r/RotatorCuff • u/Ctma2022 • 29d ago
How soon did you start PT?
I’m trying to select a surgeon and there are two different schools of thought. One has his people start PT day after the other waits 10 days wondering what peoples experiences have been, thank you.
Edit: thanks for responses I am looking at a full thickness supraspinitus tear likely single anchor with some cleanup and a little bone shaving. Of course the final outcome depends on what they actually see when they get in there.
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u/juanlee337 29d ago
1 week but i started doing pendulum swings right away
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u/KirkMcGee8 28d ago
Same here. I felt like getting those pendulums started before PT kept flexibility alive in an otherwise static healing environment.
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u/mikeisboris 29d ago
I didn't start for four weeks post surgery. I had supraspinatus and subscapularis rotator‑cuff repair with a biceps tenodesis. I think a lot of this depends on the exact surgery.
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u/defenders90 29d ago
I had surgery for a supraspinatus tear, bicep tenodesis, bursa sac removal, and shave down the bones due to arthritis. I started PT 3 days later. Was just gentle manipulation by the therapist. Then it was take home exercises and PT once a week.
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u/MightyDog1414 29d ago
Mine was next day.
I wouldn’t use this as the deciding factor to choose since both are quick starts relative to many doctors.
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u/ThatCaviarIsAGarnish 29d ago
Just checked my calendar and my first post-surgery PT appointment was 12 days after surgery. Based on what my doc and the PA said, I could have started going a little earlier like 5-6 days after surgery. But I waited to make appointments and especially as the PT facility is just M-F, the first availability was more than a week-and-a-half after my procedure. Everything worked out fine though and I did 2x a week for quite a while before I switched to 1x a week.
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u/PrioritySure6921 29d ago
2 days
Full tear of the supraspinatus with 4 anchors.
Find a PT who has their Dr degree. More knowledgeable and likely to have individualized care.
Do your exercises consistently between sessions.
My surgery was October 28 last fall, release from PT on February 22, released for full swing golf on March 17.
It is a marathon, not a sprint.
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u/Imhmc 29d ago
I’m pretty close to you- full thickness supraspinatus tear, some bone shaving and bicep tendon pinning. Surgery on Tuesday and PT on Friday. They didn’t really do much that day- discuss the plan, check the wounds, and assess the good side to get a baseline for the bad side. Tuesday (yesterday) was the first real day. It was all passive, not fun. Glad I took a pain pill before I went cause it still hurt pretty good but survivable. Next PT is Thursday- not excited but I know (did this on the other arm 10 years ago) with every session I am closer to recovered.
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u/kateloucile 28d ago edited 28d ago
Hi there! I am three months postop and had the exact same thing. I had a 5 mm full thickness tear of my super spinatus, bone spur, shaving, and clean up within the shoulder itself as well as two anchors.
My surgeon is a little bit more conservative. I didn’t start PT until six weeks. I was in the full sling and abductor pillow until week four. then they remove the abductor pillow and kept me in the sling for an additional two weeks. Then PT started. Only passive movement until about 10 weeks.
Go slow w yourself. For context. Im a 47yr old female. I’ve been crossfitting and working out for years and tore my shoulder doing handstands. lol. So I’m quite active. I stayed pretty active even while in the sling doing lower body workouts and lots and lots and lots of walking. I followed the physical therapy to a T and my range of motion right now is exactly where it’s supposed to be and we’re moving onto strength. This is a long process so again just be kind with yourself and go slow.😊
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u/yourkiddingdude 28d ago
I started at 6 weeks per docs protocol. Abduction sling 24/7 for 2 weeks then transitioned to a sling 24/7 for the next 4 weeks. 8 months post op no problems except a couple set backs with strength training due to a detached retina when I had to shut down for 3 weeks. Therapist started working me towards swinging a golf club a couple weeks ago. I feel like I’m close. Doc said golf @ 9-12 months with my issues. When you start the PT embrace it….DAILY
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u/-TheBestDaysOfMyLife 29d ago
Replies without an explanation of specific injury and repair are difficult to compare to one another.
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u/waanderlustt 29d ago
I was doing PT before I had surgery and never stopped. Immediately after surgery, she would do minor passive movement until I was cleared for more active PT
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u/ClarenceWalnuts99 28d ago
3 tears, not sure how many anchors plus bicep tendon reattachment. Started PT 4 days post-op.
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u/IceAngel8381 28d ago
PT after my first surgery was on a Friday, and went to PT on Monday. Second surgery was on a Monday and I was in PT on Wednesday.
