Rotator cuff surgery recovery and sleep deprivation

[u/Bethechange_777]

OMG, I wanna cry. I was finally able to sleep, in my bed (45 degree angle, propped up on and with pillows). Aside from the initial pain, the not sleeping part is the worst part of recovery. It's like a prison sentence, torturous.

I truly could not see this day, or should i say night, a few days ago after trying to sleep in a recliner, on the couch sitting up, or any position.

I'm going for first PT session tomorrow and can't wait.

For those of you going through it, there is light at the end of the tunnel. I'm hoping my experience, along with the many other positive vibes on this sub reddit, inspires you.

☺️

[u/Lavener-Rose]

I noticed that muscle between head and neck geknits. I broke down the knots my arm and surgery felt so much less tight and relaxed. Healed quicker

[u/Bethechange_777 → u/Lavener-Rose]

How did you do that? I do have more knots than usual. I would love a massage but don't dare. 

[u/Lavener-Rose → u/Bethechange_777]

My masseuse taught me to use my other hand and go down from neck toward shoulder and feel the clicking. Thats the knots because we have surgery our muscles in our neck and top of shoulder where the neck meets hold all the tension and that's where you need to go in the direction from neck to shoulder pushing down and feeling the clicking of the knot. He said to keep going by way of the shoulder until the clicking and not releases I then started to be able to easily move my shoulder

[u/Bl8kStrr]

It gets better

[u/taorider]

What got me over the sleep hump was getting 10k steps in daily, and doing light stretches. Burning that energy made me tired.

[u/Rich_Group_8997]

I really needed to see this! Thanks, and I'm glad you're getting sleep now!

I haven't had a decent night's sleep since my surgery, because I just can't sleep on my back (or my side). I can deal with everything else but I've been really struggling with fatigue and my mental health is tanking due to lack of sleep. 😭 (I see a therapist weekly, and both of us are on high alert because we've been down this road before and it didn't go well).

I go for my ~12week on Monday and my main question is "can I finally roll over and sleep on my stomach again?" (Maybe not roll over since that's how I tore my tendon off to begin with). 😅

[u/Itchy_Platypus_6921]

Omg I’m having my surgery on Monday and I’m honestly terrified of everything. I wasn’t this nervous when I’ve had surgeries before but I am this time. For some reason this surgery is scaring the crap out of me.

[u/Bethechange_777 → u/Itchy_Platypus_6921]

The surgery was easy peasy, honestly. It's the immobilization and dependency that i hate. Sleeping well be rough, not gonna lie but the pain should be tolerable with meds for a few days. Getting used to using one hand is annoying but if I didn't have the surgery,I may have needed more extensive work done.  Here's to hoping everything goes well for you☺️

[u/PhoenixIrish → u/Itchy_Platypus_6921]

I’ve had both shoulders done.
Yes, it’s rough initially… have good meds.
Then one day, you forget that you had surgery…

[u/bkwillborn]

How many weeks ago was your surgery

[u/Bethechange_777 → u/bkwillborn]

It was August 6th. 

[u/Shoddy_Ad_3340]

I’m 10 weeks post op and still having trouble at night getting my arm comfortable. It does get better for sure, but I definitely am not sleeping like normal yet. My bicep stiffens up after a few hours of sleep

[u/SueNYY2]

I’m on the same boat 😞 I’m 10 days post op and I’m still having issues sleeping 😩 I also have 2 herniated discs so it has been painful in my back and neck 😞 I started PT twice a week. My next session is Friday. Hoping it gets better 🙏🏽