General > In General...
Anyone had rotator cuff surgery?
umberto:
Thank you DoldGuy! I will take you up on that. I have a 20% full tear that they are going to repair. I been warned over and over about the pain, so it's nice to hear of someone that actually made it back on the bike again. :-)
Did you doctor keep you from moving your arm for several weeks after the surgery? My doctor was a bit wishy washy on if he was going to get me into physical therapy right away or not. He said it would depend on how much damage there was, how much range of motion I had after surgery, and how much pain I was in. I kind of want to get to the physical therapy as soon as possible so I can avoid stiffness and scar tissue.
Brute:
I have had four. Two on each side. The last one was in January and was the most extensive with drilling holes and installing anchors. Good times. Get Oxycodone AND morphine tabs. hit the pain meds HARD for at least the first couple days then start cutting back. They will probably give you a 24 hour blocker and when that wears off it will HURT. Are they doing a scope or cutting? It makes a big difference. I have had one scope and it was not nearly as bad. The other three were cut and hurt like the dickens. They will not know the full extent until they get in there and take a look. My second one started with a scope and changed to a 'cut job' within 5 minutes of going in. I was out for all of mine and would not even consider being awake for it.
If you cut the pain meds too soon it is harder to get back on top of it. I don't have a problem stopping them after a couple weeks of heavy use but I have heard of (and know) of people that had a hard time stopping them. Just something to keep in mind.
I used one of these. Paid $100 for it and it was money well spent. Pack it with ice and it circulates the ice water around whatever limb it is on. Works good. Hey! Want to buy it? :-D 8-)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pp6CJtbJ7w0
umberto:
Thank you for the advice Brute. They are doing mine with the scope thank goodness. The other way where they cut loose your shoulder muscle sounds very medieval. I usually use the pain meds for the first couple of days and then try to transition to ibuprofen as soon as I can. I just don't like the way pain meds make me feel.
I would buy that ice thing, but after having four surgeries it sounds like you might want to hang on to it. :-D Hopefully my insurance will buy one for me. Lord knows I've met my deductible this year.
Brute:
When I got it we had to pay $100 and the insurance picked up the rest but I see them around for $130 and up. I was kind of kidding about selling it... Four is just the shoulders. I have lost count (seriously) of how many times I have been 'under'.
If there was more time I would send it for you to use and you could send it back. It really worked good.
Best of luck and I hope they don't find more wrong when they go in. It is kind of a rude surprise to wake up to...
Take it slow. You can do more damage 'pushing' it too hard. You will probably have to break loose scar tissue at some point and it will feel like you tore something but it will loosen up.
umberto:
Thank you for that advice Brute. I will really have to watch myself pushing it. I own a UPS Store, and I really need to be ready for Christmas season or risk my wife's wrath. Sounds like slow and steady is the way to go in this case.
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