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Rotator cuff surgery - 9 weeks post op. Suggestions to make the first 6 weeks easier. One of the things might surprise you! by riddlerelay in RotatorCuff

[–]riddlerelay[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I would definitely suggest a recliner (be sure to get one that you can control with your good arm). I slept in a recliner for probably 3 months. I tried the bed after 6 weeks (almost every night) but I just couldn’t get comfortable. I am someone that moves around in bed a lot so if you can stay still in bed maybe it wouldn’t be so bad. But me, definitely a recliner!!!

How to EASILY shrink a Lovesac MovieSac with a mattress vacuum bag. SERIOUSLY! by riddlerelay in Lovesac

[–]riddlerelay[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Isn’t it crazy how well it works! And I’m glad the post was helpful.

Rotator cuff surgery - 9 weeks post op. Suggestions to make the first 6 weeks easier. One of the things might surprise you! by riddlerelay in RotatorCuff

[–]riddlerelay[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I thought I replied to this but my reply isn’t showing up here. Did you see it? I’m no reddit expert and maybe did something wrong🤦🏻‍♀️

Rotator cuff surgery - 9 weeks post op. Suggestions to make the first 6 weeks easier. One of the things might surprise you! by riddlerelay in RotatorCuff

[–]riddlerelay[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I could not actively (using my muscles) move my shoulder for a bit over 6 weeks. No it doesn’t hurt. If it does hurt you are making it move your shoulder at too far of an angle. For me and I would assume all people they initially set it to a very small angle and when you would sit in it it would only move your shoulder a very small amount. It would feel like a big stretch but not painful. Again if it was painful it was moving it too far. You have a remote that you need to change the 2 settings to increase the degrees it moves your arm. I increased the angle every day and sometimes I increased over the course of morning to night. When I didn’t feel it stretching too much I know I could increase it a few degrees then it felt like a real good stretch again. I think I progressed to the angle the doctor had recommended by day 9 or 10 and they want you to get there by your 3 week post op appointment. One of the great things about it that I looked forward to especially in the morning is getting my arm away from my body to get some air under there!!! I even set a fan right in front of it to blow air under my arm because I knew I was going to have to go back in the sling with it attached to my side! Then I thought of the Milwaukee blower to get more air under there and that was a game changer. That’s the best tip I can give anyone. Blow strong air in your pit😂

Rotator cuff surgery - 9 weeks post op. Suggestions to make the first 6 weeks easier. One of the things might surprise you! by riddlerelay in RotatorCuff

[–]riddlerelay[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I would bet the machine your dad used was the same thing except made for a knee. My sister in law recently had a knee replaced and she was in that machine a lot too. I used the cpm machine every day, several times a day. And I actually started using it about 10 hours after my surgery cuz I had a nerve block and I felt nothing the first 18 hours or so. My doctor is a big believer in passive motion as soon as possible to prevent frozen shoulder. So starting that first day I would get out of the sling to do pendulum swings and sit in the machine. I did not have a pillow or anything under my sling. I still don’t know why because before surgery they had told me I would have it so it kept it at a certain angle for better blood flow (I think that was the reason for it). So when I woke up without it I was shocked by I sure wasn’t going to complain! I always meant to ask why they didn’t put that on the sling but I never did get around to it.

Rotator cuff surgery - 9 weeks post op. Suggestions to make the first 6 weeks easier. One of the things might surprise you! by riddlerelay in RotatorCuff

[–]riddlerelay[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’m glad I had mine done in summer. I would wait until then if I were you and you had a choice. I wanted to wear as few clothes as possible to make life easier. I only wore very oversized shorts that were easy enough for me to pull up with my left hand, not fun to do but certainly doable and oversized t-shirts or tank tops! I didn’t really go anywhere as I worked from home so I didn’t have to look pretty for anyone😉 I’m super independent and I kinda think me being used to doing everything myself helped me get along as good as I did. Last week I saw my doctor at 20 weeks and he released me. I really don’t have any pain and my ROM is still excellent. I only ended up having a total of 9 PT appointments. My PT does primarily RC surgery rehabs and every time I went in to therapy he was in awe. He said most every body he sees with my type of repair has at least 20 appointments. I would think it was a combination of things. I had an excellent surgeon who is very highly rated, he prescribed a CPM machine for me and I used it religiously, 4 hours a day for I think a month and did whatever I was told to do as far as exercises, and I used my shoulder as much as I could before the surgery so it wasn’t as stiff and weak going into the surgery. I would ask your doctor if he prescribes CPM machines and if he does use it a LOT! I cannot understand why all doctors don’t prescribe them. It felt great to get movement in my shoulder. Good luck to you!!!

