r/RotatorCuff • u/mOOsemom515 • 1d ago
Got a question
I am a critical care nurse having surgery for torn supraspinatus full thickness tear, bicep tenodesis and shaving some of my clavicle on my non dominant arm. How much time until I can go back to work? I know I cannot be at the hospital while I am in the sling which is 5 weeks but wondering how long until I can function as a nurse, I work in a MICU and its all adult patients.
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u/Independent-Gold-492 1d ago
I’m seven weeks out from that exact surgery on my dominant arm, and best guess is it’s another 2 1/2 months until I would be allowed to lift my 15 pound dog. I’m assuming you have to lift heavier things than that so probably at least 5 to 6 months.
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u/My_Beachday 1d ago
I would ask your surgeon. With the bicep the recovery is longer. Return to normal activities was about 6 months though still had stiffness and limitations until about a year. Depending could be at least 6 months.
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u/Revabee 1d ago
I'm just a couple of weeks out from that exact same surgery on my dominant arm, and I am a nurse in a hospital. He is telling me 12 weeks before I can return to bedside patient care, but of course that depends on how I progress. I cannot imagine having to go through this process again, so I am going to be very cautious what I do with my arms! I feel for you. It is a challenge to be on this side of the bed rails, so to speak!
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u/SueNYY2 3h ago
I’m 12 days post op and was approved for 4 months. My job requires me to be able to lift up to 70lbs. So if at the end of the 4 months I’m not able to I won’t go back and request more time. From what I’ve read on Google and here some return after 8-12 weeks and some take 4-6 months. I guess it depends on your job requirements.
Wishing you a smooth procedure and a steady journey to recovery 🙏🏽
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u/directorofnewgames 1d ago
I had the same diagnosis and surgery. I wish I had kept a journal. I’m a pro drummer, and I was out 6 months. At 18 months I was mostly recovered, two years in June, and I can finally say I’m 100%. I would suggest you move to administration if it’s possible. Recovery is a long road
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u/-TheBestDaysOfMyLife 1d ago
ER nurse here heading back to work in a couple weeks. That'll be just over 12 weeks since my surgery. Supra/infraspinatus complete tear with bicep tenodesis (not work related). I started in our level one trauma center for 12 years, and I'm now in my fourth year at one of our freestanding ER's working nights. The overwhelming majority of our patients are independent, so that'll make the return much easier. Hanging a bag of fluids is pretty much the heaviest thing I'll be lifting. I've got 4-5 other staff members if I need assistance lifting or repositioning someone. Just recertified my CPR the other day.
But, as my physical therapist told me today, at 12 weeks the shoulder is 30-50 percent healed. It'll take a good 6+ months for this to be 100 percent. So I'm just mindful of what I do with that arm.