About a year ago, I was consistently having pain in my right shoulder in the mornings upon awakening. It increased to the point where there was throbbing all the way down the arm and into the elbow, wrist, and finger joints. I called my primary physician and asked for an x-ray to see what was going on. I sleep on my sides and back, rotating all night long. I thought perhaps I was sleeping on my right side for too many hours at night. The results came back as a bone spur in the right shoulder bones. That meant my body was growing extra bone (unfortunately, in the shape of a pizza cutter) downwards, and this was cutting into muscle, tendons, ligaments, and into the nerves, causing the pain.
During the past year I was transitioning into a new health insurance company. My new orthopedic surgeon ordered an MRI, to see what soft tissue had been damaged as well. Unfortunately, I had arthritis in the entire shoulder joint, and inflammation in the soft tissue, and damaged cartilage, which does not grow itself back. The surgeon suggested arthroscopic surgery to repair everything that could be repaired, and this would prevent more permanent cartilage destruction. In the meanwhile, I asked for a steroid shot for the pain. It brought the pain down to almost zero!
I was already on medical leave since November of 2024 for my spinal fusion. So I decided to have the shoulder surgery while still recovering from the spinal surgery. Let's fast forward to 3 days ago. I had a successful surgery on the shoulder, and the use of robotics and cameras assisting the surgeon helped the speed and efficiency of the operation.
After the surgery, my entire right arm was without feeling or mobility. They had injected a nerve block, which took away all feeling. It was fascinating to me, like I had a live body with a dead arm. I entertained myself for the first day after surgery by FaceTiming family and having them watch me lift my hand up and watching it flop down on the pillow. 12 hours later, the feeling returned to my arm, with a vengeance.
I was blindsided with pain, running all the way down to the fingertips. I was unable to sleep comfortably, if at all. My description of the pain, when someone asked me how I was feeling: "I feel like I have been hit by a Mack truck driven by a very small child." This pain level is almost as high as when I had knee replacement surgery, which was the worst pain I experienced in my life thus far, even worse than labor and delivery. The good news is that it is supposed to decline in pain rapidly, and I will be able to discard the sling in only a week. Then physical therapy ensues for 6 weeks to enhance flexibility, range of motion, and strength.
Let's take a look at shoulder pain and surgery:
Shoulder pain can significantly impact daily activities, often resulting from injuries or degenerative conditions like rotator cuff tears and bone spurs. Arthroscopic surgery, a minimally invasive procedure, offers an effective solution for addressing these issues. This technique allows surgeons to perform shoulder debridement, bone spur cleanup, and tendon repair through small incisions, leading to quicker recovery times and less post-operative discomfort compared to traditional open surgery. Whether caused by trauma, repetitive motion, or age-related wear and tear, these procedures aim to restore function, alleviate pain, and improve quality of life.
The Role of Shoulder Debridement and Bone Spur Cleanup
Shoulder debridement is a procedure that removes damaged or inflamed tissue from the shoulder joint. This step is often necessary to create a healthier environment for healing and prevent further irritation. Bone spurs, small bony growths that can develop in the joint, may also need to be addressed during surgery. These spurs can cause significant pain, restrict movement, and even damage surrounding soft tissues like the rotator cuff. Arthroscopic tools enable surgeons to precisely remove these spurs, freeing up space in the joint and allowing for smoother movement post-recovery.
Rotator Cuff Repair: Restoring Strength and Mobility
The rotator cuff is a group of tendons and muscles that stabilize the shoulder and facilitate a wide range of motion. Tears in the rotator cuff can lead to weakness, pain, and limited mobility. During arthroscopic rotator cuff surgery, surgeons repair these tears by reattaching the torn tendon to the bone using sutures, anchors, or grafts. This meticulous process is critical to restoring the shoulder's structural integrity and functionality. While the recovery process requires patience, physical therapy plays a vital role in regaining strength, flexibility, and full range of motion.
What to Expect During Recovery and Pain Management
Post-surgery recovery involves a combination of rest, physical therapy, and gradual return to activity. Pain levels after shoulder surgery can vary, but most patients experience moderate to severe pain during the first week, especially during the initial days after the procedure. This discomfort is managed with prescribed pain medications and cold therapy to reduce swelling and inflammation. As healing progresses, the intensity of pain typically decreases, with most patients reporting significant improvement within a few weeks. Physical therapy may cause temporary discomfort, but this is essential for regaining strength and flexibility. My surgeon's team told me ahead of time that the physical therapy would hurt like hell, but was a crucial part of the total healing process. By following the surgeon’s instructions and staying committed to the rehabilitation plan, patients can achieve lasting pain relief and a fully functional shoulder.
