Following rotator cuff tendon repair surgery for the shoulder, most patients will require stronger narcotic painkillers such as oxycodone or tramadol for several weeks or months. If still taking narcotic analgesics two months post surgery, they will need to be wound down gradually.
PAIN MEDICATION: You may or may not have gotten a nerve block for your operative shoulder prior to procedure. Regardless, make sure you are taking Norco hydrocodone (10/325mg) two tablets by mouth every 6-8 hours for pain as scheduled for at least the first 3 days post-operatively.
Pain medications are routinely prescribed during the first 24-48 hours, and patients are usually in a temporary sling for 24 hours until the nerve block wears off. Once the feeling returns to the hand, the sling needs to be removed and physiotherapy should be started.
Naproxen 500 (2 Aleve) every 12 hours OR ibuprofen 800 (4 Advil) every 8 hours. Take with food and avoid if history of ulcers, severe reflux or kidney disease. Continue for 5 days and then as needed. Oxycodone 5 mg 1-2 every 4 hours as needed.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) Over-the-counter pain medications, such as ibuprofen, are used to ease discomfort by reducing the inflammation around the torn tendon. Strengthening and stretching exercises Physical therapy focuses on strengthening the muscles around the rotator cuff.
Taking ibuprofen or acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) may help reduce inflammation and pain.
Pain Management
If severe shoulder pain prevents you from participating in daily activities such as going to work, doctors may offer prescription pain relievers for one or two weeks. These medications can mask pain and help you to function.
Most people who have rotator cuff surgery can expect to feel some level of pain for at least six months after their procedure.
The best position to sleep in is the one that doesn't put pressure on your affected arm, which means sleeping either on your back or on the unaffected side.
Here are some tips for sleeping after shoulder surgery. Sleep on an Incline. Do not sleep flat on your back. Sleeping on an incline for 4-6 weeks after surgery is best.
The most common causes of pain after rotator cuff surgery are (1) that the shoulder is still recovering from the surgery itself and (2) the shoulder has gotten stiff due to lack of movement.
A rotator cuff surgery is a major surgical intervention in the shoulder, and the reason that there is pain after surgery is the amount of normal surgical trauma.
Rotator Cuff Repair surgeries are notoriously painful! Many patients say it is the worst pain they have ever experienced.
Post-Operative Period up to 6 weeks
Pain will vary from person to person and depend on the extent of the repair to the shoulder. The frequent application of cold packs to the area will help to reduce the swelling and the pain. The first phase of recovery can potentially last up to 6 weeks after the surgery.
Toradol 10mg (Ketorolac) for pain and inflammation. You may take one tablet every six hours. This medication should be taken ONLY for the first two days. Then you should take Advil or Aleve for the next 2-3 weeks after surgery to help minimize soreness, aching and swelling.
Morphine and similar painkillers
For more severe pain you may be given morphine or similar painkillers such as fentanyl, tramadol, codeine or oxycodone.
If you've recently had shoulder surgery, you are likely aware of the fact that you experience more pain in bed, at night. There are several reasons for this: When we sleep, it's common to bend one or both arms under the pillow, or sleep on our side, or naturally shift to the fetal position.
Wearing Your Sling
Slings relieve tension and elevate your arm to the optimal healing position. Many patients wonder if they can take their sling off to sleep. Nearly every doctor will tell you this is not advisable. Wearing a sling is what keeps you from overworking your shoulder or moving it too much while it heals.
In terms of the period, you will most likely need to sleep in a semi-lying position for six weeks or more, depending on the type of surgery you underwent.
Getting To Sleep With Rotator Cuff Pain
Before heading to bed, try icing your shoulder (or using a heat pack, if you prefer) for between 15 and 20 minutes. This helps to reduce inflammation and ease pain, but remember to wrap your ice/heat pack in a towel; this helps to prevent burning and damage to the skin.
Background. The administration of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to patients is thought to impair rotator cuff healing and clinical outcomes.
Shoulder surgery may relieve some pain and weakness and make it easier to move your shoulder. But it may not restore full strength to your shoulder. This is even more true if you have a severe tear in the tendons or if your tendons are weak. You may still have pain.
Your shoulder can feel stiff with lifting or movement. It may become more difficult to place the arm behind your back. The pain with a sudden tear after a fall or injury is usually intense. Right after the injury, you will likely have weakness of the shoulder and arm.