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Shoulder surgery?
- Thread starter WI Short Scaler
- Start date
Hey, thanks for the follow up.
Well after 8 weeks of PT my honest opinion is I don't really think things have improved.
A few items on the plus side.
-still no pain
-no limit in range of motion
-no tingling in the hands or other hand limitations, can still play
-I don't think it's worse.
Still the same symptoms. If I lift something like a full gallon of milk from waist level, when I get to about chest height to just above my shoulder my arm just stops, stops dead, give it a little shove with the right hand, to just above shoulder height and it's good again.
Weird as hell.
Anyway, I have an appt next Thurs, 4/4, with the ortho doc and we'll see what he has to say.
Thanks again for checking, appreciate it!
Sorry to hear about your shoulder issues. They suck!
I had surgery to repair a torn labrum in my right shoulder in November of 2017 (labrum repaired, two anchors put in, some bone removed, tendons shaved). I’m a lefty, so that’s my fretting arm.
If you end up having the surgery, my advice is to be very, VERY careful in the selection of your physical therapist. During my p/t, the exercises that the therapist had me doing ended up “shredding” my bicep tendon at the shoulder, so I had a second shoulder surgery in November 2018 to repair that (tendon severed and reattached in another location, and some bone removed from the a/c joint). I’m going to a different therapist now (one affiliated w/my surgeon), and we’re taking a very conservative approach, but I’m still having problems 16 months after my first operation (two MRIs this week).
I’m not saying this to be negative, but don’t expect to be playing right away if you have the surgery. Labrum repair is (at a minimum) a month in a very large sling. You can’t lift ANYTHING, and range of motion is pretty restricted so that you don’t re-tear anything. Plus, you really don’t want to externally rotate your arm. Trust me on that.
I wasn’t allowed to touch my bass for over three months.
My surgeon initially told me to expect nine months to a year for full recovery, and a return to my normal activities. Granted, for me, my normal activities include full contact karate/Ju Jitsu, and working out, so that timeframe may vary for you.
My only other advice is to do exactly, and I do mean EXACTLY, what your surgeon tells you. Just because you feel good one day, don’t think it’s ok to push it a little. You’ll pay for it pretty quickly, both in pain and potential damage.
I hope I haven’t freaked you out. My experiences are far from the norm! My buddy had extensive rotator surgery one week after me in November 2018, and he’s back to all of his normal activities, including working as a volunteer fireman.
Sorry for the novel. I hope you feel better soon.
I had surgery to repair a torn labrum in my right shoulder in November of 2017 (labrum repaired, two anchors put in, some bone removed, tendons shaved). I’m a lefty, so that’s my fretting arm.
If you end up having the surgery, my advice is to be very, VERY careful in the selection of your physical therapist. During my p/t, the exercises that the therapist had me doing ended up “shredding” my bicep tendon at the shoulder, so I had a second shoulder surgery in November 2018 to repair that (tendon severed and reattached in another location, and some bone removed from the a/c joint). I’m going to a different therapist now (one affiliated w/my surgeon), and we’re taking a very conservative approach, but I’m still having problems 16 months after my first operation (two MRIs this week).
I’m not saying this to be negative, but don’t expect to be playing right away if you have the surgery. Labrum repair is (at a minimum) a month in a very large sling. You can’t lift ANYTHING, and range of motion is pretty restricted so that you don’t re-tear anything. Plus, you really don’t want to externally rotate your arm. Trust me on that.
I wasn’t allowed to touch my bass for over three months.My surgeon initially told me to expect nine months to a year for full recovery, and a return to my normal activities. Granted, for me, my normal activities include full contact karate/Ju Jitsu, and working out, so that timeframe may vary for you.
My only other advice is to do exactly, and I do mean EXACTLY, what your surgeon tells you. Just because you feel good one day, don’t think it’s ok to push it a little. You’ll pay for it pretty quickly, both in pain and potential damage.
I hope I haven’t freaked you out. My experiences are far from the norm! My buddy had extensive rotator surgery one week after me in November 2018, and he’s back to all of his normal activities, including working as a volunteer fireman.
