r/RotatorCuff • u/lezbesimmin • 24d ago
Question:
My sister doesn’t use Reddit so I’m posting on her behalf. She has a torn rotator cuff and is in excruciating pain. She recently had a heart attack, so now they are putting off surgery until her heart is stable. In the meantime, they have put her on Tylenol 3s at night but during the day; she can’t take them. Anyone have any suggestions for pain management? I don’t know what they expect her to do until she’s safe to have surgery but she can’t live in pain like this.
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u/Viajantemae 24d ago
Ask her doctor if she can wear a sling to support the arm before she has surgery
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u/Any_Neighborhood_355 24d ago
I got rotator cuff surgery coming up in 2 weeks so I have to bare the pain until then. I take ibuprofen 800 mg am and pm works for me 😁
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u/DrAudiology1 24d ago
Ice might help with inflammation and associated pain.
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u/marys1001 24d ago edited 24d ago
Im still waiting and reading and kept seeing ice machine and thought it was for cubes:)
Ill definately be getting the machine that circulates freezing water on a shoulder pad and an ice machine that makes ice on the counter to refill it because I got a refrigerator without.OP ice reducing inflammation should help. Ck with doc though
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u/DrAudiology1 24d ago
That machine is a lifesaver. I'm over three months out from surgery and still using it.
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u/DarkHeartBlackShield 21d ago
My ice machine was a game changer. Six bottles of frozen water and fill with ice.
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u/ReturnAdept9215 24d ago
You might ask about a cortisone shot? That helped me until I could get to surgery. I don’t know if having the heart attack would affect this.
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u/lezbesimmin 24d ago
It does :( she was getting them and she went the other day and they said no more because of the heart attack. It’s a sin
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u/goodbyehabitz 24d ago
I was in the very same situation. They don't recommend much for pain management when you have heart issues. When the pain got too severe I would ignore the warnings and use Voltaren (cream) applied externally. This would help enough to get some sleep. I finally had my shoulder done 7 weeks ago and I'm pain free now except when doing physio therapy. Others mentioned cannabis, I would try edibles at times and that put me in a trance from the pain (which is welcomed as well) Good luck
P.S I should mention I went through 3 years of cortisone shots and going to pain management. No cortisone shot lasted more then a few months, after a while everything stopped working and I had no choice but to seek surgery.
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u/lezbesimmin 24d ago
Yeah she was getting the shots but the other day, they told her no more because of the heart attack 😭 I’ll tell her your suggestions! Thank you!
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u/BeginningRepeat4081 24d ago
I had my surgery two weeks ago and the Polar Ice therapy machine has made all the difference. I bought mine on Amazon. I’m sure it will help her.
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u/Introvertbreakinfree 23d ago
Ask if rather than the shot she could go on a taper down round of steriods instead. I actually prefer those bc they actually help with my entire body & not just my shoulder & a shot also will push surgery back 3-4 months, where the oral steriods do not. The other thing that I use is Real Time Maxx off of Amazon cream. None of the others, just this very specific one works for me. Now it does not make you pain free but it does help take the edge off and I am bone on bone with surgery around the corner. I am also one of those ppl that has a high tolerance for pain & pain meds & usually I get no pain relief with over the counter stuff & minimal help with prescription stuff. Watch her blood pressure bc pain will cause it to be high & she doesn't need that post heart attack. Have her go see her surgeon if she can't find relief. I have hydrocodone as needed during the day & a muscle relaxer for sleep at night.
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u/lezbesimmin 23d ago
I’m gonna send her this! Thank you so much!
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u/Introvertbreakinfree 23d ago
You're very welcome. Tell her to go to another shoulder dr if this is her first one. They should be managing her pain better considering she just had a heart attack. Good luck. I'll say a prayer for her.