I look forward to my healthy and active near future! Have you had chronic shoulder pain or shoulder surgery? What was your experience like? Please share. I want to hear from you!
Blessings,
KJ Landis
@superiorself on Instagram and X
SuperiorSelf channel on Youtube
[email protected]
Books available everywhere!
During the past year I was transitioning into a new health insurance company. My new orthopedic surgeon ordered an MRI, to see what soft tissue had been damaged as well. Unfortunately, I had arthritis in the entire shoulder joint, and inflammation in the soft tissue, and damaged cartilage, which does not grow itself back. The surgeon suggested arthroscopic surgery to repair everything that could be repaired, and this would prevent more permanent cartilage destruction. In the meanwhile, I asked for a steroid shot for the pain. It brought the pain down to almost zero!
I was already on medical leave since November of 2024 for my spinal fusion. So I decided to have the shoulder surgery while still recovering from the spinal surgery. Let's fast forward to 3 days ago. I had a successful surgery on the shoulder, and the use of robotics and cameras assisting the surgeon helped the speed and efficiency of the operation.
After the surgery, my entire right arm was without feeling or mobility. They had injected a nerve block, which took away all feeling. It was fascinating to me, like I had a live body with a dead arm. I entertained myself for the first day after surgery by FaceTiming family and having them watch me lift my hand up and watching it flop down on the pillow. 12 hours later, the feeling returned to my arm, with a vengeance.
I was blindsided with pain, running all the way down to the fingertips. I was unable to sleep comfortably, if at all. My description of the pain, when someone asked me how I was feeling: "I feel like I have been hit by a Mack truck driven by a very small child." This pain level is almost as high as when I had knee replacement surgery, which was the worst pain I experienced in my life thus far, even worse than labor and delivery. The good news is that it is supposed to decline in pain rapidly, and I will be able to discard the sling in only a week. Then physical therapy ensues for 6 weeks to enhance flexibility, range of motion, and strength.
Let's take a look at shoulder pain and surgery:
Shoulder pain can significantly impact daily activities, often resulting from injuries or degenerative conditions like rotator cuff tears and bone spurs. Arthroscopic surgery, a minimally invasive procedure, offers an effective solution for addressing these issues. This technique allows surgeons to perform shoulder debridement, bone spur cleanup, and tendon repair through small incisions, leading to quicker recovery times and less post-operative discomfort compared to traditional open surgery. Whether caused by trauma, repetitive motion, or age-related wear and tear, these procedures aim to restore function, alleviate pain, and improve quality of life.
The Role of Shoulder Debridement and Bone Spur Cleanup
Shoulder debridement is a procedure that removes damaged or inflamed tissue from the shoulder joint. This step is often necessary to create a healthier environment for healing and prevent further irritation. Bone spurs, small bony growths that can develop in the joint, may also need to be addressed during surgery. These spurs can cause significant pain, restrict movement, and even damage surrounding soft tissues like the rotator cuff. Arthroscopic tools enable surgeons to precisely remove these spurs, freeing up space in the joint and allowing for smoother movement post-recovery.
Rotator Cuff Repair: Restoring Strength and Mobility
The rotator cuff is a group of tendons and muscles that stabilize the shoulder and facilitate a wide range of motion. Tears in the rotator cuff can lead to weakness, pain, and limited mobility. During arthroscopic rotator cuff surgery, surgeons repair these tears by reattaching the torn tendon to the bone using sutures, anchors, or grafts. This meticulous process is critical to restoring the shoulder's structural integrity and functionality. While the recovery process requires patience, physical therapy plays a vital role in regaining strength, flexibility, and full range of motion.
What to Expect During Recovery and Pain Management
Post-surgery recovery involves a combination of rest, physical therapy, and gradual return to activity. Pain levels after shoulder surgery can vary, but most patients experience moderate to severe pain during the first week, especially during the initial days after the procedure. This discomfort is managed with prescribed pain medications and cold therapy to reduce swelling and inflammation. As healing progresses, the intensity of pain typically decreases, with most patients reporting significant improvement within a few weeks. Physical therapy may cause temporary discomfort, but this is essential for regaining strength and flexibility. My surgeon's team told me ahead of time that the physical therapy would hurt like hell, but was a crucial part of the total healing process. By following the surgeon’s instructions and staying committed to the rehabilitation plan, patients can achieve lasting pain relief and a fully functional shoulder.
I look forward to my healthy and active near future! Have you had chronic shoulder pain or shoulder surgery? What was your experience like? Please share. I want to hear from you!
Blessings,
KJ Landis
@superiorself on Instagram and X
SuperiorSelf channel on Youtube
[email protected]
Books available everywhere!
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