I'm having arthroscopic shoulder surgery.

In My Humble Opinion
1

Well, a couple of years of dealing with unexplained shoulder pain is culminating in surgery, to be done at the end of March. The short version of the story is that in February 2009 I started having shooting pain in my left shoulder that seemed to be exacerbated by certain lifting or stretching motions. Reaching out of the window of my car to get my drive-thru coffee, for example, was quite painful.

I went to my GP, got referred to an orthopedic specialist, went through two rounds of cortisone shots (which helped temporarily but not permanently), got an MRI that showed “mild bone spurring” but not much else, did physical therapy and a month’s worth of anti-inflammatory drugs, gave up for a while, then went to a different orthopedic specialist, got a second MRI, this one showing “arthritis, bursitis and mild bone spurring,” got another cortisone shot (this was almost a full year after the previous ones), once again experienced temporary but not permanent relief, and now apparently I’m to have surgery. My understanding is that that the surgeon is going to shave a bit off the bursa to keep it from becoming inflamed, and also clear out any bone spurs that are in there causing problems etc.

Anyway, the point of all this is basically to ask if anyone has had similar surgery and if so, if you have any advice or tips for me regarding preparation or recovery or anything else that comes to mind.

I’m in the middle of training for a half-marathon in early May that is now looking somewhat dubious. The surgeon said he’d recommend taking a couple weeks off from running, immediately after the surgery, so I’m not sure what effect that’s going to have on my training. (Likely: “not good”.)

I hope this works.

2

Taking a couple weeks off now won’t hurt for a May race. You’ll still have 6-8 weeks depending on when the race is.

I knew a lady in the local running club who qualified for the Boston Marathon even though she had not run a step for five weeks, just cycling and elliptical. (Knee problems)

More famously, Abebe Bikila won the 1964 Olympic Marathon without doing anything for four weeks due to an appendectomy.

Good luck with the surgery.

ETA: You may even come back stronger as you’ll have had a good recovery from all the heavy training.

3

First of all, good luck with your surgery.

I had a similar surgery on my right shoulder last spring. MRI showed bone spurs causing impingement syndrome and thus the source of my pain in my shoulder. During the surgery, the doc also found a small tear in my rotator cuff and in my bicep tendon which he also repaired.

As for what to expect, random thoughts:

If offered, take the nerve block. For approximately 24 hours after surgery your shoulder and arm will no longer exist. Not pain, no sensation, no feeling, no nothing - just a big old dead weight hanging from your body. This is a GOOD thing after sharp poking/cutting/slicing objects have just ground/sliced/cut/stitched up your shoulder!

I had three incisions that were closed using surgical tape. Pretty minor. I did have a LOT of bruising, especially going into my bicep (assuming from the work to repair the tear to bicep tendon). Much of the bruising faded away within a couple weeks. A few traces remained for a bit longer.

My surgeon prescribed me a lot of heavy duty pain meds. Use them on time every time. I stopped taking mine after a few days as taking OxyContin (sp?) or HydroCodon or whatever it was kinda scared me and I was just fine. Manage your pain, don’t be a tough-guy/gal.

Begin moving your arm, as instructed by your doctor, as soon as recommended. I was back to full range of motion with little pain pretty quickly - even surprised my surgeon with how fast. The down side? I went back to some activities (i.e. volleyball) too quickly and set back my overall recovery.

I only used the arm sling for a couple days. I understand more extensive shoulder surgery requires immobilization braces for the shoulder be worn for weeks.

I did PT on my shoulder and it helped immensely. Sadly I didn’t start it for 6-8 weeks after surgery, wish I had gotten into it sooner. Show up, give your best effort doing the work, and ta-da you get better!

Again, best of luck. Mine was an success for the better part of a year. It felt so great to have no pain in that shoulder after years of putting up with it. Sadly even though I’m too old for the shit I do, I still do it. As a result I might have re-injured the shoulder two weeks ago snowboarding and I’m having a fair amount of pain again.

4

I had arthroscopic surgery on my right shoulder on Dec 16th 2010. I had a bone spur which was removed and then they had to clean up the tendons, cartilage and bursa which had been torn up by the bone spur. Luckily, no major tears so nothing had to be sewed up. Good point of that was the doctor told me that there was nothing I could do which would mess up the surgery.

First couple days after the surgery I was taking Norco (similar to Vicodin). But I stopped after that as I didn’t like how they made me feel and honestly I had been having shoulder pain for 2 years before the surgery, so it was not that big a deal.

Best thing for the shoulder is going to be ice. They gave me a “cold therapy” unit which consist of what looks like a small Igloo cooler with hoses which come out and connect to a pad which wraps around your shoulder. You fill the unit with ice and water, plug it in and circulates ice water through the pad. It feels great!

