eja_ bottecchia

I am 66 years young.

Four weeks ago I had surgery to repair a massive tear to my right rotator cuff. I crashed my bike while riding on PCH, near Mugu Rock. In addition to the rotator cuff I also broke my right hand small finger. BTW, I am happy to report that the bike is OK.

The surgery went well and I feel great.

I start PT on Tuesday.

I Have heard lots of horror stories about rotator cuff surgery and recovery.

I would like to hear from those of you who have had similar surgery. How was your recovery?

How long were you in PT?

What was your experience like? Highlights? Low lights?

How soon were you able to go out and comfortably ride again?

Thank you.

OldTryGuy

I'm 72 years 6 months 12 days OLD and proud of every second to be **OLD** !!!

As far as RC Surgery reply ??-- waiting to hear from others since I only had a slight tear 1.5 years ago and I haven't faired too well due to some major other health issues.

BTW, GOOD LUCK!!!

eja_ bottecchia

I just recently retired and I am still getting used to the “old retired guy” label.

My tear was pretty massive. The surgeon had to do extensive repairs.

Next to not being able to ride my bike, the thing that I miss the most is not being able to walk my dog.

I hope that your health issues, along with your RC tear, resolve favorably!

Thank you for the well wishes.

force10

This thread might be helpful: Anyone ride after shoulder surgery - advice

_ForceD_

I’ll be 62 in Feb, I had torn rotator cuff surgery 8-9 years ago. Of course your surgery wasn’t really planned I guess. But, what I always tell people preparing for it…if it’s the shoulder for the hand/arm you wipe your a$$ with…start practicing wiping with the other hand. As far as recovery and PT…do what the PTs and doc tell you. A don’t do anything to over do it. I felt like PT was torture in POW camp. But I did as much of the ‘at home’ exercises they suggested and allowed. No more. In the end, they said I recovered a lot quicker than other RC tears they’d seen. I mean I’m a runner too. I asked if I could jog on a treadmill while recovering if I held onto the handrails. The doctor said “One hundred percent NO!” Not because you might fall, and can’t break the fall with your hand. But because when you jog your arm will very slightly bounce up and down. It’s not much, but it’s enough to cause micro-tears in the healed tissue. It makes long term recovery much less effective. Of course you’ve probably already experienced the difficulty with sleeping during recovery. Hopefully you have a good recliner you can sleep in. Hope you’re feeling better, and good luck with PT and recovery.

Dan

eja_ bottecchia

Thank you for the link. It has lots of great info. I was being lazy and not using the search feature.

OldTryGuy

From everything I've heard and read about RC ISSUES and recovery, it IS A BEAR compared to my complete right shoulder replacement. My Ortho had the sling off the next day and I was back riding 2 days later without pain.

GhostRider62

I had rotator cuff surgery on a Friday and was riding on Monday. Of course, it was my recumbent. I decided to do PT myself.

After breaking my clavicle in three pieces, 5 ribs, cracker trochanter, cracked the spine of the scapula, humerus in 3 pieces, and elbow in 5 pieces with olecranon osteotomy surgery, it was almost a month before I could ride my upright bike. There was a small tear but surgeon said it was not worth a third operation. PT was 3 months 3x per week.

delbiker1 

I had a right shoulder rotator cuff tear repaired in 2011, 58 yo, along a with torn bicep and whatever the muscle is that runs along the clavicle. I am right handed, not really ambidextrous, but quite coordinated with the left arm/hand. That was a big help post surgery. Recovery was a long, and, at first, very painful. The first 6 weeks was absolutely miserable. Had to sleep sitting up in a chair, try to sleep anyway. Sometimes the painkillers, hydrocodone, would barely ease the pain. I was told by the PT that I should expect a lot of pain when first starting therapy, and take a pill before hand. IIRC, therapy was 6 months in office, and it took another 18 months, or so, for my shoulder to get back to somewhat pre-tear. The first time the therapist tried to raise my arm more than 90 degrees, I let out a bit of a scream and just wanted to stop. My shoulder is doing ok, almost 12 years post op, but never got back to total recovery. I still have issues with range of motion and doing any lifting of significant weight. Daily activities I am fine with. Everyone is different, and I am not trying to dissuade or alarm, just my experience. I have had 4 spinal surgeries, the shoulder recovery was worse than any of those.

