Rotator cuff surgery

[AMink]

I'm slated for RC surgery in July. I'm not worried about it, just wondering how other folks did with the recovery and rehab and what to expect. It's my right shoulder so I'm guessing I'll be growing a beard and changing my diet.

 

[mwilson]

Been there, done it.



You will never have the power for pulling or lifting that you did before if you are over 45 or so.

I am not saying that it dangles uselessly but there are times when I have to involve my left arm to bang 170ft lbs on my 1/2" drive torque wrench.

I have compensated by increasing the use of my left arm.



In my case the bicep had torn free and retracted as well, I really wrecked it. I waited waaay too long in getting it tended to. .



Recovery time for me was 4-5 weeks, had to be careful for a couple weeks after that.



Do the therapy / exercises faithfully.

Learn to sleep in a recliner for a few weeks, dog and I watched Law and Order reruns many nights when I couldn't sleep.

I even had the Law and Order theme for the ringtone on my cellphone.....



Mike.

 

[Tractorat]

I ruptured the top of the muscle in my right arm (is that where the rotator cuff is ?) a few years ago. An awful lot of pain for a couple of days before it actually happened. I thought I was just having a bad charlie horse. Should have gone to the doctor. I woke up in the morning and the pain was all gone. Great. But my right arm looked like Popeye. Bicep was balled up Really big. The doc told me what is was. And that, if I was a 35 year old electrician or such (turning a screw driver every day) to get it fixed. But since Im not, he said he just wouldnt worry about it. So, looking at the long recovery time, I just let it go. Not only was that pain gone, but so was a couple other cronic pains I would get in my shoulder blade an pec. If I try to lift something like a dumb bell with just my right arm, and hold it just right, the muscle balls up and I get instant pain and drop whatever I might be holding. But I quickly learned how to hold that are and there are no problems. I dont even notice it now.

 

[BIGNASTY]

I tore a upper Peck muscle off the connecting point they put a wire mesh and bolt to hold it in place. SHORTLY AFTER GOT A CHEST COLD COUGHING WAS A NEW HIGHT OF PAIN That I had never experienced before. The Doc told me to eat the pain and live with it. F YOU was my response. Good luck and do live with the pain it means your getting better. My knee gave me BIG PAIN but I worked thru it and its a good deal.

 

[RByrum]

I tore my Supra Spinatus 29 yrs before getting fixed.

Yah fixed! remarkable 1 yr later no pain at all. I am very active and feel lucky. I followed the advise of my surgoen. This is not a repair to take lightly. I was 6 qweeks before beginning therapy. Therapy consisted of pain full stretching. Amazing how fast atrophy ocurrs. I personaly noticed daily improvment for the next 4 weeks. Had minor issues as my muscles at times felt as if they had rolled atop of one another.

Take care, go slow, worked wonders for me.

 

[spikemc]

I'm scheduled for RC sugery on my right shoulder in a couple of weeks, since my truck is 6 speed I won't be driving for 2 to 3 months which I can live with. The main thing thats has me concerned is will my shoulder hold up to the shifting after rehab. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

 

[AMink]

After about twelve weeks you should be good. Rehab will give you an entirely new pain scale. Do what they tell you and you'll be good. I fell 2 days after my surgery while on the pain meds. I put my arm out even though it was in a sling. I'm not sure now, eight months later, if I wrecked the surgery. I will wait a year and see what happens.

One thing that will happen is you will lose a lot of muscle mass and strength in the twelve weeks after the surgery. Strengthen as best you can before.

 

[JJPage]

I'm slated for RC surgery in July. I'm not worried about it, just wondering how other folks did with the recovery and rehab and what to expect. It's my right shoulder so I'm guessing I'll be growing a beard and changing my diet.

Practice wiping your butt with your left hand, it will be the most challenging action you will encounter. Everything else will be OK!



Mink, you will be recover quickly, listen to your doctor and follow his/her instructions.



I see you are now recovering.

 

[mwilson]

Funny that this thread would pop up again.



Sleeping in two hour bursts in the ol' recliner again because I took a digger out of a big truck Thursday morning and dislocated my left shoulder.

Have an appointment with an Ortho Monday morning to check it out, Emergency Room in Houlton Maine popped it back in place and gave me a fist full of Vicodin to get me through the weekend.



As far as shifting your 6 speed after your rehab you will be fine.



There will just be that once in a while odd position that causes a pop or quick jolt when you are reaching or pulling.



Mike.

 

[JMetzger]

Had mine done about 20 years ago & what everyone said is true. What helped me most was a friend gave me a ice pack machine where you had a bucket that held ice & water & it circulated to a pad on the shoulder, boy that really helped. By the way the lid on the bucket would seal so it didn't leak & it didn't.

