I started PT after the first surgery on day 4/5. As for when I first noticed my ROM stalling, i's hard to say. I know for sure at the 6 week OS appt that I already had issues which is when he tried the medrol dose pack. I think it probably stalled around 3-4 weeks or so. I still wonder if something went wrong when the OS raised my arm over my head on day 4. It was so incredibly painful and at the very least probably caused me to guard.

Besides moveing it often, how do you avoind scar tissue from forming again?

Hey kcdtarheel,
Was wondering if things are still going well for you. I am having similar surgery in the morning. I am feeling a little nervous, but hopefully things will go smoother this time around. It sounds like it was easier for you. How is PT going and what is your pain level?

Things are still going well. I have battled extreme tightness and muscle spasms in my deltoid which we are treating with muscle relaxers, massage, and e-stim. I hope these will subside as they do hinder progress because they casue pain. When I'm not dealing with the spasms, I have minimal pain and decent range of motion. The biggest difference between this surgery and the last is that I have been able to sleep very well this time and I'm sleeping in my bed. Last time I was in a recliner for 6 weeks and hardly slept for a couple of months.

PT is going well. He already started me on the bands today which is only 1 week out, so I am well ahead of where I was at this point last year. Of course I don't have a repair to protect this time so I can be more aggressive.

Good luck tomorrow. I know you'll do great. I would bet you'll have a much easier time this go around.

Things are still going well for me. I'm starting to get bored because the doctor won't allow any strengthening exercises until the 6 week mark, so at 4 weeks, all I am doing is working on ROM.

I have a question about a particular pain. When I lay on my back and raise on arm over my head all the way behind me to about 170 degrees or if I put my hands clasped behind my head as if relaxing while watching tv, I get pain in my scapula which then seems to cause impingement type pain. What is causing this and is there anything I can do about it? My best guess is that the scapula is probably winging a bit as it moves along the floor. Any ideas?

Hi KCD,

So glad to hear you are still doing so well and without much pain. I have had alot of problems with my scapule winging,so my PT has had me doing scapular stabilizing exercises. He also tapes me on a regular basis. I leave it on a few days and then off for a couple days. It is not kenesio but the heavy duty stuff. I have a love-hate relationship with the tape. At times it makes me crazy, but most of the time it helps. I went to OS on Tuesday(3 week mark) and he was very pleased. He didn't seem surprised that I am still experiencing significant pain. He said after the 6 week mark things should start improving. He said the next few weeks it may get worse because my body will start laying down scar tissue. Are you still experiencing alot of tightness? My body can tighten up in an hour or two. It is so frustrating.

The tightness has gotten much better over the last week or so. I still get tight, but whereas it would take until about the 6th or 7th rep of a particular exercise to get to full range, now it happens on about the 2nd, so it loosens up much quicker.

I have full ROM (passively) on everything but internal rotation and that is still coming along. Both my therapist and I are getting antsy to start some strengthening exercises but my OS didn't want that until the 6 week mark. My PT did go ahead and add some light strengthening on Friday and I was very sore last night. I had a hard time sleeping because of the pain. I guess the strengthening phase will have its challenges.

Does anyone know at what point you're past the risk of your body laying down scar tissue?