I’ve recovered from two rotator cuff shoulder surgeries on my dominate arm. I love to bake and play piano, and organize. I’m a nurse with two children and an amazing husband. I have two dogs, a cat, and a bearded dragon. I live in the beautiful mountains of Washington State and love it!
I'm at 6 weeks today. This journey has been a huge adjustment to be dependent. Healing process is not only physical but mentally as well. It's hard for me to "let my arm go" to have the therapist perform the stretches. It's not easy. But very helpful. Pain is tolerable. Yes yes yes.... everyone heals differently. I have the same pain as you do at 6 weeks. Thank you for sharing
I'll be starting massage therapy today. Continually dealing with tightness, and I'm currently at 6 months. My surgeon doesn't seem to be worried l, but she was disappointed at my last follow-up.
Thanks for the comment! My shoulder loosened up more after 6 months but I did a lot of PT and massage therapy. Hopefully you will have the same experience!
I live by myself now ,last year had my right one done and also had to take care of my 93 yr old dad he died in Aug and had my left shoulder done in Dec going back to work June 12 cause March 20 I had to have it unfrozen and couldn't be put under cause had no driver and so 3 procedures and no help from no one and I didn't do all these things your telling about doing and I've made it , it is May 29 ,2024 and I still can't sleep thru night I use pillow yet ,best thing I say pull up stretchy pants ,forget seat belt ,my 1st surgery was in so much pain trying to do it cause had to drive next day after surgery so second surgery said forget it cause same thing had to drive next day Dr office and drove to and from manipulation and everyday to therapy which after manipulation you have to go everyday for 2 weeks ,best thing I found cause by myself is can opener you lay on top of can and push button ,I had to use my feet and hold everything and then use the good arm at time to try and unscrew everything ,shirts I had bigger size button ,in winter wore jacket with better arm in sleeve and other just draped over first surgery I got a winter poncho type but didn't like sp didn't use it after day 2 ,my hardest job was trying to do laundry
had rotator cuff surgery mar 12, 2023. my hand and fingers are swollen and my fingers are slightly numb...has this resolved in your case? thanks for any feedback!
Thank you for your video I’m in my second week and have started pt last Monday I have two questions At 6 weeks will I be able to wear regular pants that zip and button or will I still need to wear sweats? Also did the dr tell you how long you’ll have to wear your sling when you go out in public? I’d love to chat with you. Best of luck in your recovery
Hi there! Hope your recovery is going well! When you are able to take your sling off may dictate when you can button and zip your pants, since you may be approved to use your arm a little more by then. It just depends on how strong you are and what your doctor and PT are telling you. I wore my sling all the time, not just when in public. My first surgery I wore it for 6 weeks, but my second surgery I had to wear it about 8 weeks since it was a repair and higher risk. Hope that helps!
@@DarciaDarcy Thank you for your reply I think what I was asking was, after you sling comes off after six weeks and you have it off in your home, but your Dr said to continue to wear it when you go out, how long will that continue for until you don’t need to wear it out in public?
Hi, once I took my sling off, I didn’t wear it at all, at home or in private. If my arm became VERY fatigued then I would sometimes put it on for a little bit. I followed the advice of my doctor though, and that’s what they said. I think I’d say to do whatever your doctor says. Hope that helps!
you can use your arm. My surgeon said to use your arm but not your shoulder. from your elbow to your hand can be used just no lifting with your shoulder
Thanks for great tips! Having surgery in 2 weeks! Very nervous about how hard recovery sounds! It’s my dominant arm too. Supraspinatis full thickness tear
Thank you Darcy so much for your video. I’m having the exact same problem. I am four weeks post rotator cuff surgery. I’ve had problems with my hand and my fingers swelling. There is sharp pain radiating in my hand and forearm. My arm also gets cool since day one of my operation. I’m so glad I found someone that was able to share some thoughts on what could possibly be happening to me. My issue has not been addressed yet with the Dr. that did my surgery. I was told to keep squeezing the ball that came with the sling. Sending 🙏🏾 that you will feel better soon.
I had rotary cuff surgery in the UK 3 weeks ago and now I get a sharp pain down my forearm and my hand swells up. Difficult to raise my fingers. My consultant says it’s nothing to do with the surgery. Can’t stop thinking he wants to be absolved from any responsibility.the pain drives me crazy. Sounds like a trapped nerve after watching your video.
I’m really sorry to hear that you’ve gone through this. I went through a lot of physical therapy and massage therapy…that plus time and my nerve pain finally settled down. I hope that yours will too!
I just made 2 shirts, and ordered the pillow. I am having my surgery tomorrow and I am really dreading it. But this has given me a little light. What do you put over that wedge pillow to sleep on it?
Wow! Great work! The wedge comes with a zipper protector, but I didn’t want to get that dirty so I laid a flat unused pillowcase over the top of the wedge and then slept on that. If you want even more height, you could use a pillow on top of the wedge as well. Best wishes on healing!
Thanks for answering me. I am 7 days out from surgery. I have been staying with my son. I go home tomorrow and I’m looking forward to that wedge.your tips were and are very helpful. Thanks again.
Darcia, you are sooo beautiful! You have the smile of an angel. 😊 So appreciate all your videos on dealing with shoulder surgery; they have definitely helped me through mine!
I am almost 4 weeks postop from my rotator cuff surgery. I also had a bicep repair. And when I go to physical therapy when they first stretch you out is the most painful thing I have experienced. But he feels it’s necessary to get through that pain. It has to be done. And my doctor told me physical therapy will be painful. I just hope that in the next two weeks it will improve to the point where I won’t have to wear my sling anymore. So far I have six more physical therapy visits to go. The one thing that bothers me the most is trying to sleep with my sling. Unfortunately I wound up staying awake for the whole evening and then I get to the point where I am exhausted and then I fall asleep like 6 AM.
That sounds really rough, I’m sorry. I remember a few nights where I loosened my sling just a bit since I just couldn’t sleep with it tight. It’s hard to get through this time. I hope you’ll get healed up well and soon.
Hi, thank you! It’s a hat/beanie, but it’s made from t shirt material. I bought it as a pack of 4 from Amazon. Because it was made of jersey it’s not hot, and it wasn’t too tight on my head. I wore them almost every day of my recovery since I had difficulty fixing my hair.
Thank you for the update!! Wondering how far after the first repair did it re tear and how? I am so careful maybe too much that I'm not using my arm like I should at 3 months.
Thank you so much for creating these I'm sitting here I've got 7 weeks in my sling 5 weeks in so far anyway I did see the medications that you had to take and yes I was constipated as well and what I found that worked for me was ducolax I think it's pretty close in spelling two pills every other day you will go to the bathroom perfectly....
