So, am on the rebuild phase at week 8. They want me using my arm like I always did, just no weight. Was hard to wrap my head around that, to go from absolutely nothing to using it, was scary. Had my first "exercise" session, and it's the next day, boy do I hurt! Was sort of pathetic realizing I didn't have the strength to even lift my hands up to a touchdown type stance. Have people who have been past this stage had the same experience? I just ache all over, especially my shoulder blade on the surgery side. I had really felt great after the PT session since I got to move, was very excited. And then the next day hits! Fortunately, it was 3 days until the next session, but, then I have another one the following day which will not be pleasant. Took my shower by myself, was almost able to reach everywhere. It did feel good to know my arm moves. But it's so weak, want to hear if others have had that experience.
I am wondering how you are doing now! I feel your pain ! šI am miserable ! Rotator cuff surgery then three months later frozen
Shoulder manipulation and brutal pt that I think has retorn my rotator cuff ! Another MRI on Monday almost 5 months of hell ! Canāt sleep constant pain and have lost my job as my Fmla time has run out ! Still icing every day! At home pt several times a day !
I hear you on the bicep pain. I'm about 11 days out of rotator cuff full tear repair and started p/t today!! I would love to punch that guy. Anyway, to answer your question, I had a kind of itchy feeling for a while. It seemed to go away with more ice. So try being relentless with the ice.
Wishing you the best ! I have another Mri on Monday to see if my rutetir cuff is torn again either by pt or or the frozen shoulder manipulation ! Almost 5 months and feeling like 3 steps forward and 2 back . Pt released me guessing because they knew they hurt me ! No longer have a job because I ran out of Fmla time! I am so over this I just want to cry!! Please keep
Telling me it does get. Better !!
Came across this āpostā during another sleepless night 4 weeks post rotator cuff surgery. Relieved to know my questioning the misery is justified but a bit depressed to see how long it is lasting for many.
I became sick of just looking at my recliner, let alone trying to sleep in it at week 3 so started trying to sleep laying down (with wedge of pillows) but although I can initially find a reasonably comfy position I wake in severe pain. This I could at first work off but a week in finding it harder.
It was worrying about this that led me here. Somewhat reassured that Iāve hopefully not damaged anything and likely expecting too much too soon.
My surgeon has me doing only minor physio, arm bends, hand rotations, dangle arm and spin... curious to know if this is what others mean by physio? I thought this was just a requirement to help avoid a frozen shoulder?
Two quick personal shares. On the pain front the āblockerā given at surgery didnāt work. I awoke in agony. On the plus side, fearing reliance on pain drugs I kicked them all day 6. Not sure itās the smartest move though.
I do hope though I can hit that promised ābetter in 6 monthsā as I also need the same procedure on my other shoulder. I have had to borrow $6500 to cover my deductible for the first, so really have to aim to get the other at least started before end of year as I doubt I could raise money for it next, especially as my plan will assuredly be even worse/more expensive.
I'm sorry for your pain. It takes a long time to heal. There are other threads on this site that you will find comforting. I am a year in 6 days and still achy. It improved a lot in 4 months but the achiness started again in cold weather. Sleep was always a treat! Do what the doctors and PTs say and be patient. I too had no idea what this was about. Be careful with your shoulder and it will work out. But it does take months so be patient as hard as that is.
I am week 8 and can only lay down a couple hours. Sitting ip give me rib pain on each side now. You have more at home exercises than I, but I was in PT at week 3. The thought of a retear was constant for me until week 8. You will find the pain diminishes, but then goes back up at times. I was just awesome before week 8, felt great. Then, came next round of PT using actively my arm, and now torture again!
Thank you for the words of encouragement.
I was prescribed sleeping pills after day 9 as I was climbing the walls at that point. They helped some but I have not wanted to become reliant on them so stopped 3 nights ago. I think maybe Iām expecting too much.
I am self employed so have to work to some extent or Iāll have even bigger problems, though juggling work with shoulder is a farce really. I am really expecting to write off the next year and hope Iām lucky (?) enough to get both done in the belief it is the best long term plan.
Thank you.
At this point I can cope with pain, itās the lack of sleep and anxiety about long term physical and financial ramifications that trouble me most.
Itās gonna be a long year!
Yes, the anxiety of whether or not the shoulder will work again is indeed a challenge. It seems to be a lot of mental game. I too (was) self employed until Jan 1 when I retired, knowing I was in for some shoulder issues. Good thing. not sure how I would have worked. Here and there, sure. But not a full week or even close. Heck, I was using only my left hand to type and use the mouse, not very efficient! Just yesterday I started using my right arm. Sleeping pills sure sound good to me at this point! Tried bed last night, had torture in our regular bed, got 1 hour sleep. So, moved around the house for 3 hours to feel a little better, and then tried a couch, torture. So, went back to the theater type chair, got maybe 1.5 hours. Then, got up for a bit, and tried our guest bed which is firmer. I did get 2 hours sleep, and woke in great pain. But hey, that's 4.5 hours, not too bad lately. I'll likely doze on the couch this evening while watching TV, so, it all adds up. I tried Elberberry pills and Valerian in an attempt to relax, no big help.
I have a lot of pain just below the ribs in the front, seems like my stomach is swollen or more firm than it should be, waiting on the doc to tell me. Appears to be a potential rare side effect of Oxycodone. Really feeling terrible because of that. I thin I'd feel a lot better without that issue. Don't know if that's not unusual to have, or, might be related to weaker muscles not supporting things as well perhaps. It's by far the worst when sitting. Going to PT in an hour!
