Recovery Time Shoulder Arthroscopy

[poisonsvt]

I have a question, and need some advice.

I recently hurt my should on the job, August 31, 2009.  I saw an Orthopedic Surgeon and he told me I had cartilage damage that needed to be repaired surgically. I had the surgery done on Sept. 22, 2009.  The recovery went excellent. I have no pain, and physical therapy is a piece of cake. I am able to do everything they want with no pain.  I have full range of motion in my shoulder, and 20 degrees past in a couple of movements. Quite honestly, my therapist has told me she does not understand the reasoning for moving this slow with therapy, and why I am doing a lot of this stuff at all.  I've expressed this to my Dr. and he pretty much doesn't listen to me it seems, or even want to hear my opinion about it.

I feel that I am ready to go back to work!  My doctor will not release me.  Why couldn't I finish any physical therapy that he is so insistent on me having once I am released?  What options do I have here? Do I have a right to tell him I want to be cleared?

Thanks for any advice.

[Dr Vinod]

Hello!

The pain due to surgery will remain till a month. The pain perception is more with age and being active at 71 is very good. Continue taking ibuprofen intermittently. You can take more powerful analgesics but is not advised as you are suffering from GERD and as you are on omeprazole 20mg on empty stomach regularly.

I can tell you if you had proper surgical repair then your pain will decrease after a month and by couple of months you would need to do active physiotherapy for proper recovery.

After a month you can go to check with your surgeon that the healing is fine and take further instructions for active physiotherapy.

Take care!

[Growning_Older]

21 days post-arthroscopic left shoulder surgery for removal of 3 spurs, arthritis, and shredded bursa the pain and daily discomfort along with nightly pain that causes need to leave the bed and move or sit in recliner is 10-20 times worse than before the operation whether I "rest" the shoulder by doing nothing but ice or use the shoulder while cutting or carrying firewood/using the arm in 'normal' daily activities there is no significant difference.
Ibuprofen helps lower the pain minimally; approximately 23-35%.
I am a very active 71 year old male with only consumption of Omneprezol  20 mg for GERD's.  No other medication needed or consumed for any malady.  
It seems to me that at this point in time (after the operation) that the results would/should be somewhat better than before the operation.  

[Dr Vinod]

Hello!

A month of surgical recovery and a further month of therapy to slowly increase the strength and capacity and range of movements is ideal and you are suggested to follow the scheduled instructions from recovery after shoulder arthroscopy.


After 2 months of your surgery you can go for re evaluating your case and join work after taking a go ahead from your surgeon.

Take care!