For the first week after the surgery you are not going to want to do much. I would get tired very easily. Even over the next couple weeks I definitely had less engery – body was busy healing up everything. You’ll want to start physical therapy as soon as you can. I started a little over a week after the surgery. 5 weeks after the surgery I had almost my full range of motion back and the pain was no worse than before the surgery – actually it was a little better.

I am now at 9 weeks after the surgery and there is still some pain, but not as bad as before. I have been working a full schedule for the last 4 weeks without any real problem.

So, I imagine you might not feel up to running for the first 3 weeks after the surgery, but, you can probably start walking after a week. I wouldn’t run as the jarring of the shoulder from feet hitting the ground would probably be painful. Of course, it all depends on what they have to repair in the shoulder. I had frayed tendons and cartilage as well as thickened bursa from all the damage I did over time. It sounds like yours has been properly diagnosed a bit earlier than mine, so your recovery may be faster.

Good luck! I think you will find that the surgery is well worth it.

5

I had a similar surgery 7 years ago. The bones spurs in my shoulder were causing so much scar tissue that my arm was drawing up and I walked around looking like Napoleon all the time. Doc shaved away the worst of the knotty scar tissue during the removal of the spurs. Cutting scar tissue away leads to more scar tissue, naturally, but the idea was that the new stuff would be smooth and not cause the drawing up issue. That was more painful during recovery than the shoulder itself, but both were manageable within a few days.

Suckiest part of recovery: not being able to wash/brush/fix my own hair. Couldn’t raise that arm high, and I’m just not talented enough to do that stuff one-handed.

Best part of recovery: realizing I could type and surf to my hearts content, since my hand wasn’t affected at all.

6

Good luck with your surgery!

7

Thanks, guys. I’m hoping this leads to an improvement. Currently I’m sitting here tonight and without even moving it around, my shoulder hurts so much I almost want to cry. This sucks.

8

I had it done for bone spurs about 12 years ago. I had much the same experience as described above. It hurt quite a bit, but nothing I couldn’t handle with the help of Vicodin and ice (I had the same rig Doctor described). After 2 or 3 days I stopped the Vicodin and just used aspirin. I had full range of motion in under a month, but putting any muscle behind it hurt for another 3 weeks. I don’t remember how much PT I had; no more than 2 or 3 weeks.

9

I had it about 15 years ago. I won’t say it was painless, but it could have been much worse. I was up and about in a few days.

Good luck, sending healing thoughts your way.

10

The former fiance had rotator cuff surgery as well as tendon reattachment to the bone (OUCH!) and I learned three things from watching him go through recovery:

  1. take the pain meds, take the pain meds, take the pain meds.
    they will actually help you heal faster because pain is debilitating and will slow
    down your recovery.

  2. ice, ice and more ice. and be consistent. your shoulder will thank you later for it.

  3. start your PT immediately if not sooner. the fiance got delayed because of
    insurance red tape and that became a critical negative influence in his recovery.

11

I had similar surgery a year ago August, had some muscle tissue removed, and the scapula shaved down. Pain is very subjective of course, but I didn’t find it too bad. Actually, I had a horrific allergic reaction to one of the antibiotic washes they used on me and the burning and itching across my upper chest from that was way, way worse than the surgery I’d say, ugh. I was very sore for a few days. I had 2 incisions, and couldn’t shower for FIVE DAYS which, in August, was awful.

The best advice anyone gave me: ask for a cryosleeve! I think that’s what it’s called. You have to keep it iced for 15 min out of every hour or something the first couple days, and the cryosleeve made this so simple. It’s a bitch to get into and out of though so you’ll need help.

I was in a sling for 7 weeks, I was told I’d be fully recovered in 6-8. I honestly felt no pain (from the surgery) after the second week or so. I was supposed to take the time off work, I work a desk job, but I didn’t, and I’m sad to report that the surgery was a total waste of time on my part, but… that was my fault.

Good luck!

12

wah!!! I have had exactly the same symptoms since last spring when I aggravated everything using crutches. I’ve been deluding myself that it will just go away on its own, not wanting a second surgery in as many years.

Hope your surgery goes well.

13

out of surgery! pardon my lack of caps; my left arm is still dead from the nerve block. the surgeon says he removed some bone spurs and cleaned everything up in the joint generally. i have percoset for later when the block wears off but haven’t needed it yet. am hoping this will lead to improvement.

14

Not to be Debbie Downer, but you may want to take the pain meds BEFORE the block wears off. While my pain wasn’t excruciating by any stretch it was unpleasant, and it’s always easier to prevent pain than “catch up” with it. Good luck!

