Within one week of rotator cuff surgery performed by orthopedic surgeon Raghu Pulluru, Mark Schuetz was ready for rehabilitative therapy.
Following his four-hour rotator cuff surgery, Mark started with weekly visits to see Dr. Pulluru for in-office manual treatments and two times a week in clinic visits with occupational therapists Dan Coyle, OTR/L, CHT and Natasha Metallo, OTR/L, CLT-LANA, at Manatee Memorial Hospital’s Outpatient Physical Medicine Clinic. Having to repair practically every muscle in the shoulder involved sutures, staples and pins. Each of these points must heal to a point that then it can withstand the strain of being pulled against in muscular effort. Therefore, recovery is a 12-week process. This time will ensure healing of the surgical repair, time for passive range of motion activities to help with healing as well as avoid adhesions which could cause limitations of movement in the future, and time for strengthening of the entire shoulder to get back to what was normal activities for the patient.
“The care team was compassionate and met me where I was, laid out the map to recovery, and have provided the motivation and therapy activities to get me back to functional use of my left arm,” explained Mark.
During therapy, Mark participated in stretching and range of motion activities designed to support the appropriate healing of the surgical repair. Some of these were less than comfortable, but Mark was reassured with the team’s positive attitude, warm nature and confidence in their skills that the discomfort was part of the overall process. Mark has now progressed to more active activities, including arm presses, shoulder raises and more active range of motion activities with more controlled movements, which Mark works through with limited discomfort and increased control and strength.
“As Mark is well into his therapy and healing process, he is starting to see more functional mobility, control, and strength in his left arm,” said Dan. “He is better able to complete basic self-care tasks, such as putting on his shirt, with less discomfort. He sees that this is a process that takes patience, perseverance, dedication to the exercise program and above all teamwork. Mark has been an amazing patient. He demonstrated from the start. When you are uncomfortable and unable to complete basic tasks for yourself, patients can become depressed and lack motivation. That is not Mark. He knows that by keeping a positive attitude, working hard, and resting hard, he will soon be back to fishing and all the other things he loves to do independently.”
With a positive attitude and dedicated medical and therapy care teams at his side, Mark knows that his recovery will be complete, and he will be back to fishing for red fish in the Florida waterways again soon.
To schedule an appointment with Manatee Memorial Hospital’s Rehab and Sports Medicine Center, call 941-745-7559
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