Sorry for the novel. I hope you feel better soon.
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Oh, I just remembered two things to keep in mind if you do end up having the operation:
1) The previous post about having to sleep upright is 100% accurate. So much so that we bought a recliner after my second operation, and I’m still sleeping in it;
2) Look into buying an Aircast Cryocuff, or something similar. It will become your best friend.
1) The previous post about having to sleep upright is 100% accurate. So much so that we bought a recliner after my second operation, and I’m still sleeping in it;
2) Look into buying an Aircast Cryocuff, or something similar. It will become your best friend.
I'll throw in the best-case scenario:
About 12 years ago I had arthroscopic surgery on my left shoulder. I'd had two looooong rounds of physical therapy plus home exercises, and nothing was getting better. I couldn't lift my arm to shoulder level, I couldn't sleep on that side, I couldn't ride my (upright) motorcycle, and I was in pain all the time. Oh, and a 34" scale bass was totally out of the question - I could do short stints with the 30", but that was it. We already knew I had adhesive capsulitis / calcific tendinitis, bad. We didn't know about the bone spur until someone got all smart and did an X-ray. Nope, PT ain't gonna fix that.
In spite of the fact that my tendons were perfect (other than the calcifications), my surgeon still spent 3.5 hours inside my shoulder, which was longer than he expected. I was ordered to PT the next day, but his office couldn't / wouldn't / didn't fax the orders over for a week and a half (!!!!), so the therapist had to guess on active vs passive ROM exercises. That was the same day as my first follow-up appointment with the surgeon, and when he walked in, I said made bass-playing motions with my left hand and said 'I have a concert in a week... any chance I could play it?'
He stared at me and asked how much it hurt to do that much external rotation. I said it didn't hurt at all. He declared me a surgical rock star and said I could play, but not carry gear, and get help putting the bass on. I didn't tell him that I'd already been back to work, albeit on somewhat limited hours and duty, since four days post-op. I never slept in a recliner (three pillows in bed for a couple of weeks), I never took narcotics for pain, I played the whole dang concert, and I was motorcycling in a month.
Yes, I am a surgical rock star, about any surgery ever, so that's a point in my favor that you may not have. Also, he didn't have to repair my tendons. That's a huge deal. For about a year after surgery, I couldn't sleep on my left side if I wanted to. Even today, because of the way I tuck my shoulder under me while I sleep (not good), a really soft bed will make it sore in the morning. But that's the only limiting factor, and it's really minor. For me, surgery was the only solution, and it was a great one.
About 12 years ago I had arthroscopic surgery on my left shoulder. I'd had two looooong rounds of physical therapy plus home exercises, and nothing was getting better. I couldn't lift my arm to shoulder level, I couldn't sleep on that side, I couldn't ride my (upright) motorcycle, and I was in pain all the time. Oh, and a 34" scale bass was totally out of the question - I could do short stints with the 30", but that was it. We already knew I had adhesive capsulitis / calcific tendinitis, bad. We didn't know about the bone spur until someone got all smart and did an X-ray. Nope, PT ain't gonna fix that.
In spite of the fact that my tendons were perfect (other than the calcifications), my surgeon still spent 3.5 hours inside my shoulder, which was longer than he expected. I was ordered to PT the next day, but his office couldn't / wouldn't / didn't fax the orders over for a week and a half (!!!!), so the therapist had to guess on active vs passive ROM exercises. That was the same day as my first follow-up appointment with the surgeon, and when he walked in, I said made bass-playing motions with my left hand and said 'I have a concert in a week... any chance I could play it?'
He stared at me and asked how much it hurt to do that much external rotation. I said it didn't hurt at all. He declared me a surgical rock star and said I could play, but not carry gear, and get help putting the bass on. I didn't tell him that I'd already been back to work, albeit on somewhat limited hours and duty, since four days post-op. I never slept in a recliner (three pillows in bed for a couple of weeks), I never took narcotics for pain, I played the whole dang concert, and I was motorcycling in a month.
