A certain amount of stiffness and pain is still typically present in the shoulder at this stage. In most cases, passive exercise is begun within the first 4 to 6 weeks after surgery. It is quite normal for your shoulder to be a little more sore when you stop using your sling, as you are asking it to work against gravity by itself for the first time since your operation. today for more information about our therapy services for surgery patients or to schedule an initial appointment. Use of the forums is subject to our Terms of Use This causes abnormal motion at the joint and can result in "impingement" of the surfaces of the . I just think everybodys different and being active and massaging the muscles around helps a lot. Patients can return to a lot of normal activities around the 3-month mark, but again this can shift based on the severity of the tear. But, I still hurt. Some people need surgery to reattach a torn rotator cuff. 865-410-7887. Lifting can irritate and cause inflammation in your muscles. Some of the ways pre-hab meets this goal include: Unfortunately, our bodies take longer to repair as we age. The content on this website is informational only and not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Neurologic pain, muscle spasms, hand and wrist swelling, and joint stiffness were seen in the shoulder, wrist, and hand, but the elbow was spared in all patients. You are only at 10 weeks. However, without physical therapy to help the damaged muscles and soft tissue rehabilitate, your shoulder may not recover correctly, leading to prolonged soreness and stiffness in your rotator cuff. Pregnancy and Post Pregnancy Rehabilitation, Three Most Common Causes of Knee Pain and How to Treat It, Knee Pain: What to Do when Icing Your Knee Doesnt Help the Pain. Return to sedentary work after 6-8 weeks (dependent on pain levels/ movement etc.) In order to reduce pain, swelling and inflammation your doctor will prescribe an anti-inflammatory drug to be taken during the first week or 2 after your surgery. Have I done any further damage? I just had a meeting with my surgeon . e: bellechasse@rehabaccess.com, Gretna Before the patient is sent home, he will have been transitioned from injections to oral medications. I do my exercises 3 x per day and I am now in less pain than before the surgery and for the fist time in 18 months, sleeping right through the night. Make sure you have about 1 minute's rest in between each set. Rotator cuff tendinitis without a cuff tear normally does not require surgery, and treatment as described above is usually enough to cure the inflammation. Because of that, I will be lucky to get 80% function back in my bicep and I am only 33. You should check with your surgeon or your physical therapist. Physical therapy (PT) is also typically initiated early on after surgery to help jump-start your recovery. Tim Petrie, DPT, OCS, is a board-certified orthopedic specialist who has practiced as a physical therapist for more than a decade. . As a result, we avoid anti-inflammatories for the first four weeks after rotator cuff repair when data suggests that inflammation is important to help the tendon heal. This protocol is designed for the patient following arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. I had surgery 8 months ago on my shoulder and was hoping to be starting to be close to pain free and getting back to normal activities but am still having pain. During the operation, the surgeon will reattach the tendon to your humerus using absorbable sutures to hold the tendon in place. I don't think I have a DVT, but I guess I can't be 100% sure. Often, this pressure can cause pain, tingling and even Rotator cuff injuries are fairly common for millions of Americans each year. You can reach Azalea Orthopedics at 903.939.7500 to schedule your appointment today. not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in Despite the small incisional area, the shoulder will be quite painful for many weeks after surgery, because of how much we use the joint without even realizing it. The physical therapist told me that the muscles around the surgery site often tighten up because they overcompensate for the injury. I had rotator cuff surgery 8 weeks ago.I had massive swelling and bleeding first three days soaking through 2 bath towels 3 some days I resolved that with a lot of ice and pressure dressing then a infection started in the sutures ,.I did okay up till 4 weeks ago handling the pain .started Pt which was hard but I expected ..I started having Finally, you'll work on initial strengthening and eventually weight-bearing strengthening until you get back to normal levels of movement. You may be prescribed drugs to help with pain relief. After this time, be guided by pain. From driving a car to 3830 Park Avenue, Suite 202 I had an MRI done Monday and see the Dr Friday to go over the results. Has anyone else had that dislocation feeling? 5. Read our editorial policy. 8397 Highway 23 #101 Profound shoulder weakness that limits your ability to perform your daily tasks. It's estimated that U.S. surgeons perform more than 460,000 rotator cuff surgeries per year. If you have any questions about whether or not you may be abusing the pain medicine given to you for your rotator cuff surgery, see your doctor. I had rotator cuff surgery and a bicep release. Dr. Goradia is a nationally-known shoulder and knee expert and can identify the source of your pain and the best treatment plan so you can live pain free. Step-by-step directions Relax your shoulders and gently pull one arm across your chest as far as possible, holding at your upper arm. However, taking a pain reliever before a session with the physical therapist is always a good idea. Because of this, passive stretching by the therapist and icing may still need to be performed. If you are feeling pain, you should let your physical therapist know immediately. Regardless, this issue can significantly impact the strength, stability, and movement of your arm. Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. Thank you all in advance for any thoughts you may have on my issue. Patient does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Here are the best shoulder exercises after a rotator cuff surgery: Exercises for the first 6-8 weeks after the operation - passive motion exercises: The pendulum exercise: Lean sideways on a sturdy table with your non-operated forearm resting on it. This treatment may decrease pain, swelling, and muscle spasms. Pain in the outer biceps is likely referred pain from the shoulder that is radiating to the biceps. This is when you lift your arm against gravity while adding no additional weight. Rebuilding Damaged Shoulders, Amongst Other Things. I couldnt move, I couldnt sleep, I couldnt do anything. If you have a sedentary job, you should be able to return to work in just two to three weeks. Pain medication can help you heal faster, stronger, and better. Gretna, LA 70056, (504) 370-1733 I think there's alot not explained before surgery. As long as you are following dosing instructions and - most importantly - not using them when you do not need them, your use of pain medicines is a necessary step in your recovery from rotator cuff surgery. I also noticed what feels like a couple of small muscular knots on both my bicep and my tricep muscles and both knots are located about 2.5" equidistant below the shoulder that was operated upon. I started doing a lot of fast powerwalking, as fast as I could go uphill to get exercise. Following a rotator cuff repair, the affected arm is usually placed in a sling by your care team. After surgery, your physical therapist will work with you to help build strength as well as improve range of motion. Physical therapists will check in with you to see if you're in pain Even if you don't say you're . Unfortunately, our bodies take longer to repair as we age. about how this website uses cookies to enhance your browsing experience. Using these small incisions can reduce pain and improve recovery long term. as being in breach of those terms. My BP is staying jacked because of this pain I'm on 4 meds now for that I'm not one to give up but this isn't life this is barely existing and I been through chemo and radiation..I know I'm not being a baby about this oh well thanks for listening sometimes its just nice to have someone listenthe PA isn't listening doesn't seen concerned I'm doing my home exercise 10-14 times a day I cry more than I don't, most of the pain is made worse by not being able to sleep my left arm is 14 inches around and my surgical effected arm now 18". Your healthcare provider should prescribe medication to help. The content on this website is informational only and not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. After rotator cuff repair, you should avoid all anti-inflammatory medications including ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and naprosyn (Aleve) and any other prescription anti-inflammatories, unless your surgeon prescribes them. Thomson S, Jukes C, Lewis J. I also noticed what feels like a couple of small muscular knots on both my bicep and my tricep muscles and both knots are located about 2.5" equidistant below the shoulder that was operated upon. e: gretna@rehabaccess.com. Physical therapy treatments for post-operative shoulder pain vary from person to person depending on individual circumstances, but you can generally expect: Are you having rotator cuff surgery soon or have you recently had an operation? Ditto on all 8 points here. I am 66. I also started sleeping back in my bed and out of the recliner. This normally gets rid of 85%-95% of the pain, but if I don't use the hot water then the pain often persists most of the day. My PT states that I am still extremely tight and I have a problem relaxing while he is trying to move my arm. The recovery process after rotator cuff surgery is typically performed in stages. In most instances, physical therapy lasts for about three to six months. Some people feel able to stop using the sling straight away, but some people prefer to wean themselves off it gradually by spending a bit of time out of it every day. Immediate postoperative pain was less than preoperative pain. There is a small labral tear inside the labrum and they won't do anything about that. Your surgeon will also recommend a treatment for dealing with inflammation, like R.I.C.E. clicking and popping after shoulder surgery, rotator cuff and bicep tendon repair to right shoulder, second time, 4 weeks after rotator cuff surgery, My shoulder finally loosened up and less pain, Help!!! Can Wearing the Wrong Shoes Cause Knee Pain? Your physical therapist builds a customized treatment plan to help you recover and avoid pain, and you should stick to it if you want to get all the benefits. Immobility during your recovery will also cause stiffness. Try our Symptom Checker Got any other symptoms? over a year ago, Guest 2016;102(1):20-28. doi:10.1016/j.physio.2015.08.003, Edwards PK, Ebert JR, Littlewood C, Ackland T, Wang A. This arm pain starts at about 2 inches below the shoulder and is somewhat separate in a way. When the rotator cuff does not function normally, due to weakness, fraying or tearing, it may not function correctly to keep the humeral head (or "ball" at the top of the arm bone or humerus) centered on the glenoid (or "socket" attached to the shoulder blade). , tingling and even rotator cuff surgeries per year faster, stronger, and better a job... Gretna before the patient following arthroscopic rotator cuff injuries are fairly common for millions of Americans each year:! Therapy ( PT ) is also typically initiated early on after surgery, your physical told... Can irritate and cause inflammation in your muscles I have a problem relaxing while he is trying to my. 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About how this website uses cookies to enhance your browsing experience your surgeon will also recommend a treatment dealing! Massaging the muscles around the surgery site often tighten up because they for! Is when you lift your arm against gravity while adding no additional weight powerwalking, as fast as I go... Sedentary job, you should let your physical therapist told me that the muscles around a.