I had a slap tear repair almost 180 degrees 4 anchors, today is 6 weeks post surgery. I still have some pain, but most if it is after the PT sessions and when I do home exercises. I was taking Vicodin at night up to about the 4 week mark, my DR suggested that I start to get off it and if needed just take Aleve he said it may work better then Motrin so you might want to try it. I take 2 Aleve in the morning and night with does the job on the pain, I am thinking to reduce that even since the pain that bad as long as I ice the shoulder PT exercises.

But for me sleeping has been the hardest part but it has gotten better. About 2 weeks ago (and remember it as a Tuesday night) I found that I had slept for 6 hours without waking in some discomfort or from pain. It is funny how that made such a big deal for me and found myself telling other about it. Since then I can sleep for the most part now through the night like normal. Can't sleep on my side yet but I'll take what I can get.

Give it time it will get better, best to you.

Thanks for all the replies and kind words and encouragement...
the pain seems worse at night and after PT...one of my pt's is tougher and stretches me harder he told me today that if i don't loosen up they may have to go in and "bust things loose"...the LAST thing i want is a manipulation...and i'm supposed to go back to work on Monday..
feels better after i do a group ride class (strangely enough...and am using the sling...and not leaning at all on the left side)...hardest thing is moving my arm sideways (out) and across the body (to reach under the opposite arm).
will be stretching like crazy this weekend...
I was in the sling for 4 weeks total..(stopped sleeping in it after 3 1/2...it was just driving me nuts)

to answer you Rishman...it is mostly night pain...day is manageable with ibuprofen...but need the perc at night for sure...
thanks again for all the support and best wishes to everyone who was kind enough to write...
it does truly help knowing there are so many great people out here on the site...
hugs to y'all (i'm in kentucky..i can say that...
Sherri

As far as the pain killers go I only used them for the first few days. I didn't like the way they made me feel, made my head foggy.

I wish I had better news for you about the sleeping. I'm at 4+ months and still waking up at night. I can't lay on my left side without pain. At this point I believe it's from tendonitis. You're still so early in your recovery, just out of the sling. I think I was at about the 8-10 week mark when I finally had a descent night's sleep.

It's a slow process getting your ROM back....well it was for me anyway. I was still breaking adhesions at the 3 month mark. Good luck. Stay positive.

Thanks Bad Flipper...i'm trying...for sure...it's tough..i'm not a good back sleeper..and keep flipping on to my left side (surgery side!)...i'm not a big fan of beig on perc so long..(they don't make me foggy...just the opposite..i get wired...i wish they'd knock me out..lol).
thanks again...you take care too
Sherri

I'm with Sky.
I am 6 months in and and still have severe pain at night.
Severe.
Just got another MRI and it shows a partial tear still. "Great"...
My initial surgery was like yours but with 2 anchors for the tear off the bone and sutures for the other tear at 8:00.
I took pain killers for the first 3 months or so and at times still should but just don't.
Sucks.

I had surgery 8/8/08..SLAP type 2 w/3 anchors. Just a little past history. I had 2 major back fusions years ago. I'm on "paing therapy". Basically either I go back in for another fusion OR stay on Oxycontin. My wife said she'll trade me in (bad car-lemon law) for a new husband if I have another fusion. I'm still on the Oxy. So for the shoulder surgery, my Ortho said he couldn't do much more for pain pills then what I was already on. I weened myself off of the Norcos @ a month post-op of the SLAP surgery. I've been on Ambien for years anyway. The Lazyboy recliner has been my home for the first 35 days. I now sleep in the bed but I too roll over on the bad shoulder. I know it gets better everyday. It was pretty funny though on day 15 (I was still in immobilizer/sling) trying to sleep in bed laying on my back w/ left arm pointing straight up at the ceiling. Didn't work.