Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire ROTATOR CUFF SURGERY??

Who has had it done, and what should I expect?

I had a ladder fail under me yesterday while on a roof damage claim and am typing with my one good finger.

Also, anyone have any base jumping tips???

Ouch!!! Not there, though was just diagnosed with minor rotator cuff damage myself a couple weeks ago. Even the small stuff hurts like heck.

I hear the surgery much better than it used to be, smaller incisions and much faster healing time. My brother is a golf pro - he sees guys with it constantly. It'll keep you down for a while tho.

Good luck!

6 Weeks in a sling doing absolutely nothing with the arm and six months for full recovery is the standard.

I have had it done on both shoulders. A couple of things to be aware of. It is very painful and the care you put into your therapy will determine how well you recover your strength and mobility.

I would opt for the surgery to be somewhere around the Christmas holiday to have the best time for recovery before spring and early summer when you will want to engage in outdoor activities. Plan on 6 months to a year to get back to 95% of your pre-operative physical condition and up to 2 years to be totally pain free in the shoulder.

If you ever consider not to do it for the negative aspects of the surgery, reconsider, I had it done twice and would do it again before I would want to put up with the discomfort of the torn rotator cuff...

Don't do it. I have 50%+ tears in both shoulder and simply use cortisone shots to control the pain.

I had mine done a couple of years ago. It was a partial tear but I felt it was time to get it fixed. I'm real glad I did.

Mine was Arthroscopic Surgery and was pretty clean and easy. Be sure and do all the physical therapy you are asked to do. You'll gain more range of motion if you will complete it.

I had rotator cuff surgery ,march 2007. You will not heal withou the surgery. Shrapnel is spot on IMHO.

About right, I was back at work after four months because I wanted to be but it was really too soon.
Took about a year to get back to 90%, had some pain for years afterward.
I think it was worse because I waited 5 months to have the surgery.

When it gets to the point that your dog brushing against your fingers puts you on your knees, you will be more than ready for the cutting

Thanks for the first hand advice. This will no doubt be the year I draw sheep tags.

It always works that way it seems.

I had better get cracking.

Talk to Taos Orthopedic Institute in Taos NM - they re-attached my bicep last Aug, the day after Quemado.
They are the ortho specialists for the Olympic ski team, and are VERY good. NO BS - just the facts. I shot my 243 and 30-30 the 15th of Sept - surgery was done the 12th of Aug last year - I also shot my 375 H&H in March, although I could have in Dec (no time available)
Saddled my own horse Oct 10th (and I ride a HEAVY saddle!)
I was told about a year for 100% recovery - I've been basically there for several months.
Physical therapy is CRUCIAL!

Mark

Thanks.

It's a good suggestion regarding ski team medicine. We have some of the best docs in this area for that, and I didn't consider this direction. Lake Tahoe has some of the best and is real close.

2x same shoulder and dam if I didn't screw it up again. Have a "massive, retracted tear" which means the tendon is pulling back into the muscle. 3rd time to happen soon.

Previous 2 ops went well and can't blame the Drs. Best advice I can give is #1 demand a nerve block, #2 get an iceman prior to surgery and use it religiously following starting that day. It will make a huge difference in recovery and one load of ice will last close to 8 hours! #3 find a good physical therapist.

You can find an iceman on ebay cheap

Best of luck, hurts like heII but better than the continuous pain with a blown out cuff.

My pop had both shoulders done.

His advice would mirror Shraps. He put it off and wishes he did it sooner. He wasn't young when either shoulder was done and it made rehab more of a challenge.

Rehab can be a SOB. Apparently shoulders are a pretty involved joint. Ive heard hips are easy in comparison. As mentioned, the more ya put in, the better off you'll be.

Good luck,Bud. I'd bet you'll be GTG right quick.

luv2safari, a good friend had his done in costa rica. the cost including air from Idaho was around 7k. world class orthos, and for 6 weeks after you stay in a casita/bungalow with a full time nurse/therapist. only down side he reported was he had to come back home.

I didn't mention that I turned 61 last Oct. The rehab is KEY!

Mark

I had one done 20 years ago so my info is probably out of date but I will just second the ideas here about

1) ICEMAN machine = MUST have!

2) Rehab + MUST do

3) Sooner is lots better than later. It ain't gonna ever get better without some surgical help.

Best wishes to you, keep us updated as you go along, please.

Thanks for the link. Ice is heaven right now. I'm ordering one of these.

I do not own an iceman (yet) but I have several ice packs that I rotate from the freezer to my back near my kidneys all through the day. Works wonders for pain and swelling.

This is weird...
I had an MRI done today on my shoulder. I won't know the results for a day or two, but I'm definitely listening here!