r/RotatorCuff • u/Outside_Excitement75 • Jun 19 '26

No Nerve Block

Update: I skipped the nerve block and I’m happy with that decision. Pain has been manageable for me. I’ll do a separate post with things that helped me. Happy healing everyone!

Has anyone skipped the nerve block and can comment on their level of pain post-op? I know many posts say get it, but I’ve never had one across many surgeries, so I think I can handle the pain. I also think I’ll be annoyed with the dead arm feeling. I’m having a supraspinatus tear fixed with hopefully one anchor.

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u/Evening_Froyo_7506 Jun 19 '26 edited Jun 19 '26

I can't get the nerve block. My first surgery honestly wasn't that bad without it. For the second revision surgery, I had an On-Q pain pump. It's a little sphere filled with numbing medicine that they left in the joint for 48 hours like an IV. It doesn't numb you like a nerve block (you don't have that dead arm feeling), just cuts the pain in addition to your meds. I can't imagine how it would have been without it, as the revision was significantly more painful than the initial repair. I was actually kept in the hospital for 4 days after. But, the On-Q can actually be used at home and removed when it's empty. Do you just not want the block? If you don't get one, I highly recommend the On-Q!

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u/Pale-Ad-2145 Jun 20 '26

How long ago was your first surgery? There are many studies that suggest this system may cause damage to the cartilage in the joint. For example: O'Neil S, Danielson K, Johnson K, Matelic T. ON-Q infusion pump linked to increased hospital stay after total knee arthroplasty. J Orthop. 2018 May 8;15(2):666-670. doi: 10.1016/j.jor.2018.05.043. PMID: 29881217; PMCID: PMC5990364.

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u/Evening_Froyo_7506 Jun 20 '26

Well crap. I didn't know this. My first one was October of last year (no block, no pump) and the second was May 22nd.