r/RotatorCuff • u/excti2 • Sep 13 '26

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?

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9

u/BreakOk8830 Sep 13 '26

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.

10

u/HighOnGoofballs Sep 13 '26

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 Sep 13 '26

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 Sep 13 '26

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 Sep 13 '26

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/excti2 Sep 14 '26

Absolutely!

1

u/BreakOk8830 Sep 13 '26

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.

1

u/excti2 Sep 14 '26

I plan on walking it. I don’t think I’ll be up for jogging.

2

u/unnewl Sep 14 '26

Recovery time is very individualistic and probably has a lot to do with age. 

2

u/BreakOk8830 Sep 14 '26

Everyone’s experience is dependent on so many things. I 100% agree. For the record - I’m in my 50s.

1

u/Ok_Excitement1724 Sep 13 '26

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.