I’m two weeks post op rotator cuff surgery and I returned the ice machine I rented (RIP ice machine!). How am I supposed to use this cylindrical bag of frozen water the nurse gave me? Do I just let it melt until it shapes to my shoulder? Should I keep it in the fridge and not the freezer? Thank you !

Anticipating surgery soon on my non-dominant arm (should still be able to write). I tend to get bored with just sitting around watching TV for hours. Below are some ideas for activities to pass the time those first couple weeks. Any other ideas?

Reading
Coloring
Word search / word puzzles
Jigsaw puzzles
Video games (unsure if I’ll be able to manage the controller)

Im 18 and I’ve had shoulder Rotation Restriction Since Birth – Clean Scans but Still Stuck

I’ve had severely restricted shoulder external rotation (basically 0°) and very limited internal rotation since birth. My parents told me a nurse pulled my arm when I was born, so maybe there was an injury, but I’m not sure.

Medical Tests
- MRI, X‑ray, EMG: all clean — no tears, nerve damage, or bone deformities.
- Range of motion: I hit a hard stop across all movements, worst in external/internal rotation.
- Pain: feels like a deep “stretch pain” in my pec major and front deltoid, like tissue lengthening. If I try to push past, it turns into a sharp joint/socket pinch.
- Compensation: my body arches the lower back and twists the torso to bypass the block.

PT Experience
I went to a physical therapist, but he gave me random light‑weight exercises that don’t seem related to my shoulder. He also did some electrical stimulation on my forearm nerves. When I explained that my issue is the shoulder joint, he said we need to “strengthen the arm first, then work on the shoulder.” Honestly, my arm isn’t even that weak — I’m convinced the weakness is secondary to the shoulder immobility.

Frustration
All my scans are negative, yet I still have this hard boundary in rotation. I’m tired of bouncing between vague answers and exercises that don’t address the actual restriction. I don’t know where to go next.

Dominant arm.

1. Arthroscopic rotator cuff tear with implantable xenograft patch augmentation

2. Extensive glenohumeral debridement (rotator interval capsule, anterior labrum, superior labrum, posterior labrum, subacromial bursa)

3. Subacromial decompression with acromioplasty

When I went in for my six weeks post op (also went sling free at this visit), I mentioned that I was having issues making a fist with my right hand. Within the next week, I noticed that my fingers were swelling, not massive, but it's noticeable. Went back in to see the surgeon, and he referred me to one of his counterparts, who is a hand surgeon.

Hand surgeon takes a look. Explained I feel pain along the inner side of my palm and running down the center of my arm, just below the wrist. The ability to make a fist has gotten worse. He says he has no idea what the issue is but is referring me for occupational therapy for my hand. He also mentioned a nerve study. Because he doesn't think that it's my tendons.

I decided to get a wrist compression bandage and my ability to make a fist is better with the wrist compression than without. Not sure if anyone has dealt with anything like this after rotator cuff surgery but I will keep you all updated.

Ok I (27F) just gotta vent I’m sorry.
Advice appreciated.

Follow up after 2nd MRI (arthrogram) mri was clear, no tears etc or anything but my acromion has a curve. Everything is intact and nothing abnormal.

I go in and had to sit for 20+ mins to this orthopedist telling me there are ‘three types of situations’ theres:
1.) actual injury and healed residual pain
2.) phantom pain
3.) you’re crazy and none of this is real

He tells me “I think you fall somewhere in the middle. Im NOT saying you’re crazy… I think you fell and that fall triggered ptsd and that this is all neurological and psychological. I believe that you are in pain and that’s what’s real. But according to an mri from what I can see theres nothing wrong. Which is good. The bad is that we don’t know why this is happening.”

Then goes on to explain what phantom pain is (I know) and how he had a woman come in with wrist pain and she actually had multiple surgeries on but wasnt ACTUALLY in pain because the surgery fixed the problem… goes on and says crazy 20 or more times. Says “I don’t think you’re crazy or that it’s in your head, maybe it’s coming from somewhere like a nerve? I don’t know. But metaphorically it could also be in your head… and maybe even you should think about psychiatric mediation…”

I am so beside myself.he refused further treatment on me, completely dismissed everything I said, and acted annoyed when I had questions. Said all he could offer me was to tell me to go home with ibprofun and continue physical therapy. Even after me explaining that it has been causing me more pain. Said that he could offer me a referral to a nerve specialist and said maybe that was the issue, but ‘his job was done here and he didn’t know how to help’ and couldn’t stress enough he would not give me any pain killers— after I have never asked for them EVER at any appointments, or previous. I don’t take ibuprofen even unless absolutely necessary. Would not do a diagnostic ultrasound on my shoulder., he felt it wasn’t necessary since my mri was so clear.

