From Surgeon to Patient: What My Rotator Cuff Surgery Taught Me About Recovery

This article was written by  Shariff K. Bishai, DO, MS, board-certified orthopedic surgeon and founder of Detroit Orthopaedic Institute.

I have spent nearly two decades helping patients prepare for orthopedic surgery. But when I tore my rotator cuff and needed to have surgery, I experienced firsthand the uncertainty of recovery and postoperative pain. As a Detroit-based orthopedic surgeon specializing in shoulder reconstruction and sports-related injuries and founder of Detroit Orthopaedic Institute, I’ve always understood the clinical process, but nothing quite prepares you for becoming the patient yourself.

When the Surgeon is Sidelined

Being a surgeon can come with a lot of stress, and golf has long been an important outlet for me, a way to stay active and spend time with my family. Unfortunately, my injury sidelined me from my favorite hobby and was both incredibly painful and difficult to navigate as a surgeon. 

The pain and physical limitations this injury caused me led me to not be my best self during those months; for my family, my practice, and especially myself. Like many of the people I've treated, I went into the procedure nervous and acutely aware of how difficult recovery from shoulder surgery can be. As surgeons, we’re often taught that opioids are the default for post-operative pain management, but I was also mindful of the unwanted side effects such as nausea and constipation. I wanted to ensure my pain management plan included alternative options to this approach. 

A Different Kind of Recovery

As part of my surgical plan, I received EXPAREL® (bupivacaine liposome injectable suspension), a long-acting, local anesthetic administered directly into the surgical site. As a non-opioid option, it slowly releases medication to provide extended pain relief in the first few days after surgery, when pain typically reaches its peak. 

I found that my pain was well-controlled during the early days of recovery. Instead of relying on traditional methods like opioids, EXPAREL® began working before I even woke up, which allowed me to prioritize healing. In time, I was back on my feet, back at work, and back with my family for our weekly golf outings.

Bringing That Perspective to Patients

My own surgery influenced the way I approach care today. Patients often ask how much pain they will experience after surgery, and how long they will be out of commission. Having been in their shoes, I understand that worry firsthand. That's why it's important to me to help patients feel educated and prepared for recovery, so they can focus on moving forward from an injury rather than feeling set back.

I've found that a multimodal approach, which combines different pain control methods, many of them non-opioid options, helps achieve that, with EXPAREL playing a key role for the right patient. 

How to Plan Ahead of Pain

When planning for surgery, knowledge is one of your greatest assets. Before your procedure, prioritize an open conversation with your healthcare provider about what to expect during recovery, how your pain will be managed at home, and what options may be available to you, including whether a non-opioid option such as EXPAREL may be appropriate. 

Having experienced surgery from both a patient’s and provider’s perspective, I understand the importance of knowing what to expect. Asking questions and discussing your pain management plan ahead of time can help ease uncertainty, build confidence and ensure you feel empowered as you head into recovery.

*Dr. Bishai is a paid consultant for Pacira BioSciences, Inc. This is based on Dr. Bishai’s experiences. Individual patient experiences may vary.

INDICATION 

EXPAREL® (bupivacaine liposome injectable suspension) is indicated to produce postsurgical local analgesia via infiltration in patients aged 6 years and older and regional analgesia in adults via an interscalene brachial plexus nerve block, sciatic nerve block in the popliteal fossa, and an adductor canal block. Safety and efficacy have not been established in other nerve blocks. 

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION 

EXPAREL should not be used in obstetrical paracervical block anesthesia. 

In studies in adults where EXPAREL was injected into a wound, the most common side effects were nausea, constipation, and vomiting. 

In studies in adults where EXPAREL was injected near a nerve, the most common side effects were nausea, fever, headache, and constipation. 

In the study where EXPAREL was given to children, the most common side effects were nausea, vomiting, constipation, low blood pressure, low number of red blood cells, muscle twitching, blurred vision, itching, and rapid heartbeat. 

EXPAREL can cause a temporary loss of feeling and/or loss of muscle movement. How much and how long the loss of feeling and/or muscle movement depends on where and how much of EXPAREL was injected and may last for up to 5 days. 

EXPAREL is not recommended to be used in patients younger than 6 years old for injection into the wound, for patients younger than 18 years old for injection near a nerve, and/or in pregnant women. 

Tell your health care provider if you or your child has liver disease, since this may affect how the active ingredient (bupivacaine) in EXPAREL is eliminated from the body. 

EXPAREL should not be injected into the spine, joints, or veins. 

The active ingredient in EXPAREL can affect the nervous system and the cardiovascular system; may cause an allergic reaction; may cause damage if injected into the joints; and can cause a rare blood disorder. 

Please refer to full Prescribing Information. 

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088. 

###

© 2026 Pacira Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Pacira BioSciences, Inc. EXPAREL is a registered trademark of Pacira Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Pacira BioSciences, Inc. All rights reserved.

PP-EX-US-10754 10/26

Health Care