O/T Upcoming Rotator Cuff Surgery

Several weeks back there was a post or two here regarding shoulder surgery and I made a comment about how my shoulder pain was keeping me awake at night, pain when I put on coats, etc., and was told yep, I probably needed rotator cuff surgery. I'm 46 by the way.

Went to the hospital, had an MRI done on my shoulder, then a few days later saw the doctor that does the surgerys to hear his evaluation of the MRI. He said I had a textbook case and that my rotator cuff was "hanging on by a thread" and needed fixed. He said it would be fine to wait until our cows are done calving in May to do the surgery, so we set a date for mid-May.

In the meantime, the pillow I'd been sleeping on was worn out so I bought a new one, a "Sensorpedic Dual-Comfort Supreme" something or other that is half memory foam and half regular pillow.

Well, I've been sleeping on that pillow for about two weeks now and my shoulder pain is practically gone. Doesn't bother me when I sleep, and I can only feel a little tightness when I put on a coat or raise my arm, etc.

What's everyone's thoughts on this- could the bad pillow have really been the problem and the doctor is just trying to drum up business? Or is the new pillow just easing the symtoms and I should still get the surgery?

In the end I will probably still wind up going with the advice of the doctor versus advice from an internet forum, but I'm interested in other's thoughts/experience on this matter....Not looking forward to being one-armed for six weeks, especially during haying season.

I think I would look into a second opinion from another doctor, the further away the better. I personally don't know much about the rotator cuffs.

Do what the Doc says and do the therapy. I almost lost the use of my arm by waiting to long. Took me about 6 weeks to start using my right arm again.
Richard in NW SC

i had mine done i waited to long and tore the bicept will be off six months from work but you can get your farm work done got home from surgery jumped in truck and feed cattle dont repeat dont tell doc what your doing.take a day before surgery put your arm in sling and find out what you might have to change to make it easier for you .i can run a chainsaw but hooking up hydraulics major problem finally clamped vice grip on hose and used a hammer as a lever .also get a good recliner you wont be in bed for a while and most important di the therapy friend didnt his arm shrunk and lost some use.

I would bet that your sleeping position is just better so the shoulder pain is less while you sleep. The torn rotator cuff will not "fix" itself. The guys I know that have had it done waited too long and they have much more after surgery issues.

I would get it fixed sooner than later. Also do all of the exercises and follow the rules on using it or your wasting your time. One fellow here felt better in a few days and just went back to business as usual. He torn up all the repair and had a useless arm until they could replace the joint.

I fell off of a hay rack throwing bales of it into a loft about head high. When I landed I felt and heard something in my left shoulder tear, couldn't lift my arm to shower, I had a lot of sows in the crates and nobody else to take care of them so I endured, about a month later the pain subsided and I never had surgery, I can do a complete arm circle over my head with no pain go figure, this happened about 10 years ago and now I'm 55. Blame it on luck or the body's ability to heal.

I had this surgery about a year ago, could not sleep either. It is much better now. The recovery from this is quite long, so do all the PT that they recommend and figure it will be 3-4 months before you feel much better.

I am 54, had cuff torn, arthritis and lower tendon torn also.

First off, go out and buy a really comfortable LaZBoy. You'll be living in it for three or four weeks. Get one that reclines as flat as you can get. They did my shoulder about three years ago. It takes about a year to really heal right, and you can count on doing very little for at least three months. I had mine done in early January, and was able to do most of my own work come spring, but is was still a good six months before I did any heavier lifting, and a year before I could really do everything I needed to do.

I got my rotator cuff torn up just before Labor Day 2013. My insurance would not allow a MRI to begin with. I had to go to physical therapy first. Went for 5 weeks. The physical therapy did no good. I told the physical therapy doctor it was not getting better. He sent me back to my orthapedic doctor. He then was able to order an MRI. MRI showed rotator cuff was torn up and also the bicep muscle. Had surgery on November 4th, 2013. Kept it in a sling for 6 weeks. Then started physical therapy after I got rid of sling. Still going to physical therapy 3 times per week.

I hear of you guys not going the full distance with the therapy or using it sooner than you are supposed to, but I was and still am afraid of this as there are some folks that go to therapy with me that did not follow the doctors orders and they have had their surgery done for the second time. It has been almost 3 months for me and things are getting better. Glad I had the surgery, but also am more glad it is almost over.

My tear was the result of being run down by a cow. Doctor said the damage to my shoulder would rank in the top 5 of the worst tears he has repaired. I am 60 years old. Good luck with the surgery and BE SAFE.

I had mine done march of last year ,I am seventy three and feeling very good since. The sooner that you get it done the better. Yes you will not be able to go to bed for at least four weeks. Do what your Dr. And thearipist says and you will have a better and quicker recovery.

You got a lot of good advise here.

Summary, do it sooner than later, follow DR and PT instructions to the letter, and keep your chin up, the recovery is long.

Hurt my right shoulder about 20 years ago. Just gimped around at work for several days, could not use a hammer at all and very light wrenching. Had a couple of cortisone shots. That didn't do much so they did an MRI. Said I had one torn and one ruptured tendon. I could still work so didn't want surgery as I could not afford to lay off. I did a lot of exercise on my own and it got near normal. Then when I turned 63 it really started acting up again. Could not raise my arm all the way up when laying on a creeper. Had to use other arm to lift it and let it back down.
That is why I decided to retire at 63. After I got away from heavy work for a few months it got ok again. It is better than my left shoulder now but they both hurt. Can't lay on them, can't hold them up for any length of time, but, they would have to get a lot worse before I would consider surgery at my age. Wife had hers done and the tendon pulled out of where they fastened it to her bones. She has rheumathoid arthritis so bones are soft. She has had eleven surgery's over the years and that one was the most difficult for her and me.
Brother in law had wear and tear repairs and came out in great shape, but long recovery.