It is true you are going to have a long year. Ice is your friend. Keep up with the exercises they assign, volunteer for more if you can and they let you. Try your best to keep your spirits up for the mental game. If you have others in the house have them watch your progress so they can say nice things and give you confidence, they can see things better than you often times.
I started physical therapy 7 days after my surgery. It was extremely painful and at times still is. I'm 6 weeks out now. I still sometimes sleep propped up. Still have days that it really painful especially after physical therapy. They now lift my arm past my head while laying down also I use a pulley system to pull my arm up. I had torn rotator cuff with 2 anchor placed and bone spurs removed. This has been more painful then I expected. I still take pain medication at night but not during the day.
Your night sounds all too familiar. I only tried the bed once, a disaster. I find the feeling of exhaustion yet inability to sleep for more than an hour or so very distressing. Iāll try a couple more nights without the sleeping pills but if no joy Iāll revert.
Good luck with that side effect, thatās an extra worry you donāt need.
Iāve got the bicep pain but reading this thread realized it seems a normal. My other new problem though is nausea and headaches from too much time on computer. Iād hoped I could drum up some extra business/finance using my head rather than my arms but that plan also seems doomed. Though went for eye exam today to see if thatās the cause. New glasses ordered so fingers crossed that will resolve that issue.
Family support a good idea but sympathy has never been strong in my house. I can tell the tolerance honeymoon period is already long gone and have entered the āarenāt you better yetā phase. Given I share the sentiment , I can hardly blame them.
Anyway, good luck on your recovery, post an update. I think we all need to know thereās light at the end of this tunnel.
You will start sleeping again. It just takes time. As I said I'm nearly one year. It was all going well, some achiness good ROM and strength at 10 mos until we had real cold weather and I started trimming bushes. New aches. I'm waiting for warmer weather. You will be better. Please be careful, use heat and ice and meds if necessary. I think pain makes you more stressed and that makes it worse. Just my opinion. Exercise within reason. People don't understand how long it takes. That's what makes these forums so valuable. You don't want to do this again so take care.
Yep, the bicep pain is typical. So, after some xrays, I found the problem with my ribs / stomach area. Let's just say I am literally full of it. Like up to my 4th rib. Thanks to the constipating side effect of Percocet and me eating a lot of fiber. So, all that great stuff is literally pushing my ribs out. It hurts. So, for those of you considering whether to keep taking the pain meds for a while, something to consider. I took them for 7 weeks, the last several weeks just before so called sleep.
Sorry to hear about family. My wife has been wonderful and super helpful. She is getting some meds for me now so I can get rid of this "rib" pain. That and I am apparently still withdrawing from Percocet since I have intense nervousness and shakiness. Great, let's just keep adding to the horror!
Wait until you get to move it! The first time they told me to do the touchdown raise both arms above head, I was like "you're kidding right"? It's truly how amazingly weak one can get in 8 weeks. So, when you get there, just be ready for the shock. That being said, it was a wonderful feeling even with the dismal muscle action knowing the arm really does still move, albeit slowly and painfully.
That makes me very glad I gave up the painkillers so early. Apart from constipation I was having fever like sweats and blamed the drugs. Donāt know if it was them but at least it rid me of those 2 issues. I also wondered if they were hampering sleep? I thought the Percocet was useless anyway.
Had to go back to Sams Club earlier to select glasses. While there saw a folding sofa/bed that can be set with a varied setting raised back. Purchased and will give it a test run tonight. Willing to try just about anything right now.
I find the worse thing about the sleep deprivation is when I wake, no matter how tired itās almost impossible to go back out.
I must say though, that this post and learning that the issues I have seem typical, has been strangely reassuring. Even down to the left hand typing!
I still have pain . Sometimes a lot especially at night. I still take pain meds ( norco) at night does help me get some sleep. Past few days it been really stiff,trying to move it move but very painful. Deep ache all the way to my hand. This has really stressed me and now I have so much anxiety. This not sleeping is hard on me. I also had my neck fused c3 to my c7 in October 2017 and then this in march... ugh
Well, you're only at week 6 so pain for sure. I am optimistic that once my Percocet issues from taking them go away, hopefully in a couple of days, I'll be able to stand it much easier. To have the problem and that pain, plus, Rotator pain, plus terrible anxiety due to withdrawal is not much fun combined. About to get better soon I hope! Exercise sure has gotten harder since they cranked it up! But, I enjoy it as I know it's to my benefit. Whereas, them bending my arm I was not always so confident of.
Question: I'm 8 weeks out from full shoulder repair. Still not feeling well. For that matter I felt better before the surgery. Not sure if by somehow I injured the repair. Does any body know if a X-ray will show if I did injure again as opposed to another MRI?
Understand I am not a doctor or expert, just a patient. But when I asked the same question to a PT, they said it's not feasible at that time as it's still healing and it's difficult to see due to the tear possibly still showing up even though nothing is wrong. This is a very long recovery, I am at almost 9 weeks, not feeling great by any means. My PT gave me some simple test and said it's not torn. So, I would think you could do the same. I don't think an xray or MRI would be needed. What movements you can or can't do should make it a pretty safe bet. But 8 weeks is nothing, you have a long way to go. It will get better though.
I felt like I re-injured it as well, I suspect most people do. What the doctor told me at one point was unless you hd an accident, fell on that shoulder, something very bad like that, highly unlikely. Many times I reached for something and forgot I was injured and really regretted it due to the pain, and, it always scared me. However, PT says it is not torn as they could tell by what I could do. For what it's worth.