hi. i wanted to say how helpful this site has been to me while i was recovering, and to share with anyone who is feeling down and hopeless, wondering if they should have had surgery, if they did the right thing, if the pain will ever get better, if they will be able to use their arm again -- all questions i asked myself 5 months ago after a biceps tendon transfer, slap repair, frozen shoulder and opiate dependency -- that yes, it will get better and you will be normal again. it just takes time, patience, consistent and dedicated PT, re training your muscles, and recovery is on its way. keep that in mind when you cant sleep in the middle of the night, when you put on weight, when your ROM sucks, when PT hurts like hell, when your doc says they think your shoulder is frozen -- it gets better with time and hard work and patience.
good luck to everyone, and thanks so much for this site and everyones comments -- it got me through that horrible time and now im training and working and well on the road to normal functioning again -- and you will be too!

Thank you. Shoulder surgery comes with alot of pain and emotions. I look forward to the day I look back too.

Sky

JTK - thanks for your words of encouragement. They are words I need to hear, especially now. I am 6 weeks out from subacromial decompression with RC fraying, bursectomy, and clavicle debridement. Thought this would be a piece of cake, but I have severe biceps tendinitis that I'm trying to fight my way through. What freaks me out is that my biceps pain was my biggest problem before the surgery, and I'm so worried that this will continue to be an ongoing problem with no resolution. I just finished a Medrol pack with no benefit, so I just keep stretching and icing, and working hard - something's gotta give, right? I'm back to work, but I've had so many responsibilities taken away from me because of the physical limitations. I'm an RN now working as a veterinary nurse, and I use my arms for everything. It's a huge blow to my self-worth, and it's taking its toll on me. Most days I feel like the light at the end of the tunnel is just the headlights of another oncoming train! Thanks for reminding me that it will get better...

That was beautifully written and I couldn't agree with you more. I had surgery on 11/14/07 and the road to recovery has been long, painful and sometimes unbearable. My surgeon warned me beforehand that it would take 6 months. In February I developed a frozen shoulder and was very discouraged. The emotional rollercoaster took a toll on me. After my second cortisone shot, things finally took a turn for the better. These past couple of weeks have been a turning point: my ROM is almost back to normal, my pain level is 0 and I'm losing the weight I put on. Best of all, I am almost discharged from PT. I never thought these days would come. For all of you that are going through the darkest moments right now and wished you had never chose the surgery, please hang in there. You too will have full recovery.

Patti

Hi JTK and 2painful, long time no "see". Ditto on everything that you said. I am so thankful for this site as well. It has been about 6 months and I am essentially pain free. An occasional twinge here and there but that is it. I too gained weight, got depressed, and had to struggle to get off of the pain meds. I also developed a frozen shoulder and you might remember my rant that I would NEVER do this again in a million years. Well a cortisone shot later, and lots of PT, I am just fine. I am even thinking of fixing the other shoulder. So, hang in there all of you that are in the middle of all of this. It really does get better. I am still amazed at how many 40 something females, and nurses have this injury. I am a nurse as well. Interestingly enough, I ended up becoming good friends with a couple of the women that I met on this site. So thank you again to all of you and Andy for this site. Michele

how about anyone who's 6-7 months post-surgery, and isn't improving? I continue to have limited ROM, extreme pain with many movements, increased grinding and "slipping" feelings. Doc has scheduled an arthrogram MRI to investigate further. I'm very disheartened. Have had 2 cortisone injections, followed by Mefrol dose pack, inflammation may be reduced, but pain increased a lot following steroid pills. Plus I'm having a lot of problems with extreme pain in y lats and other surrouding muschles as they attempt to support and/or compensate for poor ROM. Any hopeful news? Really hoping to avoid a 2nd surgery.