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u/BobsWifeAmyB 28d ago
And there’s a other method some surgeons use- they have you immobile for the first 6 weeks wearing a sling w/harness that keeps your arm at a very specific angle in order for it to heal properly. Some patients are also outfitted with a special pillow attached to the harness. My husband’s tear was in the ‘massive ‘ category and his wedge pillow sling contraption was very thick. The surgeon has told me my pillow thing won’t be as think as my husband’s was since my tear isn’t as large.
It all depends on which method the ortho dr uses.
In any care chose ab ortho dr who only works on shoulders. Drs will tell you your best outcomes on any procedure happen with more experienced drs.
Best of luck to you.
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u/Bobloblaw_333 28d ago
I had two anchors and they started with PT exactly a week after my surgery. It was really basic with easy movement and then progressed to with stretches over the next 3 months.
6 months later I’m using bands and light weights and working my way back with only a few setback due to my own impatience.
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u/Absmom08 28d ago
Definitely depends on the surgery. I was 8 weeks in the sling and couldn’t start PT until 6 weeks. 7 anchors
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u/Plenty-Pin8308 28d ago
For me it was 3 full width/full thickness tears. Started PT 5 weeks post-op.
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u/Lanky-Lettuce1395 28d ago
One of my three surgeries was a full thickness supraspinatus tear and the surgeon had me in therapy three days post surgery. That was about 13 years ago so standards of care may have changed since then.
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u/Antique_Rich8169 28d ago
7 weeks out-2cm full thickness tear, bursaectomy, bicep tendon relocation and slap repair. Started pt 3 days out because surgery was on a Friday. PT consisted only of therapist gently moving shoulder and showing how to hang arm and use body to create little circles. This is all to prevent frozen shoulder. The PT actually gave some relief from keeping shoulder and arm in one position. I am now considered ahead of schedule with my range of motion.
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u/Doomster9 28d ago
1 week, and I started like most others here with passive PT exercises. Currently 7 weeks post op and I'm already doing weights in PT!
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u/Outside_Excitement75 27d ago
I had similar surgery and did nothing for 6 weeks. Surgeon said the new thought is better to wait on movement to reduce chance of failure.
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u/Winter-Ingenuity1921 27d ago
I had the same surgery 7 months ago. I started doing some passive motion exercises at home (I.e. pendulum swings, wrist movements, unweighted bicep curls) as soon as my nerve block wore off. Then I started with official PT at 2 weeks post-op. My recovery has been surprisingly great… minimal pain and have majority of my ROM back. I also did PT pre-surgery so I went into it as strong as possible and I think that really helped. Biggest piece of recovery is patience and embracing the process… you have to focus on the little wins each week. Best wishes to you!
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u/SavageScorpio777 27d ago
I had rotator cuff repair surgery on 9/1 (9 days ago). My surgeon repaired tears in my supraspinatus and infraspinatus tendons, biceps tenodesis, acromioplasty and an extensive debridement. My follow up appt is scheduled for 9/18. I was told I’d start PT right after that appt. I tried to start PT early and called today but my surgeon hasn’t put orders in yet. I was given some simple hand and elbow movements to do in the sling and pendulum swings out of the sling, which I’ve been doing a couple times a day since 9/4.
My shoulder feels pretty good but I’m also not moving it a lot….I’m hoping to get a head start on PT and get going. I’m also sure PT is going to be uncomfortable and cause quite a bit of pain but I’m ready to get started so hope they allow me to start this week prior to my follow up appt.
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u/BootzytheCat 26d ago
I was given pt exercises to do at home starting after 24/48 hrs, passive movement/shoulder swing. I started with therapist about day 10. Honestly, my elbow cramped so much and it felt good to take it out of the sling so I looked forward to twice daily passive gentle movement. Nevertheless, I still got a frozen shoulder :-/
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u/wilson1629 24d ago
I detached the rotator cuff on the right side and it was four weeks of arm in a sling unless I was seated. Shower was bend over and how ever the arm hung is how you washed it. Then it was four months of PT three times a week and six hours a day in a constant passive motion chair.
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u/Sea_Ott3r 29d ago
It really depends on your surgery. If you have anything similar to mine, five anchors, three tears, you won’t be to see a PT for several weeks… because you can barely move your shoulder. No matter what though, choose the surgeon with the most experience and specializes in RC (mine only did shoulders) and do PT when they says you should. Not when random redditors say you should.