Shoulder surgery

koszman

Ten Pointer
Contributor
Anyone have a torn rotator cuff repaired. Just got referred to a surgeon for a consultation for a tear in my left rotator cuff. Just wondering the recovery time did the surgery help.
 

NCHNTR

Old Mossy Horns
I had it in 1999. Worst time of my life going through recovery, mine was total reconstruction and I remember it hurting bad and I couldn't sleep in a bed post surgery. It is stronger now but range of motion still lacks compared to my left. Good luck and stick with rehab and don't over do it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

Mike Noles aka conman

Administrator
Staff member
Contributor
Had it done two years ago. Complete recovery with full range of motion restored. To hell with the shots!! They are useless and hurt worse than the shoulder pain.
 

Buxndiverdux

Old Mossy Horns
I had it in 1999. Worst time of my life going through recovery, mine was total reconstruction and I remember it hurting bad and I couldn't sleep in a bed post surgery. It is stronger now but range of motion still lacks compared to my left. Good luck and stick with rehab and don't over do it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Same results for my wife... Pain....
 

Frostcat

Twelve Pointer
Just had it done on February 15th. Had a torn rotator cuff and a torn bicep muscle repaired, several bone spurs and arthritis removed, and part of my collar bone worked on. Post surgery, I have had minimal pain. Just got back from my second therapy session. Yes, the therapy hurts at times but I seem to have a great therapist who doesn't seem to want to tear my arm off or anything. My surgeon was Dr. Richard Jones at Southeastern Sports Medicine and he has a reputation as one of the best in the country at it and so far I agree. I asked the therapist what I was looking at before going back to work and he said 4 months at the least and probably longer and the dr said 4-6 months. So I guess turkey season and the first part of trout season is wiped out for me this year.
 

Firedog

Old Mossy Horns
Contributor
Never had that done, mine was torn up worse than that.. but I can assure you I did not enjoy the recovery, but it is better now, for the most part.
 

JoeR

Eight Pointer
Not a rotator cuff, but I had a bad separation on my right shoulder (all ligaments separated) from a motorcycle crash. Flew to Texas to have a specialist repair it. This guy was pretty unorthodox, but he fixes a lot of dirt bikers. As soon as I was cleared to ride again a few months later, I crashed while practicing and broke my left collar bone. Skin was tented, and had surgery to repair that side. Got a plate and 9 screws. So that was 2 surgeries in 4 months (3 if you count the fact that they harvested repair parts from my leg to fix the shoulder).

Here are a few thoughts:
You learn to sleep in a recliner.
6 weeks in a sling is a LONG freakin' time!
You're probably going to need someone to help you get in and out of your shirts for a while.
Rehab is long. A year later I have almost all my range of motion back, but I am WAY down on strength. I started strength training with 2 lb weights...as pathetic as that is. I am finally able to do half the pushups I was able to do before, but there was a time when I couldn't do a single one correctly. Progress is slow.
As my Doc told me, if you're not going to be dedicated to the rehab, don't do the surgery.
The rehab to restore range of motion is not nearly as tough as I've heard others say it was.
Strength training is harder than I ever thought it would be.
Find a good Doc.

Good luck.

Joe
 

samuelrp

Eight Pointer
Frito guy was out of work six months, had complications including frozen shoulder. Wine delivery guy was out of work for a year, and lost his job. He had complications including a frozen shoulder. My friend Bobby was an outdoor, physical person. He became an alcoholic, and suffered from a frozen shoulder.

I had a torn rotator cuff, muscle torn away, inflamed bursa with impingement, and a bone spur which was the original reason for surgery. I have three screws in my shoulder. I had complications including a frozen shoulder. I did therapy at home for two years. Still can't use a leaf blower all day. It's a 30 minute surgery and months of recovery. Learn to wipe with the other hand. I've had cancer surgery, kidney stones, assorted broken bones, and a bleeding ulcer caused by the dr. But the shoulder was the worst.

I also know two other guys that did well, but they both cried like babies in therapy. Good luck.
 

Mack in N.C.

Old Mossy Horns
Frito guy was out of work six months, had complications including frozen shoulder. Wine delivery guy was out of work for a year, and lost his job. He had complications including a frozen shoulder. My friend Bobby was an outdoor, physical person. He became an alcoholic, and suffered from a frozen shoulder.

I had a torn rotator cuff, muscle torn away, inflamed bursa with impingement, and a bone spur which was the original reason for surgery. I have three screws in my shoulder. I had complications including a frozen shoulder. I did therapy at home for two years. Still can't use a leaf blower all day. It's a 30 minute surgery and months of recovery. Learn to wipe with the other hand. I've had cancer surgery, kidney stones, assorted broken bones, and a bleeding ulcer caused by the dr. But the shoulder was the worst.

I also know two other guys that did well, but they both cried like babies in therapy. Good luck.

I broke my neck in three places. 2 surgeries . Had several bone spurs on right shoulder and they removed those several years ago. More painful than the Neck surgeries.

