rotator cuff surgery recovery time
(26 discussions)
I had surgery to repair a 50% tear on 3/28. I am 10 weeks out and have 135 degree ROM using pullies. My doc says he is disappointed and I should be further along, wants to possibly do some other things. It seems like everyone would progress differently. Help!
What are your experiences and should I be worried??
26 comments
May PT
Are you going to physical therapy or doing this on your own? If you are doing this on your own, you really need to see a physical therapist or occupational therapist that specializes in rotator cuff repair rehab.
bettye liddell
I had rotator cuff surgery july 29, still in pain, still ongto pt. My tear was complete, age 50 I am on pain med, remain on leave from work
JON STEVENSON
I HAD MY LEFT ARE DONE JAN.25 17 DO YOU THINK I SHOULD HAVE MY RIGHT ONE DONE I HAVE THE SUGERY BOOKED FOR JUNE 6 18 DO YOU THINK THIS IS TO EARLY
Todd Barton
I had surgery on my left shoulder on 10/13. I had a partial tear in my subscapular tendon that required a stitch in it. Also had bone spurs removed. I had my stiches removed 10 days after surgery and promptly began P.T. It hasn’t been much fun so far. Have had 6 visits to P.T. and still working on the ROM. I had my right shoulder done in March ’17 and don’t remember being in so much pain. Wondering if the scaping of bone spurs is the reason for the pain. I also recall that with my right shoulder, I waited for 4 weeks before starting P.T. Same orthopedic surgeon for each surgery but different timeframes for P.T. All I know is that I am a little disappointed on the recovery and pain levels.
Has anyone else started P.T. so soon after surgery?
john
i just got my right arm done.. I had bone spurs and old scar tissue removed.. I start p.t. one week later…does anyone know how long is gonna take to throw again…
vicki
hi…. I have been wondering about recovery time too. My surgery was July 27th!!!!! Just finished PT and the recovery is good… I had nerve damage and BOTH hands were numb but very sensitive and painful….now two fingers left numb!!! One hand is puffy, can’t get on my wedding ring or my watch. Do you have swelling? I kind of wish I hadn’t even had surgery… Vicki
DEBBIE
I AM SUPPOSE TO HAVE ROTATOR CUFF SURGERY FOR A PARTIAL TEAR. I AM NOT SURE WHETHER TO HAVE IT OR NOT AS I HAVE NO ONE TO HELP ME AT HOME WITH ANYTHING. WOULD BE ADVISABLE TO NOT HAVE IT AND JUST “TOUGH IT OUT” WOULD APPRECIATE ANYONE’S OPINION ON THIS AND ANY ADVISE THEY COULD GIVE ME IF I HAVE IT ON HOW ONE GETS DRESSED WITHOUT HELP OR OTHER CHORES
Frank Bonugl
Dear Sir/Madam:I have a slight tear in my rotator cuff and I am going to have surgery. How long will it be until I can go back to the gym do some weigth training. Thanks
BRIDGET
I HAD ROTATOR CUFF SURGERY ON SEPTEMBER 25, 2017 AND I HAVE BEEN IN SO MUCH PAIN I WILL BE TAKING 4 MONTHS OF PHYSICAL THERAPHY I AM STILL IN PAIN NOW
Wayne
I had RC surgery Dec 4 and I’ve been going to Reg for 4month 2x a week still having some pain when raising arm above shoulder when will the pain subside I want to get back to the tennis court.
william troyk
I had the surgury Jan 9th and want to know how long before I can hit a golf ball without taking a chance of tearing it again. I am a fast healer and have almost full range back and have been lifting light weights for 2 weeks. My doctor says 90 days, but also admits that is the standard line. Could an MRI dtermine if it is nearly fully healed?
PATTIE HOFF
I continue to have intense pain 6 months after rotator cuff surgery. Most of the pain is in my arm not the shoulder. Severe spasms in the bicep and lower muscle of the arm. Sometimes in the back of the shoulder blade. Why is this? Sometimes the pain is bad enough to wake me up from a sound sleep. Or painfull enough to keep me from falling a sleep.
Bob
I had a full tear repaired in Dec ’14. After 4 weeks I started PT, contiued with them for 4 weeks & finised on my own. I went back to doing carpentry work after 12 weeks with about 95% strength & 100% ROM. Everyone heals differently. Your age (I’m 54), physical condition before surgery & your pain tolerance during recovery. I would’t be worried as yet. I have seen people in PT that were into their 16th week & still having ROM issues. Hang in there.
Julie
I am having this surgery on June next 2 weeks. I am sscared I have had the right bone spurs done and now I have torn the rotary cuff. I am scared will I be able to resume my duties I am a cook. Pleas let me know as ap someone.
