Anyone had rotator cuff surgery?

[umberto]

I'm going in to have my left rotator cuff repaired on Monday, and I wanted to see if anyone has had the surgery before and if they have any advice to share.  All I've heard from most people is that it's terrible, it hurts, it's worse than child birth, but they haven't really shared any "I wish I would have" tips.  Also if anyone has a "how long it took me to get back on my bike" timeline, that would be awesome too.

Thank you!

[umberto]

I'll also take second hand experiences, such as, "my buddy had it and he said...".   

[mikectanker]

I would try asking/searching on a larger forum like vital or thumpertalk.
Can you go to work or are you stuck on the couch?

[umberto]

I would try asking/searching on a larger forum like vital or thumpertalk.
Can you go to work or are you stuck on the couch?

I'm actually back to about 70% of where I was before the crash.  I can work now, but the surgery will probably take care of that for quite a while.  Thankfully I own my own business, and the wife has agreed to cover for me (without first hitting me over the head with a rock).  Once they do the surgery, I will be pretty useless at work so I plan on catching up on my NetFlix and bothering you guys.   

[DoldGuy]

Umberto,

I had the surgery a little over 2 years ago...believe everything you have heard. My previous surgery was on my knee, torn ACL/MCL/Meniscus, that was a slow recovery, but did not compare the shoulder.

Good News! You are probably a few years younger which will speed up the recovery & I had a lot of damage repaired. Be prepared not to use that arm for 2 months for ANYTHING & I hope you are right handed, if not learn now how to brush your teeth & wipe your A$$ with your other hand (this feels totally awkward).

Prepare by having LOTS of pillows, a VERY comfortable recliner & the one item I used the most was a travel pillow (the C shaped like used on planes) as I would put this around my arm & it kept the weight of my arm from pulling on my shoulder. When the time comes for rehab, you will barely be able to rotate your arm, but be diligent with this as it is the MOST important of all to regain mobility and the strength. It took a full year for me before confident enough in my strength to be able to ride, but hope you have a speedier recovery.

If I can answer/help with anything, let me know.

DoldGuy

[umberto]

Thank you DoldGuy!  I will take you up on that.  I have a 20% full tear that they are going to repair.  I been warned over and over about the pain, so it's nice to hear of someone that actually made it back on the bike again.   

Did you doctor keep you from moving your arm for several weeks after the surgery?  My doctor was a bit wishy washy on if he was going to get me into physical therapy right away or not.  He said it would depend on how much damage there was, how much range of motion I had after surgery, and how much pain I was in.  I kind of want to get to the physical therapy as soon as possible so I can avoid stiffness and scar tissue.

[Brute]

I have had four. Two on each side. The last one was in January and was the most extensive with drilling holes and installing anchors. Good times. Get Oxycodone AND morphine tabs. hit the pain meds HARD for at least the first couple days then start cutting back. They will probably give you a 24 hour blocker and when that wears off it will HURT. Are they doing a scope or cutting? It makes a big difference. I have had one scope and it was not nearly as bad. The other three were cut and hurt like the dickens. They will not know the full extent until they get in there and take a look. My second one started with a scope and changed to a 'cut job' within 5 minutes of going in. I was out for all of mine and would not even consider being awake for it.
If you cut the pain meds too soon it is harder to get back on top of it. I don't have a problem stopping them after a couple weeks of heavy use but I have heard of (and know) of people that had a hard time stopping them. Just something to keep in mind.
I used one of these. Paid $100 for it and it was money well spent. Pack it with ice and it circulates the ice water around whatever limb it is on. Works good. Hey! Want to buy it?  
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pp6CJtbJ7w0

[umberto]

Thank you for the advice Brute.  They are doing mine with the scope thank goodness.  The other way where they cut loose your shoulder muscle sounds very medieval.  I usually use the pain meds for the first couple of days and then try to transition to ibuprofen as soon as I can.  I just don't like the way pain meds make me feel.  

I would buy that ice thing, but after having four surgeries it sounds like you might want to hang on to it.    Hopefully my insurance will buy one for me.  Lord knows I've met my deductible this year.  

[Brute]

When I got it we had to pay $100 and the insurance picked up the rest but I see them around for $130 and up. I was kind of kidding about selling it... Four is just the shoulders. I have lost count (seriously) of how many times I have been 'under'.
If there was more time I would send it for you to use and you could send it back. It really worked good.
Best of luck and I hope they don't find more wrong when they go in. It is kind of a rude surprise to wake up to...
Take it slow. You can do more damage 'pushing' it too hard. You will probably have to break loose scar tissue at some point and it will feel like you tore something but it will loosen up.

[umberto]

Thank you for that advice Brute.  I will really have to watch myself pushing it.  I own a UPS Store, and I really need to be ready for Christmas season or risk my wife's wrath.  Sounds like slow and steady is the way to go in this case.

[Brute]

One last thing. If you go to P.T. YOU be the judge of how far to go and how hard to push. I challenged one physical therapist to tell me when and what procedure I had done to my shoulder without looking at the chart and he had NO CLUE but was trying to add more rep's and more exercises when I was already straining badly with what I was doing. My first shoulder Doctor stressed that I was the one to tell them when enough was enough.

[umberto]

Also very good advice Brute, thank you.  I am so glad you and DoldGuy responded.  I feel a lot better that you guys made it through the surgery and back on to your bikes.  I am going to do my physical therapy at the same place I did PT for my lower back (ain't getting old fun  ).  I know all the staff and they should be mostly the same from day to day. 

Had another fun episode with the Anesthesiologist yesterday.  I have a heart palpitation that is really more annoying than anything.  When I was first diagnosed, I saw the cardiologist who ran me through every test you could imagine, and then prescribed a very mild beta blocker and said not to worry about it.  I told the place that is going to do my surgery that I had the palpitation, so they wanted to do an EKG on me.  They did the test Thursday and they asked me to hang around so the anesthesiologist could read it.  He came into the room and said something to the effect of, "you have an irregular heartbeat, which is usually a precursor to heart disease and that can be a risk factor for dying under anesthesia" (he may have said more, but I kind of quit listening after dying under anesthesia came out).  Of course that will get your attention.  I hadn't seen my cardiologist in four years and the males in my family have a predisposition to always assume the worst, so I immediately panicked.  Thankfully I was able to get in to see my cardiologist.  He was very surprised that the anesthesiologist was concerned and told me not to worry that I had no more risk of dying than anyone else.  I wish I could have talked to him before I spent most of last night and this morning worrying about it.  About 3 AM I starting thinking I needed to update my will to make sure my dirt bikes got good homes.  "I, Umberto, being of sound mind and body, do hereby bequeath Goliath to...."   

[Brute]

Arthritis and 62 years of wear are slowing me down these days. I sold my KX500 (!) and am down to a TW200 and a KE100 for off road bikes. Still have 4 street bikes but the ZX14R LE is going to be sold this year or next. While I COULD ride a 'nuts' bike I am getting to the point of deciding what is worth the further wear and pain I am willing to endure after the ride is over. My last crash hurt a LOT and it took a lot longer to get over it.
The good news is I have been doing more fishing this year and am also cleaning out the garage!!!  

Sorry about the scare you had. That crap is no fun...

[sandblaster]

Don't worry about your KX500 Brute... She is in good hands

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlxbSRB_v1g

[Brute]

Awesome!  I am glad it is getting the workout it deserves!
Every now and then, usually on meds to beat down the pain, I regret selling it but then I do an everyday 'something' that REALLY hurts and it reminds me why I sold it. AND the one I had before that...
At some point I needed to preserve what I have left for 'normal' living stuff I hope to enjoy doing for the next 20 years.