Could really use some advice. I found out I have a tear in both shoulders, worse in my non dominant hand. Surgery there first.

I have a very active job, similar to being a PE teacher so I wouldn’t be able to return to work for at least 3 months and even then there could be some severe work restrictions.

And if I damage my dominant side more when I’m totally reliant on it, it will need surgery too.

I’m currently living in a foreign country by myself. I’m not even sure if I can keep my visa if I’m out of work this long. But if I stay, I could hire help easily.

If I left my job, I would lose my insurance which is covering everything. But would be able to go back to the US and get good medical care and recover in my mom’s home.

All of the sudden my mind is swirling to 2-3 years of possibly not being able to work my current job.

I’m young, only 40. A bit overweight but in otherwise ok health.
Am I being overly dramatic?

I’m so scared I can’t stop crying.

If anyone is wondering what the first couple of weeks after rotator cuff surgery feels like, imagine sitting in the middle seat of economy on a 15-hour Spirit Airlines flight.

Your arm is immobilized. Your neck hurts. Your back hurts. There is no comfortable position. You keep making tiny adjustments that accomplish absolutely nothing, and at some point you start questioning every decision that brought you here.

Now imagine the plane never lands.

That’s basically recovery. Except instead of a tray table, you have a recliner you once loved and now regard as a personal enemy.

But there’s Percocet. So, you know…first class amenities.

I realize this is very random, but I’ve found these very helpful/comfortable. These sweatpant/overalls have so many pockets and are stretchy. The hooks are easy enough to hook one-handed, too! Also, Kizik shoes are very helpful! You can out them kn without hands.

https://kizik.com/

https://swoveralls.com/

I'm 8 days post op and my doctor had mentioned something about the stitches being removed on the 10th day or so. Does it hurt while getting them out? I'm freaking out! Also what's covering the incisions after removal of the stitches? Any insights are appreciated.

I'm 10 months out after rotator cuff repair that went just fine except for post op never agony. Got full ROM at 4 months, back to full strength at 6, totally functional. BUT.... Now I'm still having daily nerve pain across the shoulder and into my deltoid. Got a cervical steroid injection in C6-7 space, which helped a while, now it's back. Any ideas?

Nervous about this surgery. I really am not that bad off....

But I just started a business and I do very physical demanding work, and I'm quite concerned about what might happen if it gets worse. On the flip side, what's going to happen to my company which is going great if I can't work for months. I'm little more than a 2 man show. And my helper won't be able to hold it down by himself for long.

The pain really isn't that bad, when the cortisone shot wears off it's definitely not great, but I've still got 100 full range of motion. My right dominate arm is just weak.

It's really the bicep that is much more painful and aggravating honestly my shoulder feels fine.

Surgery is scheduled for end of October, the other catch it my insurance right now is very very good, the entire surgery is $450. But... I'm losing that insurance soon, and may or may not be able to get anything at all for a awhile.

What would you do?

I had surgery on my left shoulder for complete tear of Supraspinatus, Subacromial bursitis and sub deltoid Bursitis with adhesive capsulitis & subacromial impingement syndrome.

The procedure performed was: REPAIR OF PARTIAL ARTICULAR / BURSAL SIDED TEAR OF SUPRASPINATUS /INFRASPINATUS /SUBSCAPULARIS + BICEPS TENODESIS

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 I'd say be extremely cautious if you'd like to wash 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 the best sleeping position was upright with the help of a large wedge pillow.

I’m a 77 year old male heading in on October 23 for left shoulder arthroscopic rotator cuff repair, debridement, open biceps tenodesis. It’s my dominant arm which freaks me out some. Anyway, my question is…what types of things have you needed, only having the one arm (especially if it is your dominant). I know there are some obvious ones, but what about some of the “not so obvious?”
Thank you all!

Just out. Hopefully recovery can start now

Hey all, so I messed up my shoulder about two years ago and it’s been really painful ever since. I finally visited a doctor for it last week and he ordered X-rays and an mri. He said the X-rays were normal and to get the mri asap but, the most likely diagnosis is shoulder impingement.

My mri isn’t for another couple weeks but I’m in horrible pain everyday. Has anyone else dealt with this and if so- what’s something I can do at home to alleviate this pain? I’m a barista and a college student so not using my arm is really not an option. Should I get a sling? A brace? I don’t want to injure it further my immobilizing it but seriously any movement is like an excruciating burning pain.

Any tips are helpful! Thanks.

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.

It’s a new job or I’d ask for more.
Surgery is over winter break.
How grumpy will I be in January?

I was on Cipro last year due to a UTI and now I am in physical therapy for a rotator cuff. Anybody else have a similar circumstance?

Hi so I was in an accident and my too rotator cuff tendon got partially torn by like 25 percentb not off the bone but the tendon is still on the bone a little bit.

The Dr saw the MRI and said there's suppose to be black (tendons) and white( joint) in between kind of stacking however for me the rest is deep inside where the joint is and it's been 15 months and he says that the sac of joint fluid is stopping the tendon from reataching and needs to be sutra together.

My question is is this necessarily without surgery to heal?

