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Howard Marans MD: How Quickly Can I Get Back To Work After Rotator Cuff Surgery

Surgery is sometimes required to treat rotator cuff tears, especially more serious tears. It can take a while for the rotator cuff to fully heal after surgery, but the majority of patients can return to work at a desk job within a relatively short period of time.

About Rotator Cuff Tears

The rotator cuff consists of four muscles and tendons in the shoulder. It is responsible for moving the shoulder overhead and for stabilizing the shoulder.

Rotator cuff tears are most common among athletes who frequently put weight on the shoulder or move the arm overhead. Examples include weight lifting, swimming, and tennis. Tears may occur suddenly, as a result of acute trauma, or develop slowly over time due to overuse. Overtraining is a significant risk factor in the development of rotator cuff tears.

About Rotator Cuff Surgery

Moderate to severe rotator cuff tears often require surgery, especially in athletes. On the other hand, mild tears may be treated non-surgically, especially in older, more sedentary individuals.

Rotator cuff surgery is generally performed arthroscopically. This means that the doctor does not create large incisions to open up the shoulder. Instead, several small incisions approximately the size of a pen are made around the shoulder. Through these incisions, the doctor inserts tools and a camera and is able to repair the tear.

Arthroscopic shoulder surgery is performed in an outpatient setting, so patients can return home the same day as the surgery. Local anesthesia and sedation are used, but there is no need for the use of general anesthesia.

Recovering from Rotator Cuff Surgery

Activity is fairly restricted for the first few days after surgery. It will be important to walk around for a few minutes each day, but most patients do not feel up to much more than that, and it is important that patients do not push themselves. Each successive day after surgery, activity is easier and discomfort is more easily managed.

Within a week, most patients are ready to return to work at a desk job. However, people with jobs that involve lifting or other shoulder movements will need to wait longer to return to work, or else return in a limited capacity. It can take about 6-8 weeks for these patients to return to work.

Making a complete recovery from shoulder surgery is a lengthy process. Although most normal activities can be resumed within a couple of months, it can be much longer until the shoulder is able to perform at its previous level.

Dr. Howard Marans would be happy to meet with you about treatment for your rotator cuff tear. To schedule a consultation today, please click below and enter your information or call OC Orthopedic at 714.979.8981.