Ellen101 Loc: Manhattan NY ..now Spring Hill, Fl

Hi all,
I had right rotator cuff surgery two weeks ago and I am in a sling for another three weeks. I miss being able to shoot photos. It has been frustrating but I will be out of the sling so I will get back into the camera groove soon.
Has anyone had this experience? Please share.
Ellen

AndyH Loc: Massachusetts and New Hampshire

Hi Ellen,

Yes, I had the arthroscopic version in 2008. Came out of surgery feeling so good that I had my wife take me in to the office. Went home and had a good meal and a glass of wine, using both hands to eat. "This is a cinch!"

And it was, right up until I got up the next morning, pretty much unable to move.

As I recall, it took about four weeks before I was able to lift anything heavier than a feather. I am VERY right handed and found it extremely difficult to switch to my left hand for cooking, feeding myself, and taking care of personal hygiene. I got through it, but it was not much fun.

As to getting back into active shape, I credit the physical therapist I went to with forcing me to stick to a routine. The exercises that force motion in two different directions were both the most painful and helpful. The one where you reach through a hole, into a box, and turn a nut or bolt within it was torture but paid the most dividends.

I also found that keeping weight off the right shoulder was very important. I'd do all the weight bearing activities with my left side and pick up the camera or other gear I was using only for the few seconds of actual use.

Oh, and don't try to carry a shoulder bag, even on the left side. Somehow it puts you out of kilter and makes the surgically repaired side hurt more.

All in, I think I was about three to four weeks in the sling, four to six weeks on PT, and fully back to functionality after twelve weeks.

Just my experience, others may vary.

Andy

big-guy Loc: Peterborough Ontario Canada

Right or left arm? If it's the left you could always hold the camera with the right and practice shooting from the hip. Just a thought.

halraiser

Been there, done that. Be diligent about the physical therapy and other instructions from the doc. It takes time but you can recover.

Geezer Bill Loc: San Diego County, CA

I have had both done. My only advice is to trust your therapist. They know when to push a little harder and when to back off.

G Brown Loc: Sunny Bognor Regis West Sussex UK

Hate to say this...
There has been a study in the UK where a placebo 'surgery' was undertaken as well as an 'actual' surgery was made. Results were equally 'good' and 'poor'. The 'success' rate is not fantastic nor it seems, only as a result of surgery.

My wife had 2 ops on the same shoulder - neither of which has 'cured' her. But we also know of people who had a complete recovery....so do not lose hope. Exercise as directed...it can only help!

As with a lot of medicine "Mind over matter" is the greatest cure. Be positive....Medicine has 'slowly' accepted that 'Cures of many things' are down to self belief (Not necessarily Religious) and positivity. The more you believe 'you are getting better' the more chance that you will.

I Wish you well!!

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

Yes, many around me have. Take it easy, be patient, do your physical therapy and don't rush. Your future will thank you.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Ellen, my heart goes out to you.

In 2010 I had my left shoulder opened up to repair a 75% torn rotator cuff. It took 6 months of rehab and though I am and have been pain free since then, but my shoulder is weak. I could not use a regular camera for almost a year, so I took a lot of pictures with a cellphone and a Fuji Finepix F660EXR. It served it's purpose. If you had a simpler surgery, you should be back in about 3 months - provided you do rigorous PT. FWIW, I have better range of motion with the repaired shoulder.

Stardust Loc: Central Illinois

Broke collarbone, similar sling. Try using tripod.

Photocraig

Be SURE to complete therapy and be SURE to work at gaining FULL range of motion for your shoulder and lifting your arm over your shoulder level. Therapists are great at this. I rigged a pully and l;ine in my garage to lift the arm before my muscles could do it on their own--at Therapist's direction. Exercised it 7 days a week while therapy only had 3. Also continued for 6 months after therapy stopped. Fully functional. My condition not a torn cuff, but had similar rehab.

Listen and work hard. That whole area is very complex and wants to "freeze up."

Phototips:

Shoot 1 handed, support camera on a bean bag and certainly on a tripod. It is a great time to learn MACRO and artificial lighting and FALSH! If you have a flip out screen, imitate an old fashioned waist level viewfinder Like using a Rolleiflex or Hasleblad. Google it. The camera hangs on teh strap and you look down in live view. It is a different point of view and maybe even more pleasing for people.

Good luck and perseverance. It's better when healed.
C

PS: listen and work!

Wes Loc: Dallas

Ellen: I'm now ninety but twenty years ago I was cleaning the second story windows when my wife heard a noise. When I didn't respond she looked out to see blood all over the patio. The fire department responded immediately and after putting me on a stretcher they called careflight. Five sub-dural hematomas. After a couple of weeks in rehab after surgery, the nurses said I was not doing the required exercises so they sent me to the hospital for an MRI. They found that the rotator cuff was broken. I got to wear that sling. They had been concerned with saving my life and had not given attention to lesser matters. After weeks of exercise motion was restored. When we visited the neurosurgeon a year later and told him two hundred people were praying for him when he did the surgery, he said he didn't do surgery unless there were prople praying for him.

JRFINN Loc: Plymouth, MA

Hi, In 2018 had rotator cuff and a bicep repair and had a cooling wrap with the sling for 3-4 days and after that it was rest, then started PT and after 3 weeks and some PT I was good enough to move better.
It has a year a two months since surgery and I still am doing personal PT I.e. heavier weights and I use a Chuck Norris machine which is perfect for 90% of movement and strength training. At 62 I'm glad to be done with it and found that I'm enjoying exercise.
Good luck.

traderjohn Loc: New York City

Yes. Be religious about the PT.

scatman Loc: Waterbury, CT

Ymmv, but I would just not take photos for about 12 weeks. Good luck!

scatman Loc: Waterbury, CT

Ymmv, but I would just not take photos for about 12 weeks. Good luck!