Wimpy Posted August 10, 2005 Report Share Posted August 10, 2005 I'm going to have surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff in about a week,wondering if any of you have had the surgery and what i should expect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Finn Posted August 11, 2005 Report Share Posted August 11, 2005 Re: Surgery Good news/bad news...I've heard that's one of the most painful surgeries there is. But also heard it will fix the problem. Good luck and hope you're not too.....wimpy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkeygirl Posted August 11, 2005 Report Share Posted August 11, 2005 Re: Surgery I watched a video on that type of surgery. I'm no expert but they did it with scopes and I think a small incision.You'll probably have some postsurgery pain but I bet it'll cure the problem! And in case you didn't know, Rotator Cuff is an all around name for I believe like 3 tendons/ligaments in the shoulder; either you tear all or one of them. Good luck!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest bexar_county89 Posted August 11, 2005 Report Share Posted August 11, 2005 Re: Surgery My mom has had rotator cuff surgery. she recovered at a quick pace and now 8-9 years later she has no problem with it whatsoever. She said that the surgery itself has improved since she went under, so dont' expect too much pain!!! Hope eveything goes o.k. for you!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BowtechTurkeyHunter Posted August 11, 2005 Report Share Posted August 11, 2005 Re: Surgery It depends how much they have to do I have had shoulder surgery no problems to report my buddy had it and regrets every minute ... in my opinion i think its one of there weekest points to have surgery on... not sure why just have a theory is all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IowaDeerHunter Posted August 11, 2005 Report Share Posted August 11, 2005 Re: Surgery i don;t know anyone that had had it, butgood luck, and fast recovery. Will you be able to hunt? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Schmeck Posted August 11, 2005 Report Share Posted August 11, 2005 Re: Surgery Not to worry..........................................................it just feels like they cut your stinking arm off is all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
preacherman Posted August 11, 2005 Report Share Posted August 11, 2005 Re: Surgery good luck with the surgery Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaun_300 Posted August 11, 2005 Report Share Posted August 11, 2005 Re: Surgery Good luck buddy, I'm sure everything will go ok! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newarcher Posted August 11, 2005 Report Share Posted August 11, 2005 Re: Surgery Worry about gas prices, not this....it is a walk in the park. Assuming you will make it through surgery...sorry couldn't help it. ....you will be fine. I had it done Dec 3 of last year and worried like heck about it. I didn't have a full tear...partial tear, bursitis, and I had to have the acromion bone shaved down. Therefore, I didn't have my arm strapped to me for four weeks post surgery. Everything else is the same. My post surgery pain really was no worse than what I was getting zapped with 100 times a day trying to use my shoulder previously. In fact, my wife was having some problems at work and had to go back the following day. Whadda you know, I was woken up at 3:00 AM the very next morning with a sick child. So I had to spike pain medications and take the kid to the doctor less than 24 hours after surgery. The very next morning, I was back with the other one at the doctor's office. The doctor asked "sprain the arm?"...."nope, acromnioplasty and repair of a partial tear"...."when"...."yesterday". His eyes got really really big and he was justifyably concerned about be being stoned on pain meds and driving. I assured him that the sweat on my brow was not because it was hot outside, it was because I hadn't taken the pain meds for hours so that I could be lucid. I was fastracked out of the office thankfully. Trying to get a child buckled and all the requisite stuff was the worst part of the whole experience....I recommend not taking any kids anywhere...but when you are a dad, you do what you have to. The best advice I can give you is this: 1) Get a bunch of movies you like to watch after the surgery, 2) Ask for Versed to calm you down before the surgery...it be good stuff, 3) Take the pain medications as suggested by the doctor--being a hero will only cause the muscles to tense up and more pain, 4) If you don't follow any instruction I give you, follow this one....do your physical therapy and then some. Post operative physical therapy is the most important thing you can do. It will restore strength and most importantly, range of motion. The towel pull is the best thing I could find to stretch the shoulder but listen intently on your doctor, pay close attention to form, and don't fret it. I banged my shin on a wheel barrow yesterday (they aren't made for 6'3" men and their noses dig in) that hurt worse than the collective surgery pain and post surgery pain