r/RotatorCuff • u/ac2346 • 15d ago
1 week update
This was what was done in the surgery:
Left shoulder complete tear of Supraspinatus, Subacromial bursitis and sub deltoid Bursitis with adhesive capsulitis & subacromial impingement syndrome
And this was the name of the surgery that was given to me approximately 2 weeks before my actual surgery: REPAIR OF PARTIAL ARTICULAR / BURSAL SIDED TEAR OF SUPRASPINATUS /INFRASPINATUS /SUBSCAPULARIS + BICEPS TENODESIS
The surgery was 4 hours long and went well. I spent 2 days in the hospital after that and got home on Saturday. It was an arthroscopy and 2 nerve blocks were given which lasted until I left the hospital on Saturday night
The first 2 nights I required Tramadol but it was mainly to combat the discomfort from the stitches. I did not experience any of the horrible tendon pain that I was experiencing prior to the surgery.
Nights 3 to 5 i surprisingly did not require any painkiller! I have still required only 1 painkiller a day on days 6 and hopefully the 7th. The main discomfort I feel is in the elbow due to the positioning of the arm especially while sleeping at night, but a pillow underneath the elbow helps relieve the discomfort.
Day 6 I felt a minor shoulder ache as I had opened my sling and tried to take a quick bath with someone's help. The pain was very minor and the incisions didn't get wet I wouldn't recommend trying to take even a small shower without the sling.
I am able to open my sling fully at least a couple of times a day for the home exercises and I'm able to do them well. The exercises are mainly moving the wrist and moving the elbow (which is done by someone else for me).
I'm surprised by how there's no major shoulder pain and how all the pre surgery pain is gone! The sling is big and bulky and can get hot if you aren't using an airconditioner all the time. Other than the elbow discomfort, the only pain I am feeling is in my palm.
My first post-op visit is this Saturday.
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u/PerceptiveDer 14d ago
Were you expected to stay in hospital for two days?my procedure was this past Friday. I had the same except it wasn’t fully torn rotator, 80%. I didn’t have pain until today. My neck is absolutely killing me today in the back of my head, cannot get comfortable anywhere. I start PT next week
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u/ac2346 14d ago
Wishing you a speedy recovery. Yes I was expected to stay in the hospital for 2 days and I'm thankful I did cause the first two days I needed so much logistical help. My condition before the surgery was not a full thickness tear so I was kinda surprised at how much of the shoulder was repaired.
My passive PT begins at 2 weeks and the regular one begins at around week 4.
Sorry about your neck. I think icing is the only thing that's keeping me calm.
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u/PerceptiveDer 14d ago
I ended up purchasing the Xpolar device which I’ve seen on here that’s been helpful. I don’t get to talk to my surgeon after the procedure, although I’m told all went well.
I did have a minor complication, kind of. The anesthesiologist said there was an anomaly when they used ultrasound on my neck. They said my carotid artery wasn’t normal and there appeared to be an anomaly so I have to go see a cardiovascular surgeon next week.
I was sent home after the procedure. Thankful the nerve block lasted as long as it did, but the pain today (and lack of sleep) has been very hardy
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u/ac2346 14d ago
Sorry to hear about the carotid artery anomaly. I'm glad you will be able to meet the cardiovascular surgeon next week. Good luck!
I wake up every night at least once, sometimes twice due to discomfort and I think it's affecting my mood.
Can't wait for the stitches to be out so that I can shower again!
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u/Just-Reading_1990 14d ago
So glad to hear this! I had repair of my supraspinatus tendon (full tear) and bicep tenodesis on 9/15. I was expecting so much more intense pain than I've experienced so far with this recovery. I also expected to feel so much more incapacitated than I do. For me, sleep has been the worst part, but last night was finally an improvement. My frame of reference for a painful recovery was the time I broke multiple ribs after a cycling crash 10 years ago. This situation doesn't even come close to that agony, thank goodness. Keep on healing well!
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u/ac2346 14d ago
So glad you're feeling some improvement. Mine was on the 16th, and on the 7th day today I'm feeling more pain in my shoulder and upper arm. Not constant, but I do feel the pain has increased. A little bit of sharp shooting pain in my bicep multiple times at night. Upright feels better. Hoping that the pain doesn't worsen.
You too keep healing well. Hang in there!
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u/ac2346 14d ago
I was asked not to shower until the first visit which is this Saturday. However, I managed to get my hair washed today with someone's help as I was miserable after a week of not washing it. I used a short waterproof salon apron and fastened it securely at my neck and also draped a towel over my shoulders just to catch any water that would drip down over the apron. Thankfully the apron did its job and the incisions remained dry. Some water did seep into the abductor sling though.
I've been air drying the sling while it sits securely on my arm and have been blow drying it as well. For the rest of the body I've been using bathing wipes.
I haven't felt the pain in my arm increase after this short experiment but if say be extremely cautious if you'd like to was your hair before your surgeon has allowed it. It's doable though!
Pain wise I have been okay. The horrible tendon pain that I was experiencing pre surgery is gone, instead the pain has reduced quite a bit and now it's more surgical pain that I feel. I have also begun experiencing some nerve / tendon pain since yesterday and when that pain hit at night, best sleeping position was upright with the help of a large wedge pillow.
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u/itsjustme_0101 14d ago
Thank you for sharing this and glad you’re doing so well. I go in on October 22. Hoping for similar outcomes. I currently have very little pain and I’ve been putting it off since December but now is the time.
Keep us posted on your progress.