Rotator cuff surgery

[muledeerarea33?]

Who’s done it? How bad is it and how long until you were back to normal? Is normal the same after? I’ve read all the medical websites but looking for real world hunters perspective. Thanks.

[Ed67]

It really depends on the severity of your damage. Sometimes screws are needed for labrum repair in addition to the rotator. If so, the recovery is more involved opposed to what someone with less invasive surgery would need. 
I had my rotator and labrum repaired in 2016 but no screws needed. I don’t feel my recovery was terrible nor was the pain but mine was entirely scoped. 
Your surgeon can give you more info on what exactly is being done so you can get a better idea. Good luck.  

[muledeerarea33?]

13 minutes ago, Ed67 said:

It really depends on the severity of your damage. Sometimes screws are needed for labrum repair in addition to the rotator. If so, the recovery is more involved opposed to what someone with less invasive surgery would need. 
I had my rotator and labrum repaired in 2016 but no screws needed. I don’t feel my recovery was terrible nor was the pain but mine was entirely scoped. 
Your surgeon can give you more info on what exactly is being done so you can get a better idea. Good luck.  

Thank you, I guess they’re planning on doing exploratory first but said they’ll more than likely relocate the bicep at the same time. 

[NOTAGS]

Be prepared  for your arm in a  full sling for 4 weeks. If they reattach the bicep, no using it at all during that time, as in lifting that arm with the good one to  bathe  etc.etc., and then  light weight limits with different time frames for max amounts.   My first one (left)took 8 months for a pain free recovery, but it was a sub pectoral reattachment.  It sucked. Had the right done 3 years later but reattached to the humorous. Recovery was short and all but pain free. Different doctors, different techniques. You’ll probably end up going to physical therapy too.  Neither arm recovered full strength  in the biceps, probably 85-90%.   Good luck with it. Shoulder pain sux.

 

[Ed67]

2 hours ago, Ed67 said:

It really depends on the severity of your damage. Sometimes screws are needed for labrum repair in addition to the rotator. If so, the recovery is more involved opposed to what someone with less invasive surgery would need. 
I had my rotator and labrum repaired in 2016 but no screws needed. I don’t feel my recovery was terrible nor was the pain but mine was entirely scoped. 
Your surgeon can give you more info on what exactly is being done so you can get a better idea. Good luck.  

I was back to work in 4 weeks 

[creed]

I ruptured the long head of the bicep tendon and had massive and irreparable damage to the supraspinatus and infraspinatus tendons. The surgeon said I had a max of 2 years before I would need a reverse shoulder replacement. That was 8 years ago. I get PRP treatment about once a year and am completely pain free. I had a 40% tear in the other shoulder and took PRP treatments in that shoulder rather than surgery. It repaired it.   I have limited strength overhead in my bad shoulder but have complete range of motion and good strength in any position but overhead.                                                                                                      

[mc68]

I’ve had 3 shoulder surgeries done. 1 was rotator cuff and other 2 labrum tears. IMO shoulder surgery sucks. It took close to a full year on each surgery before everything seemed right.  Long journey. Very, very important to take it slow during the earlier recovery phase. I rushed one of mine due to feeling good and ended up doing damage. It’s a long process. Hopefully things go easy for you. Mine were done 25 yrs ago so might be better now. Good luck with it!!

[stanley]

One more, here....    Can vouch for the summary that shoulder surgery sucks.  lol

Full rotator cuff tear plus separation for me approx. 14 years ago.  (Tripped on a tent stake in the dark on a Kiabab youth hunt...   lol )    The surgeon did an outstanding job, and I returned to having a fully operating shoulder with zero pain in approx. 9 months.  Still 100% good with no pain today.  That being said, the first week post-op was VERY painful.   The rehab was really rough for the first 4 weeks or so, then broke through with much more motor function from that point.

GOOD LUCK!!!

