I'm 7 weeks post surgery I had to wear my sling 6 weeks 24/7 I have the same problem sharp pain just below the shoulder at the top of my bicep I was so concerned I injured myself I had them do an MRI and no one has called me with results so I guess no news is good news I'm very pain tolerant but this has kicked my butt so sick of pain pain pain hard to walk the line - do to little bad for you do too much bad for you ... how are you doing now?
I also have some numbness in the hand a another strange thing that hand sweats when my good hand is dry have you experienced this too??
Hi, sorry to hear you are having issues....but I totally get it. I am now 3 mths post. The pain was really bad too...but once I started physio it got alot better. I have had other issues, reaction to the tape, unexpected lumps that NO one could tell me what they were. I just decided that my body went "WTF" just happened and reacted...lol
At least I gave myself an answer. They all went away within 3 weeks.
Have you started physio?
Hi Stephanie, Things have gotten better. I think the more I used it gently, the better it got. The PT has helped...what little I get of it. The biceps is still the problem child, hurts after activity, exercises, end of day, middle of night...just below the shoulder where the tendon runs. I use cold packs. I am still hiking and have started very short easy road bike rides (sore afterward). The PT says I'm doing well and don't see the Dr for 3 more weeks. . How have you been doing over the past few weeks?
I am 6weeks post op having had the same op as you with bicep Tendenosis.......I was out of my sling within a couple of days only using it when out the house and for sleeping (surgeon initially said 4 weeks). PT started 2 weeks after surgery...and the PT gave me unassisted raising of arm above head, and side arm raises and hand behind back exercises ....which I tried with difficulty and pain....on my second visit a week later she reviewed them and said that the exercises were too advanced. 3rd visit she has introduced strengthening exercises using bungy cord and weights....and my shoulder is so painful and achy. I saw the Surgeon after 1 week seems happy with results and said that I could stop using sling even though I have told him i am still in pain especially at night (. I am due back to work on checkout at a supermarket in 3 weeks and totally terrified. I really dont know how i am going to cope with all the lifting.
Hi Jill
I am not surprised you are in pain. Your initial recovery seems rushed. Out of sling within a few days, doing strengthening exercises so soon!
I very much doubt if you are able to go back to work so soon.
Some surgeons do not like overuse of sling as it can produce frozen shoulder but even out of a sling you have to be very cautious what you do with your arm. I did not start strengthening exercises until about week 10 and my physio said I was ahead of the game!
As for the pain alternate with ice and heat,that should help. Only other advice is take it easy, your arm is in the early stages of recovery it needs care and rest as well as exercise.
Good luck
i had the stabbing pain start at 10 weeks. Doctor says it is expected. I trust him. Take PT slower. Allow rest in between sessions.
OK to take meds if real bad.
But no reason to panic.
I just saw my Dr 2 weeks ago (4 months post). He also had same surgery 10 years ago. He confided that he had very bad biceps cramping and spasming until about 4 months and was very pleased that mine had resolved (for the most part) by about 10 weeks. Of course when I went to him at 6 weeks with the complaint of cramping/spasming and nerve pain he didn't tell me his experience and I assume he did not want me to think that i too would suffer that sort of pain for another 14 weeks like he did. In hindsight I'm glad he didn't share that because I would have felt doomed when in fact I only suffered for another week or more. Just to prove that everyone's journey is going to be different and just keep the faith that things will improve with time.
I tend to panic and I'm very concerned my stab pain is here for life but my doctor who is absolutely the best in NYC dismissed it as normal in the sense that it is the way I am healing. So glad you answered. Thank you.
I am at 8 weeks post-op following rotator cuff repair (high-grade full tear). I have been worried now and then about re-tearing the tendon and which pains are normal and what sort of pain would indicate a possible problem. Any input on this would be appreciated. It has been reassuring to read replies that indicate that after many weeks, pain is still there and normal. I am finally sleeping well (the past several days) and do not want to go through that nightmare of trying to sleep on the recliner, 1 or 2 hours at a time, or hurting so much that sleep was very difficult or impossible.) I too was off painkillers by about the 4th or 5th day and use Tylenol extra strength when needed. I have been out of the sling (for the most part, except in public) since 6 weeks. My surgeon (who is in his 70's, very active and has done many thousands of these surgeries) told me that I can do exercises at home beginning at 6 weeks and PT will start at 9 weeks. He has changed his protocol from early PT to waiting for sufficient healing before vigorously working the shoulder muscles - citing a great reduction in the number of re-tears. I have no pain while sleeping, but stiffness and some pain in the bicep upon waking and beginning to move the arm. After my exercises to increase range of motion, there is pain in bicep and sometimes tingling down to the hand. I guess this is normal. I am a very active, intense and focused 61-year-old male and I find that I am impatient to get back to activity, lifting, and returning to work. I work in a job that requires a lot of lifting twisting, reaching, and sudden movements. Therefore I have told myself to be patient, don't lift anything until cleared by the doctor, and give this time to heal before stressing about how long I have been gone from work. I have to stay busy, so I have been sorting nails and bolts and screws with my left arm and hand, organizing my garage, and planning a few projects for when I can start to use my right shoulder as well. I just last week had enough bravery and range of motion to gently push a small piece of wood through the table saw with both hands! Slow and easy does it - I don't want to have to repeat this ordeal. Others told me how difficult and painful it would be, but I just sort of brushed them off thinking I was pretty tough. I relate and sympathise to everyone's pain and fear of sleeping (in the first 2 weeks there were nights I didn't sleep - I sorted books, organized office supplies, paid bills, read, etc. - anything to keep busy). Thank you all for sharing and making me feel not so alone. You can't fully understand shoulder surgery and recovery unless you've experienced it! Best to everyone.