Did you see Dr Sisk? He is who patched my collar bone. I had mine done in Sidney, instead of Valentine, but doing all the follow ups in Valentine. Do what he says, and you will be good as new.

Don't know where you live but if it anywhere near Rochester, MN suggest you visit Mayo Clinic for a second opinion. They helped me a ton after other doctors were at a loss.

Ron,

Read what "donjr" wrote, then read it 2 more times.

I went thru and did the same as he did. Get it scheduled and do it!! Don"t let anyone scare you out of it...it"s your body and that muscle tear will not heal itself as if by magic.

1. You will NOT be able to sleep in bed for 3-4 weeks, so go buy that LazyBoy first...it makes for very good sleeping. And 12 yrs after that surgery the LazyBoy is still the best possession I have.

2. Do the rehab exercises EXACTLY like you are instructed to do. You cheat on this and you will pay for it.

3. Don"t "get ahead of yourself"...you are not Atlas so don"t try to rush with the tillage, planting, baling, etc.

You will not feel 100% for many months, but later that shoulder will be better than the other one.

I did one thing wrong with this: I did it as an out-patient, was home 4 hrs after surgery. Slept fitfully. Next morning wifey assisted me walking to bathroom. Then sat at table for breakfast....next thing I knew I woke up to cereal and milk everywhere and wifey telling me I passed out. Blood pressure dropped too much.

Went back to LazyBoy...felt woozy one more time (almost fainted). Wifey brought some fruit juice; I enjoyed being waited until she figured out later in the day that I was enjoying that too much!

Get some good tractor magazines lined up, I can send you a good plow day video. Otherwise shut the #$%^&* TV off as those daytime soaps will rot your mind. FRDTV helps if you can stand more than you want to know about horses.
LA in WI

I had rotator cuff repair surgery May 28 2013, and mine is not completely done healing yet! Get feedback on your surgeon from others he "helped". I had my left one done in 2005, results were fantastic. Right side in 2013 (different surgeon) I am far from happy. By the way, I'm 68.

Ron, Had DUAL, Total Shoulder Replacement Surgery in 08, Rt in March, Lft in Dec! My Doctor told me to DO as he said and I wouldn't have any problems.
1 month after surgery "immobile" Stayed in a sling for that time Before Rehab started!! I Did and have not had any problems since. But there are things I Do Not Do Anymore! Like Drive steel post, dig post holes, and use a Stud Bar to bust rocks in the bottom of said post hole! Be smart about what you Do!
IMO!! too many people start the rehab process too quickly after most shoulder overhauls. I have seen problems crop up waaayyy too many times.
OK That Said I was sleeping a lot of the time in my Lazy-boy chair or wedge myself into the back fold of our couch it relieved the pressure on my shoulders I was lucky to get 4 hrs of straight sleep on any given night. I simply played musical chairs every night... bed to couch to easy chair.
I lived with the Pain for 10 yrs, before I got them fixed, the Gringing of my shoulders was horrible, when my Rt shoulder was replaced it looked as rough as 80 grit sand paper!
I could not put my hands in the small of my back at all!
Look at your X-rays it will tell you what is going on!
If You aren't not comfortable with your Dr Go Get a 2nd Opinion!!!
If you wish to visit about it Holler at me .....
512-577-3837.
Later,
John A.

I've had two shoulder surgeries myself. I'll second everything donjr told you. About three months before you can use the shoulder (or sleep in a bed) much at all. Around a full year for a complete recovery. Do the therapy religeously!!!!!!!!! AND don't try to rush the recovery or you will mess up the shoulder even worse than it is now. Plan on spending a lot of time walking the floors at night that first three weeks. Nothing you can't live through but definately not fun. Good luck!

Second opinions never hurt, especially when surgery is involved.

I am 73 and have been advised by my doctor to have rotator surgery. I pitched a lot of hardball as a young man.
I found three exercises on the het that have helped tremendously. I learned to sleep exclusively on the off shoulder with the bad arm in a"sling position" across my stomach. Between those two thing I reduced the pain 75%.
I asked that doctor how good my shoulder would be after the surgery. Could I at least throw an 80 mile an hour change up. He said "your throwing days are over!" WEll I can still throw a bullet from second to home,but I pay the price. So we'll just wait and see.
Especially after I just read about the hospital that performed a thousand major heart surgeries on patients with perfect hearts.

I had that same problem and my doc sent me to physical theripy(sp) which really helped. This route takes a while but I would give it some serious thought before doing surgery. Mine is almost gone now. Good luck!

I agree with a lot of the advice below - -need to add BUY A CRYO CUFF and use it a lot!!
It circulates cold water, Not Ice bag that can cause local frostbite if used too long - -the Cryo Cuff will significantly reduce swelling and pain.
I also slept in a Lazy Boy for at least a week - -then moved ot my bed with the Cryo Cuff.

DO THE THERAPY and ONLY the therapy - I was told a should has to be excercised to heal - BUT, doing too much can mess it up - -and I dfelt great and did do too much too soon, and set myself back badly.

Best Wishes!
CRYO CUFF Explanation

My older sister (65) had her right shoulder done the end of Dec. (30th?). The Doc told her to do everything by the book, including the ice water machine (cryo cuff?) and she is no longer on pain meds! Got about two more of PT and she should be able to start using it a little more each week. Good luck in whatever choice you make!