Yes, I am a surgical rock star, about any surgery ever, so that's a point in my favor that you may not have. Also, he didn't have to repair my tendons. That's a huge deal. For about a year after surgery, I couldn't sleep on my left side if I wanted to. Even today, because of the way I tuck my shoulder under me while I sleep (not good), a really soft bed will make it sore in the morning. But that's the only limiting factor, and it's really minor. For me, surgery was the only solution, and it was a great one.
Thanks for the info guys. I suppose like any surgery or illness individual recovery and pain is just that, individual.
I see the ortho doc on Thursday and we'll see what he says. His most memorable comment, to me anyway, was that he felt surgery was the "most aggressive" diagnosis. Hopefully that means we aren't there yet.
I see the ortho doc on Thursday and we'll see what he says. His most memorable comment, to me anyway, was that he felt surgery was the "most aggressive" diagnosis. Hopefully that means we aren't there yet.
He probably didn't say that surgery was the most aggressive diagnosis, but that surgery was the most aggressive treatment. That would be absolutely correct, about most surgeries. Cutting (or even poking) someone always entails higher risk than sending them home with an ice pack, giving them a bunch of exercises to do, or prescribing (most) medications. You don't have anesthesia risk, infection risk, or a whole lot of missed time at work with these other interventions, but you do with surgery. It's also expensive. Insurance companies tend to want you to exhaust other options first.
But if it's what's going to work, and you don't have anything contraindicating, it's what you do. All the stretching in the world wasn't going to fix my shoulder. It just wasn't possible.
But if it's what's going to work, and you don't have anything contraindicating, it's what you do. All the stretching in the world wasn't going to fix my shoulder. It just wasn't possible.
I’m getting worried. My shoulder has been clicking a bit over the last year and I’m aware that it has more restricted movement than the left one. It’s really noticeable now if I try to swim crawl, I just can’t raise my right arm properly. Over the last 3 weeks or so it’s been getting worse. It’s not really painful but the last week I’ve not been able to sleep on that side (my most common sleeping position). Yesterday and today it’s been aching badly for the first time. So much so that I’m switching to using my left arm for lifting and even turning the steering wheel in the car. Maybe it’s just tendinitis but maybe it’s not. I feel a trip to the docs coming on.
My GP has referred me for potential issues, but I havent made the call. Sometimes the cure is worse than the problem. Pulling a lawn mower starting cord kills me. Using a tee post driver makes my arm feel better.
Yep, wrong choice on my part.
Good luck with whatever's going on for you.
Thanks. I think it is more related to mountain biking than anything else. I recently dug the bike out and started training again for an event in May. The wide arm grip seems to be the most painful position. I just did a short bass practice and that felt ok. I’m gonna rest it for a week and see the doc.
Here's the latest update.
I met with the Ortho Doc this AM. No real improvement after 8 weeks of physical therapy.
At this point, IF it's a labrum tear it's very small, and that can't be determined from the MRI. So next Wed 4/10 I have an appt to get the small fluid pouch aspirated/drained. Doesn't sound like fun but once this is done I'll have a follow up in 6 weeks with the ortho doc again. If it's back than he wants to discuss surgery as the only option left.
One step at a time.
I met with the Ortho Doc this AM. No real improvement after 8 weeks of physical therapy.
At this point, IF it's a labrum tear it's very small, and that can't be determined from the MRI. So next Wed 4/10 I have an appt to get the small fluid pouch aspirated/drained. Doesn't sound like fun but once this is done I'll have a follow up in 6 weeks with the ortho doc again. If it's back than he wants to discuss surgery as the only option left.
One step at a time.
My wife had this last year. Her advice would be to try all of the other non-surgical solutions first. And don't accept surgery until life is pretty miserable. Recovery time is long. YMMV. And she's not sure she'll ever get to 100% again. She has gotten to a point were life is better post-surgery than pre-surgery and she says that all things equal, for her case she'd do it again. But she had gotten to the miserable point pre-surgery.
