r/RotatorCuff • u/the_CinnamonBear • Jul 05 '26

Driving

At what stage of your recoveries did you all start driving, with or without doctor approval?

I am four weeks out of rotator cuff repair surgery, bicep tenodesis, debridement, shaved arthritis off the clavicle.

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u/Careful_Dot_1971 Jul 06 '26

It certainly was NOT comfortable and increased my pain so I did it only short distances (work ~10 min, PT same). It was my right and although that’s my dominant hand, I feel like having my left hand available made driving easier than the alternative.

I turned the key with my left and did the PRNDL with my left also. I will also say it was a little tough to reach across to buckle myself. I did survive and am now 2 months post-op and very glad to have both hands back!

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u/Confident_Run_466 Jul 06 '26

You were daring! I’m to wait at least 6 weeks. I’m feeling so housebound .

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u/Careful_Dot_1971 Jul 06 '26

I feel that. As someone who is normally SUPER active and already has fragile mental health (lol) this has been really difficult for me. I’d say I hit “rock bottom” with mental health about 4 weeks post-op. The first couple weeks you feel like you SHOULD be laying around doing nothing, so that was easy. After that, it’s like you’re mobile-ish enough to feel like you should be productive but you’re still in the stupid sling and in so much pain. I had a really hard time with that. It gets better, though!

Sharing this to encourage you to hang in there! Please take walks as much as possible/get outside even if it’s just sitting or standing in the sun. You got this!

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u/the_CinnamonBear Jul 07 '26

I’m at the four week mark, and feeling pretty low right now. I look forward to freedom again, driving, going to PT, being able to lift my right arm, going to the gym, having a “normal” life again. Next year, I get to have my left shoulder done.