Rotator Cuff Surgery..UPDATE page 3

[Mellie2162]

Im sure someone here has had it done. I have to get my tendon repaired (80% torn) and rotator cuff surgery. Whats the recovery time like? My doc says I should be off work for a few days but that I can go back by next week (transcriptionist.) He says I will be able to do everyday things around the house but no heavy lifting, pushing, or pulling for about 6 weeks. Im so nervous I could spit.

 

[Jennasis]

It took DH about 4 months to be fully functional. He wore the sling with the stomach rest-pad for about 6 weeks. He has a desk job during the day and works on our farm after work and on weekends. He was in a lot of pain post-op and for several days afterwards. The weeks following were rough, but in the long run it was worth it. It's been a year post op and he's 100% now.

 

[richmond282]

My DH went back to work after a week and was REALLY sorry! He really needed at least 2 but probably more like 3 weeks off. He did not feel fully functional for a few months.

 

[Snoozan]

I think you might want to plan a little more time for the initial recovery period. My sister had this surgery last spring and it was rough for the first couple of weeks. She then had weeks of physical therapy. That's a big part of a successful recovery. She is now stronger than ever, but be prepared those first few days are difficult.

 

[4nana]

Mellie2162, want to wish you good luck in your surgery and swift and complete recovery . My DH had RC surgery a few years back, unfortunately his was a 100% tear. He is not a whiner by any means, but as others have stated, the first week or two are painfully slow going, even to sleep. The dr had warned him he might not get regain all his mobility or his strength back, but he was determined. He wore his sling and had PT several months and thankfully he recovered good as new. I'm betting you'll do fine!

 

[I loveStitchnippyjon]

I had the surgery in March. The first three nights I dozed in the recliner, then graduated to the guest room for a week because I was up more than asleep and didn't want to keep DH up. It was sooooo hard to find a position comfortable enough to sleep!
I was off work for 7 weeks (PT for 5 of those weeks) and although my shoulder is still not 100% it is probably 90% better than it was pre-surgery.
Best of luck!

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

I had a full 100% tear in my right arm and had surgery in September. It was a hellish 6 months recovery to say the least. I still do not have full range of motion in that arm nor full strength and after months of Physical Therapy that is as good as it is ever going to get. I was in 3 different slings for a week or 2 each. I stayed over night in the hospital due to the need to monitor my clotting disorder post surgery (my surgery took almost 6 hours and my arm had to be cut completely open - I have about a 6" scar still - instead of the original outpatient arthroscopic surgery planned) due to complications. The pain was rough for about a week or 2 but gradually tapered off. I hate taking pain meds so I eventually just dealt with it without the meds.

Physical Therapy is ROUGH but don't put off going. It does get better the more you go. Take an anti-inflammatory (my doc had given me 800mg Motrin) a half hour before you go to PT and that helps you be able to do so much more during PT.

The good news is that I found out in April that I have a full tear in my other arm and need surgery on that one. Ugh. I really love my surgeon at Johns Hopkins so I want to try to schedule my other surgery when I can go back up to Baltimore for it.

Good luck. If you have any questions, let me know. My surgery was not typical and was the worst case my Dr has ever seen. They have no idea why someone as young as me (age 41) keeps tearing up my shoulders.

 

[Buckalew11]

DH had rotator cuff surgery several years ago. He 's a tough guy. He's had a few other shoulder surgeries, knees and an elbow cut on 4 times.
I'm not sure what type tear he had...
He usually says, if someone is having RC surgery and wants to know abou it, "No, you don't want me to tell you about it."

It is a rough surgery and PT afterward is tough. But like someone else said, "do it". I remember they wanted him to be wiggling his fingers that same day.

Good luck! I'd be surprisedif you are ready to go back to work in a week. But maybe they've improved it that much since DH had it down.

 

[Jennasis]

DH also wanted me to add that you HAVE to do the P/T at home that your physical therapist gives you to do. Unless you do the work you will not get better. Follow orders to the letter of the law. It's unpleasant at first but gets better and easier with time.

Don't try to do too much (workwise). When they say no heavy lifting, they mean things like NO emptying the dishwasher or doing laundry.

 

[LoriABil]

If you are a transcriptionist, do you use the computer? I always thought transcriptionists typed whatever they were transcribing, but I've been wrong many times! If that's the case, plan on more time off. I can't believe your Dr would say you could go back that quickly!

