Rotator Cuff Tear Repair

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on May 4, 2025.

• Care notes
• Ambulatory
• Discharge
• Español

Rotator cuff repair is surgery to fix a tear in one or more of your rotator cuff tendons. After surgery, you will need to rest your arm so it can heal. Be patient. Recovery from rotator cuff repair surgery takes time. Physical therapy will help your shoulder recover correctly. This will help you go back to playing sports or doing your daily activities.

DISCHARGE INSTRUCTIONS:

Call your local emergency number (911 in the US) if:

• You suddenly have shortness of breath.
• You have sudden numbness or tingling down your arm.

Seek care immediately if:

• Your stitches come apart.
• You have new shoulder pain that does not go away, even after you take pain medicine.
• Your surgery area is swollen, red, or has pus coming from it.

Call your surgeon or orthopedist if:

• You have chills, a cough, or feel weak and achy.
• You have a fever.
• You have stiffness or pain in your shoulder that is worse and makes you stop your physical therapy.
• You are vomiting.
• Your skin is itchy, swollen, or has a rash.
• You have questions or concerns about your condition or care.

Medicines:

You may need any of the following:

• Antibiotics help prevent or treat an infection caused by bacteria.
• Prescription pain medicine may be given. Ask your healthcare provider how to take this medicine safely. Some prescription pain medicines contain acetaminophen. Do not take other medicines that contain acetaminophen without talking to your healthcare provider. Too much acetaminophen may cause liver damage. Prescription pain medicine may cause constipation. Ask your healthcare provider how to prevent or treat constipation.
• NSAIDs help decrease swelling and pain or fever. This medicine is available with or without a doctor's order. NSAIDs can cause stomach bleeding or kidney problems in certain people. If you take blood thinner medicine, always ask your healthcare provider if NSAIDs are safe for you. Always read the medicine label and follow directions.
• Take your medicine as directed. Contact your healthcare provider if you think your medicine is not helping or if you have side effects. Tell your provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Keep a list of the medicines, vitamins, and herbs you take. Include the amounts, and when and why you take them. Bring the list or the pill bottles to follow-up visits. Carry your medicine list with you in case of an emergency.

Drugs used to treat this and similar conditions

Care for your incision area:

Keep the area clean and dry. Cover it with plastic before you take a shower. Do not take a bath or swim until your surgeon tells you it is okay. Check the area every day for signs of infection, such as swelling, red streaks, or pus. A fever may also be a sign of infection.

Ask about activity:

Your surgeon will tell you when it is okay to use your shoulder and arm. Until then, do not use your arm to lift anything. Do not use your arm to move around, push yourself up from lying down, or to change positions. Your surgeon will tell you when it is okay to drive, go back to work, and do your daily activities.

Apply ice to your shoulder:

Ice may decrease pain, swelling, and muscle spasms. Use an ice pack, or put crushed ice in a plastic bag. Cover it with a towel and place it on your shoulder for 15 to 20 minutes every hour or as directed. Ice may be helpful for 10 to 14 days after surgery.

Use a sling as directed:

You may need to use an abduction immobilizer sling for 4 to 6 weeks after surgery. The amount of time will depend on how severe your tear was. The sling will prevent arm movement while the tendon heals. A pillow attached to the sling holds your arm away from your body. This position decreases pressure on your wound, and helps blood flow to the surgery area. Your healthcare provider will tell you how long to use the sling each day.

Go to physical therapy for as long as directed:

Physical therapy is done in stages. Each stage helps increase motion or strength, and helps relieve or prevent stiffness. Your surgeon and physical therapist will create a plan for your therapy. The plan will be based on your age, health, and recovery goals. The following are general guidelines:

• Stage 1 is the first 4 to 8 weeks after surgery. Physical therapy may begin soon after surgery. At first, a physical therapist will work with you to do safe exercises that will allow your rotator cuff to heal. This is called passive exercise because your physical therapist will be moving your arm for you. After a few weeks, the therapist may suggest therapy in a pool. The water allows you to move your arm with very little stress on your shoulder. The water also provides resistance. This helps increase muscle strength.
• Stage 2 continues to weeks 8 to 12. At this stage, your physical therapist may have you start doing active exercises. These are exercises you will do without the help of your physical therapist. Exercises include using your shoulder more. You will begin exercises such as raising and stretching your arm. Do only those exercises that you have been shown. Do them only as often as you are told to do them.
• Stage 3 continues to weeks 12 to 16. At this stage, you will begin doing exercises that make your shoulder muscles stronger. Your physical therapy will focus on range of motion (ROM) without pain. You will also increase endurance. Your physical therapist will help you stretch and strengthen your shoulder. You may be shown how to use resistance bands. At this stage, you can expect to have about 80% to 90% of your ROM again. This will depend on the type of tear you had repaired. You will need to be able to do strengthening exercises and daily activities without pain to move to the next phase.
• Stage 4 continues to weeks 16 to 26. This stage is for advanced strengthening. Exercises will target specific areas of your shoulder. You will still not be able to lift your arm over your head or play sports in this stage. Your physical therapist will help you build the strength and stability needed for these activities. The goal is to have full ROM that is the same in both arms, and no pain at rest or during activities. These will be needed before you can return to sports or overhead lifting. It may take up to a year to return to all of your regular daily activities after you have a rotator cuff tear repair.

Follow up with your surgeon or orthopedist as directed:

Ask when you should return to have your stitches taken out. Write down your questions so you remember to ask them during your visits.

© Copyright Merative 2025 Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes.

The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Medical Disclaimer