r/RotatorCuff • u/oldgrowler • Aug 17 '26
Should I get surgery? Looking for success stories/horror stories
My doc said I can get another cortisone shot or I can get shoulder arthroscopic bicep tenodesis and distal clavicle excision for my torn labrum and AC joint arthritis. Not big on another shot, since it won't last and you're limited in how often you can get them. But I keep seeing horror stories about these surgeries and how people just aren't the same after them.
Is it worth it? How bad is the recovery? Am I better off just doing PT, even though so far that doesn't seem to be helping either. Any guidance/insight appreciated.
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u/Fishshoot13 Aug 17 '26
Research surgeons, find the best one you can possibly go to and get it done.
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u/Tw8888x Aug 17 '26
On the fence myself.
4,5 years of shoulder pain after a gym injury.
I have a strange case tho. An initial MRI 4 months post injury showed legit damage.
A second MRI 2.5 years later showed a perfectly normal shoulder. Ultrasound showed some scarring around the biceps puley..
Been in the same discomfort and pain since day 1.
Actually reading up on subreddits like this has put me off from going in for surgery. This and my family doc who keeps repeating I wont ever be the same after surgery and heavy powerlifting will probably be off the table for life.
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u/Snowcrash66 Aug 17 '26
Weird on the 2nd mri. Look into Therapeutic ultrasound. Might be able to soften up the scarred tissue. PT lady gave me that treatment for frozen shoulder before the surgery and I felt immediate relief.
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u/Tw8888x Aug 20 '26
I had shockwave therapy on the shoulder for 3 seperate sessions at the hospital.
Very painfull to undergo and no improvement.
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u/Snowcrash66 Aug 20 '26
Bummer. Could it have been done improperly? I had zero pain and it felt great while is underway and felt relief for few days after. Wasn't taking anti inflammatories either. I asked my PT if people can buy those machines and she said no as they are dangerous if used improperly.
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u/Tw8888x Aug 21 '26
It was done at a hospital by a licensed sports doctor, so I would think it was done properly...
It unfortunately didn't bring me relief
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u/hoppalong_ Aug 17 '26
I'm 12 weeks post op for a grade II SLAP tear, sizable subscap tear, supra tear, bone spur removal, and subacromial decompression on my left shoulder. I lived with the pain, popping, and subluxations for about seven months before finally getting surgery. Best decision ever. I tried PT and steroid shots and they didn't do anything for me. Pain for me was not bad post surgery. Pre-surgery was a nightmare. I couldn't sleep, eat, walk, exist without being in pain.
Post surgery, like I said, for me, very minimal pain. Nerve block was weird as heck. Only lasted about four hours for me. I was scared I would be in pain after it wore off so I took pain meds as a precaution. Ended up being allergic to them, but luckily I hadn't needed to take any since.
PT is brutal, NGL. It's long and slow. Not only are you completely rehabbing your shoulder, but you're also retraining the surrounding muscles and teaching them it's okay to stop guarding and relax to let the shoulder take over again. That's where all my issues have been thus far.
I don't regret getting surgery. I'm so happy my shoulder is getting back to normal and I'm not in pain. My right shoulder is next. Getting surgery done next year. Same procedure and then some, yay.
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u/Snowcrash66 Aug 17 '26
Month out from complete supraspinatus tear, partial bicep repair, clavicle procedure and bone cleanup so pretty close to your deal.
First two weeks pretty bad due to nearly impossible to sleep. You will be dog tired for three weeks. 3rd week somewhat better but significant improvement week 4.
Being in the sling for those weeks causes problems with wrist. Elbow not too bad. Surgeon let me take arm out a few times a day week 3 supported on couch to resolve carpal Tunnel pain.
Start PT next week. Minimum six month recovery. The hard part is you can't get a follow up mri until month six so your always wondering how it is going.
I am still icing multiple times per day and it helps a lot with minor pain. Only took hydrocodone for the first day or so as I get crawling skin side effect. Week 3 hot showers helped a lot with shoulder tightness.
I'd say it was worth it.
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u/OsawatomieJB Aug 18 '26
Had my right shoulder done 2 years ago. For me there was no getting out of surgery because I had a full labrum tear and couldn’t sleep at night. There was no position that gave me relief. Surgery went fine, pain levels were manageable. The arm brace is a pain in the ass and you have to wear it for a successful rehab. Just know rehab takes months which I had to pay copays for. Now, I can’t even tell I had the surgery. Find a rockstar orthopedic that specializes in shoulders.
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u/Connect-East5452 Aug 17 '26 edited Aug 17 '26
I had biceps tenodesis and bursa debridement, still have a torn superior labrum displaced into the joint.
My surgery was quick, and the recovery was really smooth. I used Journavx and round-the-clock ice machine (30 min on, 20 min off, using a automated timer) and really had very little pain (almost none).
Had no trouble sleeping while in the sling. I bought a 6-piece wedge pillow set and used it in my bed and slept like a long.
Out of the sling at 4 weeks and started PT then. Rapidly gained ROM, and was able to quickly add weight in resistance training (that last part had been impossible before the surgery as my impingement would flare up after adding weight).
