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Rotator Cuff Surgery

rocketjoe79 said:
Just checking in with good news. It's 16 months after surgery, and a super wet winter that didn't allow much play. No shoulder pain, decent ROM - plenty for golf.

The good news? Today I shot a personal best 85!! There is life after getting stabbed 5 times :)
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Congrats! For both the pain free shoulder and for the round.
 
Reading these old threads and wondering how things have progressed in the last 2 years for those that had the torn rotator cuff surgeries.I tore my left one about 6 weeks ago and will see a surgeon tomorrow for consult.An Ortho specialist diagnosed the problem,which occurred playing golf and set up the surgical consult.I am 67 years old and had meniscus surgery on my knee in April and don't want another long painful rehab.Was it worth it to you?At what age did you have it? Any advise or hints for me that you found out"the hard way".
 
tvrepairex said:
Reading these old threads and wondering how things have progressed in the last 2 years for those that had the torn rotator cuff surgeries.I tore my left one about 6 weeks ago and will see a surgeon tomorrow for consult.An Ortho specialist diagnosed the problem,which occurred playing golf and set up the surgical consult.I am 67 years old and had meniscus surgery on my knee in April and don't want another long painful rehab.Was it worth it to you?At what age did you have it? Any advise or hints for me that you found out"the hard way".
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Well it seems like most in this thread have had good success with theirs. It's a pretty cheery read from what I can tell. You're obviously researching it a lot to be looking at old threads, so you probably know the stats. Around 80-85% of rotator cuff surgeries are considered successful overall, and the percentage drops with age. So, on to your questions...

Worth it to me? Well, I've had my right rotator surgically repaired twice, and it is currently torn (along with labrum), so I suppose the answer depends on my mood in any given moment. First time I was 20ish. Healed well initially, developed some lingering trouble, but learned to live with it - it was better than prior to surgery. Re-tore it less than 2 years later. Athletic aspirations ended so I moved on with life and waited until I was 27 to fix it again. Second time around I was extra cautious through the healing and rehab process (money was a motivator in this, lol) and it lasted 8 months before tearing again. I wanted no part of third go so I went back to living life, and completely stopped golfing. Took it up again this year (40 years old) after a lot of more serious injuries, and it's mostly fine in comparison to the rest. I can't swing as flat as I'd like with it, but with scar tissue, multiple screws already there, the A word I don't say out loud, and secondary issues created by living years a very physical life with a subpar shoulder my only options are replacement level now, and I'm not keen on that. And any golf related issues are nothing compared to everyday living issues with it. So in hindsight I kind of wish I hadn't ever cut it open. Financial cost, time, disappointment, etc, seem a waste, but I'm not sure I would have been happy to just live with it back then. The 'trying' seemed most important.

I don't want to be a buzz kill, because the chances are good it will work out for you. 4 out of 5, right? I just know that I had really good surgeons and did everything I was supposed to. The feelings of it being a failure was surely amplified by the fact that I had/have degrees in exercise science, nutritional science, and kinesiology, years of working as a personal trainer and strength and conditioning specialist, and close relationships with the people involved.

So my 'hard way' advice would be don't assume it will be great in the end. Chances are good, but ya never know. HIS will and all..
 
I'm 62 and I've had both shoulders done and my only regret is not doing the first one sooner.
When the left one started really hurting, I put it off for 3 years before getting it done.
Then a year later the right started acting the same, so I had the same surgeon take a look right away.
3 weeks later, he worked his magic.
The rehab can be a little painful but not too bad. I had both of my surgeries in early winter so I could rehab during the snow.
I really worked at the rehab on both shoulders and both times was allowed to return to golf a full month before the projected times.
Was it worth getting done? Absolutely with out a doubt.
 
i am a little late to the party but i want to chime in as someone that had rotator cuff surgery about 10 years ago. i had the rotator cuff and labrum torn.

first off (at least for me) it was an agonizing recovery. took me several months just to be able to lift my arm over my head. the pain after surgery was nearly unbearable. there was no sleep for the first couple of weeks. the good thing was that it was my left arm....if it was my right i don't know what i would have done. after some intense therapy and lots of pain, i am great now. the shoulder is as strong as it's ever been.

now i have a tear in the right shoulder but unless it is 100% necessary i will not be getting that shoulder done. and right now it is passable.
 
