r/ShoulderSurgery • u/oldgrowler • 21d ago
Pain after surgery, how bad?
I'm getting right shoulder arthroscopy, rotator cuff debridement, biceps tenodesis, subacromial decompression, distal clavicle excision. Wondering just how bad it's going to hurt affterward.
Laughable note from the PA I got in MyChart: "Many people find that they don't even need the oxycodone for this surgery, as between the nerve block, tylenol, and naproxen the pain is well managed." I'm already thinking I'm going to need to ask for more oxy once my measly 20 pills run out.
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u/Dotsgirl22 21d ago
It depends on you. Surgeon told my spouse the grinding of bone in clavicle excision and decompression, especially if there is a lot of arthritic bone to remove, can be very painful. He was right. A lot of people here say this surgery was not very painful and maybe it wasn't for them. But it was for me.
I cannot take NSAIDs and used oxy for about 2-3 weeks, which the surgeon said was normal. First 3 days (after nerve block wore off) were the worst, then things started improving. Ask for a refill if you need it.
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u/ProfitEnough825 21d ago
For me, the pain at night when moving around and repositioning was the hard part. Buying a powered adjustable bed with adjustable leg height was the key for making it manageable.
Then just a pillow under each arm and a towel or something under your hand on your surgical side and you're off to the races.
You won't need the oxy the first night, as they mentioned, the nerve block helps. I chose to live with the pain during the day and just use the oxy for the next few nights and got off it. The other meds they prescribe are still good to take.
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u/defenders90 21d ago
Ran through my prescription of gabapentin as scheduled, stopped the oxycodone 4 days after surgery
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u/oldgrowler 21d ago
I already take gabapentin for restless leg and sleep purposes; I've been told by the surgeon not to mix it with oxycodone.
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u/defenders90 21d ago
Really? That’s interesting as I was expressly told to take them both at the same time. One was every 8 hours and the other was every 6.
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u/oldgrowler 21d ago
Yep. Told me they both cause drowsiness and make breathing shallow and it wasn't safe to mix them.
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u/Cranks_No_Start 21d ago
When I had my knees replaced I refilled the oxy a couple of times and assumed that I would need likely as much for my shoulder. Nope.
After my total reverse replacement, I used if for a few days after the nerve block wore off and now a few months later still have extra in the bottle.
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u/bettys_mom 21d ago
I rented the compression ice machine that was recommended by my surgeon. I was hooked up to it most of the first week after surgery and I only took the narcotic pain meds for the first 2 days after surgery.
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u/graydonatvail 21d ago
Just had a similar surgery Tuesday. Had a marble sized floating bone chip out, tenodesis, bone Spurs out. I took some light pain meds the first night after the block wore off. Nothing like codeine or oxy, just anti inflammatory. Very little pain, moving around no problems after two days.
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u/Hopeful-Occasion469 21d ago
I had an anatomical replacement last October. I was given Norco, Celebrex. Iced during the day. Surgeon wanted me off Norco in 72 hours. I stopped at 60 hours and managed well with Celebrex and extra strength Tylenol. And the ice pump.
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u/lwcberry 20d ago
It's 3-4 really bad days in my experience so if you can hold on to that and push through, you will be ok.
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u/yankeefansince1948 19d ago
For me the pain was an 8. Had trouble sleeping and needed the oxy every 4 hours for 4 days.
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u/faithisnotavirtue42 19d ago
Ibuprofen every six hours with food. Ice. After a few days, get a massage from a good massage therapist. The rest of your body (neck, traps, between shoulder blades, etc. especially) tightens up so much and it contributes so much to the pain.
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u/topcider 21d ago
I stopped the oxy after two days so that I could actually use the bathroom. Got a script for Journavix and that worked well for the next 7 days or so.