Anyone Else Had An Operation For Shoulder Impingement?!

Anyone Else Had An Operation For Shoulder Impingement?

I have had problems for nearly 2 years with my shoulders. I have impingement diagnosed and despite painkillers, physiotherapy and steroid injections which have helped in the short term, they have not got any better. I have been to see my consultant and she is referring me for surgery. The operation is apparently called Arthroscopic subacromial decompression and although it is keyhole surgery it is done under general anaesthetic. Has anyone else had this operation, if so what was it like? How good were the results? What is the recovery time? Is there much scarring? I am totally bricking it, as I have never had an operation under general anaesthetic before, only local anaesthetic. I am not very good in hospitals as it is and am very worried about being put to sleep. Any advice or help would be greatly welcomed. T

3 weeks ago
Thank you The Mom for such concise and informative information. Can you just confirm one other thing for me? I have it in both shoulders equally as bad. Will they have to do two seperate operations at different times, or will they do them both at the same time? Cheers

I've never had the procedure done, but I have helped out in surgery and taken care of patients who've had it done. It's not a bad surgery, actually. Where the rotator cuff tendon is being continually caught, there is a danger of damage that will cause you to lose function in that arm. The surgery is sometimes done with a shoulder block, but in your case they are opting to do it under a general. Actually, you would probably be happier that way. As part of the repair, some of the bone is going to need to be removed, and that's done with a drill. It's tough enough at the dentist, listening to a drill- much less hearing it used on your shoulder and feeling the sensation through the rest of you. I would opt to be out if it were me. There are usually two surgical incisions, which can be closed with a single suture each- so we aren't talking huge gaping cuts here. They will be covered with a small dressing, and you will be sent back to recover to wake up. It doesn't take long to do as a rule, and you are generally out of the operating theater in well under an hour. In some cases, depending on how quickly you are back on your feet, you can have the surgery done in the morning and be home for dinner that evening. You don't have to stay overnight, unless it's what the doc prefers or is needed. Since you are in otherwise good health, it should be a snap for you. You get an iv, and will be sedated via that. You won't need gas because you won't be out that long, as a rule. You will wake up in recovery, and they will want you to prove you can hold down liquids, know who you are, and be moving about fairly well. Once in your room, they will watch to see you are still holding down fluids, and can use the toilet. As soon as you are steady on your feet, go to the toilet and drink, you are usually let go home if you like. You are a bit groggy at first, but that passes fairly quickly. The post op pain isn't usually that bad either- they ordinarily cover it with Ibuprofen (Motrin). You go home in a sling, which you will need to keep on until your followup with the surgeon. That's usually about two days later. At that point, if it looks good, they change the dressing for bandaids and you are on your way to physical therapy. Other than taking care to support the arm while it all heals and the stitches come out- usually in the first week- you feel just fine. Your pain may not all go away for up to three months, but it won't be anything like what you have been suffering. A lot of folks get immediate relief, though. With physical therapy, you are usually healed and good to get on with the rest of your life inside that three month time frame. Most of my patients have actually been back at it in about 6 weeks or so. Since the incisions aren't that big the scars aren't either. If you get a tube of Mederma to use as soon as the stitches are out, you can have a good shot at something that is nearly unnoticeable unless they really look closely. Don't sweat going to sleep- it's not a big deal, really. You will get it through the iv, so it will just feel like you got really sleepy, and the next thing you know, you will be looking at a nurse and trying to figure out where you are and what time it is. It's honestly not that bad, and nothing to be too worked up over. Good luck with yours, I'm sure you'll do fine.