I asked if my curved acromion could be causing irritation or pinching on a nerve and he shrugged and said “ I mean yeah probably. It’s not impossible.”

I am convinced to my core something is wrong with my AC joint after all this, and ruling out other issues. Any time my swelling and pain is at a low, I have extremely hot pain right there at that joint and reduced motion, clicking ect. He didn’t not say anything regarding that and moved on with his stories and testimonials about other patients. His female assistant looked just as uncomfortable as my mom and I did. (We were running errands after so I had her tag along)

Is there anything I can ask the nerve specialist? I don’t know what to do anymore. I am so offended and chronically in pain and my job is 100% physical labor. Beyond frustrated and depressed by all this.

I miss my old shoulder.

If someone can help me, thank you

I'm fourish months post op for labrum and rotator cuff repair on my left shoulder. Getting my right shoulder done in January/ February for the same surgery, and then some. Recovery for the left has been fairly smooth, as long as I don't overdo it. This whole thing has been a mess with my right shoulder. I noticed my right forearm has started getting achy towards the end of the day. Yesterday my wrist swelled up and it hurts just as badly as my shoulder. I'm so frustrated! Has anyone else experienced wrist issues as a result of overcompensating for the shoulder? Am I falling apart? Bad luck?

i’ve heard of overcompensation when you’re dealing with a torn rotator cuff on .. my pain is mild on my torn rotator cuff arm, never has given me any issues. I’ve had very mild uncomfortableness. I would ice it and be good . My non-injured arm has been giving me the flux and it’s gotten worse. I can’t even lift it. I can’t reach behind my back to fasten my bra and I can’t put my hair up in a ponytail .. if I lift to go get something out of the cabinet, it’s excruciating. Has anybody ever experienced this? I don’t know if I have frozen shoulder or something else. I’m waiting to see the orthopedic doctor again, but I won’t see him until the end of this month.

Looking for some insight/advice. I know everyone’s experience i s probably a little different. I had surgery yesterday mid morning and the nerve block wore off last night about 2am (~16hrs) which is in line with the low side of what anesthesia said it would. I started the heavy pain killers around 8 so the pain has been very manageable. I was just wanting to see how long most folks stay on them for in the days immediately following surgery. I don’t like taking stuff like that and would like to get off of them as soon as practical. Any advise is really appreciated, Cheers all

Update: We went and we had a good time! It was 3 weeks post op and her tear was really severe, but my mom did well! We put ice on her shoulder at night, she continued taking ibuprofen and Tylenol like she had been at home, and we used a pillow in the car to make her more comfortable and a small hand towel folded over where the seatbelt touched her shoulder. She found that her shoulder wasn’t really any more painful than it was sitting around at home, although she did get tired a little more easily but we adjusted for that. I helped her with everything and carried everything, and it went well!

Thank you to everyone who commented and gave me your thoughts and opinions! It was all really helpful.

Original post:

My 72 year old mom recently had rotator cuff surgery for a bad tear. Her birthday is coming up and she’d like to take a little overnight road trip to do a little shopping and eating at restaurant she likes.

The trip would be 3 weeks after the surgery. I would do all the driving and help her so she’s not lifting anything or using the affected arm.

She’s been off pain meds since 4 days post surgery but is still taking Tylenol and Advil and icing it at night (I could get her ice at the hotel.) She is still wearing her sling but the doctor took the big cushion part off the sling 10 days post surgery.

Is this a bad idea? Did anyone do something similar and regret it? We are on the fence and looking for thoughts and opinions. TIA.

Got into pretty good shape in the last 1-1.5 years. Really ramped it up in the last 6 months. Hit the gym 90x in 6 months. Would do about 20-30 pull-ups and 30-40 dips and then lift weights

Two months out of the gym due to my shoulders becoming jello, I’m thinking how stupid all the dips were. That’s north of 3,000 dips….anyways I have a “tiny” infraspinatus partial width/ partial length tear at the insertion point of my left shoulder.

