My wife had Rotator surgery January of 2013. She followed the rehab closely and yes some of it is painful and the Doctor told her it would be a year before she was completely over it and he was right. Now she is pain free and feels it was worth the time and effort. Does not mean you will be out of commission for a year, she we pretty much back to normal in a few months but still had a pain here and there depending on what she tried to do. After a year she does not notice and pain more than usual.