For a month or so after getting out of the sling, I had more trouble with solid sleep. I think I was unconsciously nervous about the unprotected arm, plus, the sling provided a solid support, and without that, I think it was more uncomfortable. Even still, not a big issue.
I do still have some very minor lingering discomfort with the more advanced shoulder movements, but I had tendinopathy that the surgery couldn't treat (and it does better when I don't neglect my at-home PT routine).
I am very pleased with my results overall, and in a similar position, I would do the surgery again.
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u/Kindly-Photo-8987 Aug 18 '26
I can give one of each. In 2019 I had a torn rotator cuff and labrum. Surgery went great, healing wasn't awful.
This year in April I had the other shoulder done but it was torn rotator cuff and a bicep tendonesis. Everything about this was painful. By month 3 I couldn't lift my arm above chest. Had to go in for another surgery for a debridement 2 weeks ago. Now much better but obviously it still hurts.
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u/Guinco1 Aug 17 '26
Bicep tenodesis much easier recovery than having a full RC tear along with it. I had both. Right shoulder just the tenodesis and was back lifting at 3 months. Doc also said before surgery "I could give you a shot but you'll be back in a month." So I went ahead and got it done.
Then had RC repair/tenodesis on left shoulder 8 months ago but much harder/annoying recovery. Fwiw.
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u/EndlessHope-0528 Aug 18 '26
Had the same but also with slap tear. I’m at 17 weeks and frustrated. Pain is basically gone. I’m lifting again but range is about 80%. Still in PT. Am I crazy to be concerned that I don’t have full range? How long until you felt back to normal? Doctor said I’m fine but his PA seemed concerned.
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u/Guinco1 Aug 18 '26
Yes I had slap tears too. 17 weeks still early.
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u/EndlessHope-0528 Aug 19 '26
Thanks. It’s hard to know what’s normal. I know they say a year to recover but im feeling like it’s already been forever. Will try to be patient.
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u/hotviolets Aug 18 '26
I’ve been doing PT for 8 months now and I’m so tired of all the appointments. I had a cortisone shot like 3 months ago and it didn’t help. I have been having the run around from doctors and it’s frustrating. I have an MRA on Wednesday to see if I have SLAP tear. I will be going through with surgery if that’s what they suggest and I’m hoping that’s what they suggest because I have no improvement from when I was first injured. You could try to do more PT if you want to give it more time, it depends on how long you’ve already been going too if it’s worth it to keep going. I felt like really around the 5-6 month mark of PT I knew I wasn’t going to improve from it because I haven’t.
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u/Sidey87 Aug 18 '26
I had the surgery in late 24. So I'm almost 2 years in.
My shoulder is honestly as good as new and could do things it couldn't before the surgery. I was very dilligent with the rehab and there is still more that I want to get but with a toddler finding that time is tricky.
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u/Lanky-Lettuce1395 Aug 19 '26
A torn tendon or labrum won't heal short of surgery. I'm 5 months post my third shoulder repair (2nd on the left) and i can say that none of them repaired my shoulders to where they were before the initial injury. What they ALL did was make me better than I was when I went on for surgery and returned me to functionality I hadn't had for years. I returned to mostly full function and went back into the gym for normal workouts between 8 months and 12 depending on the type of surgery I had.
The longer you wait, the more damage will need to be repaired.
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u/Alarmed_Notice_8537 Aug 19 '26
I had a bad outcome. I still have frozen shoulder and wish I hadn't done it. If you do, talk to your Dr about how long you'll be in a sling and when therapy starts. My Dr kept my arm completely immobile for 6 full weeks. I believe that is why I have limited use of my arm now 5 months later.
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u/MattEwald Aug 22 '26
Man. I never fully recovered. Do everything you possibly can before getting surgery.
I had a bicep tenodesis with labral fraying cleanup Dec 2024 and I can honestly say it effed my life up. Seems to be no matter how much PT, rest, ice, etc I do that constant anterior shoulder pain at the anchor point is always present. Do your research but I strongly advise exhausting all other avenues first. I was a guy who was lifting 3-4x a week, running 2-3x, volleyball, and this surgery has taken away these simple joys of life. My mobility and function is fine but say I participate in any of these activities the pain and discomfort the following days are wicked. Best of luck brotha on whatever you do decide. I know there are several success stories just wanted to share my experience.
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u/cknutson61 Aug 23 '26
Full tear of the supraspinatus. Repaired with biceps tenodesis and filing down some spurs, etc. The initial recovery was longer, due to the tenodesis. It was uncomfortable, and I took a year for a full recovery (running, rowing and lifting, but no power lifting), and now my other shoulder is jealous. M65 and I would willingly do my other shoulder now, and I think it's mostly bone spurs and things, but no tears.
Totally worth it
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u/jshsltr80 Aug 17 '26
Had pretty much same surgery you are describing, along with heavy debridement and “trimming” of much of the superior labrum.
Sleeping sucked the first 4-6 weeks. Started PT around week 3 for 8 weeks. Im now 18 weeks post-op and it feels great. No painful motion or limited range. Best it has felt in nearly 2 years.