Rotator Cuff repair X 2 advice needed

[Wood2Sawdust]

Has anyone had them both done in a short time? i am scheduled March 20 for left rotator Cuff tear and 4 tendon tears surgery. Now I found out right shoulder is almost as bad. Is it remotely possible to do second surgery 10 weeks after first shoulder. I'm 69 year old guy in fair physical shape who still wants to shoot a bow again every day and would like to at least rifle hunt this year. Any experiences? recovery times? Thanks to all

[trophyhunt]

No, not possible.  I’m on week 7, it’s a miserable surgery! I’m
 55 years old and doing pretty well with my motion, but can’t lift my arm up to my waist yet.  And doctor says I’m doing really good.  He said no way should I shoot a shotgun for spring turkey, said come fall season, should be able to shoot the rifle.  My back doctor had the same surgery and said it took 2 years to get back to 100%, he was 60% at year one.  Younger guys might have it easier.  My first week was absolute hell, broken ribs were a walk in the park compared to this.  7 weeks in and still sleep is miserable, if I had two of these surgeries close together, I’d jump off a bridge.  I wish I would have waited till I retired to do one.   

[wadu1]

Tagging along with this post, took a nasty fall in November need right rotator cuff and knee done. Hell to get old

[JWBINX]

You will be in a immobilizer for the first six weeks and you will be doing
a fair amount of PT.
Your right side will really be stressed, as it will be your good arm and compensating for your other side.
I had my Rotator cuff, Labrum, and Bicep tendon reattached.
My Doctor (Wendy Heusch) at Rainier Ortho in Puyallup is awesome.
She did a nerve block which really alleviated a lot of pain and reduced the need for pain meds.
I was back Skiing in 6 months, but it takes at least a full year to be close to normal.
Your Doctor will advise you properly.
Good luck.

[trophyhunt]

I even doubt your doctor will even do both in that short time. 

[baldopepper]

What kind of tear do have?  Partial,  complete or complete with retraction? I have a complete with retraction and shoulder specialist told me that at my age (did it at 75) surgery was not advisable.Old tendons are like trying to tie into old clothe, just likely to tear again. Did the intensive pt and have kept at it.Now 3 years later arm is about 80% with no pain. Have several friends who've gone ahead with the surgery with mixed results. Good luck with it, but 2nd opinions are not a bad idea.  Surgery is a long, intensive  recovery.

[Encore 280]

Went to my doc a couple months ago and said do PT before xrays or MRI so I did the PT twice a week on and off during deer and elk season. Haven't noticed much improvement.  Have an appointment with the doc tomorrow to hopefully get an MRI scheduled. I get a decent night sleep every once in awhile but it's rare. Will be 77 this year.

[trophyhunt]

Went to my doc a couple months ago and said do PT before xrays or MRI so I did the PT twice a week on and off during deer and elk season. Haven't noticed much improvement.  Have an appointment with the doc tomorrow to hopefully get an MRI scheduled. I get a decent night sleep every once in awhile but it's rare. Will be 77 this year.

my insurance required PT before they would pay for an MRI, one day at PT and the therapist put in his notes that I needed an MRI.  Sounds like your pt place wanted the money.  Hope you don’t need surgery but I’m guessing you do. Good luck.

[Platensek-po]

Has anyone had them both done in a short time? i am scheduled March 20 for left rotator Cuff tear and 4 tendon tears surgery. Now I found out right shoulder is almost as bad. Is it remotely possible to do second surgery 10 weeks after first shoulder. I'm 69 year old guy in fair physical shape who still wants to shoot a bow again every day and would like to at least rifle hunt this year. Any experiences? recovery times? Thanks to all

10 weeks is too soon. I wouldn’t do the other one until 6 months. Find a good physical therapy clinic. Anywhere that only offers 30-45min will not be good enough. Do your exercises 3 times a day before the surgery. Then once you start pt do them as often as you can tolerate. It will def be painful but not as bad as some suggest if you get as strong as you can prior to the surgery. If after 6 months you aren’t at least 80% of what your shoulder was prior to injury you may never recover it. Our bodies are built to move and the longer you go with limited movement the harder and worse it will be. The people who can push through the pain and get their motion back as quickly as possible do waaaay better than the complainers who won’t push themselves. I have helped many many people recover from shoulder surgeries and that’s my observation.

[trophyhunt]

Has anyone had them both done in a short time? i am scheduled March 20 for left rotator Cuff tear and 4 tendon tears surgery. Now I found out right shoulder is almost as bad. Is it remotely possible to do second surgery 10 weeks after first shoulder. I'm 69 year old guy in fair physical shape who still wants to shoot a bow again every day and would like to at least rifle hunt this year. Any experiences? recovery times? Thanks to all

10 weeks is too soon. I wouldn’t do the other one until 6 months. Find a good physical therapy clinic. Anywhere that only offers 30-45min will not be good enough. Do your exercises 3 times a day before the surgery. Then once you start pt do them as often as you can tolerate. It will def be painful but not as bad as some suggest if you get as strong as you can prior to the surgery. If after 6 months you aren’t at least 80% of what your shoulder was prior to injury you may never recover it. Our bodies are built to move and the longer you go with limited movement the harder and worse it will be. The people who can push through the pain and get their motion back as quickly as possible do waaaay better than the complainers who won’t push themselves. I have helped many many people recover from shoulder surgeries and that’s my observation.

have you had rotator cuff surgery? 

[Skyvalhunter]

Had a buddy do both in a short time to cut down the total time off for recovery. His  wife was a good help around the house for that time. Turned out well and splitting wood after PT

[westside bull]

Had mine done in 2018. 10 weeks is fast but doable your going to be down and out so why not do it. You will need help with things so get it done during the winter months.

[Ghost Hunter]

What kind of tear do have?  Partial,  complete or complete with retraction? I have a complete with retraction and shoulder specialist told me that at my age (did it at 75) surgery was not advisable.Old tendons are like trying to tie into old clothe, just likely to tear again. Did the intensive pt and have kept at it.Now 3 years later arm is about 80% with no pain. Have several friends who've gone ahead with the surgery with mixed results. Good luck with it, but 2nd opinions are not a bad idea.  Surgery is a long, intensive  recovery.

All of the above and at 71 looks like I'm going to live with it.  2nd MRI showed full tear that wasn't even on the radar with 1st MRI. Surgery not recommended, been approved for a few 15-minute sessions of PT.  Not much of a gambler when I know what the odds are, and time keeps rolling on. 

[Wood2Sawdust]

I had my first MRI last August did PT through hunting put off surgery till March so I would be able to shovel snow and plow.  PT seemed to be making it worse. I live 5 miles up dirt private roads and need to be able to take care of things. Might have to wait a year for second one.

[baldopepper]

I have noticed that among my friends who've had the surgery those younger, still in their 50"s or early 60,'s, and in good shape going in, had pretty good results. Those older and not in good shape, particularly  over weight, didn't fare so well. Might be a good idea to do all you can to try to be in good shape prior to surgery