shoulder surgery

[DaveParker39]

Having surgery August 25 on my right shoulder. The surgeon will be doing a bankart repair, which involves reattaching the labrum tissue to the glenoid (shoulder socket) using sutures and anchors. There is a small broken piece of glenoid bone in there as well but surgeon believes that part is healed. I sustained this injury at the gym in January (yes, 8 months between fractured shoulder and surgery).

I'll be a sling for four weeks. Total recovery time 8-9 months. It will be curious to see how this impacts playing, or if I am able to even play at all during early recovery. I plan on sitting out the rest of the year in terms of live performance, but I am still curious about just playing seated at home.

There was a similar thread about 10 years ago, but certainly curious if anyone since has had shoulder surgery and the impact on their playing.

 

[Geepers]

That’s quite the journey you’re on. Be patient and try and stay in the now where life is always kinda OK. All the very best to you bud

 

[jallenbass]

Just wrapping up week 8 of recovery from rotator cuff and bicep tendinosis surgery on my right shoulder. My surgeon happens to be a bassist too. Around week 6, he gave me the green light to start playing bass again—just lightly—and recommended I stand while playing. Standing keeps my arm hanging naturally, and my left shoulder is used to having the weight of the sling, and it's more comfortable on my right shoulder than sitting.

I'm finally at the point where I can gently use my right arm, which feels like real progress. Sleep is still rough, though—that’s when the pain tends to flare up. That said, both my surgeon and physical therapist are happy with how things are going, so I’m feeling encouraged overall.

 

[DrBnz]

Take the time off to recover - I don't mean bass. I mean everything else. My buddy just had shoulder surgery 3 months ago. He didn't do anything right. I believe he re-injured it installing a water heater. He has to get his shoulder completely redone again. He's back to square one. Surgery is next week.

 

[jamesog]

I had right shoulder surgery a few years ago after a fracture. I was in a sling for 6 weeks and did physio for just about a year.

It was probably a good 6 months at least before I could play for more than a few minutes at a time without getting discomfort or fatigue. The sling really destroys your strength and movement. I couldn't straighten the elbow properly for a good couple of months.

 

[57pbass]

Good luck to you and I hope it’s a successful procedure.

I had a procedure done many years ago on my hand and couldn’t play for 3 years. It was brutal but I kept busy doing other things and survived it successfully.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

Having surgery August 25 on my right shoulder. The surgeon will be doing a bankart repair, which involves reattaching the labrum tissue to the glenoid (shoulder socket) using sutures and anchors. There is a small broken piece of glenoid bone in there as well but surgeon believes that part is healed. I sustained this injury at the gym in January (yes, 8 months between fractured shoulder and surgery).

I'll be a sling for four weeks. Total recovery time 8-9 months. It will be curious to see how this impacts playing, or if I am able to even play at all during early recovery. I plan on sitting out the rest of the year in terms of live performance, but I am still curious about just playing seated at home.

There was a similar thread about 10 years ago, but certainly curious if anyone since has had shoulder surgery and the impact on their playing.

I’m not a doctor. I would doubt you will have issue playing unless there is nerve damage and or you play left handed. I’m thinking hauling your SVT with two Heritage Cabs might be more of an issue.

Best wishes on a successful outcome.

 

[Pdaddy1978]

I'll be including you in our prayers for a successful outcome, and a complete recovery.
Cant hurt...Might help.

 

[srayb]

Maybe look into picking up a short scale bass (less reach + lower weight) for the coming months of rehab. Wishing you well for a full recovery.

 

[scuzzy]

I'm an OR manager, I see a lot of surgery. I see repeats for patients that don't follow post-op instructions.

If they're a good doc, just follow their instructions to a T, you'll be good.

