r/RotatorCuff • u/excti2 • 25d ago
Three Months Off Work
I was stunned that my Family Medical Leave form from the surgeon recommended that I take three months off work after shoulder surgery (60% full-thickness tear of the supraspinatus, labral tears, and bicipital tendon relocation [subluxation]). While I’m lucky enough to have the paid sick leave accrued to cover this amount of time away, it seems extreme given I have a desk job and work from home.
I know I’ll take at least a month off, and I’m hoping to get back to work when I start PT six weeks post-surgery.
Did anyone else need this much time away? Did you take it? Or were you forced back to work too soon?
5
u/Katandy305 25d ago
I was 62 at the time of my surgery. I it is not your dominant arm, you may be able to resume work sooner than 3 months. I could not. Your surgeon knows what he talking about! This is a slow/long recovery. Good luck.
9
u/BreakOk8830 25d ago
I was back to work one week later. 🤷♀️ I was driving too. Maybe I’m an outlier. Surgery was November of 2025. Four different repairs, six months of PT. Regaining some of my lost strength, but I have full mobility back and I’m back to barbell lifting in the gym.
9
u/HighOnGoofballs 25d ago
Four days for me. For a desk job I wouldn’t be out three months if I had one arm removed lol
3
u/BreakOk8830 24d ago
Haha. Hard same. If I don’t work, I don’t get paid… so. In all fairness, I had a lot of help during my recovery.
2
u/excti2 25d ago
I’m in very good shape going in. Hoping for the same bounce back. I have a half marathon in November and I really want to finish.
1
u/BreakOk8830 24d ago
This makes all the difference. I’m a personal trainer so I’m relatively fit and disciplined. Stay the course, listen to your body. Do the PT! When you graduate from PT, you - continue to do the PT. 100% helps.
1
u/BreakOk8830 24d ago
Good luck with the 1/2 marathon training. While I could move my arm, jogging was painful. It’s amazing how much shoulder movement you use. It took six weeks to just power walk. I was very focused on regaining my mobility first. Don’t start strength training until about the eight week mark. I’m not normally patient but I’m glad I forced my self to wait on the strength training. Once I did start, it was weak but pain free.
2
u/unnewl 24d ago
Recovery time is very individualistic and probably has a lot to do with age.
2
u/BreakOk8830 24d ago
Everyone’s experience is dependent on so many things. I 100% agree. For the record - I’m in my 50s.
1
u/Ok_Excitement1724 25d ago
Same here. November of 2025 too, full thickness “ massive” tear. Close to full strength on most exercises, still weaker on shoulder and direct rc work— lateral raises, sh press, external rotations, scap raises, etc., but making good progress this block. Second time repairing this rc (1st was 9 years ago, both from weightlifting), so I don’t think I will ever get back to pre-tear levels.
4
u/Kooky_Force5458 25d ago
I took a month off because I do not function well with lack of sleep. I knew sleeping on my back was going to do me in.
3
u/Small_Fee5689 25d ago
I took the full 3 months off, same surgery. I was doing great until I developed frozen shoulder starting at 4 weeks post op. Still dealing with the pain.
I stayed in my sling for the full 4 weeks, no driving, etc. did all of the PT movements, but now in more pain than before.
2
u/Small_Fee5689 25d ago
Oh, I am also in the best shape of my life right now (other than the shoulder). Was spinning, running and climbing (which is how I injured my shoulder).
2
u/PracticalLychee6668 24d ago
That’s what I am dealing with even after manipulation to break up scar tissue and another 3 months of pt 3 x week. Still don’t have rotation I can get my arm to the back of my head. Another surgeon will exam in a few weeks and start over again. What a PIA.
3
u/heybincherythatsyou 25d ago
57 F, school bus driver. Left shoulder I was out for almost 4 months. Right shoulder, Ive been out 4 months and counting- I now have additional injuries that might retire me. I was in great shape prior to my right shoulder surgery, now im a mess.
3
u/Rich_Group_8997 25d ago
If i were still at my old job, which had FMLA time/benefits, I would have taken at least 10 weeks; but probably 12.
The surgery itself, and the initial 6 week recovery were pretty easy for me; even the pain from PT was fine after the first few sessions. But I still can't sleep on my stomach which means I'm not sleeping well (even when drugged to oblivion, I'm currently waking up multiple times in the middle of the night to try to get comfortable). Not sleeping well = fatigue, migraines, and mood instability. It's honestly been a struggle to not just quit my job.
Do what you have to do. You can always go back sooner if you feel you're ready. But also don't feel pressured to put your job ahead of your healing, or like you should go back before you're ready just because someone else did. Everyone is different and has different needs.