 

[tuffs93]

When I was 28 , fell head first off a 988 cat loader while stepping across the loader frame. On the way down,caught the light bracket with my hand and swung into the fender. Broke 3 ribs and tore my shoulder/rc bad. Young and stupid, can't be off work, it healed after a while. Fast forward 15 years and several more injuries to the shoulder, finally had surgery on it , should have never waited. They had to remove alot of scar tissue , so my recovery was alot longer ( about 20 weeks ). Like JJ said, the hardest thing to learn is to use you other hand. I was lucky, I had a 57 Ford with a auto in it, so I could run around a little.

 

[CUMMINZ]

Practice wiping your butt with your left hand, it will be the most challenging action you will encounter. Everything else will be OK!



Mink, you will be recover quickly, listen to your doctor and follow his/her instructions.



I see you are now recovering.

That is funny. When I went to my ortho about my shoulder I used that example of what hurt me the most. Wiping/right hand. Get it?

 

[jdooner]

Been there, done that. If I knew then what I know now, I wouldn't have had it done. There are exercises etc. that can help. Do the work.

 

[MChrist]

When I was getting opinions on my shoulder a few years ago, I saw two highly regarded surgeons. One did work for Chicago sports teams, and the other has written several books on shoulder surgery. Went through all the testing, MRIs, office visits etc. All agreed I had a torn rotator cuff. Finally decided on our local guy. I went under, and the next thing I saw was my wife with a huge smile on her face telling me "Great News!!! You didn't have a torn rotator cuff!!"
Turns out, the cushion "stuff" we have in our shoulder was so squashed and messed up, that it acted like a torn cuff (clicking, clunking, pain, little range of motion etc). Dr was able to cut out the offending material and I was only going to be in physical therapy for a very short time. The smashed cushion was obscuring the MRI's image, making it look like a torn cuff.
Also, the physical therapy is very important to your recovery. My mother had RC surgery, was lazy and her shoulder is no better. Others I know did the PT, and are all fine.

Good luck! Hope all goes well!!

 

[spikemc]

Thanks guy's this forum is so much more than a truck site, great advice and it will all be taken seariously. Nice to know there others that have recoverd. Were looking into picking up a second car so my wife can commute letting me be able to drive and the added benifit of getting some mileage off the truck, Thanks again you guys are a great resource, Skip

 

[MChrist]

Thanks guy's this forum is so much more than a truck site, great advice and it will all be taken seariously. Nice to know there others that have recoverd. Were looking into picking up a second car so my wife can commute letting me be able to drive and the added benifit of getting some mileage off the truck, Thanks again you guys are a great resource, Skip

Oh, just thought of another thing you may not have considered. . traveling in a car. The Dr told me not to travel right after surgery since even the slightest vibration, bump, or sway irritates the shoulder. He was right, of course...

 

[mwilson]

Well, I'm back in the RC club again.



Dislocated it PLUS trashed the RC.



Dr. was pretty sure today and sent me for an MRI this afternoon. No strength at all in two directions.



A twofer.



Great... ... ... at least it is the left one this time.



Mike.

 

[mwilson]

Oh, just thought of another thing you may not have considered. . traveling in a car. The Dr told me not to travel right after surgery since even the slightest vibration, bump, or sway irritates the shoulder. He was right, of course...

Wife drove me 65 miles to doctor, all over Bangor and 65 miles back home today. I don't think she missed a pothole...



Prabably gettin' even for something...



Mike.

 

[JJPage]

Well, I'm back in the RC club again.

Dislocated it PLUS trashed the RC.

Dr. was pretty sure today and sent me for an MRI this afternoon. No strength at all in two directions.

A twofer.

Great... ... ... at least it is the left one this time.

Mike.

That really sucks! Especially with the weather changing for the better, a person wants to get out and accomplish different tasks, only to be saddled with an injury.

I feel a "good naturedness" in your post, so keep the good attitude, it will surely help with recovery. Jess

 

[mwilson]

That really sucks! Especially with the weather changing for the better, a person wants to get out and accomplish different tasks, only to be saddled with an injury.



I feel a "good naturedness" in your post, so keep the good attitude, it will surely help with recovery. Jess

Yes, there are things much worse than this... .



I have many projects on the table for our very short summer weather season including getting truck and trailer ready for the trip to the TDR rally in Columbus.

Am hoping for short recovery, even higher hopes of avoiding surgery but that did not seem to be the thought process at the Doc's yesterday.



I will adjust how I do things just like the last time and get 'er done anyways.



Mike.