Are cramps after nerve block for rotator repair surgery normal?

@radinski
I can not answer if cramps / spasms are normal after surgery, but there are other members discussing similar situations. You might want to check out the following discussion about muscle spasms and how people are treating: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/muscle-spasm-help/

Have you asked your surgeon about?

When you had your surgery, was your bicep muscle "released?" That is when the tendon to the long head of your bicep is severed which allows it to fall out of the should joint.

@radinski I had rotator cuff surgery in 2009. While it took several months, and physical therapy for my rotator cuff to heal I did not have cramps as you've described. I also had a local nerve block during surgery. I'm thinking that since there are several tendons in your shoulder and attachments to your bicep muscle your surgery may have differed from mine. Have you talked with the surgeon who performed the surgery? Or with your primary care provider?

I had a surgery on my rotator cuff and bicep muscles back in September. Still going to PT. Doctor called it a massive surgery because of all the tears, spurs, etc. He had to cut my bicep muscle as well. I felt like I had been getting better but is really bothering me again the last 2 weeks. Seeing the surgeon on Friday. Can't say I have had any cramping but sometimes it feels like I have lost feeling deep into my muscle. Weird.

As ET and my PT would say "Be Careful" - I had the same surgery in October - it was supposed to be a one hour simple fix, and took him almost 3 hours.

We are in what my amazing PT calls the "danger zone" - you think you are healed, but you're really just on the way. The time from 3-6 months is when people get too brave about what they try to do with the repaired arm. Sometimes they undo all that hard work.

Just today I had to remind myself not to lift groceries, push the full shopping cart, or run the vacuum cleaner with me repaired (dominant) arm. I know I will pay with pain later today.

I noticed this morning that my shoulder near where the bone spurs were removed is swollen (and it aches) - last week it was fine, but my arm cramped after doing some exercises - as a veteran of numerous ortho surgeries, I always assume it is part of the healing process, and ignore it unless it really hurts.

It will be interesting to hear what your surgeon has to say.
Sue

Thank you for sharing. I haven’t spoken with my surgeon yet but is in the near future.

Thank you for your recommendation. I’ve never had cramps in my shoulder and since it’s 6 months since surgery, I think there may be a correlation…

Lord, I hope not! Is that like a heel cord release? Because if it is, my arm will never be the same. I had rotator cuff repair surgery in 2007 as well. Back then, I don’t think they used a nerve block. They inserted a pain pump lead and I had to have an ice therapy machine. With proper PT, I sailed through. Thank you!

Yes, I was told that once they go in, there may be lots more that they find. I had a bone spur shave as well. I went to PT from July until October. Idk if they had to go into my bicep. I would assume that if that was the case, I would’ve been told. Thank you!

I’ve been carefully listening to my body and thought that I should get back to normal. Nothing strenuous though. PT was from July to October. The cramping occurs when I am getting something from the fridge or reaching into the back of a cabinet for example.
I agree that there should be some type of resistance pain during healing.
I’m curious to know what my surgeon will say as well.
Thank you!