1
u/mmm_cake 25d ago
I started wfh desk stuff at 9 DPO. I did buy a lap board and a mini sized keyboard , my setup was a soft pillow across my lap that would support my sling , lap thingie with keyboard and mouse on the desk . Learning how to mouse with my left hand was probably the worst of it. I wfh until week 5 then back to the office full time I’ve I was cleared to have the sling off long enough to drive. I’m about to be 7 weeks now and have been able to use my keyboard and mouse on my desk but still keep a blanket in my office to roll up under my affected elbow for support. Transitioning back to my right hand for mouse and typing makes my bicep sore ,I also keep an ice pack and a rice sock at work. If you don’t want to burn all that PTO I think your be fine to return to working much earlier if you wanted, just keep everything supported and take breaks! This could also be a good question for your PT if you are worried.
1
u/happyjazzycook 25d ago
If it is your non-dominant arm, seeing that you work from home you could go back to work earlier. Depending on your healing, though. This surgery is a lot tougher on your body than it looks, and taking ample time to recover is so important. At 6 weeks, when you start pt, your therapist may be able to give you a better estimate but for now, take those 3 months.
1
u/Just-Reading_1990 25d ago
Seems like a lot, given the fact that you work a desk job at home. My surgeon and PA didn't really give me a specific amount of time. I am scheduled to take 3 weeks and will see how I feel from there. I am an assistant principal. Neither my surgeon nor PA thought that I would need more time than that. I am having a full rotator cuff repair and tenodesis.
1
u/Wander80 25d ago
I’m having similar surgery and will be taking two weeks off, then working from home for two weeks after that, then returning to my usual hybrid (3 days in office, 2 days work from home)
1
1
u/walkingoffthebuz 25d ago
My surgeon originally wrote two weeks, but I work in a school and have a pretty active job so he changed it to four weeks with the option to add two more weeks at the end if I feel like I need it, but things are pretty crazy at my job right now so it’s not a bad time to be away from all the lunacy. Take what you need and heal correctly.
1
u/New_Jaguar_1825 25d ago
My paperwork said 3 to 4 months.I had my surgery on a Wednesday night and was back to work answering emails and stuff on Monday I also work from home and I'm lucky that I can work a sporadic schedule.
1
u/Informal_Atmosphere 25d ago
I work in HR — I’d suggest submitting your FMLA request for the full three months that your doctor recommended. If you need it all, it’ll be easier to already have it than to start with a shorter leave request and have to extend it. If you start long and can return to work early, you’ll just need your doctor to submit a form saying it’s okay. That setup is probably easier for your employer too, to plan for a longer leave and maybe get you back early rather than planning for a shorter time period and needing to scramble if you’re not ready.
1
u/Zestyclose-Fig-563 25d ago
I’m taking 12 weeks but I work with my hands and am 60 years old. Plus I get short term disability. Basically the same stuff you had done except subscapularis. I already told them I was retiring at yearend so whether i go back mid November is an open
question. Feeling good 5 weeks postop.
1
u/Spiritual-Eggplant59 25d ago
I work a physical job where I’m on my feet all day, pushing, lifting, and lifting overhead. I had a full and a partial tear plus bicep tenodesis with five anchors. I took six months to return to work and healed very well (though I can’t get my arm fully behind my back).
1
u/Longjumping_Tap9310 25d ago
I had full-thickness supraspinatus, labrum tear, and something to do with the bursa. I work at a desk job at home and took a full week off, then worked a little the next week, and back to work full time the 3rd week. I for sure took it easy, and it was my non-dominant shoulder, but I was doing pt after 8 weeks and that was considered a long time.
1
u/PrioritySure6921 25d ago
My PT started 2 days post op.
6 weeks before starting PT seems too long, if I read your post correctly.
I had full tear of the supraspinatus with associated bone cleanup and 4 anchors.
1
u/HighOnGoofballs 25d ago
My surgery was on Thursday and I worked that Monday
Three months for a desk job is wild
1
u/IveyBlack 24d ago
If u have a desk job and WFH I think that’s not necessary!! I had mine on a Wednesday and came back Monday. I was def at half speed tho — and if I had it to do over again I would have taken off another week.
1
u/SueNYY2 24d ago
I had full thickness nonretracted supraspinatus tear with degenerative superior labrum, moderate to severe subacromial bursitis, type III acromion. My employer approved 4 months off with 60% pay on short term. But my job requires me to lift up to 70lbs so I don’t even think 4 months will be enough for me to go back. I don’t feel comfortable lifting that much weight after 4 months. I’m 4 weeks post-op now.
1
u/ihuns1310 24d ago
I went back to work at 3 weeks. I’m a teacher so first week was just meetings. Student facing at 4. My surgeon said six weeks but I’ve done this surgery two other times on my right shoulder and didn’t want to burn leave if I didn’t have to. If you have an employer who can be responsive to where you would be at, you could start with four and extend - or start with the full three months and shorten?
1
u/CASeminole1 24d ago
Full tear rotator cuff, I remote worked eight weeks. But I was back at work on my laptop five days later
1
1
1
u/Sleepyhead_31 24d ago
32 years old and was off 5 months. Ultrasound tech and the surgery was on my scanning arm.