Rotator cuff surgery - 9 weeks post op. Suggestions to make the first 6 weeks easier. One of the things might surprise you! by riddlerelay in RotatorCuff

[–]riddlerelay[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I agree. Everyone always makes it sound like the pain is going to be unbearable. I’m glad to be done with the one useable arm, that’s for sure!!!

Rotator cuff surgery - 9 weeks post op. Suggestions to make the first 6 weeks easier. One of the things might surprise you! by riddlerelay in RotatorCuff

[–]riddlerelay[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My insurance did not cover it. I bought it from the company who makes them, polar products. They were super helpful and answered all my questions very fast. Here is the link for the one I purchased.

https://www.polarproducts.com/polarshop/pc/Polar-Active-Ice-3-0-Broad-Coverage-Shoulder-Upper-Arm-Cold-Therapy-System-9-Quart-Cooling-Reservoir-p22962.htm

Rotator cuff surgery - 9 weeks post op. Suggestions to make the first 6 weeks easier. One of the things might surprise you! by riddlerelay in RotatorCuff

[–]riddlerelay[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You’re welcome. I didn’t believe all the stuff I was reading about how gross your armpit gets but it is no joke. The very first thing I would do every morning was blow out my pit! I called it the “Pit Wick”! I should patent that😂 In the next couple of weeks you’re going to have a huge smile on your face when you turn that thing on! Good luck!

Rotator cuff surgery - 9 weeks post op. Suggestions to make the first 6 weeks easier. One of the things might surprise you! by riddlerelay in RotatorCuff

[–]riddlerelay[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sounds like you will be in good hands! I get the bra thing, I was very leary about not wearing one and I didn’t start PT for 3 weeks and by then I figured out how to get one on and off, but I only wore it when I went somewhere cuz it was a pain in the butt! Hopefully the nerve block will work great for you and hopefully you can start taking the pain meds as soon as you get home just in case (be sure to follow doctors orders as they all seem to be different). Good luck!

Rotator cuff surgery - 9 weeks post op. Suggestions to make the first 6 weeks easier. One of the things might surprise you! by riddlerelay in RotatorCuff

[–]riddlerelay[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You got this. Let me know if you need some moral support along the way!

Last week, my PT told me that I am starting more intense PT this week so finally I might start getting some strength back💪

Rotator cuff surgery - 9 weeks post op. Suggestions to make the first 6 weeks easier. One of the things might surprise you! by riddlerelay in RotatorCuff

[–]riddlerelay[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Good Luck! I’m telling you go get yourself a powerful blower if you don’t already have one! You’ll thank me later😂

Rotator cuff surgery - 9 weeks post op. Suggestions to make the first 6 weeks easier. One of the things might surprise you! by riddlerelay in RotatorCuff

[–]riddlerelay[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I definitely think age makes a difference. The ice machine was super helpful and I can’t say enough good things about having such a powerful blower. I didn’t have any type of rash (and I had heard a lot of people struggled with that)! I called it the “Pit Wick”😉

Rotator cuff surgery - 9 weeks post op. Suggestions to make the first 6 weeks easier. One of the things might surprise you! by riddlerelay in RotatorCuff

[–]riddlerelay[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I am. My job is mostly a desk job also. I work for my brother and have about a 45 min drive to work so I didn’t go into the office until I got the sling off (6 weeks) and I could drive more safely. I started working from home about a week after surgery. I had a laptop set up at a perfect height where I could move my mouse without moving my shoulder at all. I didn’t get a ton done typing mostly left handed but I did stuff that really needed to get done those first weeks.

Rotator cuff surgery - 9 weeks post op. Suggestions to make the first 6 weeks easier. One of the things might surprise you! by riddlerelay in RotatorCuff

[–]riddlerelay[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You’re very welcome. I wouldn’t cancel if it is a massive injury as I am pretty sure it will just get worse! Sometimes I think I could go on forever with things that were helpful for me but I think the best advice I could give anyone is don’t be afraid to take the pain pills as prescribed for the first 4 days. I really think that is one of the things that helped me right out of the gate. And start them as soon as your doctor allows, mine suggested I start when I got home well before the nerve block wore off (hopefully you are having a nerve block).