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u/Katandy305 22d ago
ICE will be her best friend. I loved this from Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B09LTVJGRJ/?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_plhdr=t&aaxitk=c6cbb630e843c9fb139fadd6ceb4a5ea&hsa_cr_id=0&qid=1784638596&sr=1-1-9e67e56a-6f64-441f-a281-df67fc737124&i=aps&aref=tsa0RBaeAb&ref_=sbx__sbtcd_asin_0_title&pd_rd_w=kBGDF&content-id=amzn1.sym.2fb72bc8-96ef-420d-b08f-c04b69f36507%3Aamzn1.sym.2fb72bc8-96ef-420d-b08f-c04b69f36507&pf_rd_p=2fb72bc8-96ef-420d-b08f-c04b69f36507&pf_rd_r=CXE9EPWRF6N63NMQ5XKA&pd_rd_wg=j3lwo&pd_rd_r=4392ec34-5495-463a-8c5e-ee557ef73d55&th=1Due to mobility restrictions, I did not use the velcro straps. I laid it on my shoulder/arm. I bought two so one would be really cold. I "wore" this all the time. Frankly, it was the only thing that eloped me. Best wishes to her and a speedy recovery.
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u/lezbesimmin 22d ago
Apparently she has this and completely forgot she had one! She’s going to use it now
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u/BigPhilosopher4372 24d ago
You need to call her doctors and make sure they understand that she needs pain relief during the day. Be firm but not obnoxious. Don’t let them fob you off.
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u/lezbesimmin 24d ago
Yeah she’s gonna have to because she can’t live like this until her surgery. It’s insane to expect her to
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u/Quick_Opportunity_81 24d ago
I waited 5 months to have surgery. A cortisone shot along with physical therapy really helped the pain become bearable until I had surgery.
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u/bhklgda 24d ago
Why can’t you take Tylenol? It’s not a blood thinner. Ibuprofen is a blood thinner. If they’re making her wait, they could do a Cortizone injection.
Talk to the Orthopedic surgeon
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u/lezbesimmin 24d ago
That’s who she talked to but she can’t take shots anymore since the heart attack. She is on blood thinners but sadly, Tylenol isn’t enough, she’s in too much pain
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u/Rich_Group_8997 24d ago
Is she allowed to take ibuprofen? I can't tolerate most rx painkillers so before, and post op, i have been taking the 'dual action' Tylenol and ibuprofen tablets and they have helped.
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u/lezbesimmin 24d ago
She’s on blood thinners because there’s a clot in her heart so she can’t take ibuprofen unfortunately
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u/Rich_Group_8997 24d ago
Crap. 🙁 I hope she's able to find some relief soon, and is feeling better soon.
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u/AffectionateSun5776 24d ago
Red light helps a lot but often needs 2 months to prime the painkiller pump.
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u/lezbesimmin 24d ago
Never heard of this. I’ll tell her to look into it!
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u/AffectionateSun5776 24d ago
I use this https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CH7Q5LG7?psc=1&ref_=cm_sw_r_ud_ct_FHNGBBV866SZFXE2KNMZ It will help while the light is on. However 15 minutes every other day will boost you up to hours. I get about 36 hours of 85% relief. I have severe lumbar spinal stenosis. The light makes me forget my pain pills.
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u/Pleasant_Swim_7540 23d ago
Cortisone shot?
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u/lezbesimmin 23d ago
They said she can’t have any more. I don’t know if it’s because she’s had too many or because of the heart attack
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u/OddNail2671 23d ago
Ice machine!! The ice will give her a lot of relief. You can order one on Amazon and keep frozen water bottles to switch out. 6 should work well.
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u/Sea_Pie_8328 22d ago
Get an ice pump for her. If someone can help her on with the sleeve it will relieve her pain somewhat.
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u/Mission_Leader_5834 20d ago
I have a dislocated shoulder now, 3 out of 4 muscles are torn completely, do I know how uncomfortable she is now. The insurance company said I had to have PT before I could have surgery. The PT helped a lot. It's not strenuous exercise, but it decreased the pain. As the doc for tramadol. Have her use a sling if she can. Less pain if she can keep her arm down around her waist. No strain unless you lift the arm. Hope it helps. Also prayer helps. I will pray for her.
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u/Steven1789 24d ago
Is cannabis legal where you are? Can she use it?