How long does it take to recover from rotator cuff surgery?
Full recovery after rotator cuff surgery often takes 4 to 6 months and in some cases longer. 3 The critical factors that determine the length of the recovery are the size of the rotator cuff tear, the ability to adequately repair the tendons, and the commitment to rehabilitation.
What to expect after your rotator cuff repair?
When To Return To Work?
- Some people who have had rotator cuff surgery and work at desk jobs can return to their old jobs within a week or two.
- Others may need to wait 3 to 6 months depending on the type of job and the demands of the job (lifting, heavier lifting)
- Others have to find a new line of work as a result of having rotator cuff surgery. ...
When can you return to work after rotator cuff surgery?
Your ability to return to work after a rotator cuff repair depends a lot on what type of work you do. If you have a desk job then you are typically able to return to work and use your arm 6- 8 weeks after surgery. If you can work with one arm in a sling then you can return to work sooner.
What is the healing time for rotator cuff surgery?
You may need surgery if:
- Your shoulder hasn’t improved after 6 to 12 months
- You’ve lost a lot of strength in your shoulder and find it painful to move
- You have a tear in your rotator cuff tendon
- You’re active and rely on your shoulder strength for your job or to play sports
Is rotator cuff surgery a difficult recovery?
Your doctor will give you exercises to do every day or you can work with a physical therapist. The movements you learn will help you regain your shoulder strength and range of motion. While the recovery from rotator cuff surgery can be a challenge, most people are back to their normal routine within 6 months.
Do and don'ts after rotator cuff surgery?
DON'TDo not put weight through your arm or lift anything for six weeks. ... Do not try to reach above or behind you. ... Do not lie on the operated side for a minimum of six weeks. ... Do not get your bandage wet. ... Do not take anti-inflammatory medications such as naproxen for the first twelve weeks. ... Do not soldier on.More items...•
How long does it take for rotator cuff surgery pain to go away?
Stiff shoulder: A stiff shoulder is one of the more common complications of rotator cuff surgery, with one study finding 20 percent of patients experiencing postoperative stiffness. While this stiffness may be unpleasant, the study found it typically resolved with six to 12 months after the surgery.
What is the fastest way to recover from rotator cuff surgery?
8 Tips to Speed Recovery After Rotator Cuff SurgeryWear a sling. To speed recovery, it is important to keep your shoulder immobilized initially after surgery so your tendon can heal. ... Sleep carefully. ... Ask for help. ... Watch for complications. ... Do the physical therapy. ... Keep comfortable. ... Be mindful of your movement. ... Pace yourself.
How long after rotator cuff surgery can you sleep in a bed?
This is really going to depend on your exact surgery and how quickly you recover in general. However, a good rule of thumb is 4-6 months before you can go back to sleeping however you want.
Is rotator cuff surgery considered a major surgery?
It is well known that rotator cuff surgery is a major operation where the rotator cuff tendons (Figure 1) are sewn back to the upper arm bone (humerus) (Figures 2 and 3). The other major reason patients have pain after rotator cuff surgery is due to stiffness of that shoulder.
How long will my shoulder hurt after rotator cuff surgery?
Becoming too active, too soon can lead to a new tear or injury. A full recovery from rotator cuff surgery can take 6 months to one year. Rotator cuff tears are a very common source of shoulder pain. Surgery to repair the rotator cuff becomes an option if shoulder pain does not respond to non-surgical treatments.
Is rotator cuff surgery worth having?
Even the full-thickness rotator cuff tears have been shown to improve just as well with physical therapy (6). In other words, surgery improved the rotator cuff tear no better than PT. Rotator cuff tear surgery, unfortunately, doesn't seem to result in less pain, regardless of the severity of the tear (7).
How soon can you move your arm after shoulder surgery?
You should not do any reaching, lifting, pushing, or pulling with your shoulder during the first six weeks after surgery. You should not reach behind your back with the operative arm. You may remove your arm from the sling to bend and straighten your elbow and to move your fingers several times a day.
How do you get dressed after rotator cuff surgery?
Prepare for Dressing Loose-fitting shirts that are easy to put on, like button-down shirts and oversized t-shirts, are best for post-surgery. You can also find post-surgical shirts made specifically for shoulder surgery patients at online retailers. When getting dressed, focus on putting the surgical arm in first.
Can you use heating pad after shoulder surgery?
You should not apply heat to swollen areas because heat increases blood flow to the skin, which can prolong the healing process. Physicians generally recommend that you wear the shoulder sling day and night for about two or three days for partial tears and up to three weeks for complete tears.
