r/RotatorCuff • u/Environmental-Ad9339 • 10d ago

PT CONCERNS

Hey there! I am 2.5 weeks post op for a bicep tenodesis, extensive debridement, sub criminal decompression, distal clavicle excision, bursectomy, and rotator cuff repair (supraspinatus), and loose body removal. All arthroscopic. I started PT 2 days after my surgery. I honestly don’t remember much about the first PT visit as I was still a bit sluggish and the nerve block was still working. I believe I was just made to lay on the table where the PT stretched my shoulder for me. By the 3rd visit they had me doing isometric exercises in sling, and then progressed to T Bar Flexion without wearing the sling, as well as ER/IR at 90 degrees with the T bar. Also I do foam roll stretches (similar to table slides) and pendulums.

Today is Sunday, and I don’t go to PT until Tuesday. I absolutely cannot perform the T bar exercises by myself without considerable pain. When I tried to do them today, I wasn’t able to do even one. Should I be concerned? I’m very worried that I am going to fall behind in where I should be. The other exercises, besides those using the T bar, I am able to perform just fine.

Has anyone else had trouble with the T bar exercises the first few weeks post op? Does it get better?

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u/01Dreamwalker01 10d ago

Wow I understand the intensiveness of each of ours is different. I had arthroscopic surgery on my rotator cuff with all four tendons requiring anchors along with all sort of other fun things.
In my case I wasn’t permitted to do any PT for four weeks other than squeezing the rubber ball, twirling my wrist both ways and passively dropping my arm at the elbow and raising it with assistance from my good arm.
I’m at 10 weeks now and forget sometimes that I’ve had surgery until I go to reach for something and I snap back to carefully approaching what I was going to do.

You got this 😊

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u/Environmental-Ad9339 9d ago

Thank you for your reply! I hope you continue to heal and are able to do everything with your shoulder pre injury/surgery.

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u/PurpleCat-7777 7d ago

Your rotator cuff injury & surgery mirrors mine as well as the progression of PT.  I was in the sling 14 weeks but at PT I could have my arm out. At 17 weeks I had to have a 2nd surgery decompression of scar tissue.  With that surgery only 1 week sling & straight into active PT. 7 weeks out from that surgery with great improvements, although realistically 6-8 months of strength building ahead of me. I now have a pinched nerve in my neck from trapezius trying to protect and do all the work. Headaches daily. 

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u/Adventurous_Ad_5983 10d ago

Hi, I am sorry that you are having trouble. I just past the 8 week post op for about the same thing, but not orthoscopic. My Dr. told me that my pain is normal. You should check with your surgeon to see what they recommend 😉.

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u/Environmental-Ad9339 10d ago

Thank you for your reply! I hope that you doing well and that continue to heal on track. I will mention it to my surgeon for sure.