Rotator Cuff Tear Repair

[Pistolero]

I am going in for a left shoulder rotator cuff arthroscopic repair in the morning. I am left handed so doing tasks with my right arm will be a challenge. I have spent some time drawing and shooting my LCR357 with my right hand to be able to defend my home during the six weeks that my left wing is in a sling. I am expecting several weeks of physical therapy and the possibility that the repair will fail. I would appreciate any feedback and tips from folks who had have had this type of repair.
I will be offline for a few days after tomorrow.

 

[Jim Puke]

Good luck with the repair and recovery. Do as the Dr and therapist say and it will go well. Prayers for you to move through this well.

 

[coach]

My mother and sister in law both had it done. A complete success. Good luck.

 

[diablos30]

i'm currently in pt for a laberal repair, very similar to rotator cuff. yes 6 weeks in the sling, but dont expect to go back to normal after that. it will probably be more like 4-6 months before the arm is back to normal. i'm about 8 weeks post op and am only lifting my arm, no weights at all, yet it feels like i am lifting weights. i can do simple things with it like type and grab things in front of me, but not lift any sort of weight. oh and i still have to sleep in the sling. be prepared to sleep in a recliner for a month or so, it was about 6 weeks before i finally got back into bed and that was with some tips from the pt. good luck.

 

[luvmyRugers]

Good luck on the recovery. It seems to take longer than the doc says but well worth it in the end!!

 

[Poco Oso]

I had my left one done in 2006. It works fine still, in fact, I wish my right shoulder worked as well as the left one. Diablo's assessment above sounds right on. Be sure to do ALL the PT exercises religiously. It will make your recovery much faster. Good luck and speedy recovery.

 

[GP100man]

NO FUN !!! I hope your PT is as good as mine !!!

I had cuff reconstruction, took `bout a yr before I totally trusted to "pull" on anything.

Been `bout 6yrs now & it hurts when cold or changing weather & it`s always made funny sounds afterwards , I can feel each pin when cold & it`s hard to rewarm em !!!

GP

 

[snowman2]

I had rotator cuff surgery in May of 2013 and the surgen told me it would take 4 to 6 months for it to heal properly. I got back to work in the 2nd week of January 2014. One piece of advise is to do all the physical therapy that they advise you do do as it does help a great deal. It healed pretty well but it will never be a 100% again. Personly I don't have any nagging pain and I can sleep on that side without my arm going numb. The shoulder
does get fatiged if I do a lot of work overhead. Good luck with the operation.
Cheers Harv

 

[Bear Paw Jack]

Prayers for a complete recovery. It's a tough surgery. The BIL had it and didn't do all the PT and tried to not wear the sling as long as he was supposed to. I don't think he will ever be completely healed. The PT is a critical part of the healing, right after the lack of motion for several weeks.

 

[Sagebrush Burns]

Folow your doctors and your therapists orders carefully. Save the pain meds for after therapy sessions. A friend took the meds first and over did on the therapy resulting in failure of the procedure. After two follow up procedures her shoulder has never been right again.

 

[cruzerlou]

I've had left done twice ( not because the repair failed, but because I reinjured it ) and my right done once.
You'll be fine just make sure you do your physical therapy and you'll be good as new in no time.
Good luck,
Your Friend,
Lou

 

[Pistolero]

Thank you my friends for your sage advice, prayers and good wishes. I am off to bed now and up in the morning for the cuttin.

 

[Robb Barnes]

I have had 3 of them and all I can say is it is not as bad as some whine about and do every exercise the therapist says! Once it starts feeling good and you want to take it out of the sling, remember to put it back in when you go outside or to town. The sling reminds you and OTHERS top give you a little space and helps cut down on the accidental bumps, surprise hugs from aunt Mable such. I took an old shoulder holster harness and added it to my soft sling so the pressure was on the good shoulder, NOT the neck where the cheesey little padded strap will feel like it is cutting your head off after a few hours. Also, sleep in a recliner for a couple of weeks so the arm is supported and your movement is limited.

 

[Kanook]

If you can get your script the day before, do it. It sucks waiting after surgery.

