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Old Wrench · 01-27-2019, 04:56 PM

I am a complete idiot today.
That should have said...i am 67 years old. 6ft 5 in tall and 310 lbs..
The shoulder is being replaced due to arthritis and the fact that several years ago I took a header on ice and did a very bad dislocation to the right shoulder and chiped some bone on the joint and tore the rotator cuff..
It is amazing what the docs can do now.

elizabethcar · 01-27-2019, 05:30 PM

Wow! What a lot of responses and most of them have excellent advice. I am a 79 year old female and had rotator cuff surgery on my right shoulder on March 6, 2018. It was a deep tendon tear and my prognosis was "guarded". I was off pain medication in three days and began PT within a week. I was able to paddle whitewater in my solo canoe by the end of August. I have been paddling for 60 years and my medical team were convinced that fact contributed to my fast recovery and to regaining my full range of motion. My husband had a reverse shoulder replacement on Nov. 27, and he is doing great. Follow your physician's orders to the letter. Do your PT faithfully. You will be on the road in no time.

Igeaux · 01-27-2019, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clifftall

I tore mine 18 years ago and was all set to have surgery. I was advised by a Nurse not to go through with it ( as it had a large failure rate ) before trying rehab. I cancelled the surgery and did a few weeks of rehab followed up by in home self exercises ( I have every color exercise band ) and haven’t had any pain since. I had another MRI done three years ago. It’s still torn but it doesn’t interfere with any activity.

I tore mine last year cutting up trees that a storm blew down on the property. The Chainsaw, an ancient Homelight with no safety features, jammed and took me for a ride around the tree putting a good tear in the right RC.

Anyway, a friend is a Physical Therapist, He argued against the surgery. After 3 months of therapy I was about 75% as good as new. I am still doing my homework and exercising by the PT's guide lines, getting better every day.

Darn happy I opted out of the surgery. Especially considering my son is an Orthopedic Surgeon.

Gershar · 01-27-2019, 05:49 PM

May want to explore physical therapy. Cleveland Clinic recommended it for torn miniscus over surgery and it worked, for me that is. Nearing 70 and usually a bad patient. In the case of my damaged Rotator, (X-ray) I looked up therapies on net coupled with Walgreens TENS THERAPY. So far so good, but I had to be careful in my activities and be a somewhat better patient. We’re all different. Just sharing
Doc

Phil Perrin · 01-27-2019, 06:17 PM

I'm going to see the surgeon who did Pammi's knee and hip replacements on Wednesday.
Seems that he does shoulders too!
After years of lifting stuff, my right shoulder has been hurting for about a year.
It'd ache after a long day of lifting batteries, but it hurts all the time, so time to get it looked at.
And, I've moved it up, so if I do have to have surgery, it won't interfere with this summer's family reunion!
I was talking to a customer last Friday. I hadn't seen him in a while. Seems that he just got back from his 3rd shoulder surgery!
Ouch!

jryan39 · 01-27-2019, 06:34 PM

Not sure of the severity of your tear but I have had 3 shoulder operations and one was significant but I was down less than a month. My other two were scope repairs and down-time was minimal <2 weeks. However, my brother just had shoulder surgery to repair a significant tear where the muscle separated from the bone and he was told 4 - 6 months before he can return to work. In either case best of luck and do the therapy it's worth it. I'm in Tucson, AZ and have a great surgeon. Yes, I had two operations on the same shoulder but it was MY fault, not the doctor. He told me to take it easy and I didn't!

John
2016 Newmar Canyon Star - 3903
Tucson, AZ

marks146 · 01-27-2019, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wagonmaster2

...

Anyone had this type of surgery and was able to travel safely in less time? Also, haven't been able to decide on the surgeon yet. Anyone have any experience with an expert shoulder surgeon in the Wichita, Ks area? Had a good hip surgeon there about 5 years ago but don't know a good shoulder surgeon.

I had my left shoulder rebuilt 4 years ago. Total cuff separation. Reconnected my muscle ligaments. Removed torn parts. Rebuilt the rest. It was the MOST painful surgery imaginable. It took two months for me to be able to move my arm, and a year for it to become fully mobile. Today my arm is completely normal. You should be able to return to society in 6 or 8 weeks, but you'll be hurting for a while longer. I had a GREAT surgeon.