 

[JOME77]

I had SLAP surgery and removal a long bone spur to my left shoulder June 30th. I had to wear an arm sling for 4 weeks and now I only wear the sling when I go in public (keeps people from grabbing me by the arm or shoulder). I play lightly sitting down now but the doctor said nothing heavier than a coffee cup in the left hand.
My surgeon is actually in my choir so he keeps me straight and doesn't want me playing (strapping up) until October.
He knows that I do a lot of sliding double stops and he says that’s too much shoulder movement for now.

Wish you the best

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Had right shoulder surgery 1 year ago, mine not too bad, some torn tissue and scar tissue from a fall was making it really painful to play. I think it took a good six months to to get back to relatively pain free. I still feel a twinge on certain movements, and it took a while to get over the stiffness, but it’s definitely better. I realized I tend to accumulate tension in my right arm and shoulder, really have to concentrate on relaxing when I play. My insurance only covered part of the rehab, so I probably cut it short before I should have but…..$$$$$$. Now if I could just fix the thumb arthritis..
Don’t be surprised if it takes longer than it “should” to heal, different for everyone. If you have good insurance for rehab, use every minute of it.

 

[Stewie]

Had my right shoulder replaced on May 3rd. Top shoulder guy around here. He told me that I could play my Fenders as soon as I got home. The finger movement would do me good. About the third day I tried. I had to stand but I could play for a half hour before my shoulder said stop. It took about 2 months before I could play upright.
First gig a few weeks ago. I am Titanium Man, my wife is going to make me a cape.

 

[monsterthompson]

Never had a shoulder surgery but I’ve had medical issues with long term impacts to my left shoulder.
Good luck with the procedure and recovery.

 

[ijump206]

I just want to wish you all the very best. I have been dealing with frozen shoulder for a little over a year, but have not needed surgery. I hope all goes well for you, and that your doctors proscribe bass playing as a form of physical therapy.

Also, I loved Dave Parker on my Oakland As when I was a kid.

 

[CletusMarley]

I wish you well in recovery!

 

[DWBass]

I had shoulder surgery in 2016 to repair a ruptured bicep tendon (at the shoulder). Took a couple of months before I could play again.

 

[themickster]

I've had to play seated, since needing a wheelchair. It does put more strain on my shoulder than playing standing. I don't know if it would be any worse than standing with a short strap.

 

[TeaTime]

Two hand/wrist surgeries, and one similar shoulder.

Music is a part of us, but there are times when it needs to be set aside. The reason there were *two* wrist surgeries was because I rushed the first recovery to get back on stage.

Trust your surgeon, but also be aware that they give instructions based on the averged needs of large population sets over time. Put even more trust in your Physical Therpist - they will shape your recovery routine around your specifics. One told me to take my bass to appointments every 3rd or 4th visit to keep the focus there. If possible, assuming you are in an area with a music college or symphony or whatever, find a PT with experience with string players.

Not being silly with this - there is an opportunity here to really focus on left-hand skills like slides, bends, hammer-ons, and even tapping. When my left was incapacitated I dug into sorting out developing a 4-fingered approach with the right, and the realities of doing that on open strings pushed me to also improve my muting.

I don't know what your keyboard skills are - I was basic. Three months of one-hand learning and I was back on stage in a limited capacity doing key bass for a simple classic rock band at small bars.

Good luck, and smooth recovery!

 

[TeaTime]

I had SLAP surgery and removal a long bone spur to my left shoulder June 30th. I had to wear an arm sling for 4 weeks and now I only wear the sling when I go in public (keeps people from grabbing me by the arm or shoulder). I play lightly sitting down now but the doctor said nothing heavier than a coffee cup in the left hand.
My surgeon is actually in my choir so he keeps me straight and doesn't want me playing (strapping up) until October.
He knows that I do a lot of sliding double stops and he says that’s too much shoulder movement for now.

Wish you the best

This resonates with me - when I had surgery on my right shoulder I had to wear a hand brace to keep people from insisting on handshakes.

My surgeon had played sax in a band with me a few years before, and his son took fencing lessons from me, so he knew I was going to stress him out during the recovery phase.