It sounds like you are doing things right for you.I also experimented with different activities little by little. If something caused an unusual pain, I backed off. I think the general rule of thumb for activities is to stay out of the pain zone. It's normal for a new activity to cause some degree of pain. I think most people can discern the difference between therapeutic vs injurious pain. If you don't have pain during the activity but have soreness afterward which goes away after about 30 min and some use of cold, then you're fine. that refers to tendon pain. Muscle pain can take 24-48 hours to resolve. I still will get some weird,out of the blue type stabbing pains. The are transient and I just brush them off. I think keeping up with the stretching is the most important thing until your range is in the normal zone. then working on strengthening of the shoulder stabilizers to prevent reinjury is important. you PT will guide you with exercises for that. Healing is a tightrope walk. It is a long slow process and the visible gains are minimal at first. It's important to stay conscious and aware of movement while introducing new movements and activities. The further you are away from surgery date, the less likely you are to re tear. Keep up the good work. By 4 months is when I was lifting light dumbells rather than just therabands and I feel my strength gaining more rapidly...but muscle soreness more frequently also. I will be back to work in two more months and will probably have more input after that. Wish you the best!
Hi. I am 8 weeks in from having a bicep tendonosis and bone spurs removed from my shoulder....started physio 2 weeks afeter surgery and was out of my sling after a week. Had been sleeping relatively well after surgery but now I cant lay on my shoulder due to pain again. I am getting sharp shooting pains leading into my elbow....sometimes its so bad it almost takes my breathe away......Surgeon didnt see worried....said it could be nerve pain. I seem to have taken several steps back in my recovery and due back at work in 2 weeks on a checkout at a supermarket......
My surgeon says very normal but i know that's hard to accept. Same here. Give it time. The pain to u and me means "trouble" but not to the doctors. It's part of the heal. Deep breaths. It doesn't mean anything bad. The PT will aggravate the muscles, tendons, and nerves. Patience. Think good thoughts.
I am at 10 weeks and PT triggered stabbing pains. Doc says not to worry. Rest. Did yours improve with time?
I also had pains into my elbow when stretching my biceps and shoulder overhead with elbow straight. It also has largely subsided. If I overhead stretch the shoulder with elbow straight and really push it, I still feel discomfort into the elbow but not as severe. I believe it is probably nerve stretch pain. I remember things started feeling and getting a lot easier at 10 weeks vs 8 weeks and 8 weeks vs 6 weeks. two weeks can make a significant improvement in the situation. You may have occasional days where you feel you have taken more steps back than forward...but it usually rebounds fairly quickly. Hang in there!
I've had both shoulders repaired and it takes months to heal. U will need physio. My specialist got sick of me complaining abput the pain I'm sure but they aren't the ones going through it. He ended up putting me into a physio exercise program and it was the best thing for pain. I reported to him how good it was in alleviating pain and because of that patients behind me were also given the same program for chronic pain.
I too took my arm out of my sling to try and cut a rose off my rosebush and was positive I had reinjured my shoulder because of the sharp pain I felt but it was because I hadn't used it in weeks post op. Be prepared for more sharp pains and aches, in fact be prepared for the possibilty of chronic pain. I have had chronic pain in my right shoulder since 2006 because I didn't get it repaired immediately and kept using it with a full thickness tear to my supraspinatous tendon. Further down the track exercise will give u more relief than opiates.Good luck.
Did you ever improve? I was doing excellent until the 6th week of PT.
Then I got stabbing pains not during PT but after and they don't go away very quickly.
Pain rx not very good. Surgeon says rest two weeks. not concerned. Help!!
Thank you. I saw my doctor today and he confirms everything you said. Healing is the most important task and being patient with the seemingly slow gains in the range of motion and dissipation of pain. He said waiting to regain strength in my shoulder and arm muscles is worth it - at this point, don't be afraid to stretch and move but remember not to lift. To everyone else out there, it does get slowly better and more comfortable to do such things as getting dressed and reaching the buttons on the car radio! Hang in there and know that everyone's experience will be a little bit different. Do as your doctor advises.
I am now at 9 weeks post surgery and I can also confirm that each week shows noticeable improvement. Especially after the the first six weeks. Take it slow. I also work as a cashier at a very busy store with lots of large items and much lifting and transferring of merchandise. I check in with my building manager every two weeks and keep them updated with my progress. I thought I would be back to work by now, but they have been very understanding and cooperative in keeping my job for me and encouraging me not to worry about coming back too soon. Better to let it heal than re-injure. I had a full thickness tear of the supraspinatus tendon, which was frayed into 4 or 5 strands. When it hurts too much, pull back for a day or two and then gradually resume. My doctor is having me wait until the 3-month mark to begin physical therapy. I am doing several exercises at home with his direction. It can't be repeated enough - patience is the most helpful therapy.
Well its back to work for me 10 weeks after Bicep Tendenosis and bone spur removal from my shoulder. I am so much pain that once again unable to sleep at night....pain is actually worse than before the op. Sharp shooting pain with cramping sensation from shoulder to elbow. I also have very restricted movement in shoulder due to pain levels..... yet a few weeks ago all was reasonably good. Currently taking 2 paracetamol, 2 ibrobrufen and a tramadol just to get through the day and taking Nortripline at night which makes no difference. Physio has stopped exercises for a week...seeing her again tomorrow.....really concerned at how I am going to manage at work on a busy supermarket checkout......Got follow up with surgeon in 5 weeks with a view to getting another steriod injection..... will my shoulder ever be normal