Got a left shoulder problem now. person who reads the MRI in the report sees slight tear and Doctor doesnt see it. So, I am doing rehab and we will see what happens. Pain not great right not but annoying as heck.
 

beard&bow

Twelve Pointer
Contributor
A good friend of mine had surgery on his right shoulder. Post op appointment the Dr. apologized for taking too much out and suggested amputation. Said his arm would be useless in 10 years. Another friend has had the same surgery on the same shoulder in the past 6 years. Soon to have another one. I got referred for surgery 3 years ago and still haven't gone. I've learned my limits and keep it at that. I'm just thankful I can still use my arm. Good luck with whatever you decide.
 

Eggman

Twelve Pointer
Lots of bad stories here but I have had both shoulders done in the past 6 years. Get 3 recommendations. Follow what they say. Do the recovery and do not try to do more. You will be ok. I can shoot my bow with no issues and do as I want now.
 

Mike Noles aka conman

Administrator
Staff member
Contributor
Lots of bad stories here but I have had both shoulders done in the past 6 years. Get 3 recommendations. Follow what they say. Do the recovery and do not try to do more. You will be ok. I can shoot my bow with no issues and do as I want now.

Perfect response. I'll second the comments about rehab. If you're not going to be dedicated to rehab and if you can't deal with the pain of recovery, then get used to your shoulder hurting and continual loss of use.
 

Frostcat

Twelve Pointer
I agree Mike. I realize I am just now starting down this long road but it had gotten to the point that I woke up every night in pain. I couldn't shoot my guns or bows and was getting to the point that I couldn't do my job. I am just praying that my goes well and I am definitely doing exactly what the therapist tells me -no more and no less.
 

GSOHunter

Twelve Pointer
Contributor
I had a labral reconstruction done to my right shoulder July 2014. The first two weeks were miserable. My wife moved to a guest bedroom and I took up the whole queen bed for that period. I had pillows to prop me up. My Dr. gave me sleeping pills, pain pills and muscle relaxants. Those two weeks were a blur. As long as I kept up with the pills and the ice it was ok. After those 2 weeks I spent another 4 keeping my arm in a sling. I did around 8 weeks of PT and ended with 100% range of motion. It took 2-3 months before the pain was lower than when I started. After 7-8 months it was barely noticeable and then it eventually went away completely. I am glad I had the surgery done. The alternative would have been a constant popping severe pain anytime I threw a ball or lifted my arms above my shoulders.

1.5 years after the surgery I developed some pain. It took 2 injections with one directly in my joint for the bursitis to go away.
 
Last edited:

oldest school

Old Mossy Horns
I would be interested in how you guys injured your shoulders?

One time trauma, years of abuse, what caused your shoulder to need surgery?
 

Mike Noles aka conman

Administrator
Staff member
Contributor
I would be interested in how you guys injured your shoulders?

One time trauma, years of abuse, what caused your shoulder to need surgery?

Weight lifting was the primary culprit, then just a lot of manual, physical work that involved a lot of lifting, pushing and pulling. I put it off for years, but finally got to be where it was a "have to".
 

ako_deerking

Twelve Pointer
Lifting weights, sports and a car accident have all but ruined my right shoulder, I'm not even 30 yet! I have had problems for the last 10 years. I have a constant throbbing pain, it pops and cracks with any rotation and I am about to see a doctor for it finally.
 

beard&bow

Twelve Pointer
Contributor
I would be interested in how you guys injured your shoulders?

One time trauma, years of abuse, what caused your shoulder to need surgery?

An old Hustler injury. I got to the centerfold and that was all she wrote...

Weights, repeated overhead lifting during work and a SgtMaj that had a hard-on for pushups. I remember the morning it finally gave way. My chest touched the ground and my left side came back up. My right side stayed down. I swear I could feel the pain in the tips of my hair. It was just before Christmas leave block so, I spent 2 weeks using my left hand for everything. I need surgery, but fear it. I've heard more bad stories than good. I know I'm delaying the inevitable though.
 

Redeye

Administrator
Staff member
Contributor
I would be interested in how you guys injured your shoulders?

One time trauma, years of abuse, what caused your shoulder to need surgery?

Fell off the short bus... Seriously...

We were swan hunting at Conman's who, at that time, had a camo short bus to haul hunters around. After the hunt, I was riding in the very back and tried to use the emergency exit to get out. I tried to step over the dead swans in the back, my foot slipped on the door frame and out I fell. I landed with all my weight on my right shoulder. I tore 3 of the 4 tendons in th rotator cuff completely off the bone.
 
Last edited:

Part-time hunter

Ten Pointer
Anyone have a torn rotator cuff repaired. Just got referred to a surgeon for a consultation for a tear in my left rotator cuff. Just wondering the recovery time did the surgery help.

Had mine done four years ago this month. When they got in there they found not one but two separate tears so they put two plastic screws in and did a bone decompression to open up where it had been closed up basically from not using it. Don't watch a Youtube video like I did it scared me to death to see that thing that looked like a buzz saw chewing up that bone. But I had to have it or I would've ended up with frozen shoulder. The recovery is many months long and very intense but if you get a good physical therapist and do what they tell you and DON'T do what they say to not do you will be amazed at the difference. I am a stickler for this sort of thing and I now have 95% range of motion and as much strength as a 68 year old man should have. I say go for it and as Larry says, git er dun.
 

Nana

Big Ole Nanny
Contributor
Had it done two years ago. If you ATTACK the PT you will likely do well. I have almost full range of motion and strength.

And I injured mine catching myself in a fall.
 
Last edited:
Top