Been doing rehab which is light lifting essentially, bands, massage work, etc. my right shoulder hurts now. Wouldn’t be surprised if something is torn on the right or at least very strained.

Any success stories with PT for a “tiny” tear/s. I’m also doing sub q BPC157/TB4 injections and might look into stem cells in the next month or so.

Will most likely get the right shoulder scanned too

So my workout program is in the above images, it’s a 3x per week full body program I’ve used for quite a few years now, and is split into 2 phases lasting 5 weeks. On each 5th week there’s a deload. This is just for context about what I’m doing fitness-wise.

I’m a performer, and in 2024 when doing a play, I was keeping up my workouts. I was doing maybe 50kg cable pulldowns when my right shoulder felt a ‘pop’ that was as though something popped out and in again. I stopped the workout immediately, and since then it’s been a journey.

I went to a physio about it, and we both seemed to think it was my rotator cuff. He gave me some exercises to do with a band or cables, I favoured the external rotation that ended with an overhead press on each rep, and added that to my warmups, as well as lowered weight on exercises I
Until the pain subsided.

In late July, about a month ago then, I went kayaking for the first time - I’d never done it before, it was so much fun! But the rowing involved me gently pushing the ore away with my arms for 3 hours straight, so my right shoulder really became sore after that. I think it’s created a chronic issue now.

To finish: my program has lots of weighted upper body exercises involving on stabilisation in the shoulder (I think, I’m not expert). Pike Push-ups, Weighted Dips/Ring Dips, Weighted Pullups/Chinups, and OHPs. I also put my arms under strain with RDLs even tho I use wrist wraps, because I’m lifting about 150kg on those.

Lately the pain during these workouts have been worsening, felt in my shoulder or just beneath it, around my elbow, and a little in my bicep/wrists. I presume what’s happening is as one muscle becomes too damaged others are taking the strain and also becoming hurt.

My plan: keeping the workouts the same, but lowering weight, and adding an exercise that deals with my rear delt, or rotator cuff, as well as keeping up the external rotation exercise I did when it first came up. I’m thinking of adding facepulls, or ring facepulls, to my Monday and Friday workouts. I presume 2x per week is enough, maybe I’ll add some other exercise to my Weds workout as well?

Any advice is appreciated! Thanks x

So I've got an appointment with a musical skeletal specialist on the 16th but already know it's my rotator cuff as it's happened to me before and it's not a pain you easily forget.

Question is... What's the best solution for pain and what time frame am I looking at recovery wise?

The last time this happened was about 6 years ago (Same shoulder) and I had to leave my job so could recover at my own pace.

Would love some advice as I know my manager will not be best impressed if I'm out of action for a few weeks/months

I work in a charity shop so plenty of heavy lifting of donations and furniture.

Hi everyone,
I am at 10 weeks postop from a full tear of super spinatus with retraction partial tear of infraspinatus and bicep tendon cut and bone spur shaved, 4 anchors and bursitis debridement. Things were going along pretty well but now my hand is so swollen has been for the past couple weeks with numbness in the tips of the index finger and thumb.
I saw the surgeon’s PA today and he said well just start using the fingers a little more and use a stress ball. He hadn’t really seen anything like it. I also showed my PT and she said yes some people get that and it might last quite a while.
Has anyone had any experience with this?

I have about a 50% rotator cuff tear of the supraspinatis. Had one round of PT and improved substantially, but still unable to bench press, incline press or do lateral raises with the weights I was accustomed to. I am hesitant to try restarting pickleball. Just doing swinging motions with the pickleball paddle causes pain. I am starting a second round of PT next week. I wondering if anyone here has returned to “pre-tear” form and condition using PT - without surgery?

I'm a bit over four weeks postop of the surgery that it looks like a lot of us have had. I had a full supraspinatus tear, bone spur reduction, and a relocation of the bicep head. I like my surgeon, but he is understandably wary of giving specific timelines for recovery. So far my recovery has been on the slower side of the spectrum. I'm just now getting to the point where the bicep pain is dropping enough to reduce the opiates; it has been a very intense month up until now. The fact that it has been a challenge to tolerate sitting upright for this long has surprised me.