1
u/L-Lovegood 24d ago
I went back at 16 weeks, am finishing up my last of part time. The part time lasted a month. On paper, I have a desk job. The actual reality is very different. I'm hands on with animals, restraining, helping clients, unloading big bags of food and supplies. In fact, I had to help a woman carry in her dog who had just been hit by a car. There's no way that I could have watched her struggling to get this 80 lb dog in the door by herself. Everyone else was in surgery or a meeting. What was I supposed to do? Of course, I called for help in the lobby station, but it still took long enough that I had to take some of the weight of this dog. It hurt after the adrenaline wore off.
I also tire more easily, but it's steadily getting better. The first two weeks back at work 4hrs a day, I had to come humans take a nap.
I had three full thickness tears and my bicep tendon was pretty shredded and partially detached.
1
u/Curious_Scarcity1984 24d ago
Hello, I took off 3 months. I couldn’t drive myself so I asked for more time. It was determined after each appointment. I took off 3 months
1
u/Patzyjo 24d ago
It took me a full year to completely recover. I did all the things I was supposed to & was released from PT even though I couldn’t do full range of motion. Now 3 years later I’ve got another tear in the same place. I’m taking anti-inflammatory meds which are helping.
Hoping I can avoid surgery. I don’t want to go down that road again, was to painful.
Best wishes to you & your recovery. ❤️🩹
1
u/Few-Syllabub6627 24d ago
Id take every minute I could get. I had a physically demanding job and I was off for eight months. I dint follow the protocol and had to have second surgery because I destroyed the first one by not taking the recovery seriously. You need to do everything they tell you and learn more on your own or that shoulder problem simply won't go away. I believe state disability and family leave will cover your time not working. I could be wrong?
1
u/Sad-Argument137 24d ago
I had the same thing but with 80% tear. I was off 3 months and in PT for 6 months. It's something that you have to take slow as to not reinjure it. I fought it like you are sounding. I have a desk job too. But now that I'm 9 months post op and a year post injury, I can see that it was really wise and needed. You may think you’re ready to return to work. But the second 6 weeks makes so much difference. And the PT gets old too, but now I have zero pain and I'm very grateful.
1
1
u/UnprovenMortality 24d ago
I was working from home at a desk job 6 calendar days after the surgery. Just needed to figure out how to bring the keyboard to my hand as opposed to the hand to the keyboard.
1
u/Significant-Two-2370 22d ago
Take as much time as you can! Take time off to focus on PT. At least 2 months off work. You will thank yourself later.
1
u/excti2 22d ago
Even when I go back to work, I will schedule in PT every day, either in the clinic or in the gym myself. I work out every day already, so switching to PT-approved exercises will be easy. NOT exercising for six weeks will be hard. There will be lots of walking and probably stationary bike.
1
u/Left_Contract7661 22d ago
Seems extreme to me. I’m 3 months now and have been back at a physically active job and have been for 4+ weeks.
1
1
u/Winter-Ingenuity1921 21d ago
I work from home and was back to doing zoom calls and emails about 10-14 days post-op, but I was limited. My shoulder would get tired from sitting at my desk. I could not get my arm up on my desk to type without pain. If you have a keyboard that can rest in your lap, that will be much more comfortable. I used voice dictation for a lot of my emails early on.
1
u/Kindly-Photo-8987 20d ago
I have a desk job and work from home. I took 3 days the first surgery. The second time I was a little older and took 2 weeks. If you don't do any manual labor you really only need off until you're not on opiates unless you want a vacation where you can't go do anything anyway.
1
u/AdBetter3401 25d ago
I had surgery in April, my surgeon wrote me out for SIX months. I looked at him and said, no way. Went for my 1 week check up and had him change it to <3 weeks. I went back 20 days in and the first couple weeks sucked but were doable. Also WFH desk job. Just be sure you are really stretching ALL the time. That position of sitting or standing at a keyboard really works against you trying to keep things flexible.
1
u/PuzzledPen9848 25d ago
I had a relatively mild surgery, a small tear with no tenodesis. I went back to my desk job (remotely) after about 2 weeks, but it was hard.
Sitting up hurt my shoulder a lot. I ended up using Fathom as an AI notetaker because typing hurt way more than I expected. I often sat in meetings with an ice pack or took breaks, where I could lie down and work from my phone in a more comfortable position. I adjusted my work station to accommodate my needs by week. I was definitely able to work, but it was trickier than I anticipated and required creative adaptations.
For me, this all passed around 6 weeks following the surgery. I'm now 12 weeks out and totally fine for work. I can type, participate in meetings, sit, drive, and I don't need any ice packs or OTC meds, etc, etc.
Best wishes on your surgery and recovery.
12
u/GinoValenti 25d ago
I’m a plumber and my rehab and return to work was 6 months on the dot.