Bear had one shoulder done last year and will be getting his other one done in the next few months sometime. Plus I worked on the ortho floor and surgical floor when I worked.

Usually same day surgery....quick recovery, but need to be sure and do PT to build the strength back up in the shoulder. Usually they give Vicodin for the first few days and then switch them off to Tylenol. A sling helps.

Any other questions? I'd be happy to try and answer them.

not really off topic i got both rpotars @ saME TIME & DOCS WOULD NOT OPERATE ON ME FOR 3WKS & THEN THEY SAID BECAUSE OF MY THEN dx SPRAIN & STRAIN sYNDROME THAT I WOULD OT HEAL
properly, so i did not have it! always in pain can not lift arms up over head or away from body for longer then few min =start shaking & muscle spams have to kep straight spine & elbows to body or hip bone!
heal;ing prayers & angel to guide & watch over you!
0x0
paula

I had my rotator cuff surgery lastt summer. I was not as fortunate as Baskets Bear. My recovery time went slow. I hhad to be immobilized for 4 weeks before I could start PT. PT lasted for another 6 weeks. Maybe it was bacause I had a tear fixed and also had the joint rebuilt. I agree with Basket, PT is crucial to a full recovery. If you don't do the PT faithfully the joint won't heal and you have a chance of developing "frozen shoulder" NOT FUN! Good luck to your hubby, Cajun! XO

Thanks, guys....I'm a bit worried, as he is not a big fan of PT....sooooo, I'll be sure to push that with this surgery. He will have MRI Friday, but his doc is fairly sure he has an actual tear. So more invasive surgery, and longer recovery. RATS!

Thanks for the responses and support...HUGS from down south :)

Bear did better because he doesn't have fibro. If you have fibro, it does make the healing slower. Its taken me longer to recover from my latest surgery than it has every taken me to heal before.

If you can get him to at least go once and get them to show him the exercises he needs to do to restore his range of motion, those he can do at home. BUT it is imperative that he do them if he wants to gain full function of that shoulder again.

Cajun-
This is coming from someone who has worked 10 years in orthopaedic PT.....he HAS to do his exercises...this is NOT optional. If he isnt going to do them there is no point in having surgery. Like someone else has mentioned, he could get "frozen shoulder" which is basically what it sounds like. You cannot move your shoulder and if you manage some movement it is unbearably painful.

The other thing is to not overdue the exercises given. If the therapist says 2-3x/day doesnt mean that 5-6x/day is better.

Alot will depend on the doc as well as protocol goes for movement. But as soon as he is allowed to move the arm, he should do it. During the first 2-6 weeks he probably wont be allowed to do it himself, so hopefully you will have the strength to do it for him. I would go into therapy with him so that the therapist can show you how you can help him.

And finally, stock up on a lot of ice!!! He will be needing it.

Good luck and feel free to send me a message if you have any questions.