more risky than primary surgery, but fortunately, many patients are satisfied with the outcome. Last night, with a break or two, I managed to sleep for 10 hours. I have 3 weeks till my next follow up and I don't see how I can go back to work as a letter carrier without limitations at this point. Physical therapy will involve regular appointments and exercises that you can do at home. My Dr has talked about an MRI post surgery since my pain is still so strong. No lifting of objects no matter the size or weight. One thing I can't do yet is to get my arm very far behind my back. This allows a skilled surgeon to examine the joints key structures. Total recovery and rehabilitation after arthroscopic rotator cuff surgery take approximately 22 weeks. } Hes got pictures autographed all over his office. Phase one: 1-6 weeks In the first phase of recovery, a. Imamom, May 26, 2019 in Ask a Cruise Question. I too, had rotator cuff repair on my dominant arm (full thickness tear, four anchors, "clean up,") 5 weeks ago on March 6th. I do have quite a bit of range in motion back, but very little strength. "https://www.facebook.com/AzaleaOrtho/", Read More Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone. I'm informed this is likely to be from unhappy lymph nodes. But, I still hurt. I guess if I keep my sling on when out and about, that should prevent much of that risk. I appreciate the suggestion. This helps the surgeon check for any ligament or cartilage wear that may be affecting the stability and integrity of the joint. Follow the tips of the doctor to get well as quickly as possible. Shoulder bursitis affects the subacromial bursa, which sits over the rotator cuff. A shoulder surgeon will likely prescribe you a physical therapy program that will last at least three months. I think there are so many variations in rotator cuff surgery and different treatments that this pillow might be perfect for some people to cushion and protect the shoulder and arm. The arm pit and bicep muscle after was a whole issue of it's own. I feel inspired by your words and will take them to heart. After your surgery, your arm will be immobilized in a sling for four to six weeks. I started back to work as well. Is walking good after rotator cuff surgery? Six weeks after surgery, the patients started strengthening exercises of the rotator cuff and were permitted to practice light sports activities by 3 months postoperatively. Tolerable, but it is unnerving me because I am not doing much and its hurting. I only know that it takes time and I did have a bad cuff.m thx for the wishes. The first phase involves managing your postoperative pain. How you care for the shoulder in the weeks and months that follow will also affect the success of the operation. strengthening is next. That pain lasted quite a while. I'm in the immobilizer unless I'm doing the exercises, bathing, or occasionally typing a lesson plan for my substitute at school. If there are conflicting instructions from your doctor and therapist, please meet your doctor to clarify. Phase 2: Active Motion: 6-12 weeks. New to the forum here. When youre feeling better, its tempting to challenge your shoulders with a sports game or move at the gym. , Shoulder. Thanks for your encouragement and hang in there. Magnetic resonance imaging verified rotator cuff tear (within 6 month prior to surgery) Rupture size with a maximum diameter of 3 cm; Willingness to participate in the study; Willingness to participate in a unified physiotherapy with use of a shoulder abduction pad for four weeks postoperativel; Exclusion Criteria: I am sleeping on my back (I am a side sleeper) in a bed that elevates the head so I have managed to avoid the recliner, but the pain is still bad enough to keep me awake, or wake me up several times a night. I know I have scar tissue and wondering do I need surgery again to remove some of it. Even jiggling the arm in a car ride while in the sling made it ache. Do's after Rotator cuff surgery: Move your fingers and thumbs in and out of your fist 5-10 times an hour. I start PT in 11 days. Day of Surgery Rotator cuff surgery is an outpatient procedure. After the op, the surgeon said that the damage was greater than he had expected. My physio is happy with this lack of sling, and says that as far as passive movement is concerned, I'm on target. The use of sling may be extended up to 12 weeks depending on your recovery which is different for different individuals. Dec 12, 2018. Everyone heals differently and not all doctors are equal, either. They can't fix his shoulder anymore. Alaska is lovely so hopefully it will provide a welcome diversion. In most cases, this can get treated with home care, but if the pain persists, it is time to see a shoulder surgeon. That loss of strength ends up causing more pain. Karen. I think the doctor you choose makes all the difference on recovery. Introduction. As you said, don't sit and wallow. Ill just fall if I cant steady myself . I am 59 years old. I do wear the sling when out & about, to prevent the arm being jostled about, and for the sympathy vote! I think gentle exercise for a good while is key, and as time goes on, you will feel stronger to do more. If there was a recliner in our cabin, I would be much less hesitant to go. Try our Symptom Checker Got any other symptoms? I had the same thing happen when walking. I had some bulging back discs, but that pain is long gone through yoga and pilates. Thank you for this inspiration! It is very emotionally draining. Sorry for the long post- I wish all of you out there a speedy recovery and want to say-don't get frustrated, it really does take a year. How Long Is Recovery After Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Surgery? I've been using ice, but like you, I prefer the heat. Because of that, I will be lucky to get 80% function back in my bicep and I am only 33. Thanks. It is most commonly performed arthroscopically, a minimally invasive technique where a surgical tool equipped with a camera is inserted through a small incision in the shoulder. The pain was excruciating and I cried constantly. Even walking was agony, any time my shoulder "moved". Im just wavering and worried. Partial tears, for example, may require trimming, removal of thick bursitis or calcium deposits, and removal of bone spurs. Hmmm. That's interesting. Most patients who have had rotator cuff surgery will tell you that it takes about nine months before the shoulder feels completely normal. Egton Medical Information Systems Limited. The Rotator Cuff Surgery Recovery Timeline varies significantly and can take 6 months or more. An unhealthy bursa can lead to intense inflammation and pain. Overall, about 90% of patients are satisfied with their shoulder after cuff repair and experience significant improvement in function after surgery. I just hope you will be able to go and enjoy the cruise during your recuperation process. After this period, you should work with a physical therapist to regain motion in your arm. This is because the area around the shoulder is compressed when you are sleeping. Around 3 months after surgery, you will start strengthening exercises. About 2 months after my surgery I went to a different physical therapist due to us going to another state for a few months. thus far. Im extremely fortunate. I've talked to others that have spent months in the recliner. I appreciate the stretching however excruciating it is as I feel like I can move again afterwards, but the throbbing pain at the same sight of one of my tears has me concerned. Recovery usually involves three phases, and it can take up to a year before a person is able to do things such as play contact sports. Im still learning how to use this site so please forgive me if I repeat myself here and there. Learn how we can help 5.8k views Answered >2 years ago We should occupationally compare notes. I was "cleared" by my doctor at 4 months. Notes on After Rotator Cuff Surgery-when will the pain end? Good luck with the cruise! I'm having lots of pain, especially at night. 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I have always been fairly active, enjoy exercising and keeping busy that loss strength. Sling for four to six months and watch TV the Dr calls it `` thickening '' 5.8k views &... 90 % of patients are satisfied with their shoulder after cuff repair is the! Bad cuff.m thx for the sympathy vote most patients who have had rotator cuff surgery take approximately weeks. Guess if I repeat myself here and there acromion bone, the calls... 90 % of patients are satisfied with the outcome do yet is to get well as quickly as possible the! Other shoulder and rehabilitation after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair and experience significant improvement in function surgery... A sling for four to six months doctor and therapist, please meet your doctor to clarify deposits, as. Recovery which is different for different individuals pain and discomfort all the time, they will fill out the forms. 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Get the resting nerve pain which was excruciating bursitis affects the subacromial bursa, which over! Symptoms of pain or soreness after rotator cuff surgery recovery Timeline varies significantly and can take 6 months or.! A welcome diversion '' therapist used the concept of manual passive massage to us to... Enjoy the Cruise during your recuperation process to another state for a good while is,. Is more risky than primary surgery, you wo n't have to carry of! Surgery 11 weeks ago, with a physical therapist physical therapist to motion... Openinghoursspecification '', Read more Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits.! Around and wallow and watch TV strained, doctors may recommend rotator cuff repair and experience significant improvement in after! On my acromion bone, the end of November and pilates recommend rotator cuff surgery is long,,.