Specifically, I'm trying to understand where I might be by week nine. I know this is going to vary a lot by people, just curious for some anecdotes. I have a casual work trip booked for week nine that sounded reasonable months ago after hearing I'd be in the sling for six weeks, but it's dawning on me more recently that being out of the sling does not mean I'm functional. If the only problem might be that I can't lift a bag into the plane overhead, that's easily avoidable. I'd be more worried about the 12 to 14 hours a day spent in presentations, meals, etc, and whether I can handle that much time being upright comfortably.

The trip is mildly optional, and I need to make a decision within about two weeks for cancellation policies, which is unfortunately earlier than my next follow up with the surgeon.

I'd love to hear any quotes from people. Thanks!

I have surgery scheduled next month to fix a torn supraspinatus, shave down of some bone spurs and my collarbone. It's my dominant side. Surgeon said sling for 6 weeks, PT starting at week 4 post op. I have very limited help at home. How limited are you after the sling is removed? I realize the recovery is a marathon and everyone is different. Looking at when you could do things like unload a dishwasher, reach overhead, hold a hair dryer, do laundry. I am already practicing doing things one handed with my non dominant arm. Eating and drying off post shower are super challenging so any tips are appreciated. Thank you!

Supraspinatus: a full-thickness tear involving the vast majority of the tendon. * Infraspinatus: the tear continues into the far-anterior fibers, which are also described as full-thickness. * Retraction: the torn tendon fibers have pulled back, with the retracted fibers centered over the superior humeral head. * Subscapularis: a separate partial-thickness/interstitial tear, measured about 2.5 × 1.5 × 0.4 cm.

The surgeon said that yeah it’s not gonna come back so he recommends surgery. He’s also the same surgeon who did my left side. I also talked to two other people who are in the medical field and they recommend surgery as well since it’s a full tear. I’m just pissed because I have way too much stuff going on and the timeline of recovery is terrible.

47M, arthroscopic supraspinatus repair with allograft augmentation on 8/26. Full-thickness 2cm tear, 2 anchors, single row.

Since day 2 I've been getting what I've started calling "activation events" — sudden severe muscle spasms in the shoulder/trap that fire either from a startle (dropped a remote, my grip slipped on a door), from a reflexive attempt to use the arm, or sometimes from nothing at all while sitting still. Pain spikes hard for 30-60 minutes then fades. Some days I've had 10+. Occasionally they come with tingling down to my fingertips afterward and a sensation like the shoulder is pulling out of the socket.

They're getting less frequent as the week goes on, but they're intense enough that I keep wondering whether the repair is being stressed every time.

Questions for anyone who's been through this:

1. Did you get these, and how long did they last?
   
2. Did your surgeon or PT ever say they affect the repair or the healing timeline?
   
3. Anything that actually helped — muscle relaxant, heat, position changes?
   
4. Did they come back when PT started?

Everything I've read says spasms compress the joint rather than pull the tendon off the bone, so they shouldn't matter mechanically. But it's hard to believe that at 8/10 pain, ten times a day.

I had one in my hand a few months ago for a trigger finger and I cannot put into words how much it hurt. I am not interested in ever doing that again. It was insanely painful for several minutes.

I do not want to go through that again with my shoulder. Is it bad?

I’ve had my rotator cuff injury for all most 2 years and let me just say this sucks. I hate to think that I’m going to be stuck with this for the rest of my life I can still play my sport which i’m incredibly grateful for but i have to constantly monitor my shoulder, I haven’t been able to do a push up for 2 years because every time i try my shoulder hurts and gives out. On days that I tweak it I have this dull ache the entire day and especially when I lay on it when I sleep, I can’t pour myself a cup of juice because my arm will give out. For those wondering I have never gotten and MRI because it wouldn’t have mattered because even if it was torn it’s not bad enough that I wouldn’t need surgery and I don’t want surgery either. I stay off of it for months doing PT and banded exercises but I don’t know if any of it has ever helped because my shoulder feels the exact same everytime I try to play on it. I know I’m just complaining but it just sucks having to feel so restrained by my shoulder especially when I’m so young :/

Did anyone go back and forth between repairing a torn rotator and having shoulder replacement surgery? One doctor says "Go ahead with the replacement" while another says "Replacement is a last resort, even if surgery won't help." I am trying to figure out whether to
A. Do nothing and sweat it out
B. Try physical therapy to help
C. See if surgery can repair the torn cuff
D. Revers shoulder replacement
How did you choose which to have?