Day 10 Rotator Cuff Surgery Recovery - My PT Told Me to Chill

[@desmorris2193]

This is one of the best shoulder surgery channels

[@livelongerlivestronger]

Thank you! This was totally a labor of love to make these videos to help others with their recovery. Thank you for the feedback!

[@excaliburextreme8425]

I've watched a few of these vids and really have reservations about the advanced exercise schedule. I had complete tears in 3 of the 4 shoulder tendons from heavy muay thai training when i threw a right hook away from my body against a 120kg heavy bag. The momentum of the bag opposed the power of the punch and I felt at least one snap. Turned out my supraspinatus was irreparable due to the acromion rubbing. So I had major arthroscopic surgery with an acromioplasty and biceps tenodesis. The tendons were a mess and frayed from years of weights and impact. My recommendation... I had 1 shot at making this repair work because the surgeon improvised to reattach the supraspinatus. The entire first month was spent in the sling with progressively more frequent dangling outside of the sling in a passive range of motion to relieve stiffness. There are no prizes in trying to be Superman and thinking you can speed up recovery. Shoulder tendons have terrible blood supply and any stress will cause fluid surrounding the attachment. This will set you back and leave it vulnerable for reinjury. Most failures occur between months 1 to 3. Maybe because mine was more serious than most, I attempted little active stretching and strengthening through to week 10. This is the point at which repair accelerates. Between weeks 10-13 (3 months) the shoulder has shown remarkable progress daily, even with minimal work. At no point have I ever stressed the shoulder. In the videos I see these quite normal exercises done with load and the result is pain and weakness. But he does it again the next day and the next. The tendons are only about 25% repaired and you will invite reinjury and have to start again, if even possible. Take it easy, range of motion is your next goal not strength. Loading up the tendon is dangerous but gentle stress from stretching will be very beneficial. So even with my very pedestrian recovery program, by week 15 I had full range of motion, no pain and a shoulder ready to begin resistance work. Between 4-5mths size returned and there was no perceptible difference between shoulders. At 6mths I would consider the tendons were about 80% healed and I was ready to consider myself past the point of reinjury although I have not attempted any impact training since. I strike with my legs, left side and shadow box on the right. There is no such thing as 100% repaired; there will always be weakness at the point of reattachment and nothing beats the natural means that tendons attach to bones. My advice is to use pain as an instant warning but do nothing for at least 4wks. I was told it would heal in 6mths and without any physiotherapy or additional expense, I had a shoulder healed in 6mths with full range and 80% strength. Tendons are not like broken bones and you will probably only get 1 chance at it. Don't be a hero, you don't win a trophy if you are 3wks ahead of progress because everyone is different and have different levels of severity. Just remember the pain and inconvenience of the injury, operation and first month of recovery. Don't f*** it up! Good luck.

[@johnpeckskamp5329]

I am on day six after surgery. I am 72 years old and in very good shape I am experiencing pretty much the same process as you are describing so I am hopeful that this will go smoothly. I have no pain and feel very fortunate. I have found your videos to be very, informative and helpful. Thank you for your efforts.

[@warfaredunamis1276]

Yes, please share your top tips!

[@livelongerlivestronger]

@Warfare Dunamis will do!

[@christimberlake9743]

Very thorough

[@livelongerlivestronger]

Thank you. I'm glad it was helpful.

[@bre1ize]

Please share your tips!!!!

[@livelongerlivestronger]

I put several tips in each of the 31 videos on this channel, but here is the link to the Shoulder Surgery Prep video with tons of tips. I hope that helps! kzbin.info/www/bejne/lZrVZZKrrp6Ai5o