Concerned Julie
Barbara Mabry
I had rotator cuff surgery for a 1 inch tear and bone spur removed 24 days ago. I am still having throbing pain in my shoulder and wake up during the night with throbbing pain. Is this normal?. I am doing a few exercised.
Ruby
I had left rotator cuff surgery on November 11, and started physical therapy on November 19, twice weekly. I was told the sooner you start therapy, the better off you will be, and the more you bend over and do the circle movements, the better you will be. I’ve been in a sling and cushion for five weeks and ready to come out next week. I’m not having pain as long as I am in the sling, and I am getting paranoid that I will do something to disrupt it I don’t want to go through with this again. At six weeks I start the arm machine and at eight weeks I start weight training.Ruby
Carol Hoffman
I had rotator cuff surgery on 10/10/17. It was a complete tendon tear that was reattached to the bone with a corkscrew anchor. Also removed bone spurs,arthritis,and shaved the bone. Started physical therapy on 11/10 and finished 2/9/18. I’m 68. When can I go back to playing Golf and when can I go back to playing Tennis?
Barbara
I had spurs and rotator cuff 8 weeks ago and am still having a lot of pain. The paing goes all the way down my arm and into my neck. Now it has gone to the left side of my neck. Please can someone help me??????????
Jack Meredith
I had my left shoulder done sep 28
1 corkscrew anchor was used to repair it. My Dr. recommended I stay in the sling for 6 weeks after surgery I stayed a total of 4. I gained a good range of motion and a significant decrease in overall pain after 2 1/2 months and was feeling around 70% at about 4 months. However since then it has been slower going I feel now I am about 85% I still have some discomfort and some spasms and the occasional sharp pain and if I really push it for 2-3 days I sometimes wake up and my shoulder just feels dead and I take take it easy that day and usually feel much better the next. I have not started any real rehab until now only what I’ve done on my own depending on how I felt. I was very active before and as quik as my shoulder would allow after surgery .
My Surgeon gave me a 6 mnth recovery time and I feel that if my job was not so physically demanding and if my company (UPS) and their workmans comp insurance carrier (Liberty Mutual) were not such crooks I feel this would have been accurate. Its sad when you can’t go back to work to test your shoulder for fear of not getting paid if you still need more time or if for some reason something isn’t quite right..
Hope this helps…
Lisa Challinor
I had a full tear in my rotator cuff tendon on Jan 6th, by Dr. Thomas Croy in Or., I started pt about the 4th week, my pt says I’m doing great my range of motion is coming along, still don’t have the strenght, doing little things, but my arm lets me know, how much, all in all I feel my surgery was a sucess, my pt says it will be 6 to 12 mths. befor regular act. can come back, I’m a healthy 43yr. old.
Estella Taylor
I had rotator cuff surgery in December, 2017 and it has been a disaster. I do not recommend this kind of surgery to anyone. The pain is excruciating and it does not heal as easy as they say it does. I think that the doctors do not tell the truth and this type of surgery is should be an overnight stay in the hospital, not a day surgery. to this day I still have pain and minimum range of motion and this is because I have done all the rehab myself. I have lost all faith in doctors, the doctor that operated on me, did not tell me the truth, once in it turned out more than he had told me. The lack of concern on his part is sad and I honestly think this doctor should not be allowed to do surgery on anyone, the charges that he turned into my Medicare and secondary insurance was unreal. I call this greed. When I wrote to complain, he tried calling me, but to make matters worse, he called me by a completely different name, what does that tell you?
Lenny B
Had my shoulder done Sept 08. Have not returned to work. I’m a mechanic and can not do the physical work. Is this a normal recovery time?
Kate
Hi Fellow Sufferers, I had my rotator cuff surgery along with bone scraping and arthritis removal in mid-April. It’s now the end of June and I’m still in considerable pain. I wore the brace, went to p.t. but am beginning to question the surgical decision. Sure better listen to your body. I am dearly paying for yesterdays bike ride. Don’t try to reach ahead and above until about 4 months out. Good luck everyone.
Doreen l Darden
i am to have RC surgery 7=31. my shoulder under arm an elbow hurts painfully bad. Do you think I should hav surgery or ck w another dr?
johndunn
I had rotator cuff surgery in 4/09 to repair on complete tear and one partial tear and he also scraped some bone spurs. I have full motion with no pain, but my strength isn’t all there yet. I did my own PT and have been back playing softball, but don’t have teh throwing strength I use to have. When do you get 100% of your strength back or do you? I going to start lifting weight soon and hopefully that will help.
Teri Parks
I had my rotator cuff surgery on 10/2 on my right shoulder. I am still having a lot of pain and sleep is almost out of the question! I have been going to PT 2 x a week since day 7 after the surgery. My ROM is better but still very painful. I wish I had been better prepared for the pain factor before having gone through this surgery. On the positive side, I can finally put makeup on with my right hand again!!