shoulder surgery???

Not me but my BIL just had shoulder surgery, about a week ago. Had a lot of pain post-op. He got his stitches out yesterday. Pain is somewhat better now and he's told he can drive as long as he doesn't take pain med. 3 more weeks in the sling and then PT starts. Long road ahead. He's 78 yrs old, I think.

I've had two shoulder surgeries. The first was arthroscopic and really wasn't bad. The second was an open surgery and took longer to recover. My doctor had them use a nerve block in addition to general anesthesia, and that controlled the pain well. I started passive therapy on the third day.

Be prepared for some pain, although for me it was less than the pain I had from the shoulder before surgery. And be prepared to work hard in therapy to rehab. It isn't fun and it isn't easy, but it is necessary.

Good luck.

Depending on exactly what is torn and to what degree, the fix may not be so bad. At least I hope so for your sake. I had shoulder surgery but not for a tendon tear but multiple problems. For me it was one of the best things I ever did. I had instant pain relief and increased function. I did have some post-op pain but I considered it to be constructive or healing pain whereas the pain I had before surgery was definitely destructive with no redeeming qualities about it. See what the surgeon has to say. Remember that surgery is a risk-reward type of situation and only you can decide if the possible risks are worth taking for the possible rewards waiting on the post-op side. What I mean is if you can live with what you have then maybe the risks aren't worth it but if you can't live with your shoulder as it is, the possible reward may be worth the risks of surgery, post-op pain, rehab, etc. A lot to think about. Please let us know what the ortho surgeon tells you and I'll keep my fingers crossed that he comes up with an "easy" fix for you. . Lisa

Well, the orthopedic surgeon says it's a torn rotator cuff - so I will be having surgery. I'm so tired of the pain, and I cried right in his office knowing that this can be fixed. I've been hearing for 2yrs that it's "just my fibro". I knew it was more serious - it doesn't feel like my fibro does.

Now work comp and my insurance have to fight it out. Work comp signed off a year ago. I had fallen at work and landed on my left arm. I've done phys therapy twice, and it only made it worse. They won't schedule my surgery until the insurance figures out who is going to pay. I pray that happens soon....I've waited long enough.

Myjoy, I'm glad that you finally have a real answer to your shoulder pain. You said that for 2 years you heard that it was just your fibro causing the pain. I truly believe that is one of the greatest dangers of having fibro because way too much bad stuff can happen and fibro gets the blame and then people don't get the proper care. I'm sure that your fibro exaggerated the pain from the tear but now you know you were right that it didn't cause the pain. What you went through is why I try to encourage people here to have stuff checked out instead of assuming every pain is "just the fibro." I really think too many fibro patients suffer needlessly from or throw narcotics at "fixable" problems. Just my opinion. Hope you get your surgery scheduled very soon. You have definitely suffered long enough. Lisa

Myjoy, I was thinking some more about your situation. You said that you fell and landed on that arm. That is one of the classic ways to tear your rotator cuff. I can't believe it took them 2 long years to come up with the diagnosis for you. I would think your history alone would have been a big clue. I am so glad that you keep fighting for an answer when the doctors keep dismissing your pain to fibro. Way to go. Please keep us posted. Lisa

Well, work comp has denied my claim. Since it took 2yrs to get a decent MRI, showing the tear, they think something else must have happened in between. I've had no other accidents. They are just crooks!

Anyway, now my regular insurance is going to have to pay. I should find out in the next couple of days, just when my surgery will be.

My shoulder surgery is scheduled for September 22. My husband and I have much stress going on in our lives right now...so this is just one more thing. I hope things settle down by then so I can concentrate on healing. Thanks, everyone, for all your support.