Have You Ever Had Shoulder Surgery?

Updated on August 12, 2012
T.L. asks from Cuba, MO
5 answers

I just found out that I need to have my shoulder tendons put back together. Has anyone else had this procedure done? I know it is a popular surgery, but I am wondering about recovery time. Real recovery time! I am really nervous about this and it is really bad timing for my family.

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R.J.

answers from Seattle on

Mine took 6 months.

1 week of needing to be utterly cared for
2 weeks in the same bra
2 months in a sling unable to do more than move my fingers (and NO bending over!!!)
4 months of gradually increase use. (couldn't wash dishes by hand until 4 months, and then only one or two things at a time)
6 months till mostly normal
9 months until swimming, gyms, sports / TOTALLY normal.

I had a 'bancart repair' <sp?>, along with some cartilage fixing (I snapped 1/3rd of my cartilage off the cup the humurous fits into).

VERY long recovery time. It's 9 months and I'm normal, but strength building. I also waited a year for the surgery.

I was on pain killers for 2 weeks.

2 moms found this helpful

⊱.H.

answers from Spokane on

Your recovery does depend on exactly what you are having done. Are you having a full rotator cuff repair, thermal tightening....do you know?
You are most likely looking at 6 weeks in a sling and some P.T. to follow (the surgeon I used to work for would tell his patients expect full recovery between 3 and 6 months).

1 mom found this helpful

A.L.

answers from Dothan on

If you are referring to, 'rotor cuff' surgery I had mine in 2009. I waited too long & had to have the, 'old fashioned' VS the newer done with a very small incision with a 1wk turnaround with PT for a month, this is what my surgeon said he would have done if I had not waited so long & done so much more damage.

I am saying, get it done ASAP don't wait to have more damage done by continuing to use the shoulder & arm. My turnaround was 4 wks. with a 3mt. PT schedule.

Best!
In reading all the other posts this morn' I realize that I DID forget the torments of a bra (I wore a strapless that my DH helped me with) and the CRAZINESS of shampooing your hair, while in a sling (4wks for me) THANK THE GODS I did NOT have a pain pump in as they have found the pumps do more damage post surgery to the tissue! I was lucky enough to have my surgery on the shoulder of the arm/hand that I do not use to write, etc.. You WILL need help while in the sling for anything that requires using 2 hands & it is painful for the 1st couple of weeks if you bump your arm. I started my PT the following day & I can say that you MUST do ALL of your PT! I did sleep in my bed @ about a 45 degree angle & a pillow under my sling. I was 56 when I had the surgery & have a few major health problems (tummy & back) I think I was confident in my surgeon (University of FL, Shands Hospital) he is/was a leading surgeon in the area & that alone was a great help in my recovery along with the staff @ the University PT site who were WONDERFUL!

I hope all goes well for you & I am shaking my head @ what some of the others have posted about their experiences...HOW AWFUL...I feel blessed in my experience & hope for the same for you!

1 mom found this helpful
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K.M.

answers from Kansas City on

My MIL had shoulder surgery on 7/11. She is 65, works full-time, very active, in shape, etc. She had a freak accident (she actually just tripped) and broke the shoulder ball (I'm not sure if that is the correct term). Recovery has been hard. She does PT 3x week, can't drive, and started back to work part-time. She had never had surgery in her life, so she didn't have anything to compare it to. She is off prescription pain med...thankfully, because they made her feel very weird. Good Luck!!

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A.B.

answers from Dallas on

My mom had rotator cuff surgery, and they realized when they got in that there were 2 tears in the shape of a t. They also had to tighten the cuff and do something else. It ended up being the equivalent of 3 surgeries but all done at one time. She started therapy the day after the surgery and did everything exactly as expected. Since my mom is a widow living alone, she'd been very careful to ask how much care she'd need post-surgery. Her doctor told her to expect some discomfort afterwards and might want someone with her for 3-4 days. I told her that didn't sound right, based on my co-workers surgery. Even pressing the issue with the doctor, he never moved past having someone with her for about a week. What a joke.

My mom was sent home doped up with a pain pump and some ice contraption thing, and the therapy started the next day. Wearing a bra was not an option. If you want some modesty in that area, buy some lightweight firming camisoles to pull on/off. Getting any kind of shirt except something 4 sizes too big and that buttoned down was also a joke. She wasn't able to sleep lying in a bed for months....she slept in the recliner as there was no comfy way to lie down for sleep. Once she was able to lie down, she couldn't roll over.

In terms of care, her cousin stayed 1 1/2 weeks. A few days into it, they let me know she'd need more care. So, I arranged to go up to stay with her for another 2 weeks or so. I felt awful when I had to leave her (3 1/2 weeks post surgery), as she was still so limited in mobility, on pain meds, not really able to drive (on pain meds, mobility and physical discomfort).

Let's see...Despite weeks of daily therapy followed by months of 3 days a week therapy, her shoulder froze. She was literall in so much pain that she was practically suicidal. Thank heavens they prescribed Cymbalta for the depression the shoulder caused, as they were just learning that Cymbalta had pain management properties. Amazingly, that was the first thing to finally take the non-stop pain away, and eventually the shoulder unfroze a bit.

So, when it's all said and done, my mom -- who has had many surgeries -- said it is the most painful surgery she's ever endured and that she would literally rather die than do it again. Unfortunately, her other rotator cuff is going out, and she stands by her "I'd rather die than do it again" stance. Her repaired shoulder is functional, but she cannot lift her arm past shoulder level. So, anything that requires hands above the head -- changing lightbulbs, TSA screeners at airports, etc -- is not something she can physically do.

A lot of people have much better experiences with the surgery than my mom did, as hers was so torn up from arthritis spurs and no one knew. You are probably a lot younger than my mom, which will help in your healihg, too. However, you ARE going to need a LOT of round the clock help for at least several weeks. Best of luck to you with the surgery and your recovery.

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