I don’t have a lot of the specific detail everyone here has, but I will do my best. I have read through many topics, and they don’t seem to mention what I am experiencing. Apologies if I missed this somewhere. Additionally, after reading through so many concerned posts, I feel like I have nothing to complain about. But, naturally I worry so I need to be sure. I am not quite getting the reassurance I need from my therapist.
Pre-op: I weightlifted more often than casually, and my arm was starting to give me pain when I was raising it laterally against resistance. It hurt right on the outside of my deltoid. I went to the doc and the first step was to give me an injection. That didn’t help one bit. So I went back and got an MRI done. The doctor told me I had a small labral tear and possibly a bur that was causing an impingement. Of course, a SLAP repair was advised, as was a “shaving” of the bur. The doctor made it clear that I was symptomatic of rotator cuff issues which was attributed to the impingement, but he still cared more about the tear. He said that no evidence has ever suggested that a “class 1” turns into a “class 2” tear, but theory is that it could. He said it was up to me, but if I wanted to alleviate my pain he had to repair both issues – he couldn’t just do one. Which I understood.
So I went through with it so I could keep weightlifting without pain in the rotator cuff area. He had me slinged 24-7 for 10 days. After I met with him to remove the stitches, I was told I had to sleep with the sling but I could go about my days with it off. I didn’t try to do much of anything during the day. I have a manual and drove a few times but I didn’t really lift my arm above my waist otherwise.
At week 5-ish he referred me to therapy. In my first visit, I received (what appears to be a typical response actually) feedback that my arm was unbelievably tight and was “tighter than most people should be at this point”. We went through plenty of mobility tests and I was given plenty of things to do. Although it didn’t seem like it, I was making fantastic progress. New exercises were being added, I moved into strengthening, etc. I was told I was actually above average in my recovery.
I don’t know a lot of my stats, but with assistance, I have probably gotten about 85-90% of my total range and maybe 60% of that is without assistance. Some things are slower than others…external rotator cuff rotation (Supine Stick External Rotation Stretch 45 degree) was very responsive and I have at least 95% range there. My weakest is rotating the cuff inward (Hand Behind Back Arom), but that is still improving. I was told that that will be the slowest area. I was also told that he is glad that spot is so tight. If that direction was sloppy and easy to move, he would be worried.
Wall Pushups have just been added to my regiment and those seem pretty easy to do, but he doesn’t want me using tables yet. Anyway, I am making progress and according to many other posts, much better progress than some people. Yet, I still have concerns.
Luckily, I haven’t experienced much pain. A twinge here and there, but even from the first day post-op, I haven’t really exceeded a 4 or 5 out of 10. I am very intolerant to pain killers, so I haven’t really taken any. That said, should I be concerned or thankful? Of course, some of the ROM the therapist has done sucked, but only momentarily.
On the topic of pain still – my shoulder CONSTANTLY aches though. Not painfully so. The best way to describe it is like mild growing pains. But, they are there every second of the day. Are these normal? It’s dull, but it is a constant reminder and it’s annoying. This is probably my biggest concern. I mentioned it to the therapist, but he hasn’t been through this surgery and “doesn’t know what growing pains feel like”. He doesn’t seem to be worried about it.
My shoulder also feels “dead” a lot of the time. Not that I can’t engage it or move it, but it just feels “hollow” or “dead”. I assume this is just lack of strength?
I get clicking from time to time and sometimes it’s at different places, but it doesn’t persist for more than a day and it is typically from repetition from one type of movement. I assume the clicking and popping being inconsistent is also a hint that this is normal and will wane once I gain strength?
The front of my shoulder tends to have a sharp ache/pinch to it. Not 24-7, but enough to remind me every 5-10 minutes. This is usually exacerbated when I do the “behind the back” exercise.
Lastly, how possible is it to re-tear this repair, especially just weeks post-op? I worry every second of the day that I re-damaged that spot. I try to remind myself that I was slinged and pretty careful with it. I also remind myself that the doctor and therapist both said I was very tight – so that MUST mean good things in regards to the healing process right? If I were trying to lift things above my head or falling and bracing myself, I could see it. However, my tendency to guard it and the doctor’s desire to keep it so immobile for so long says to me that I likely didn’t hurt it again.
It’s just hard to accept that since this is new to me. I don’t know what to expect so I assume the worst.
Ultimately, is the occasional clicking and incessant “growing pain” ache normal at this point in the game, or are they indicative of new or re-damage to that spot? Am I making a mountain out of mole hill? Part of me feels like I am actually quite fortunate to be gaining strength and mobility back with such little pain that I have no right to be concerned; the other part of me says dude you just ruined everything and you need to start again.
Sorry for the long post. I just wanted to give as much history as I could. Thanks in advance to anyone taking the time to help!
