Rotator Cuff Surgery

Refefer

Word to the wise: it hurts like hell. For those of you who have had it, I have a couple of questions for you: any ideas on how to get comfortable at night? They have me hopped up on Vicadin and Oxycotin, but neither seem to help me enough to get comfortable and sleep more then 2 hours at a time. Also, what do I get to look forward to in rehab? I hear I have 3 or 4 months of this to enjoy, but I have no idea what the rehab entitles.

Anyone else who's had surgery like this and can give some words of wisdom?

Systems

I don't know, but if I was taking both Vicadin and Oxycotin they could probably lop my arm off and not even care......let alone sleep.....

bobman1235

I recently had hip surgery, definitely had a lot of trouble sleeping for the first few days (even with the Percocets). But after a few nights I either got so exhausted, so filled with drugs, or just acclimated to it that I started sleeping much more. So.... I guess just be patient? Not sure how much worse your surgery is than mine - I was up and walking within two weeks and basically pain free inside a month.

jeremie

I just had shoulder surgery three weeks ago. I had a local block for 24hrs which was kinda nice since i couldnt feel any pain. I didnt have rotator cuff surgery but they cut my colar bone and removed my cartilage in my shoulder that connects the colar bone and shoulder together and cleaned up some bone spurs. I have bruising for 3 weeks now. The pain gets better, just depends on how much you can tolorate it. I took percaset? for 4 days then took advil after that. Took me about 2 weeks before i could sleep through the night. Its now fun but it will get better real soon. I have a 3-4 month recovery before i can start playing golf and racing bicycles again.

Refefer

Thats something to look forward to at least. The tossing and turning is going to get old after a couple more nights of this.

SKsolutions

Haven't had the surgery, but remember when I tore each of them. It was pretty high up there on the pain scale after a day or two, and I never went to the hospital because I'm a bona fide moron.

I made my own sling and taped it shut. I used pillows in the bed to make it so I wouldn't roll over, and applied several martinis at bedtime. Kettel-One-no-fruit worked best. Shake, lather, rinse, repeat.

Face

I suffered a neck, back, and shoulder injury about 10 months ago. For the first month, I was only sleeping for a few hours at a time, all hours of the day and night. It sucked. Pillows can help to prevent you from moving, they can also help to elevate parts of your body if needed. You can also try sleeping on a couch to prevent you from rolling or moving around. Good luck and feel better.

daboyz

Sorry, haven't been there but good luck with it all.

ESavinon

I had the surgery. Not fun at all. The only thing that helped me was the rented cooler/patch machine my surgeon prescribed. It sends chilled water to a patch you wrap around the surgery site. I was only supposed to use it no more than half an hour but i left it running for 4-6 hours at night. It was the only way i was able to sleep.

Systems

I've been avoiding this surgery for more than 6 years now. Too many motorcycle wrecks when I raced. Swinging a hammer for 12 hours a day when I was younger. Baseball & other sports have taken its toll. Mine only flares up from time to time. If I do the wrong thing at the wrong time my arm/shoulder is down for the count for a couple of weeks. Older age is creeping up and I know I'll have to do it sometime. But for now I just watch what I do and try not to do what it is that screws with it. Good luck bro with the sleeping. BTW....I've heard the same thing from everyone after the surgery considering the pain.

Chuck

shawn474

Ref,
I haven't had it but have rehabbed many of them. Once you can get comfortable sleeping, you'll be a lot happier. I recommend that for the first few days to a week that you sleep sitting up or semi reclined in a La-Z-Boy if you have one. The ice machines are ABSOLUTELY VITAL to reducing your pain and making you more comfortable. There are quite a few companies out there that make them - they go by the names Polar Ice, Cryo-Cuff, etc. But the one that we have used the most and have had ridiculous results with is called the Game Ready. They are expensive but our insurance should cover the majority of it if it is doctor prescribed. Rehab is slow and boring, but once you start moving it again and getting some range of motion it will feel much better. In the meantime, get a raquetball while you're still slinged and squeeze that 'sum **** all day. If you have any specific questions, please PM me. I'll help with what I can.

Take care and hope you feel better soon.

Shawn


EDIT: I just noticed that you were pretty local. If you want, I may be able to get one of the ice machines for you to borrow. Let me know.