Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Rotator cuff surgery - how painful is it?

" And there was most definitely some pain with re-hab, to restore range of motion you have to break down some scar tissue."

That wasn't my experience. The scar tissue was removed and tendons were reattached during the surgery. I had almost no pain during rehab because my really hot therapist told me to let her know if I felt any pain. She said if you feel pain the tendons are being damaged. The physical therapy was just to restore range of motion and regain strength by gentle stretching/lifting light weights. If you don't use your arm like you normally would after therapy you will lose some range of motion.

He did my last one. Dr Suri did my replacement. Things never got better. He then did a capsule release. Things never got better. I worked PT very hard. In fact, there were a few times I wore my therapists out. I saw Suri a dozen or so times following the replacement. He probably did xrays 6 times. He wanted to do yet another surgery. I finally decided to get a second opinion. I went to see Savoie. Within 5 minutes of being in his office, he identified the problem. Suri installed the wrong parts in the wrong place. Dr. Savoie didn't hesitate to say that. I need to do a malpractice suit, but it kinda goes against my character. Dr. Savoie did a clean up. Because of the misalignment, my glenoid component was slaughtered. He tore it out and reshaped the bone. It's still bad. The only other option is a revision.

Shoulder surgeries are tough. Much tougher than knees in my opinion. So is the PT. Following shoulder surgery, a recliner is a man's best friend. The most intense long duration pain I have ever experienced was following the replacement when the block wore off. Oh my hell it hurt.

I have physical therapy on order but they haven't called yet..I told the doctor based on my wifes therapy I would not push it beyond whatever..Once that shoulder is pushed and irritated, It hurts the rest of the day and night making everything miserable..I don't really care what the therapist says,I will not make my life more miserable than it already is..LOL..I understand pushing some for range of motion but as it stands now,I have no problem with the way it is..NOT HURTING...The Cortisone shot did wonders so far...Just finished bringing in a Rhino load of wood and I feel just fine...

I really do not understand as most here have said,how and why the Therapist causes so much pain making life miserable when the shoulder hurts like it can..Once irritated,it hurts to chit/shower and shave...Yes I have an attitude towards any person that sets that puppy off,including the therapist..The wife used to come home from shoulder therapy in tears...

A good the tharapist works you "as tolerated".However with shoulder surgery one has to tolerate a little bit more than usual.

If your surgeon has a good relationship with PT and allows early PT post op, you don’t see adhesive capsulitis, or “frozen shoulder”. Those that wait too long before starting PT have a percentage of cases that need anesthesia to break up adhesions. It’s a trust issue. Done right, you have no post op injuries from PT and no unnecessary adhesions.

Start with the right team. It’s that first shot that’s so important, as with hunting.

DF

And to hit it off with your PT, tell them you heard a nasty rumor. It was so bad you almost didn’t show up for the appointment. Tell them you heard PT stood for Physical Terrorist.

You may want to wait until after the session.

DF

Absolutely brutal. No getting around it. I had complete cuff reattachment. In a recliner for 12 days/ nights. Very humbling when you are that helpless. Lived on pain meds for 5 days and then very seldom took them. Had the circulating ice pack on most of the time in the recliner. I really think that is what got me through it. Stay ahead of the pain for the first few days with the good stuff the doc gives .

Good luck!!!

Razorhog

Well, it sounds like I need to plan on renting a recliner and one of those ice machines and have both of them waiting for me at home before I ever head in for surgery. Damn, I dread this.

With a right RC, get a recliner with electric control. Most recliners have a right sided control lever. You’ll appreciate the ice machine. I borrowed one from a PT buddy. Bought the recliner.

Cat is the only creature sleeping in it currently. Not me! Renting may not be a bad option.

DF

I already have you in prayer, bro! are you scheduled yet?

I preferred to call mine ...........................


Professional Torturer.

Licensed and fully accredited by the state to inflict pain. Had the paperwork right there on the wall for all to see!

Geno

Thanks for the prayers. Not scheduled yet - I meet with the surgeon on Monday.

With a good anesthesiologist you should be fine.

Don’t forget to request a brachial plexus block.

DF

This is correct! if your PT is causing real pain (not slight discomfort), go to someone else.

Sorry, not buying that as a general comment; the need today is very rare.

MM

Saddlesore, there is no invasive procedure that doesn’t carry some risks or side effects. But, very generally, here’s what likely what happened to you.

The nerves come out of the Cervical spinal column in various bundles break down from larger to smaller as they get peripheral (closer to the shoulder). They are enclosed in sheaths or fascia.

During the block after the needle punctures the sheath (following finding it in the first place) some of the local anesthetic invariably flows medially (toward the spinal column) as well as peripherally. This is where you need a skilled practitioner and why this block should be place while the patient is awake — to observe minute-by-minute effects.

As it flows medially it often knocks out the phrenic nerve on that side which causes a hemi paralysis of the diaghram. This is not totally uncommon and normally not a problem in a relatively healthy, young, non-smoking patient. The resp rate may be noted to increase a bit to compensate. This scenario is also one reason to do this while the patient is awake so this effect of the block if it occurs can be monitored, correlating it with the dose given. Obviously too great a dose given moving medially and affecting the nerves as they exit the spinal cord can even cause a “total spinal” in which case a patient needs to be resuscitated, perhaps even intubated, and place on a ventilator until the drug wears off. If done asleep under controlled ventilation, this scenario goes unnoticed until the patient comes out of the general anesthetic at which time you have serious problems.

Which brings up the issue of doing this block on the elderly, the obese, or any patient with respiratory compromise regardless of cause. I wouldn’t. I don’t know if any of these fit you but for example I generally wouldn’t perform this block on an over-sixty patient with a history of heavy smoking and at least some degree of COPD.

Nevertheless, on appropriate patients, and done with precision, it is a great pain-saver.

George, how does this look to you?

The surgery is absolutely painless! You will not remember a single thing.

The PT after is hell. Specially if you truly care and put forth 100% effort. But recovery goes fairly fast and you can and will make it through it.

I’m sorry Paul B. Not a radiologist or an orthopedist. So a “placement doesn’t look right” is as specific as I can be especially without the context of wider and more views.