If you decide to go through with it, you need to get yourself something like this:
https://www.amazon.com/Ossur-Cold-T...efix=ice+machine+for+shou,aps,156&sr=8-3&th=1
It takes a lot of ice but it was my wife's best friend post surgery. It was a great non-pharmaceutical way to manage pain.
Good luck!
If you decide to go through with it, you need to get yourself something like this:
https://www.amazon.com/Ossur-Cold-T...efix=ice+machine+for+shou,aps,156&sr=8-3&th=1
It takes a lot of ice but it was my wife's best friend post surgery. It was a great non-pharmaceutical way to manage pain.
Good luck!
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There is a HUGE amount of truth in this statement. It’s similar to what I suggested, and it is worth every penny.
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So I'm kicked back in the recliner with some ice on a very uncomfortable shoulder. Upside is no one is around so I can watch one of my favorite flicks, Midnight Run.
Anyway, I had the appt this am to get the fluid/cyst drained out of my shoulder joint. They numbed it pretty well other than a couple jabs where it was obvious more numbing was needed when I almost shot off the table. Very unpleasant experience and pretty sore. Now I have to let this heal for 6 weeks than I have a follow up MRI to see if it came back. If not, good to go, if it does, than he wants to do surgery.
Anyway, I had the appt this am to get the fluid/cyst drained out of my shoulder joint. They numbed it pretty well other than a couple jabs where it was obvious more numbing was needed when I almost shot off the table. Very unpleasant experience and pretty sore. Now I have to let this heal for 6 weeks than I have a follow up MRI to see if it came back. If not, good to go, if it does, than he wants to do surgery.
Commreman
Faith, Family, Fitness, and Frets
Just came across this thread. I was diagnosed with the following in my right shoulder following x rays and an MRI - bone spurs digging into the top of my bicep, which led to a small tear in my labrum and rotator cuff. Arthritis mixed with overuse injuries. Rather than surgery, my orthopedist and I decided on PRP - platelet rich plasma. I had the procedure done three weeks ago, and am now in physical therapy three times a week.
Hurt like hell for the first week following the procedure, but has steadily gotten better. Should take 6 weeks or so. If it gets worse, the next step would be amniotic stem cells combined with additional PRP. Probably won't have to go that route based on my healing so far, but it has been a very cool process nonetheless.
Hurt like hell for the first week following the procedure, but has steadily gotten better. Should take 6 weeks or so. If it gets worse, the next step would be amniotic stem cells combined with additional PRP. Probably won't have to go that route based on my healing so far, but it has been a very cool process nonetheless.
That's good news. And PT is much more than 'exercise'. Therapist are highly skilled people who have studied the human body and its movements. They understand what it takes to heal your body, and will structure your exercises accordingly. If at any time you feel like the therapist isn't doing what they should, definitely say something. Because improper exercise will do more harm than good. I was lucky in that my therapists really knew their stuff.
Bicep tendon at the shoulder surgery here. Sling for a month. I would take it off though. Could play but still sore for another month. Surgery in May but I didn't play seriously again until after September. I just rested up.
Never heard of PRP. Can't hurt to look it up and ask if I think it's relevant.
Commreman
Faith, Family, Fitness, and Frets
It's very cool. Essentially, they take 60 cc's of your own blood, centrifuge it down to 7 cc's of purified, supercharged white blood cells and platelets, and inject it back into the injured area. The white blood cells and platelets help with healing and rebuilding. I asked my orthopedist about this, as I didn't want to get cut. He told me that I was a good candidate for this, as my tears were small. I go back for another evaluation on May 24.
I have had zero downtime with this. I had elbow surgery back in 2008 that took me out of action for a couple of months. If you are a candidate, you should try this. Insurance does not cover it, but it generally runs between $600 to $800. Not a bad deal to avoid getting cut!
I have had zero downtime with this. I had elbow surgery back in 2008 that took me out of action for a couple of months. If you are a candidate, you should try this. Insurance does not cover it, but it generally runs between $600 to $800. Not a bad deal to avoid getting cut!
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