What should I do to prepare for rotator cuff surgery?
6 tips to help you prepare for rotator cuff surgeryCheck about medication you take. ... Arrange for help. ... Have ready loose-fitting shirts that open in the front. ... Stock up on easy-to-prepare meals. ... Consider getting tools that will make bathing easier, like a shower chair or detachable shower head.Stock up on pillows.
How long does it take to recover from rotator cuff surgery?
For many rotator cuff patients, six months is a key staging post on the road to a full recovery. By now your shoulder should be feeling stronger, and routine tasks will be returning. You will start to do lifting and pushing work again, from raising yourself out of chairs to gentle gardening or even manual labour.
How long does it take to heal a rotator cuff?
24 hours . Rotator cuff repairs are usually performed with you asleep and you should be able to go home within a day. You may be given a nerve block to numb the area during the operation. The effects last a few hours, so as those wear off you’ll take further pain killers to make you more comfortable.
How long does it take to heal a shoulder?
8-12 weeks. After passive and active motion, the third phase of rehab is strengthening. This usually starts from around eight weeks. You’ll begin work on the exercises that your physiotherapy gave you earlier on the timeline. The aim here is to rebuild the shoulder muscles that have deteriorated after long inactivity.
What happens when you tear your rotator cuff?
A rotator cuff injury is what happens when one or more of the four key muscles and tendons around the shoulder joint suffers a sprain or tear. While many heal naturally over time, some need surgery. This often involves re-stitching torn tissue to the bone – and that will make the area very sore and delicate afterwards.
How long does it take to recover from a syringe infection?
2 weeks. By two weeks, the most uncomfortable stage of recovery should be over. Most patients are able to reduce their pain relief at this point. This is also the stage where you will return to hospital to have your dressing and stitches removed.
When can you sleep on both sides of your shoulder?
Somewhere around the month to six-week mark, you’ll be able to lose the sling and begin to sleep on both sides again. We’ll phase in some limited ‘active motion’ of the shoulder, too. Active motion means you can begin to move the shoulder, but not against resistance.
How long does it take to recover from rotator cuff surgery?
Even in the best-case scenario with top-of-the-line techniques, recovery still takes time. Here's a breakdown of the timeline for rotator cuff surgery recovery. Week 2: Bandages can be removed 2 weeks after an arthroscopic procedure. You will need to attend physical therapy rehab during this time (and for at least 4 weeks) to regain your strength.
How long does it take to recover from a surgical repair?
Recover Better, Faster, Stronger. Full recovery may take up to 6 months to feel like yourself again after a surgical repair. What may help speed up recovery and more importantly a rapid return to full strength is targeted amino acid supplementation.
Why is the bursa removed?
Sometimes the bursa (one of over 150 lubricating sacs throughout the body) is removed during the procedure to help reduce inflammation, and the bone above the bursa may be resected to clear extra space for the tendon to move without bone interference.
Why do rotator cuff tears occur?
Rotator cuff tears are rather common, sometimes seen in sports medicine due to injury (tennis, anyone?), and sometimes the result of the natural wear and tear of aging or repeated use.
What is the function of the rotator cuff?
The rotator cuff stabilizes the shoulder joint, allowing for shoulder movement and granting the arm enough strength and power to pitch a ball, swing a sledgehammer, or playfully toss a child over your head. There are four muscles and their respective tendons (which connect muscle to bone, whereas ligaments connect bone to bone) ...
Why is it important to identify the symptoms of a rotator cuff injury?
Regardless of what causes your rotator cuff injury, it's important to identify the symptoms as soon as possible to prevent possible irreversible damage. These include: It's easier to identify an acute tear than an injury due to overuse, as those symptoms have a slow onset and can easily be attributed to general aches.
What happens when you tear your rotator cuff?
When the rotator cuff tendon is torn, the arm it's attached to loses a large amount of function, halting your normal activities in their tracks—movements as common as turning the steering wheel of your car or fishing your keys out of your pocket. Rotator tears vary in severity.
How long does it take to recover from rotator cuff surgery?
What is the Rotator Cuff Surgery Recovery Timeline? 1 Phase 1:Passive motion: 1-6 weeks depending upon the size of tear and strength of the repair. 2 Phase 2: Active Motion: 6-12 weeks. You start moving your shoulder with the contraction of your muscles. 3 Phase 3: Strengthening: 12-16 weeks. Injury, surgery, early phases of restricted motion result in weakness that now must be restored. 4 Phase 4 Full activity: 16-24 weeks. Strengthening with continued improvement in range of motion and return to play.