Recovery time depends onits of things - your surgeon, how they repair it (anchor vs suture), therapy, comorbidities, etc. But I can tell you women tend to do better than men (as long as you get moving). Sorry if you're a guy, but I'm assuming Mellie is a girl. Yes, I know what happens when you assume!

Sleeping is the worst, then therapy is a close 2nd. But once you start getting sleep, therapy is soooo much easier! I would expect 8 weeks fir recovery, 4 more for overhead stuff, ballpark. Everyone heals differently, and every surgeon is different.

Wishing you the best and a speedy recovery!

 

[simba20]

My FIL had his surgery done at the end of May. I have to second what PPs have written. For him the first two weeks were the worst. He**ish and he was in soooo much pain. he said if her had known he was going to have so much pain, he would have just lived with not being able to use his arm.

PT has been bothersome for him. He was in the slings all summer and just stopped wearing one a few weeks ago. I don;t know, maybe he puts it back on occassionally. He started Pt and had to stop and then recently started back.

I agree about more time off espically after the surgery and for recovery. If you are good typing with one hand, then don;t expect to get back to typing until week 2-3, and doing heck and peck at best (FIL is a computer techie nerd, so he was utterly bored for awhile as he couldn't enjoy using the computer).

He had a bad tear (I think a total tear) and they had to rebild and reattach the tendon. His has six scar marks around his should where they did the surgery.

 

[themilesfamily]

I've done medical transcription and it's a lot more demanding than some people might think. I can't imagine being back one-week post-rotator cuff surgery. i.e. in pain, limited range of motion, on meds, etc. That sounds miserable.

I'd take two weeks -- three if you can!!

I hope everything goes well. Just take it one day at a time. Each day will be a little better than the one before.

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

Oh, just wanted to add that you will NOT be typing 2 handed easily as soon as your doctor is telling you. Has he HAD rotator cuff surgery??

 

[ilovejack02]

I wish you a speedy recovery !! My husband has his surgery in April. He is not a complainer , is a suck it up type of guy.
This surgery was much harder than we expected. Dr. told us 4-6 months before full recovery and we thought maybe he was exagerating , but I can assure you he was not . He was at home for two full months, but has a job in which physical and full range of motion is required. He is still in therapy and while much better , seeing no more improvement. He is having MRI this week, still having pain and stiffness, DR. is concerned that something might not have healed correctly.

If they offer spinal block during surgery , GET IT. Take your pain meds regularly and make sure you do physical therapy. It is the ONLY way you will get back to normal.

I can not imagine you being back to work as quickly as Dr. has said. It concerns me that they aren't quite giving you the full story . You should still be in a sling week post op. How will you type? I think you need to look more at two full weeks off or 3 if you can get it.

 

[DawnCt1]

I like the previous poster tore everything there was to tear in my right shoulder. I also did not have a typical recovery. I slept in the recliner for over a month. On the advice of a Dis. poster I bought front opening bras. They were essential. The pain was awful and within two weeks and after I had seen my orthopedist I developed a burning pain in my right wrist. I thought it was the velcro from the sling. There was no velcro touching my skin. I told my PT that my hand hurt worse than my shoulder but she didn't put "two and two" together. I ended up with RSD or Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. My doctor diagnosed it from the doorway by its appearance. He quickly transferred me to another PT facility and after weeks of shoulder and hand therapy, I improved. Following that, I continued with the exercises at my local gym, beat the heck out of my hand and probably have regained almost all, if not all of the range of motion and function in my previously very frozen shoulder. My hand still feels "tight" with some joint stiffness but I feel I really lucked out with my RSD recovery. The most important advise I feel I can give you is to monitor any color, temperature or unusual sensations in your hand and report them right away. Make sure your doctor knows about RSD. There is a very small window in which to treat it. I barely slipped in. I wished I had called it to his attention when I first noticed it, but it seemed so trivial at the time compared to the pain in my shoulder. My therapist should have recognized it immediately and didn't. When I mentioned it to one of the other therapists in the practice, he noticed it right away.

 

[Buckalew11]

Ugh...well, after reading all this, I know you are dreading it more than before. I think we'll all be hoping that you do exceptionally well and better than our loved ones or ourselves (whichever the case may be). But you know, I'm just puzzled that the doctor said you'd be back to work in a week. That seems miraculous to me!