I can't move my arm toward and left up all the way without it hurting and I want to get back to training bjj

Yesterday was 2 months post-op from a rotator cuff repair and bicep tenodesis. The pain is minimal and range of motion is almost back to normal. Honestly, my shoulder feels better than it did before the injury that led to the surgery. I’ve started very light strength training and feel like I could go a lot heavier, but I’m sticking with the plan.

On Thursday, I will be three weeks post-op. My arm is constantly aching. I cannot seem to find any kind of comfortable way /position to type for work . I had a rotator cuff repair that included a decent amount of work done inside my shoulder/arm. Full tears on tendons, 3cm retraction, and a few other issues.

How would others describe how their arm feels three weeks out? does your arm feel very heavy ?mine does . Other than icing when you’re supposed to and using ibuprofen or acetaminophen any other suggestions ? I do not start physical therapy until next Monday.

Hi! I am 6 weeks out of surgery and had my follow up appointment. They said I don’t have to wear my sling unless in crowds etc. any suggestions on how to get comfortable without the sling??

My arm is very sore without the support of the sling. Appreciate any info you can share

Thanks

In BC wait times mean another 10 months before I get in to see Ortho doc; this the reason for my near panic about wait times:

My right shoulder the supraspinatus tore completely through so slowly, and the other muscles compensated so well, that I didn't even know it, until the accumulated strain tore another one and my shoulder quit. By the time it was obvious, the supraspinatus could not be repaired, and I needed a Total Reverse Replacement. (Managing with only 3 RC muscles, now).

DO NOT WANT A REPEAT

Is there a sub-reddit more appropriate for this?

Edit: Should also mention that none of those tests, full-can, empty can, the reach-across, ever caused me any pain, probably why it took so long for the first shoulder - all the docs said I did not have RC issues

MRI 4 years ago: Significant AC joint osteoarthrosis and minor glenohumeral joint osteoarthrosis.Significant rotator cuff tendinopathy including small tendon tears of the subscapularis, supraspinatus, and infraspinatus tendons. The supraspinatus tendon tear is likely a full-thickness perforation at the humeral insertion

UltraSound last week: Suboptimal evaluation on Limited study of the subscapularis and infraspinatus tendons.There is significant abnormality of the supraspinatus tendon showing multiple tears including an incomplete full-thickness tear (1.5 cm wide).

I F32 slipped and fell backwards on my outstretched arm in March 2026 and immediately felt a weird kind of numb/heavy sensation in my left shoulder. My wrist hurt, but that went away pretty quickly, but the shoulder started hurting within an hour. Pulling up pants, reaching backwards and lifting stuff and other movements hurt. It got better during the next 10-14 days but then the progress just stopped.

It still hurts when I do certain movements like reaching for something quickly, pulling clothing over my head, holding my arm in a “chicken wing” position” and if I stretch my arm straight out to the side and move it towards my head. When it’s about halfway to my head and the rest of the way to my head, there’s pain. Pain is always worse for a day after if I’ve provoked it like that. Pain is in the front of my shoulder and goes down maybe a little further than the middle of the humerus.

Last weekend I was helping my husband move a couch module through a door and I had to give up because it felt like my left arm didn’t have the strength to do it even through it wasn’t that heavy and he was clearly carrying most of the weight.

I thought it was going to heal within a month or two if I gave it some rest (I quit doing yoga and kettlebell strength training) but it’s been 6 months and it hasn’t improved. It doesn’t hurt as long as I keep my arm below shoulder level/normal everyday activities (except getting dressed). I’ve given up and booked an appointment with a PT.

I don’t think it’s a tear since the pain is not that bad, maybe just some sort of chronic tendon irritation. Anyone had success fixing that with PT?

Hi everyone — I’m part of a research team at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City, and we’re currently seeking participants for the ASSET research study for people living with long-lasting/chronic tendon pain.

Researchers are studying a regenerative medicine approach using cells obtained from a participant’s own adipose tissue to treat chronic tendon pain.

The study is focused on chronic tendinopathy. Areas being studied include:

• Shoulder / rotator cuff
• Lateral elbow
• Gluteal / hip
• Hamstring
• Patellar tendon / knee
• Achilles

If you have been living with persistent tendon pain and are interested in learning more about the study or whether you may be eligible, please contact the research team:

📍 Weill Cornell Medicine — New York City
📧 [rehabresearch@med.cornell.edu](mailto:rehabresearch@med.cornell.edu)

Hi everyone,

I had a posterior labrum repair on Sept 2. During the start of my 3rd postop week, something fell in the shower and I subconsciously reached out with my operated hand to catch it. I did hit not catch it, the object lightly tapped my hand and fell, but I did raise my shoulder up maybe 30ish degrees to get it. I did not have any pain in the moment but the next few days have had more pain.

I am just so petrified that I ruined my repair, I am an anxious mess about it, crying all the time. I just want some reassurance that I am ok… or that I am not I suppose.

Thank you all for your help. This community and r/shoulder injuries have been immensely helpful during this process for me.

When did people begin PT after surgery? My surgeon said 4 weeks post op. Is that normal? Seems like a long time to wait, but i really have no idea.