How long does it take to heal a rotator cuff?
The Rotator Cuff Surgery Recovery Timeline varies significantly and can take 6 months or more. A shoulder immobilizer may be required for 4-6 weeks for maximal healing. There are four common phases. Phase 1:Passive motion: 1-6 weeks depending upon the size of tear and strength of the repair. Phase 2: Active Motion: 6-12 weeks.
What is the rotator cuff?
To Conclude…. The rotator cuff is a complex of muscles and tendons that provide stability and function to the shoulder. Injuries can occur and surgery for rotator cuff tears has increased. Recovery from rotator cuff surgery is commonly divided into 4 phases.
What are the four muscles that compromise the rotator cuff?
The four muscles that compromise the rotator cuff are the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, subscapularis and teres minor. The rotator cuff is also important in shoulder functions such as reaching overhead, ...
How long does it take to heal a rotator cuff?
Here is a general overview of the rehabilitation timeline you can expect following surgical rotator cuff repair: – The day of the procedure – Rotator cuff surgery is an outpatient procedure that typically takes a few hours.
How long does it take to recover from shoulder surgery?
For most patients, this phase of recovery begins about 4-6 weeks after surgery. You will start by performing passive motion, which involves your therapist moving your shoulder in a way that does not place tension on it. Then, you will move on to active motion, or moving your arm on your own without resistance.
How to control shoulder pain after shoulder surgery?
You should take this medication as directed to manage the shoulder pain and discomfort you are likely to feel in the days after surgery. Icing your shoulder and sleeping in a semi-upright position with your elbow pointed downward are two other important steps for pain control.
Can you have rotator cuff surgery right away?
For more severe tears, surgery may be considered right away. When deciding whether to undergo surgery, patients should discuss details of the procedure with their orthopedic surgeon. Among other questions, they should ask, “How long is recovery after rotator cuff surgery?”.
How to sleep after rotator cuff surgery?
Sleep carefully. Sleeping in a somewhat upright position is often most comfortable following rotator cuff surgery and has the added benefit of helping you avoid the extra pressure on your shoulder that can result when lying flat. Use pillows to help prop you up, or place something under the mattress to raise it slightly.
Why is it important to keep your shoulder immobilized after shoulder surgery?
To speed recovery, it is important to keep your shoulder immobilized initially after surgery so your tendon can heal. A sling provides stability and support and serves as a good reminder not to move your arm in its entirety (rotating your wrist and wiggling your fingers are OK).
How to get shoulder pain to feel better?
Pace yourself. It's easy to think your shoulder is feeling better and then start to do too much too soon. Don't. Anything from resuming sports to challenging yourself with more difficult exercises without doctor approval runs the risk of causing re-injury to your shoulder.
How to help shoulder pain?
Do the physical therapy. Physical therapy exercises help improve the stability, range of motion, and strength in your shoulder. Attending sessions with the physical therapist as part of your accelerated rehab program and doing the exercises at home is crucial to a successful recovery.
How to help with pain after a syringe?
Use an ice pack (or bag of frozen peas wrapped in a light cloth) to help reduce inflammation during the first three to five days after surgery. After that period, heat can provide some relief for pain and stiffness. Take medication as directed.
Can you put stress on your shoulder?
While certain motions — particularly with the wrist and fingers — are safe to perform during recovery, avoid putting stress on your shoulder as it can delay healing. This includes such movements as reaching behind you, raising your arm overhead or out to the side, lifting anything heavy, and placing weight on your shoulder. Wearing a sling can help discourage you from making these motions inadvertently.
Can throwing a baseball cause a torn rotator cuff?
Sometimes, however, a sudden injury or repetitive movement can damage the muscles and tendons in your shoulder, resulting in a torn rotator cuff.
How long does it take to get a PT after surgery?
Count on having at least 8 to 10 weeks of formal, in-person PT. Based on what your surgeon thinks is best, you’ll start PT appointments 1 to 6 weeks after surgery. Once you start, your therapist will schedule 1 to 3 sessions per week based on your individual needs and the best use of your insurance benefits.
Can you drive after surgery?
You can’t drive after surgery, but you’ll still need a way to get to and from follow-up visits and PT sessions. Set up rides or find someone who’s available to drive you.
Can you sleep on a couch while recovering?
If you don’t have any reclining furniture, consider borrowing or renting an easy chair. If that’s not an option, have extra pillows to help keep you in a safe position on your sofa or in bed.