Good luck.

66lima · 01-27-2019, 07:18 PM

Is it causing you pain? Is it limiting your mobility?
If not you might want to get a second opinion,

I had my rotator cuff surgery on July 9th.
The end of the month I was camping at Oshkosh at the airshow.
About the third or fourth night in the camper was the first night I could sleep flat on my back.
IF you haven't been warned you will be sleeping kinda sitting up in a recliner with your arm in a sling of course.

So I hope you have a recliner at home AND in the camper.
You won't be doing any lifting and take all the physical therapy your insurance will afford you.

Your Mileage May Vary.
Good luck with it.

bbill66 · 01-27-2019, 07:44 PM

As I recall,when I had that surgery about 6 years ago, the recovery was more like 6 weeks than 6 months. But, I advise religiously do ALL the physical therapy.

PeterFTH · 01-27-2019, 09:23 PM

Had one a few years ago - was careful to stay within the physical limitations and went to PT twice a week for about 6 weeks. 8 weeks out of the sling but I still wore it at night. The only danger in resuming an RV lifestyle too soon is if you forget and strain something, you will pay dearly. I'd say after 4 months you might discuss it with your surgeon. Peter

jsimonson · 01-27-2019, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wagonmaster2

Just had a MRI and found a torn rotator cuff. According to info it seems recovery after surgery may take 6 months, so there goes my summer travels. The wife fell 10 weeks ago, broke her arm, and now looking at shoulder surgery as soon as arm heals. May even wipe out our fall travels. Hasn't been a good year so far.

Anyone had this type of surgery and was able to travel safely in less time? Also, haven't been able to decide on the surgeon yet. Anyone have any experience with an expert shoulder surgeon in the Wichita, Ks area? Had a good hip surgeon there about 5 years ago but don't know a good shoulder surgeon.

I had an MRI last spring with a massive tear with three of four tendons torn from the arm. We had plans for the summer with grandkids keeping that commitment took 12-16 ibuprofen daily to deal with the pain driving the Seneca was mostly with my good arm having surgery on 8/29/2018. I am still doing physical therapy pain free yet far from full use. Orthopedic surgeon says full use with full strength will be 1-1.5 years from surgery date if there are no new tears. Blessed to be on the mend looking forward to 2019 travels.

PBK Images · 01-27-2019, 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wagonmaster2

Just had a MRI and found a torn rotator cuff. According to info it seems recovery after surgery may take 6 months, so there goes my summer travels. The wife fell 10 weeks ago, broke her arm, and now looking at shoulder surgery as soon as arm heals. May even wipe out our fall travels. Hasn't been a good year so far.

Anyone had this type of surgery and was able to travel safely in less time? Also, haven't been able to decide on the surgeon yet. Anyone have any experience with an expert shoulder surgeon in the Wichita, Ks area? Had a good hip surgeon there about 5 years ago but don't know a good shoulder surgeon.

If you have surgery you should be able to drive in 6 months, but it takes almost a year to completely heal from a rotator cuff tendon(s)reattachment. Not much blood in the shoulder area to promote healing.
I have lived with a torn rotator cuff for many years. In most cases docs first recommend PT before surgery to see if you can get some strength back. Unless you know better, I highly recommend trying PT first. A GOOD PT tech can give you a proper evaluation and tell you if PT will help. If you do decide on surgery, consider a reverse shoulder replacement before a torn rotator cuff repair. It is actually a shorter recovery with better results, but you MUST get an experienced surgeon as it is a complicated procedure. NOTE: I am not a doctor and this is not medical advice. I live in San Diego so can't recommend any docs in your area, but there are a number of them here. In any case, get a second opinion before making a decision. Good luck.

Drenthe · 01-27-2019, 10:21 PM

I have had both shoulders done recently and I found that I could travel fairly comfortably after 4-6 weeks. I still use a pad under the arm that I do the most steering with. It provides support for my elbow and shoulder in those trips that last longer than a couple of hours. I do still have pain in the top of my shoulders (when under a little stress) and will probably have it the rest of my life.

PBK Images · 01-27-2019, 10:26 PM

There are studies that say the best surgeon is the one who performs that exact surgery the most. Get it done as fast as possible with minimum blood loss. I would look for a shoulder specialist--not a team doctor.