Rotator Surgery

Looks like it is getting to the point that I am going to have to get the surgery done. Constant pain, hard to sleep, just seems to keep getting worse… How many of you have gone under the knife on this? Anything I can do before having to get cut? I hear the rehab is long and a pain….

Any advice

Have you had steroid shots in the joint yet? I have bone spurs in the joint and the shots have allowed me to sleep through the night and bow hunt for the last 2 years. The doc said to keep doing the shots until they don't work, then do the surgery.

I have not… Wasn’t sure if the shots would help with a torn rotator or not…

I had it done in 1994 and the surgery was easy in and out the same day. They drilled three penicl eraser size holes in my shoulder, one to use the cutting and grinding tool, another to keep it washed out and the third was for the camera they used.

Rehab was a pain in the . but I am so glad I had it done, now I am Mo Betta.

Had it almost a year ago. Left shoulder which was good in that I am right handed. To tell you all about would take me a long time to type it out and yes it is rough. To make things short I will list some things that made my better.

1. Have a recliner---you will use it for about at least a week for sure.
2. Ice, Ice, Ice, Ice and then some more ice.
3. Don't be a macho guy. Stay drugged up for at least a week. You can then take smaller doses of meds to help with the pain as needed but you will still need them.
4. You will be in a sling for at least six weeks. And you will learn to hate it.
5. If you are married start sucking up to your wife NOW. She will be needed to help you get in and out of the recliner, getting ice, and keeping up with your meds.
6. The more it hurts during rehab the faster you will get back to close to normal.
7. Don't expect to be back to normal for at least 5 months or more.
8. Mine was almost a year ago and if I don't do some rehab exercises twice weekly I still pay the price.

PM me your number and we can talk about it in more detail if you want.

What is your doctor saying? Get 2nd/3rd opinion before you make a decision to go under the knife.

^^^^^This. It could be tendon impingement syndrome. Painful at night. I had it and the pain can be quite intense. I have a torn rotator cuff as well but that is not what was causing the pain. I had a great active release therapist that got rid of it for me over the course of a couple of months.

I had mine repaired in 2015. It wasn't really a big deal.

I elected for the pain block during surgery and took an ice machine home with me and kept it on for days.

Rehab was a breeze.

Right shoulder fixed twice here.
First one was bad. Therapist was a cruel mistress to pain.
Second one wasn’t bad at all. Therapy was pretty easy on that one.

Sounds like we had the same masochist therapist for the first one.

Read and reread what Spacejunkie said. I don’t think I can add to it. Had my left done about when he had his left done. Not fun. No sir, not fun. Rehab is going to be tough. It’s been a year since my surgery and I think it’s fair to say that I am healed completely. Sure don’t want to do that again.

Space Junkie hit a home run, listen to him carefully. Had my right done twice, and my left done once, it really hurts to even think about it. I will say when you can't sleep, it's time to have it done, at least it was for me. Rehab was a tough time , but what ever you do don't miss any and follow their instructions too a tee! Total recovery is anywhere from 9 to 18 months, it really feels better once you are about six months in.Best of luck, listen to your Doc and your Therapist.

One other thing that you should get is the post surgery t'shirts. Make sure to get them one size larger than you normally wear. Getting in and out of any shirt will be very difficult for the first couple of weeks but with these it is a snap. (That is a pun but when you look at them you will see what I mean). They are expensive but well worth the dollars. I got three and am glad I spent the money.

https://www.amazon.com/Surgery-Shir...Y2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=

2019 for me and doc sent me home with a cold rush machine, it pumps water to a pad on your shoulder and just fill the reservoir with small frozen water bottles. Amazing little machine and you can get pads for knees and other body parts as well. I tore mine up bad and had surgery early and the doc said the sooner you do it the better. If you do have a tear the muscles will retract and it has to be stretched back out to attach and will make recovery a lot longer. It’s a pain to go through but way better now. When your in the sling you’re not legal to drive which was a shock to me.

I used an icewater circulating thingamabob both times, but this last time I spent more ice time with a strap-on ice pack. Made it easier to get up and move about, since I didn’t have to detach from the circulation hoses to get up from the recliner I lived in. You will need more than just one ice pack. Three did it for me, so you can swap them out as needed.

Get the big drugs when they send you home. They’ll have you with a painkiller injector (forgot the terminology) that’s supposed to last for several days. It’ll wear off sooner than claimed, and pain will be upon you. So…get a prescription for the big drugs. 80% chance you’ll need them.

I havent read all this thread but Ill try to go back. For now, I have posted link to my thread about rotator cuff from a couple years ago. There is a lot of info in the thread and some of it is contradictory so you would be foolish not to read it all. Good luck.

https://texashuntingforum.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/7830579/1

Been through rotator cuff surgery twice and am thinking I may need it again. If you’ve had it, you know that it’s not a quick heal.