Put a sheet on your recliner where you will sleep for the next couple weeks. It made it feel more like a bed for me.

Things you will use/need daily, put within reach.

Take some old t shirts and cut off sleaves to prevent rubbing on shoulders.

Ginger ale and crackers for after surgery and a low dose aspirin to help prevent blood clot.

 

[valkrider8]

I've had this surgery with great success. Get used to sleeping in a recliner for a while and as said before follow through with PT!! Completeing the PT is key to recovery and full use agin. Good luck.

 

[vito]

The key is to have patience after any surgery, and don't expect miraculous and instant return to full activity. Therapy is also critical, even if it hurts. Just remember that the therapy is moving you toward recovery, not causing further damage. Patience will keep you from over doing it in the early stages and possibly doing more damage than good. I had different surgery 5 weeks ago, and recovery is slow and I try not to be impatient. Also understand that the older you are the longer the recovery. But a year from now you will be very glad you had this corrective surgery.

 

[diablos30]

If you can get your script the day before, do it. It sucks waiting after surgery.

Put a sheet on your recliner where you will sleep for the next couple weeks. It made it feel more like a bed for me.

Things you will use/need daily, put within reach.

Take some old t shirts and cut off sleaves to prevent rubbing on shoulders.

Ginger ale and crackers for after surgery and a low dose aspirin to help prevent blood clot.

i had to come off my coumadin and do a lovenox bridge for the surgery, i looked like a junky from all the shots. they also hooked up the compression boots during surgery for me as i was high risk for clots.

also that stuff they used to wipe me down for surgery broke me out something bad, felt like i fell into a fire ant hill. coconut oil helped a bunch with that.

 

[Mike Armstrong]

I had a complete shoulder rebuild two years ago this coming July; rotator cuff, re-attachment of 2 ligaments and one muscle, removal of bone spurs in/near the joint--5 hours under. I went from being unable to raise my right hand above my chest and having almost no strength in my right arm, plus having to take over-the-counter pain medication at night in order to get even broken sleep, to about 90% of full use now. I can take the recoil of a 12 guage or '06 easily and shoot a .44 one-handed, NONE of which I could do before the surgery. So I'm a believer (I was 70 when the surgery was done).

Make PT your new religion (and find a "preacher" you actually like and respect!)! I used the Kineseology/Sports Medicine Department training facility at my local university and very much enjoyed the company of the students and faculty who worked with me. The "work" not so much.... But it was all worth it. I'm a shooter again.

Now I just have to keep reminding my brain that I am RIGHT handed! Over the years of this injury, I started to do everything left handed and even more so when the surgery was healing up!

 

[WendyZXZ]

Good luck!

 

[eveled]

I had both shoulders done, the right side was a fresh tear, and I was out of work for 6 months and at 12 months I was back to normal.

The left side was old damage, the surgeon was not hopeful that it could be fixed. The surgery went well, 6months out of work, 12 months till I felt comfortable using it, and over 2 years to be back to normal.

The only way I could get comfortable was in a recliner, or standing leaning on the kitchen counter with my head rested on my good arm with the bad arm hanging off the end of the counter. It felt sooo good to get my arm off my body. It also gave my wife a chance to bath my arm and side.

Good luck! Be careful with the pain meds. Ed

 

[Nimrod308]

Had my right done in May 1998, I'm right handed. Was shooting my bow by mid September and killed a deer the end of that month. As the others have said do the PT and get back to your life.

 

[Pistolero]

Ladies & Gents,
I am over 72 hours post-op and on the mend. I am typing with one hand and doing ok. It is good to get back on the forum again. Thank you all for your words of encouragement and good ideas. I will working hard in a physical therapy program.

Best regards,

 

[Poco Oso]

Here's wishing you a speedy recovery, my friend. Just don't get discouraged, it's gonna take some time. :wink:

 

[HAWKEYE#28]

Ladies & Gents,
I am over 72 hours post-op and on the mend. I am typing with one hand and doing ok. It is good to get back on the forum again. Thank you all for your words of encouragement and good ideas. I will working hard in a physical therapy program.

Best regards,

WONDERFUL!! 8)

 

[coach]

Good to hear that you are doing well.