[AZbowhntr]

My wife just had the same surgery done this last Tuesday. They relocated the bicep at the same time. She is in a sling until she goes back in to the see the Dr on the 24th.  But he said that after the first few days once the original bandages come off and she can shower she could exercise the elbow a little so that it doesn't freeze up. And little circular motions with her arm hanging straight down. So far, so good.  It is important to stay on top of the pain. Don't try to be the guy that just deals with the pain. It will make it way worse.

[catclaw]

I tore my labrum in a mule wreck. Surgeon said he wouldn't do surgery on it. I live with it. Hard to shoot my bow and he signed my crossbow permit.  Glad it's on my left side

[ctafoya]

My dad was down for a year. He is a truck driver and it was his right arm. Couldn't shift. He was in his 60's when he had it done so that might have contributed to his recovery time.

[muledeerarea33?]

20 hours ago, AZbowhntr said:

My wife just had the same surgery done this last Tuesday. They relocated the bicep at the same time. She is in a sling until she goes back in to the see the Dr on the 24th.  But he said that after the first few days once the original bandages come off and she can shower she could exercise the elbow a little so that it doesn't freeze up. And little circular motions with her arm hanging straight down. So far, so good.  It is important to stay on top of the pain. Don't try to be the guy that just deals with the pain. It will make it way worse.

Sounds exactly like what my doc is planning. I was told to not move it for a month. I guess I’ll see what I’m told after they do it. I guess they explore first and decide what needs fixed. Pain management is important to me, just not sure what will manage it. Vicodin and Percocet don’t work well with me.

[NOTAGS]

 They loaded me up with oxy for my first one,  like insane amounts…which puts me in a fog. I quit taking  it after 3-4 days.  At some point around 8 weeks   the Dr. gave me crap for quitting it since my range of motion was not what he expected. I explained  that I had to be able to drive to and from work, I guess I was expected to stay home for 2 months.  Now with the oxy awareness and tracking, I imagine you’re going to be expected to suck it up pretty quickly.   See if you know anyone who has the ice bath pump with shoulder piece.  It circulates ice water out of a cooler, works great and helps a bunch. When I looked they were about $250 online…well worth it.  Might be able to get insurance to reimburse for it with a Dr.s Rx.   Helps with pain, and swelling.  Just google search it.

[AZbowhntr]

The ice bath thing is pretty cool.  It is a little cooler with a pump in it like the ones for fish tanks.  It circulates water through a line with a little water cooled pad that wraps your shoulder.  We put water in the cooler with a few frozen water bottles and it circulates the cold water. She ordered it through her insurance.

[stanley]

1 hour ago, NOTAGS said:

 They loaded me up with oxy for my first one,  like insane amounts…which puts me in a fog. I quit taking  it after 3-4 days.  At some point around 8 weeks   the Dr. gave me crap for quitting it since my range of motion was not what he expected. I explained  that I had to be able to drive to and from work, I guess I was expected to stay home for 2 months.  Now with the oxy awareness and tracking, I imagine you’re going to be expected to suck it up pretty quickly.   See if you know anyone who has the ice bath pump with shoulder piece.  It circulates ice water out of a cooler, works great and helps a bunch. When I looked they were about $250 online…well worth it.  Might be able to get insurance to reimburse for it with a Dr.s Rx.   Helps with pain, and swelling.  Just google search it.

 

42 minutes ago, AZbowhntr said:

The ice bath thing is pretty cool.  It is a little cooler with a pump in it like the ones for fish tanks.  It circulates water through a line with a little water cooled pad that wraps your shoulder.  We put water in the cooler with a few frozen water bottles and it circulates the cold water. She ordered it through her insurance.

BIG plus one for the cold-water pump with shoulder piece!!!!    (I still have mine and purchased a knee extension for it.  Have used it a couple of times after long AZT hiking weekends.)

Regarding post-op narcotics, they will almost certainly be prescribing something strong.  @NOTAGS is right though, that these days they are likely to go sparingly.   I've been in recovery (not for my shoulder, but the other kind....  🤣) for a long time, so the heavy drugs weren't an option for me.  Was very tough pain for about a week but quickly subsided from there in my case.   I'm talking about the 'surgery pain' from the screws, etc.  The rehab pain was a whole other thing.  LOL