combined. Don't fret it, lay back and enjoy some air conditioning, movies, and some pharmacologically enhanced naps. New Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smitteken Posted August 11, 2005 Report Share Posted August 11, 2005 Re: Surgery Don't know. Luckily when I tore mine they fixed it with physical therapy. The cuff is made of four different muscles and by strengthening the other three it helped to heal the one that was damaged. My uncle had more than one torn and he had surgery about a year ago. If I remember correctly it took him about 4 months before he could draw his bow back. After its all said and done make sure you stick to the excersizes and therapy they tend to work better when people actually do them. good luck aaron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newarcher Posted August 11, 2005 Report Share Posted August 11, 2005 Re: Surgery Okay a couple of more things: 1) The first few nights or even up to a week, you must sleep in a recliner or chair...just make sure you raise the leg portion so your legs aren't bent 24x7. The reason is that there isn't any way to lay in a bed that doesn't pull or put pressure on the shoulder. Believe me on this one. 2) Set an alarm or have your wife/significant other/boyfriend wake you up to take your pain meds the first night or two. Don't get behind the pain (mainly a dull ache) and let it get out of control. Once you do, it is harder to get rid of it again. Most of my pain was the first night and was a dull ache kind of like when you sleep on your shoulder in one position for too long. I moved it around a little (I could because I didn't have the full tear) and was better. 3) Get lots and lots of exercise walking around. Blood clots are always a risk. My buddie's brother slept in his recliner but couldn't raise the leg rest. He developed blood clots, passed out, did a header onto a tile floor. Knocked two teeth out, broke his jaw a the TMJ joints, bit through his lip, broke his nose, and reinjured his shoulder. Don't let it happen to you...walk a lot when you aren't sleeping. Oh and one other thing.....STAY AWAY FROM THE BOW. Put it up to where you cannot even see it, the temptation will be too strong. I drew mine back way too early and I paid for it. In fact, that was the only time that I had any strong pains. When you do start pulling it back again, nock an arrow and shoot it....trying to let it down will actually do the damage. But don't even pick it up until given the clearance by the doctor and PT AND AND AND you have gotten far into a weight training program with no problems. I didn't listen when given the exact same advice and I wished I had. Good luck, New Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Palssonater Posted August 11, 2005 Report Share Posted August 11, 2005 Re: Surgery What are you symptoms like? I have "popped" my shoulder a couple times doing various things. It's like a harsh funny bone in my shoulder and then my hand is numb for a while with a aching pain in the shoulder. I was just wondering if that is rotator cuff or what. Good luck with the surgery. I am sure it will be worth it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tominator Posted August 11, 2005 Report Share Posted August 11, 2005 Re: Surgery 6 times on the table, but never for shoulder. Ask for Versett (sp?) as soon as the anesthesiologist shows up. Trust me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KirkV Posted August 11, 2005 Report Share Posted August 11, 2005 Re: Surgery I tore mine last year.. a partial tear and bursitis removal. Went through the phsical therapy first then the Injections of cortisone. Neither did the trick so they proceeded with the operation. It was a walk in the park... The pain meds were good for about 2 days then I did not even need them. The key thing with me was they gave me a cryocuff to put on the shoulder and fill it with icewater. I did this every hour I was awake for 1 week to keep the swelling down and it REALLY reduced the pain to very managable level. I had the wife get up with me if the pain woke me up and refill the cuff with ice water and poof... no pain. I only slept in the chair for 2 nights before my butt was back in bed for the night with my head propped up on a couple of pillows. I had the sugery in January of this year, had to get through last years deer season LOL. Now I rarely feel as if I had a problem. Do the therapy and all will be fine. I was told by my doctor and therapists that the ice treatment REALLY HELPS. It is a bit of a pain but if it speeds up recovery what the heck. Good luck and if you have any questions or you need the cryocuff email me and I will get it to you if your insurance will not provide it to you. Kirk email [email protected] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newarcher Posted August 11, 2005 Report Share Posted August 11, 2005 Re: Surgery Kirk is definitely right......ice does help. I too kept ice on it every moment I could and it reduced the pain and swelling and allowed a very fast return to range of motion. New Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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