Update,I saw the surgeon yesterday and will have to decide if I want the procedure done or not.At least,doing it now he says I should be able to play some golf middle of next summer.
 
I had a torn labrum. I put up with the pain for years, thinking exercise and strengthening would be enough. After a week of consecutive sleepless nights, the decision became easy. All I can say is that today, the shoulder which had surgery is fine, and doesn't bother me at all. I had it done in the winter season, and with rehab was golfing in the same year. Everyone's motivation to either have (or not) surgery is different, mine was being able to sleep through the night without a pillow under my shoulder. On the plus side, my short game got really good because of restrictions on full swing during rehab!
 
Both of my shoulders had essentially the same issues. Torn labrum, bone spur and torn rotator cuff.
The doc told me it would 6 to 7 months after surgery before I could play golf.
I had the first one done in October of 2012 and with the hard work I put in rehab, I was cleared to play golf in March.

Left Shoulder

I had the right shoulder done in January of 2017 and with the hard work in rehab I was cleared to play golf in April.

Right Shoulder

If you want to see what he is going to do to you internally, click those YouTube links to my surgeries.

Best wishes !
 
Finally having my rotator cuff surgery tomorrow,so late Merry Christmas to Me!At least I didn't have to decide on what golf stuff I wanted for Christmas...☹
 
tvrepairex said:
Finally having my rotator cuff surgery tomorrow,so late Merry Christmas to Me!At least I didn't have to decide on what golf stuff I wanted for Christmas...☹
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Good luck with your surgery. Hope you come out of it pain free. :)
 
tvrepairex said:
Finally having my rotator cuff surgery tomorrow,so late Merry Christmas to Me!At least I didn't have to decide on what golf stuff I wanted for Christmas...☹
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Praying for a quick recovery for you
 
Good luck and follow the rehab! It will hurt like a mofo but in the end it is 100% worth it.


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tvrepairex said:
Finally having my rotator cuff surgery tomorrow,so late Merry Christmas to Me!At least I didn't have to decide on what golf stuff I wanted for Christmas...☹
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Good luck, the recovery is well over a year but it was definitely worth it.
 
Good luck with the surgery!

Don't cheat yourself on the rehab and you'll be back to swinging clubs in no time.
 
An update.Three weeks after the surgery,I have almost no pain but can't sleep very much .I Tried to sleep inclined on pillows on a bed instead of buying a recliner, and just can't get comfortable.I have had 2x a week therapy the last two weeks and so far not bad.It has been "passive" where the PT does the motions with my limp arm.It will get much tougher in the next few weeks when I start the movements I am sure .Still in a sling which I can take off for showers and a few other times during the day, but should start coming out of the sling more in a couple weeks.
 
Man, a recliner saved my sleep when I had mine done.
 
Been doing rehab twice a week and got rid of the sling two weeks ago.I had another follow up with the surgeon last week ,and he said I was maybe a little ahead of schedule with my results.I go back the end of March, and he said if I am still doing good ,he would release me to do some putting and chipping and maybe 1/2-3/4 wedges a month later.The goal was back to full rounds after 5-6 months and he says it maybe on the lower end of this right now.
 
I’m going to be scheduling an appointment with an Orthopedic doc for a shoulder problem. I’m thinking it’s a rotator cuff issue. So, I’m bringing this thread back.

I first developed a shoulder problem about 30 years ago. I have had difficulty throwing a ball overhanded since then. Never bothered me playing golf until recently.

Around two months ago, reaching from the front seat to get something out of the backseat of the car caused considerable pain. And last week, for the first time my shoulder hurt playing golf. Fortunately, it’s the end of the season for me.

Also, I can’t sleep through the night without waking up in pain. Also, reaching to pick something up off the ground or to get something from overhead can be painful. I have also had difficulty using my right arm to pull my belt through the belts. Reaching behind my back with my right arm is painful and my range of motion is severely restricted.
 
Good luck with your recovery. I have had both shoulders done and am very happy with both. Don't skimp on your therapy, it will do you good.
 
Have an appointment scheduled for tomorrow to have my shoulder examined.
 
Bernoulli said:
Have an appointment scheduled for tomorrow to have my shoulder examined.
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Diagnosed with bursitis and tendinitis. I was given a cortisone shot. That's quite a relief given how painful it has been for the past 10 days.
 
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