Just had surgery to reattach shoulder tendons/rotator cuff. Total detachment

[QOD]

That was a shock. I only saw the surgeon last week, MRIs scan showed approx 50% tear of one tendon and minor of other 2 with osteo arthritic bone spurs
I was expecting a de compression of shoulder top bone and file of the end and he said he Might have to stitch on tendon. 1 hour procedure and 5 days in a sling
I woke up to 2 were totally hanging flapping and 1 was mostly off. My arm was being held in place by muscles and flesh only. Eek
2.5 hrs surgery
6 weeks in a sling and off work
3 months no driving
7 months before I'll have 70% use

He said he'd never seen such extensive damage in someone who just presented with lack of mobility and burning ache ... I only got referred as a side thought from not being able to swim.

Anyone else survived this? I'm utterly incapacitated right now and wondering when the pain dies down.
I'm home on mop hone and tramadol

sympathy please bump

Oh you poor love.
Sorry no experience, but didn't want to read and run.
My friend has had 2 major ortho surgeries in the last 6 months and will have one more this year.
I would say from her experience....do your exercises, take lots of pain meds, and make sure people look after you!
Take care x

Ooh, I have shoulder trouble. Still have full mobility but sporadic ache.

Be careful you don't leave it too long before getting it checked!

I have had what you had.... and I was not in the kind of pain they would have expected, and MRI did not show the extent of the damage!! Surgeon was surprised when he actually saw it all.....

Do follow all advice, take some pain meds so you can do the exercises/therapies they recommend but not more than that, and keep exercising. I am 8 years on now, and have good use of that arm/hand but have to be careful of "impact" to the shoulder. No hitting something with that hand, quick pushing, etc. Just a bit careful. I still do my therapy exercises to be sure muscles hold everything in place properly and to keep some strength up, but no one can tell otherwise.

The recovery, however, was the most painful, slow thing I've ever gone through. AND - after all the physical therapy with surgeon's asst. etc. I went to another physical therapist who had a more hands on way of working, and learned a few more things to try that were very helpful - so I'd say they are not all equal, and you may learn from visiting more than one.

Good luck!!

Thanks ... i want flowers for real
glad there is light at end of tunnel I just didn't expect anything like this agony

You've got me worried. For over a year, I have had a problem in my right shoulder (I'm right-handed). Symptoms have been pain in the upper outside of my arm (not in the shoulder) and inability to raise arm above shoulder height/behind back without pain.

MRI showed possible SLAP tear, some tendonitis and bursitis. I've had two cortisone injections which haven't worked. Courses of anti-inflammatories have taken the edge off, but nothing else. I'm waiting to see the surgeon!

I would be interested to hear about your symptoms prior to surgery. I know I certainly wouldn't be able to swim either!

Good luck with your recovery.

Burning sensation in bicep and top of shoulder, clicking and cracking noise on lifting arm up and also weakness.
coukd do breast stroke but not front crawl. Kinda like a t Rex imitation
but nothing bad at all!
To be opened up and all that found was a real shock.
I'm on morphine, and tramadol and topped up round that with parecetamol and ibuprofen and yet was bawling last night.

can tolerate hot and cold now so been icing then heat
i just can't move my arm at all. No strength in fingers oh and hallucinating too
cons sec rang earlier and giving me another week of morphine