Rotator Cuff repair X 2 advice needed

[trophyhunt]

I think age makes a big difference, I’m 55, and we know it takes longer to heal with age. 

[brocka]

Went back to Dr today for my better shoulder. As of now scheduled for left shoulder (the worst one) rotator cuff and tendon repairs etc. April 2.  Start PT after 4 weeks.  After MRI on right shoulder he recommends surgery sooner than later-- one complete tear with retraction and some other tears. Scheduled for that one July 7 as of now but may decide differently after the first one.  He thought it could be done in as little as 2 months after the first one. Will be getting the blocker and Polar Cold machine. I talked with my buddy who did this last year with the same Dr and he said he could have done a second  that soon but did not need it.  How are Brocka and Trophyhunt doing with recovery? Also Snit--Are you fully recovered now? Thanks to all once again.

Today is my 6 week post op appointment to evaluate. I have about 95% of my range of motion back so far. That is out front and out to the side. I cannot lift anything with it, but my range is back. My PT says that I am really far ahead of where I should be at 6 weeks. We will see what my surgeon says today but I attribute it to a few things.

First is my age, I am 35. Second would be the fact that I only had one "heavy duty" anchor and not multiple. Third would be I am doing PT 7 days a week. I go to 2 days at a facility then the other days I go to my gym and do 30 minutes of shoulder movements that my PT gave me on top of a work out of some sort (heavily modified to not use my left arm at all). I also started doing BPC-157 injections on Jan. 7th (surgery was Jan. 16th). I don't have anything to compare it to, but I have to think that is playing a part in the recovery as well. Another thing to consider is that I found out I needed surgery last spring, but we had our second baby due in June and I didn't want leave wife to deal with that solo since I knew I wouldn't be able to use my arm. I pushed the surgery out to January and went to PT a couple of times to learn how to strengthen all the muscles around my RC and then did them every day until surgery. My surgeon said that when she got in there, everything looked great and the tear had not progressed any like they thought it would by pushing the surgery out several months. This was because of the work I did to strengthen everything in my shoulder.

Let me know if you have any questions about my recovery and I will answer to the best of my ability.

[Wood2Sawdust]

Brocka--what is a BPC-157 injection?  I also put off my surgery, which probably made both arms worse. I live 5 miles up dirt road and needed to be able to plow and shovel snow which did not help. Also a reason to get second shoulder done before next winter if first one goes ok. We will see, I'm 69 and I'm a workaholic I've been told, it's driving me crazy not being able to do my usual work around my 40 acres.

[brocka]

Brocka--what is a BPC-157 injection?  I also put off my surgery, which probably made both arms worse. I live 5 miles up dirt road and needed to be able to plow and shovel snow which did not help. Also a reason to get second shoulder done before next winter if first one goes ok. We will see, I'm 69 and I'm a workaholic I've been told, it's driving me crazy not being able to do my usual work around my 40 acres.

Here is a good link explaining what BPC-157 is for. I asked my surgeon about it, and she told me she doesn't recommend it, which makes sense as they are not FDA approved and for liability sake, I get it. However, I did enough research to make the decision to use them. My wife is a Nurse Practitioner and does the injections on me daily. If you decide to go that route, be careful as there are alot of bull crap companies. I can send you exactly what I buy. The company is vetted and legit.

https://cimahealth.com/what-is-bpc-157/

I am work-a-holic as well, and that has honestly been the hardest part. You will not be able to do anything on your 40 acres until you are fully healed and cleared by your surgeon without risking re-injury or compromising the original surgery. I know that is not what you want to hear, but that is the bottom line. I am being serious when I say that unloading the dishwasher is probably doing too much if not cleared by your doctor. My surgeon told me a story, she had a patient that loved to golf. Got the surgery, recovered well, was progressing nicely and he felt great. At 4 months he had no pain, full range of motion, etc. Decided to try and swing a club. One swing and he pulled the anchors from his humerus. Back under the knife with 4 months wasted.

[jeffro]

Had my left done last year, supposed to be a simple laser job…
I now have a 4 inch scar and a semi functional shoulder
New doc seems to think he’s better?
Simple procedure, right?
Can I learn to be left handed for 6 months?

