Rotator Cuff post op advise

[RNAIL]

Had surgery Tuesday on the right shoulder, any words of advise and or wisdom??? How long before I can shoot again???

[mfalkner]

Drink heavily....

JK, take the pain meds as prescribed and do the therapy. My mother in law had hers done and is back to better than ever but it was a slow and painful recovery. I have one going bad and am dreading the day.

[southernmallard]

DO THERAPY.

It really does make all the difference in the world when you do the home exercises.

[donia]

-i'll echo take meds (much harder to get rid of the pain than it is to keep it in check)
-ice is your friend
-no matter how "good" it feels, don't push it
-i had interior lepsum/rotator cuff surgery on sept 5 and was shooting a 12ga dec. 19th...depending on how bad your tear was will dictate length of time off from guns, mine was bad.
-learn to love your recliner...much easier to sleep in, comfortably
-when you take first shower, don't freak out if your "surgery" arm is longer than the other (hangs lower due to compromising the "vacuum" in socket...rehab will strengthen muscles to compensate)

[Seymore]

It takes time. Don't get discouraged. I had shoulder surger a year ago next month and the doc told me it would take a year before I was 100% back and it was true. I got 80% back the first 3 months and the rest slowly came back over the next several months. It's back better than it was.

[edub20]

if you hear range of motion test RUN like hell.

[Denduke]

The operation ain't chit....The therapy can be pure murder or a balance between your threshold of pain and the exuberance of the therapist. I asked mine if he'd ever been struck by a patient He said you must have a low threshold of pain..."Well, when my butt comes off this mat as I'm screaming when you crank back on my arm might be an indication that my threshold is not as strong as yours for sure!" When I came back on next visit he said, "Well you came back; you're gonna make it." Gotta get rotation back, do your exercise...lay off the perch pole and flyrod and use an ultralite rig held low for awhile. Did mine in June hunted that season... My cuff only had a half inch tear and had to grind the cup out thru arthoscopy(no big cut, worked thru 2 lil holes). Mine stayed strapped down to my side for a month after surgery so lotta flexiblity was lost and had to be literally stretched back to insure full rotation. Gotta do it or you'll loose the rotation forever. Some docs start therapy earlier. The exercise where you use a cane with a weight over your head like a barbell while lying on your back on de bed letting you progressivly stretch is most important later on IMO. Also helps prevent a possible fat lip on a therapist!...Later DL

[The Waterfowler]

I had a complete tear and they had to use a screw to reattach mine. Plus the shaved under the labrum to give the cuff more space. A recliner and a detachable shower head were paramount in my comfort. I'm allergis to pain meds so I gutted the pain out. when I got in therapy I treated it like my life depended on it. Called my therapist the Doberman as he was always snapping at my ass to push through the regiments, but not overdo it if you can figure the scenario. Repetition, repetition 3 days a week then 5 days a week. Had surgery in mid May and was shooting a O/U 410 in September. Realistically it took me a year to completely recover all motion and be pain free. Was shooting a Beretta by opening day of duck season and put it down and went back to my Benelli as someone put the safety in the wrong place. You are probably younger than I am and might recover quicker. Avoid falling or making sudden lunges or grabs with your repaired arm. Was told that it didn't take much to undo what was repaired till all was healed. good luck. I wouldn't wish this surgery on anyone except some politicians in Washington.

[Deltaquack]

Which muscle? Therapy with therabands and such make a huge difference.....but which muscle it is can play a role in how fast you can shoot again.

[RNAIL]

I biggest thing is that being 61 years old I will have t take it slow and really concerntrate on the thearpy....I can only imagne how much fun that is going to be

[GulfCoast]

I had a complete tear and they had to use a screw to reattach mine. Plus the shaved under the labrum to give the cuff more space. I wouldn't wish this surgery on anyone except some politicians in Washington.

Me, too.

I had mine on Sept. 11 (no joke) and was able to hunt opening weekend. Therapy was simply, hellish.

[arduckslayer]

I had a complete tear and they had to use a screw to reattach mine. Plus the shaved under the labrum to give the cuff more space. A recliner and a detachable shower head were paramount in my comfort. I'm allergis to pain meds so I gutted the pain out. when I got in therapy I treated it like my life depended on it. Called my therapist the Doberman as he was always snapping at my !@# to push through the regiments, but not overdo it if you can figure the scenario. Repetition, repetition 3 days a week then 5 days a week. Had surgery in mid May and was shooting a O/U 410 in September. Realistically it took me a year to completely recover all motion and be pain free. Was shooting a Beretta by opening day of duck season and put it down and went back to my Benelli as someone put the safety in the wrong place. You are probably younger than I am and might recover quicker. Avoid falling or making sudden lunges or grabs with your repaired arm. Was told that it didn't take much to undo what was repaired till all was healed. good luck. I wouldn't wish this surgery on anyone except some politicians in Washington.

You had your surgery in late June when you got back from Argentina and you shot my 20 gauge on the dove field some that weekend.

[Roach]

Learn to use the other hand!

[Northdeltahunter]

Dependant on the doctor, severity of tear/surgery etc...BUT, the sooner you can start therapy the better! ( full disclosure, I am a therapist ) You will usually progress as follows: 1) pendulum exercises and PROM (passive range of motion)...you lay down and grit your teeth and therapist moves your arm throughout all planes. Home ex program of icing, pendulums, shoulder shrugs 2)AAROM (active assist range of motion) ...overhead pulleys, dowel exercises...you using your other arm to assist operated one 3)AROM (active range of motion) operated arm doing the motion...will start in supine and then progress to against gravity 4) Strengthening

Each one of these phases last for several weeks and usually strengthening will not begin until 10-12 weeks post op

Trust me when I say a therapist would much rather see you too early than too late...sometimes doctors do not refer to therapy until there are issues (lack of strength, ROM, pain, etc) and this makes for a longer and more difficult rehab process.

Be pro-active in your care and Godspeed.

[RNAIL]

Northdeltahunter, thanks for your insight. Sounds like fun, but I am ready to get started so I can get out of this sling, thanks for your input.