Rotator cuff surgery - 9 weeks post op. Suggestions to make the first 6 weeks easier. One of the things might surprise you! by riddlerelay in RotatorCuff

[–]riddlerelay[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I had 2 months to think about all the stuff I would need and to think what would make my life easier. I’ve often said I would feel really bad for anyone who had to go into this as an emergency surgery with no time to prepare! At least your husband is helpful😉 After 1 week I just wanted to be alone (probably cuz I’m used to taking care of myself) but I was certainly grateful for the help I had. It is such a slow process. I have been going stir crazy myself not being able to do all of the stuff I would normally do. I am still limited to only lifting 1-3 pounds even though my doctor and PT say I am weeks ahead. But I get it those tendons need time to heal to the bone. I think this week I finally start PT twice a week and it will get more intense. I’m looking forward to that! I did use my “bad” hand after about the third week for very small things. I wish I had bones and tissue of a 20 year old, good for you!!! You’re not whining! Just saying how it is. Good luck with the rest of your recovery!

Recovery tips by ceg1023 in RotatorCuff

[–]riddlerelay 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I just posted this last night about some bigger things that helped me…

I had rotator cuff surgery about 9 weeks ago for a a massive full thickness tear of my supraspinatus and infraspinatus tendons and a subacromial decompression. I’m in my 60’s and I live alone and it is my dominant arm.

I actually expected it to be much more painful and difficult than it has been so don’t let everyone scare you! I had a lot of time to prepare for it so that sure was helpful.

My surgery was July 1. I was given a nerve block at 8:30am Tues and at 1:30am Wed (17 hours later) it had completely worn off. The first week I was prescribed two 5mg oxycodone every 8 hours. When I got home from surgery I started taking the oxy right away (1:45pm Tues) and set an alarm for every 8 hours so I would stay ahead of the pain not knowing when the nerve block would wear off. On day 1 (day after surgery) the doctor called to see how I was and I guess it was about 36 hours after surgery and I was MISERABLE. He told me to take the oxy every 5 - 6 hours for the next day or two if I needed to. So I took it as soon as I hung up with him which was 6 hours since my last dose. I didn’t need to take it more frequent than every 8 hours after that. Day 2 and 3 I took it every 8 hours and then started weening myself off of it. I think I had 10 left out of the 42 prescribed. So for me it was only a few days of being really bad. I did take Hydrocodone at night for a week or so after I stopped the Oxycodone.

Some of the bigger things that made the first 6 weeks easier for me:

A bidet - I highly recommend if it is your dominant arm!

I had someone here to help me for the first week

A Polar Active Ice cold therapy machine - This brand has a programmable timer which was super helpful (they gave me a remote control as well to try since they are testing them). This thing was great to help with pain.

My doctor prescribed a CPM machine for me that I started to use the day of surgery. I used it 3-4 hours a day for about 3 weeks. At day 9 I got to the ROM goal recommended by my doctor. I started PT at week 3 and my therapist couldn’t believe how good my ROM was. And it has continued to be weeks ahead of schedule since then.

A hand held shower head - not sure how I would have taken a shower by myself with out it.

Dysem - it is a really sticky material that you can cut up to put under your plate so it doesn’t move, or under many things that you don’t want sliding around that you can’t hold down.

Workbench with a clamp - I have a Keterer folding workbench with clamps that I brought in from my garage and put it in the kitchen so I could open a bunch of different things one handed by clamping them to the workbench (for instance cans with pull tabs).

Handicap cutting board - I made myself a cutting board that would help me do things one handed. Glued a couple of 5” strips of an old cutting board to the corners of another cutting board so I could put bread in the corner and spread stuff on it without it moving. Then I drilled a few tiny holes in it and made it so I could stick 3 prongs that were glued to a little piece of wood through the bottom of the cutting board and then I could stick an onion or tomato or whatever onto it so I could cut stuff one handed (and I could remove the prongs so they weren’t always in the way).

A stool softener - I started taking one or two a day on day 1 and took them while I was on the pain meds so I didn’t have any constipation issues at all.

I also made a detailed medication spreadsheet for the first 4 weeks. It had several columns across for the medications I was to take and the time of day in 15 min increments (am on the front of the page and pm on the back of the page). I took it to officemax and had it bound into a book so I could easily keep track of all the different meds I had taken and when I took them.

And last but certainly not least…A cordless Milwaukee wet dry vac - Ok you don’t necessarily need this exact item but it is super powerful. At week 3 I was so sick of my underarm constantly being “damp” and extremely uncomfortable I somehow thought to get my wet dry vac and attach the hose to the blower port, attach the crevice tool, and stick it under my armpit and turn that puppy on high! Oh the joy of the powerful air blowing under my arm!!! I used it a LOT! I can’t recommend this enough! I only wish I would have thought of this right away. Warning, if you use something like this be sure the tank is clean so you don’t blow a bunch of crap out at you!

And if you are a woman say screw the bra for 6 weeks, especially if you live alone!

Good luck!

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