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Shoulder (replacement) surgery experiences

4 replies

QuestionableMouse · 05/01/2022 12:35

Can you please tell me your experiences of shoulder surgery? I had an accident and I've really buggered mine up- rotator cuff is badly damaged apparently and they're talking about surgery! Not really sure what to expect and don't want to fall down the Google wormhole. I'm on good painkillers at least so it's not too bad but I've heard shoulder surgery is horrible!

Thank you!

OP posts:
Pearlywunzel · 05/01/2022 13:00

I've had shoulder surgery twice. Mine was a SLAP tear rather than rotator cuff, but I think it's a similar recovery.

I had the same surgery twice as it wasn't successful the first time and I had much better support in place for my recovery the second time which I think helped.

I had a six week period off work each time, and regular physio exercises to do from the day of the surgery onwards. It's critical that you do the physio properly so that your shoulder heals correctly. I overdid mine a bit and needed to stick to exactly what they told me - doing more won't make you better faster!

You'll have your arm in a sling day and night for a couple of weeks, so make sure you have enough clothes you can wear that you can deal with one handed. Elasticated waist joggers, button up shirts, pjs with button up shirts, etc. Assuming you're a woman, some kind of bra substitute - I used vests with built in support that I could step into and pull up from the floor!

I also bought a non slip placemat so I could eat things like soup or porridge one handed without making a terrible mess.

I didn't have enough support after my first surgery, and was doing things like walking a 90 min round trip twice per day on the school run, for instance. The second time round, my mum came to stay and drove me for that kind of thing and it was so much better.

It's nothing to dread, pain-wise, but it's an intense recovery as you are constantly having to do physio exercises every couple of hours so you have to build that into everywhere you go.

My shoulder is entirely better now, though I've been advised never to do things like racquet sports or anything heavy over my head (like pruning or shelf stacking). I occasionally get a flare up if I do something it doesn't like, but it settles down again and is really strong now.

This is a bit long, sorry, but hopefully some of it is helpful! Good luck!

FawnFrenchieMum · 05/01/2022 13:08

My son had a rotator cuff repair about 5 weeks ago. It was painful for the first 3/4 days. He had around a week off college. He’s had physio from day one although it was very basic and practically no movement off his upper arm until today. He’s just been given permission to take the sling off around the house and in lessons but to keep it on in public, travelling, college etc.

Every specialise we’ve seen (and we’ve seen a few as he’s wanting to make it pro at rugby so wanted all the advice we could get) have said it’s all about the recovery, doing physio religiously and not rushing into anything too quickly. Slow and steady so make sure you have a lot of support after the surgery.

FamilyAreEverything · 05/01/2022 13:20

This is a great website:
www.shoulderdoc.co.uk

QuestionableMouse · 05/01/2022 20:10

Thank you! In a sling which is helping loads. I'll take a look at the website too!

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