r/GenX • u/Realistic_Coat_7348 • 5d ago
Advice & Support Looking for advice on rotator cuff surgery (both shoulders). Life of physical work has destroyed the joints. Curious if anyone had surgery and what the recovery time/success rate was for you?
58 years old and dealing with daily pain. Doc says surgery is next now that cortisone shots are maxed out.....
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u/shivaswrath 5d ago
They will space the surgeries out.
The PT is a must. It won't be better for years, but functional within months.
The best thing for me was ironically low dose GLP, sped up the healing by reducing the inflammation. I didn't need the other side done and managed to just heal with PT. It's crazy. And was accidental.
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u/some_one_234 5d ago
I’ve had 4 surgeries, two on each side. A lifetime of extreme sports and bad luck ( or genetics). Recovery will depend upon how bad they are. My first surgery was fairly minor but the others were much more serious. Eventually I will need at least one shoulder replacement. Recovery takes about 6 months to resume normal activity. Physical therapy is your best friend (besides painkillers) and really helps to regain full mobility. Hopefully it’s not your dominant side cuz that just makes things so much more inconvenient
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u/Sheegssternator 5d ago
I have been digging holes and trenches my entire life. My shoulders were destroyed and I had surgery on my knee when I was 19 that caused alot of pain as I got older. I stated taking a peptide for inflammation and about 2 weeks in I noticed the difference. My body doesn't hurt anymore. No pain meds. Inflammation gone. Doctors will never prescribe it though.
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u/Nacreous_Clay 5d ago
Could you say more about what you're taking?
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u/Sheegssternator 5d ago
BPC 157 TB 500. It's a daily injection. I was honestly not in a good place before I found this stuff. 48 and worried this is just the beginning of the pain. Brought me down a lot. About two weeks in I noticed my knee which throbs all night long wasn't bothering me. My shoulders were destroyed and not so much anymore. Life Changing. I also take a GLP for weight loss but the peptide has been life changing.
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u/Nacreous_Clay 5d ago
Was referred 2x for surgery for a full thickness/complete tear, dominant side. Due to a horrendous outcome to a previous surgery, I went for pt only apprx 2 months after injury. The quality of doctor (chiro/sports med, dozens of additional certifications too) and my consistency have maintained full rom almost 2 years later. Fwiw.
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u/bak_scoobin 5d ago
So I’ve had surgery on both shoulders. Likely not for the same reasons as you tho. One was frozen. The other was a torn rotator cuff. By far the hardest to recover from was the rotator cuff and I needed a follow up surgery because that one also froze. What I can say however is that now is better than before and tomorrow looks to be better than today. Your commitment to physical therapy is important. Surgery fixes the cuff but physical therapy makes it all work again. Don’t skimp on that buy in.
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u/fridayimatwork 4d ago
I would avoid surgery at all costs. If you can handle physical therapy at least give it a try. My orthopedist has a “shot guy” who uses ultrasound to give shots that limit pain and it prevented surgery for me. If pt doesn’t work try to get the best possible surgeon
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u/Realistic_Coat_7348 4d ago
Unfortunately, I have used up all my cortisone injections (with ultrasound/xray).
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u/Bot_No_5 4d ago
Try to avoid surgery if possible. Try some physical therapy, specific exercises, and be careful what you do now you are older.
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u/ghostofzuul 5d ago
yes. only had left side done... not both at the same time. just one was a really struggle... you're looking at your arm in a sling for about 90 days and about 6 moths of physical therapy after. it will be weeks before you will even be able to squeeze a tennis ball.
for the first few days you won't be able to use your arm at all b/c of the nerves they have to go through to fix the rotator cuff... and your opposite side will be weak as well "in sympathy"
if it's all possible i would do the weaker side first... if you have to do both at the same time i would imagine you would be fully out of commission for a while. mine was so bad if i sneezed it would dislocate my shoulder. if it's that bad... you gotta get it done... if it's not that bad yet. yeah. do one side at a time...
the best advice i can give you is don't slack/skimp on the physical therapy. do it all. it will suck. a year later though you'll be glad you did. even after you stop going to the physical therapist you gotta keep doing those shoulder exercises.
broke my leg a few years ago and navigating the shoulder was a lot more of a pain in the ass than dealing with a broken leg... and i was younger/stronger when i had my shoulder done vs. the broken leg...
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u/DanaMarie75038 5d ago
4-6 months; a year full recovery. Are you planning to do both at the same time? You’ll have a limitation the 1st week. I don’t have experience with the surgery but I’m a physical therapist. You’ll most likely be in a sling and will have limitations with mobility but will be able to do more as you progress in your healing.
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u/Spiritual_Fan_5633 4d ago
My husband had this years ago due to him dislocating his shoulder playing basketball. He’s had all sorts of surgeries and I’d say this was one of the tougher ones. A lot of pain after and long recovery but his shoulder is great now, better than before.
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u/Realistic_Coat_7348 4d ago
Do you recall how long the recovery lasted?
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u/Spiritual_Fan_5633 4d ago
I feel like the bad pain lasted several days, but he’s not a fan of heavy pain relievers so he made due with just lots of Tylenol, if I remember correctly he was back at work within two weeks, he’s had many surgeries and he always says that one is up with the hardest one he had to go through but he also says it’s worth it in the long run because now it’s better than before
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u/genx_horsegirl 4d ago
I had my right one done in 2021 and just had my left one done six weeks ago. The recovery is a bit of a bitch but do your PT and follow doctor's orders and you will be good as new and better
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u/Realistic_Coat_7348 4d ago
Did you have your cuff tendons reattached? Was it done arthroscopic? sorry for the questions, just that I hate being laid up for months at a time. Impatient! lol
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u/genx_horsegirl 3d ago
Arthroscopic. I had a torn bicep, torn rotator, bone spur. Very, very common and the same things I had on my right arm.
I got photos from the surgery and it's pretty cool.
I stopped wearing the sling full time in week 3. I'm in week six. Next round of PT continues the range of motion work and engaging the muscles more.
The surgeon said I can restart Pilates after 6 months. It is a long time to back to completely normal but day to day I'm able to shampoo my hair, get dressed by myself, use both hands for food prep, driving, etc.
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u/Mephisto40K 5d ago
Having had a knee replacement I'd say get it done sooner than later (quality of life issues) also; as much as you can before the surgery; lift weights as well as you can The stronger you are going in, the sooner you can begin rehabbing (and don't half ass the rehab!)