If your rotator cuff is severely damaged or not responding well to conservative treatment, your shoulder specialist may recommend that you have the area surgically repaired. Surgery can significantly improve your quality of life if rotator cuff problems are causing daily discomfort, but it’s not something that will happen overnight. Recovery is typically measured in months, not weeks, following rotator cuff surgery, but you can help speed up that timeline if you’re smart and deliberate about how you approach it. Below, we share some tips for speeding up your recovery following rotator cuff surgery.
Do Your Therapy Exercises
The single best thing you can do for your shoulder following rotator cuff surgery is to do your therapy exercises fully and regularly. Time alone isn’t going to help your rotator cuff heal. You need to slowly work to build up strength, tolerance, mobility, range of motion and stability in the area, and you do that through a physical therapy routine. Show up to all of your appointments and do your home-based exercises between sessions. If you skip your PT, you’re only prolonging your recovery. Put in the work, and not only can your recovery period shorten, but you’ll also likely have more physical function in your shoulder.
Don’t Go Off Script
We understand that you don’t want to endure months of discomfort and activity limitations while you recover, but it’s just something you have to get used to for the time being. Every day you’ll be a little bit closer to total recovery, but if you try to rush the process or do things outside of your physician’s recommendations, you’ll be at an increased risk of a setback, only further prolonging your recovery. If you believe you’re ahead of schedule and think you’re able to take on new activities, that’s great, just make sure to clear them with your surgeon or physical therapist first. Don’t start driving, working or lifting objects until you’ve been granted clearance by a doctor.