Having said all of that, I wish you well, and suggest you do not try to push or hurry the recovery, do what the docs and therapists are asking you to do, but with the caveat, communicate any concerns you have with them. It is your shoulder and only you really know how it feels. If a stretch or exercise is more than you think you can, or should be doing, relay that and discuss the reasons for doing it, and options. They are the pro's, but truth in communication is important.

'02 nrs 

2002 & 2008 torn labrum repairs.52-58yo then.worse part was recovering "range & motion" in pt+scar tissue.2008 took 6 months of pt even with home excersizing.as described very much like boot camp torture.tip-ride an upright stationary to keep your leg muscles tuned & weight off the shoulders.if you take pain meds the pt may not be as bad.I didn't as getting off them is another battle.14 years later still using terrabands to keep the shoulder muscles strong.

RB1-luvr

58 now and still having issues with my rotator cuff/detached bicep 4-hour surgery (lots of damage) when I was 45. I cannot remember how long I was off the bike. You'd think I'd remember that. I recall doing a running race with a sling. If I had to guess, I was off the bike for at least 8 weeks.

I wish you well and a thorough recovery.

fooferdoggie 

if they don't give you one of these get one it does wonders. cold therapy. I used 17ox pop bottles.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...e?ie=UTF8&th=1

dicktill

I have some good news. After a year of pain and very limited range of motion, I had my non-dominate left rotator cuff operated on last March at age 76. My surgeon said that my operation was worse than average. Yet I was able to sleep in my own bed every night, didn't have to take the damned & controlled pain medication, and was able to resume moderate activities after 6 weeks and fairly normal activities after 3 months, in fact helping my handyman with a massive house repair/rebuild project that dragged on all year. Range of motion came back fairly quickly too, with full range probably around 5-6 months. The first 6 weeks was a PITA due to physical therapy and particularly the "half strait jacket" I had to wear essentially 24/7.

I was able to do a 32-mile bike ride after 7 weeks, but not much overall for the year, not because of pain, but because of the aforementioned massage house project.

YMMV. Best of luck, Dick

ooga-booga

hang in there, socal brother!

joesch

Six months ago I tore my RC playing tennis.
Could not raise arm for one week.
Doing PT and its mostly now healed to point where I can start to do strength training again.
There are lots of YT vids by Dr's and PT's that have great details on PT exercises.
Takes a long time to heal so you need to be patient and regular with the PT.
Its difficult to know how much pain is good PT, ie working thru scar tissue etc, and not too much to go backwards.
Sorta like training rides, depends on rider, age, health, etc on how much pain is good work.
Best wishes!

eja_ bottecchia

Bro, you are a total stud.

eja_ bottecchia

Thank you my friend. We are a long way away from our ride up GMR.

I have been using my wife‘s indoor bike. Not quite the same as my Wahoo Kickr (no Zwift connection) but it is something.

Next to not being able to ride my bike, the thing that I miss the most is not being able to walk my dog. She misses it, I miss it.

eja_ bottecchia

I should’ve just had the entire shoulder replaced then.

eja_ bottecchia

I checked out the YT videos. Frankly, some of them freaked me out with their “gruesome” details. But you are right, there is a lot of good info out there. Thanks!

ooga-booga

gmr/grr usually closed the 4th of july and it's on a tuesday this year. i'm usually off on tuesdays and will definitely try to make it up there for the madness
and camaraderie of the closed road that day. will likely do it once beforehand in march or april just for giggles. i'm sure you'll be raring and ready to go
by the 4th of july.