[brocka]

Had my left done last year, supposed to be a simple laser job…
I now have a 4 inch scar and a semi functional shoulder
New doc seems to think he’s better?
Simple procedure, right?
Can I learn to be left handed for 6 months?

I am not familiar with a rotator cuff repair being done with a laser? Also a 4" scar is gnarly. I have four little tiny incision marks that you can barely see.

[Wood2Sawdust]

Anybody--were you able to still use your better arm while the other was in a sling? Could you hold anything light such as a book or remote in the hand that is in the sling? How long before you could drive? or walk a mile or so?

[Ridgeratt]

 
They are going to put 2 or 3 small incisions in your shoulder. The goal is to get you moving as soon as possible. The very next day after surgery you start PT. The very last thing you want to end up with frozen shoulder. You will still have the range of motion of your fingers so you will be able to move your didgets. I don't think you will have any problem walking. As long as you aren't driving a stick you should be able to drive if you can steer with one hand. They will do the surgery and pat you on your bottom and send you home to convalesce. Your recliner will be your best friend.

You may struggle with the levers on your tractor and hooking up implements. But that's what the neighbor kid is for.

[brocka]

Anybody--were you able to still use your better arm while the other was in a sling? Could you hold anything light such as a book or remote in the hand that is in the sling? How long before you could drive? or walk a mile or so?

Yes, you will be able to use your non injured arm just fine, You can hold a book or remote in your sling hand. You have full mobility of you wrist. You just cant move your shoulder/bicep or move your forearm off your body. I drove after a week and I walked a mile after day 2.

[wadu1]

Anybody--were you able to still use your better arm while the other was in a sling? Could you hold anything light such as a book or remote in the hand that is in the sling? How long before you could drive? or walk a mile or so?

Yes, you will be able to use your non injured arm just fine, You can hold a book or remote in your sling hand. You have full mobility of you wrist. You just cant move your shoulder/bicep or move your forearm off your body. I drove after a week and I walked a mile after day 2.

I need my right shoulder done. I use my right arm to get into my big truck and my little truck is a stick shift. How will that work out? I'm using Voltaren right now and it's helping a lot, I just don't know.

[trophyhunt]

I had two anchors, my arm was in a sling for 6 weeks.  Using a remote was fine, but not a chance you’ll be driving a stick shift, much less wiping your butt.  After 4 weeks my doctor had me doing some PT at home, before that he said to keep my arm in the sling, except for showers.  He was adamant about keeping my arm in that sling till 6 weeks when not doing pt.  At the OP’s age, I’m guessing you’ll struggle a bit more than I did, and it was rough. Brock is much younger and kicked butt at every angle, don’t expect it to go as well as he did.  As far as driving, after 4 weeks I still couldn’t turn my key with my bad arm or shift into gear. 

[Wood2Sawdust]

Which brand of cold therapy machine did you use and how did you like it? How often did you use it  or can you just keep it on? Leaning towards Polar Cold because I think it has a remote on-off timer

[HntnFsh]

Anybody--were you able to still use your better arm while the other was in a sling? Could you hold anything light such as a book or remote in the hand that is in the sling? How long before you could drive? or walk a mile or so?

Yes, you will be able to use your non injured arm just fine, You can hold a book or remote in your sling hand. You have full mobility of you wrist. You just cant move your shoulder/bicep or move your forearm off your body. I drove after a week and I walked a mile after day 2.

I need my right shoulder done. I use my right arm to get into my big truck and my little truck is a stick shift. How will that work out? I'm using Voltaren right now and it's helping a lot, I just don't know.

Voltaren can work pretty good. But I was told not to use it too long because its really hard on your kidneys. Dont know for sure, but worth checking.

[Wood2Sawdust]

Can't use voltaren. Would like to know what ice therapy machines others have used.

[Ridgeratt]

I posted up a suggestion on post #29. They all do the same thing, fill with ice and water. Once the ice melts you refill and repeat. Why do you feel a remote off/on is a requirement?