Thank you all so much for your experiences and feedback. It really helps me to sort of know what to expect and not get any surprises. I will hope for the best but not be surprised by the worst. Unfortunately, I will not have the pain pump but at least I will get the nerve block. I think I'm prepared as best as can be, now I just have to get through it. I asked about PT but I was told that will not happen for awhile - that's kinda scary. I will have to do the famous pendulums tho. In a way, I'm glad - I don't want to deal with the pain of that too. Thank you all also for the well wishes and I am truly glad to have found this site.

I used vicodin 5-500's since the onset of symptoms
in my shoulder last November.
I took approx. 1 Pill per day, usually after work, or before
bed- as that is when the pain was worst.
But if I didn't have to go anywhere, and had another adult around to help with the children, I would take one during the day for pain if needed.


After surgery- immediate post op. I was in a good deal of pain.
I woke up to find that I did not get the block.
I was kept in the hospital overnight with a Morphine pump and did very well with that for pain management.

I was sent home early the morning after post op, with Dilaudid for pain prescribed 1 or 2 every 4-6 hours.
That was really awesome stuff.
I wasn't in the house for 10 minutes and I had already thrown my arm onto the desk here and started typing.

I took Dilaudid 4mg 2 pills aprox. every 4-6 hours for the first 3 days, then I tapered off to 1 pill every 6-8 hours, then down to 2 per day over the first week.

On my 1 week post op visit the Surgeon asked me if I needed more Dilaudid and I asked instead if I could have my refill for something less potent as someone here mentioned that Dilaudid is a VERY heavy drug and I didn't want to stay on a heavy drug for too long.

My Doctor then prescribed me vicodin 5-500 again.
They did absolutely nothing for me.
I kind of regretted not taking the Dilaudid offered me, initially.

I suffered through the weekend with the vicodin 5-500's doubling up on them, then called my surgeons office first thing yesterday morning.
They called in vicodin 7.5 and I've done OK, on those.

I feel like I was able to do more in physical therapy and here at the house when I was on Dilaudid.

Today at physical therapy I couldn't do half the exercises I did just last week. I couldn't even lift a one lb weight to my side, which I lifted 2 lb. weights to my side 20 repetitions just last week.
But my Husband suggested that it was really the best move for me in his opinion as He felt I was overdoing stuff because I wasn't feeling the pain of my actions.

Plus Dilaudid could be addictive- and while I am a firm believer of taking pain medication when in pain, I definitely
don't want to take any chances of getting addicted to pain meds and I can do more stuff now unsupervised on the vicodin, versus the Dilaudid.- Which is a plus

I think the best thing to do is listen to your body.
Take what the Surgeon gives you but don't be afraid to
call the office if your pain isn't sufficiently managed.

Best of luck Ariel!

As seen it all depends and can vary greatly! I myself had SLAP repair with 3 anchors 5 weeks ago. I didn't start PT until week 3. I had a block and was given percoset but after 5 or so doses my stomach wasn't tolerating them (or possibly all the drugs from the surgery leaving my system) very well and I had to talk to my doctor and took Vicodin instead. Although my doc only gave me 325's. I ended up taking them straight for the first 5 days after surgery. I then tried to back off a little for the next 2. A week later I was back at work so for week 2 I was only taking them from after work - night.

I think week 3, during the days was my best in regards or discomfort. I seem to be different than many on the board as I am not still in constant pain. I am not sure if that has to do with the fact I only had 3 anchors, or the fact that i have had migraines for 20 years so I am a bit accustomed to dealing with, working through, tolerating and even blocking out pain.

I find after the first week of PT i am very sore and uncomfortable often. I have to say though that I purchased a Cryo Cuff and ice my shoulder as often as possible when home since surgery, and I find this helps.

Sleeping at night is still awful. I am up a few times a night and still sleeping in a recliner. Good Luck!

Best wishes to all!