Rotator Cuff

Had massive surgery 3/5/13. Going through therapy now[7th week.]Had four toren tendons. Hankerin to get back in shop. I have been told that it will take all of a year before it is back to normal. I am now 72 yr.young.

Hate to tell you but it will never get back to normal. A year is good figure for recovery but you will never be able to have all the movement you had before. Mine was done Jan 18, 2012 and can do most but I cannot reach up like before. Don't know how many they had to fix. A bit younger than you at 69 years. Was 9 months before they could take care of mine tho as I had a heart atack and 5 bypasses 2 months after I tore mine.

I had my left side done in 2005 when I was 60. Extremely satisfied with that one. Now my right ome is torn (work comp injury) and I am waiting on word for surgery. Different Dr, and have not heard much good about the results from this fella. I"ll keep you posted.

I had my right repaired around 1992 at age 43 and my left done around 2002 at about age 53. The left was not just rotator cuff but also calcium deposits to be scraped out and a shredded tendon to be removed. I have full strength motion in both. I got the right done in March and was throwing hay bales in June. Go at the rehab aggressively.

Good luck am sure it will turn out ok!!! Had 2 surgerys on my shoulder!!! Was involved in a truck accident which broke my collar bone and had to have a plate put in it and my shoulder blade ended up in 5 pieces along with the pulling and tearing of the tendon and ligaments!! Been 2+ yrs since accident and shoulder is somewhat functional, limited movement and have a 20lb maximum lifting limit!! Am glad to have that, could have been worse!!!

Had both of mine done. First one is better than it was before. I had bursitis in it and it was painful at times. Now I can swing it in any direction with no pain. Took probably 4 months to get back to normal with it. Did all my therapy at home with instructions from the therapist. Second one was different. Thought it wouldn't be as good as before but one day I moved it wrong and it hurt like heck. By nights end I had full motion back and it has been good ever since. Doctor said it was probably scar tissue that let go. Did my therapy at home on that one also. Second one they put 4 screws in it for some reason.

Interesting comments, I am scheduled for this surgery on May 14, had hip replaced about 7 months ago and am doing fine with that operation.

Had a rotator cuff repair with one reattachment three or four years ago and everything is mostly fine now. I have full range, though some scar tissue does make it thump some when I really rotate it but the thumping doesn't hurt. When the knee conked out on me last summer I did find out that shoulder hurts when I push down on a crutch but that's the only time. When I was at the orthopaedists office last summer I was reading a chart on the wall about all the surgeries they do and what to expect for recovery time. I was surprised to find out from reading that chart, that rotator cuff surgery has a recovery period that is twice as long as the recovery period for complete shoulder replacement. For rotator cuff repair, there should be no shoulder movement for two or three weeks, I forget on that one. For shoulder replacement they want you to start movement and exersize almost immediately. Jim

Icuby, I had Total Shoulder Replacement surgery in 2008 RH shoulder in March, and LH in Dec.
My Doc, said "Do what I tell you for the First 30 days and basic Do & Don't and you will not have any trouble"
I kept my arms Totally immobile for the first 30 days no lifting at all and did Rehab afterward,as prescribe. It did take some getting used to. it is different in some respects.
I will Never operate a pair of manual post hole diggers again. or operate a Stud Bar to pound out rocks in those post holes. I can throw a Baseball with my Son fairly well side arm to underhandedly. Some pain if I throw overhand. No problems catching. Turning wrenches or pounding a piece of metal on an Anvil No problem now.
IT did take 18 months+++ To to get comfortable using my new shoulders. they do feel different to some degree. I basically have an 1 & 5/16 Stainless Steel ball in each of my shoulders. Thunder!,, if that ball was affixed to the bumper of your Pickup you could pull a 2 horse trailer with it!!!!!
PAIN....Before Replacement, On a scale of 1 to 10, My pain was at least 45! I was taking 1, 800 mg Ibuprofen in the beginning to bust the pain. Before the surgery I needed 5, 800 mg Ibuprofen tabs to bust the pain and have a few hours of relief. 4 would not touch it!
After Surgery... Maybe a 2? at most! After my 2nd surgery was the first time in over 10 yrs I was pain free. and the pain was not ringing in my head 24-7-365!
Replacement Surgery is different to an Overhaul job! I still think most Dr.s, Start rehab to Damm quick on most people Seen too many folks go through the surgery and start rehab in short order and wind up back in surgery some time later for some reason or another.
Get You a Doc that ONLY Does Shoulders!!!! Not one that does Shoulders, Elbows, Knees
Hope this Helps.
Later,
John A.

I had platelets enriched plasma injections into my rotator rather than the surgery. Painful, not covered by insurance ( they still consider it voodoo, even though pro athletes and racehorses get it done) . It worked well for me.