15

right, the dr recommended taking one before bed, as the block is likely to wear off overnight.

good times.

and thanks for the advice! all is appreciated.

16

So it’s been a couple of weeks since your surgery. I’m having it next week. Can you post an update to your condition? I’m really nervous about the whole thing.

17

Well, I have to say that recovery has been going really well. I’ve been going to physical therapy 3x a week, starting this week, and continuing for the next 5 weeks, and I’m seeing improved range of motion from where I was pre-surgery already. I would say that for the first 2-3 days post-surgery, I was in more pain than I had been before; at that point it dropped to about the same level, and now I’m feeling major improvement, although the shoulder is obviously still sore and painful, especially when I move it in certain ways.

However, the main thing that used to bother me, which was a radiating inflammatory-type pain that got worse as the day progressed, often becoming completely intolerable by late evening, is gone. I haven’t had that once since the surgery. My pain now is more, “Ow, it hurts when I move that way,” and that seems to be improving all the time. Doing the PT stretches and strengthening exercises seems to be really helping. I’m totally glad I had the surgery. At this point the jury is still out on whether my pain and mobility issues will be 100% resolved, but I am definitely doing a lot better than I was before, so I’m happy about that.

Good luck with your surgery, G-girl! Like everyone said, take your pain meds as indicated, and my addition to that advice: Ice, ice, ice. I iced for 20 minutes on/20 minutes off for pretty much two days solid after the surgery and I think it helped a lot.

18

I had a SLAP lesion repair on my left shoulder 14 months ago.

It was without a doubt the most painful thing I have ever endured. From the moment I came to in post-op, the pain was incredible.

The recovery is not pleasant and much, much longer than a surgeon will tell you.

19

I had the same surgery (remove bone spurs) done on May 24, 2013. It is now August 10, 2013 and I still have limited range of motion in my shoulder. It is getting much better, and I know without a doubt that if I was more dedicated to my physio therapy it would be even better. I got married in July though, and it was just impossible to do everything, so the exercises got largely ignored for a couple of weeks.

I was going in for a ‘torn tendon’ which is what the ultra sound diagnosis was. Before I went in for the surgery, pre op told me they often don’t know exactly what to expect until they go in. She said if I wake up in a thick padded sling, it meant they did some ‘sewing’ and I’d have to wear that sling for 6 weeks. If I woke up in the mesh one, no sewing had been done, and I could be out of my sling in 2 weeks. I was. :).

So, that meant I did NOT have a torn tendon, just the bone spurs. I actually think they had to subluxate my shoulder to do the scraping, and I believe that is why it is still so sore.

It is still VERY sore depending on how I move it. It was probably 3 weeks till I could floss my teeth, 4 weeks till I could put in my contacts, and 5 or more till I could wash my hair with both hands. I still, 11 weeks later, cannot lift my arm all the way up or do up my bra in the back without seriously noticing the pain caused by the limited range of motion. Mind you, I am 53 years old too… but pretty healthy other wise, don’t smoke, not overweight etc. and I did heal very well and super fast from an ankle surgery two years ago. If I don’t move my shoulder beyond its comfort zone, it does not hurt at all. But of course I have to push it, just to get the range of motion back, so I press on :slight_smile:

The physio therapist told me to expect 3 - 6 months for it to heal completely, so I feel I am well on track. The good news is that the initial pain (described as impingement and happening when you reach out the window for your coffee cup which is exactly what I was also experiencing) is gone :).

About pain meds, be aware of how bloody addictive they are. I have been opposed to drugs all my life, and tragically saw someone die of an OD on properly prescribed pain meds. They can be just too much for some people. They have their place, and I took mine for about 3 days, thats it! I’d rather have a pain than an addiction, which is pain plus misery. Also the pain meds I was on (codeine) is so constipating that was another disaster. Do your research, and good luck to anyone out there about to have this surgery. :slight_smile:

20

I had similar surgery which included digging calcium chunks out of the rotator cuff and had a surprisingly fast and easy recovery. They told me I would be too uncomfortable sleeping in my bed for at least a couple months and maybe as long as six, so I bought a recliner, which I used the first night and only part of the second, then I was fine in bed. I also stopped taking pain meds after the second day, and I think by the third day I felt better than I did pre surgery. By the time of my first follow up appointment I was fairly comfortable raising my arm about halfway between horizontal and straight up, which startled the doctor, who said “No, no, don’t go that far yet!” The whole experience was way milder and less difficult than anybody suggested it would be.

That said, it’s apparently hard to predict. From other orthopedic surgeries I learned that if you can move things around the way you want them before the surgery, you will not have to step over something heavy for a couple months just because it’s beyond your new weight limit.