Posted 5/7/2015 3:24 PM (GMT 0)
New member here. I'm a 65 year old male and have had a rotator cuff surgery on each shoulder.
First one was on right shoulder in Feb 2007. Due to a fall in ice/snow, surgery was required for a complete "massive" tendon tear and a partial tendon tear. No Physical Therapy was recommended due to the full tear. Anyway, I had to sleep on a couch, in the upright position with a cloth sling on for 6 weeks. Physical Therapy was somewhat rough/painful, but thanks to ice packs and a pain med, I made it thru it. I had pretty much FROM back in 4 months/16 weeks. I diligently went to PT and done my home exercises. At the time, I was working full-time, but had to take 13 weeks off. When I was released to go back to work, I had lifting restrictions for about a month. Have FROM in the shoulder now.
Second surgery was on left shoulder in March 2015. Due to a fall in the parking lot at our apt. complex in August 2013, surgery was required for the full and partial tendon's tears. This time I was retired and on VA Medical. Due to the number of Veteran's in the VA Medical System getting MRI's, I wasn't able to get an MRI for 4 months. VA Ortho Surgeon seen the full and partial tears on the MRI, but asked if I wasn't PT or surgery. Wife wanted surgery for me and I couldn't decide on Physical Therapy or surgery. VA decided to have me go thru some PT, which didn't help with pain. So, I went outside the VA Medical and got a second opinion for a Ortho Surgeon. Now that I was on Medicare, I chose to do that. This surgeon told me that PT will not repair a full tear and recommended surgery. So, finally, after a year and 7 months, had surgery (March 2015). Dr. has me on Percocet (5-325 mg) every 6 hrs. or so. This time, had a recliner to sleep in and had to wear a nice up-to-date sling for 6 weeks. It came off two weeks ago. Go to PT twice a week and do home exercises as well. Bought, after first surgery in 2007, a pulley for door and have a wooden cane and golf putter for certain exercises. Bought a large ice pack, like the one the PT Center puts on me after exercises there. Yesterday was my 8th week after surgery and my ROM in the shoulder is getting better, but still have 8 weeks of PT to go. Because PT is now AAROM (Active/Assisted) and AROM (Active), there is somewhat more pain during PT and at home, but ice packs and Percocet help that. Am also transitioning from the recliner back into the bed and bought a Wedge Pillow to help with that.
My "take" on Physical Therapy vs. Surgery.......PT will not repair a full tear and pain will/can still be there. Rotator Cuff surgery is painful, and for those that are still working a job, you will be out for approx. 12 weeks and then have a month of weight-lifting restriction when you go back. My left should isn't back to normal yet, but is definitely getting better and better. BTW, I also started driving again yesterday. Short distance, but still drove.
Thank God I had my wife to help me thru both surgeries!