When DH was recouping, the PT kept telling him he was 6 weeks ahead of schedule and that was because he had been training for Smoke Diver's School (he's a FF) and it was very intense training. He was in overall great shape when the accident happened. I seriously doubt the average person would be in that type of shape. I really hope you do well and I will be saying a prayer for you. It is the one surgery DH definitely does not want to do over and he's had other shoulder surgeries since RC surgery.
Hugs!!!

 

[Mellie2162]

Oh dear you all have me I have to say though Im very confident in my surgeon, so Im praying it will go well. He told me that I will have to wear a sling outside of my house and to sleep in for about 5 weeks, but as long as im inside I can keep it off and do minor things but definitely nothing heavy at all. He knows that I transcribe and I work from home so I can do this at my leisure and take my time. I have myself planned off work from thursday until tuesday but only have myself planned for 2 hour days the rest of that week. My team leader is really nice and will not have a problem with me taking more time off if I need it, but financially it will be rough. We can do it, just rough. He said that I will have to start pt in about 5 weeks but have to do some simple range of motion stuff the next day. I really do like him a lot, he does all the ortho work for the local minor league baseball team and he specializes in RC surgery. OMG, Im so freaking nervous now!!!

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

I had rotator cuff surgery when I was 16, a long time ago. They didn't do PT back then (1982), at least not for me. I had a tendon moved to limit my range of motion. Doctor said it was a total mess when he got in there. As I was 16 that's about as technical as he got with me.
I do know it hurt like a son of a *****. I was in quite a bit of pain. I've had all sorts of surgeries and this one was by far the most painful recovery.

Good luck to you OP and to answer your question, no you will not be able to take a week off and go back to your job!!

 

[ilovejack02]

Oh dear you all have me I have to say though Im very confident in my surgeon, so Im praying it will go well. He told me that I will have to wear a sling outside of my house and to sleep in for about 5 weeks, but as long as im inside I can keep it off and do minor things but definitely nothing heavy at all. He knows that I transcribe and I work from home so I can do this at my leisure and take my time. I have myself planned off work from thursday until tuesday but only have myself planned for 2 hour days the rest of that week. My team leader is really nice and will not have a problem with me taking more time off if I need it, but financially it will be rough. We can do it, just rough. He said that I will have to start pt in about 5 weeks but have to do some simple range of motion stuff the next day. I really do like him a lot, he does all the ortho work for the local minor league baseball team and he specializes in RC surgery. OMG, Im so freaking nervous now!!!

Im sorry, I knew you were going to freak when you heard what everyone had to say.

RC surgery seems to be pretty rough and it is better to be aware of it then it to be a big surprise . Take your meds regularly don't try to be a hero with it , don't hesitate to ask for refill if you need it. Have someone home with you for the Thursday to Monday at the least. I had to help hubby shower and get out of bed etc for several days. Plan on sleeping sitting up, recliner if you have one. THe sling he mentioned isnt just a sling, but more of a sling with a pillow attached.

I am sure it will go well, it just seems to be a surgery that has a very uncomfortable recovery for all who have it.

Take good care of yourself, we all wish you well!

 

[DawnCt1]

Oh dear you all have me I have to say though Im very confident in my surgeon, so Im praying it will go well. He told me that I will have to wear a sling outside of my house and to sleep in for about 5 weeks, but as long as im inside I can keep it off and do minor things but definitely nothing heavy at all. He knows that I transcribe and I work from home so I can do this at my leisure and take my time. I have myself planned off work from thursday until tuesday but only have myself planned for 2 hour days the rest of that week. My team leader is really nice and will not have a problem with me taking more time off if I need it, but financially it will be rough. We can do it, just rough. He said that I will have to start pt in about 5 weeks but have to do some simple range of motion stuff the next day. I really do like him a lot, he does all the ortho work for the local minor league baseball team and he specializes in RC surgery. OMG, Im so freaking nervous now!!!

I had a rough time. Many others I know did very well. If you have to stay out of work longer, I have no doubt your surgeon will excuse you. I think it is better to expect the best but prepare for the worst. I really thought I would breeze through mine but I had bad luck. I recovered well, and in fact, my surgeon said he was amazed that I recovered to the degree that I did due to the severity of the injury. It was a traumatic tear.