Age strikes again. I lift pretty heavy in the gym, not meathead style though. Just strength and conditioning. Been having bicep pain in both arms so did 4 MRI's last week, 2 on each arm covering the elbow and shoulder on each. This shows the forearm, elbow, bicep, and shoulder. Both shoulders have tears in the labrum, but minor. They are both SLAP tears.

I can only do one surgery at a time because you need one arm to function. Met with my ortho, who is solid, one of the best here in my area. Very well respected. And I've worked with him before on a wrist break and his work on it was impeccable. Last night I read about recovery from this type of surgery and got spooked. Due to having to do both shoulders, recovery will be over a year. So for one year of my life I'll be screwed. Typical worries of loss of strength long term and more importantly range of motion. I've read of some skipping surgery, doing PT instead, others with horror stories so I wanted to see if anyone here had gone through this. What your results were, if you did PT hardcore, etc. TIAFAR.

I wrecked on my dirtbike this past October and dislocated my elbow/shoulder and also broke my shoulder and my labrum detached as well. Actually where the labrum was attached 2 chunks of my shoulder bone came off with it.

The surgery itself wasn’t anywhere near as bad as I thought it would be, I didn’t even need any of the pain meds. But yeah it’s gonna be a few months of wiping your ass left handed and being in a sling 24/7. If you listen to the doc and just don’t do anything with your arm it should go smoothly, i used a lot of ice for the first few weeks and also got a tense unit that seemed to help quite a bit.

Also the PT really sucked at first but it definitely helped me a lot.
Your armpit is gonna be nastier than a badgers ass for a bit because you won’t be able/allowed to lift it up for a while, I just used baby wipes to get up in there and was a stinky bastard for a bit, but it beats popping out the anchors and doing it all over again.

Over all it was 3 months in a sling and 3 more of restrictions and just being careful with it. I lost some flexibility but overall I’m doing pretty good considering that it took next to nothing to dislocate it before the surgery

The surgery itself will be a piece of cake. Post-op? Not so much.

After destroying my shoulder some years ago, I was advised by my orthopedist that the rule of thumb is six months to be pain free and one year to get to your new normal. And he was pretty much right on the money with me.

Shoulders suck.

I had multiple dislocations when I was younger, and then at 37 I pulled a suitcase out of the car (overhand) and the last bit of my labrum gave up. Had a complete separation- slap, anterior, and posterior tears. I had surgery last June and had a bunch of screws put in and things tightened up.

As others have said, the surgery wasn’t bad pain wise, but the recovery sucked big time. Being immobilized in a sling for 6 weeks I developed tendinitis in my forearm and bursitis in my elbow. That hurt way more than the surgery, and lasted for months. I don't believe the prescribed PT did much for me recovery-wise. After about 3 months after surgery I started running again and that (plus the time) helped more than anything. After regularly running for 3 months and doing stretches I found online I basically had my range of motion back save about 5 degrees lifting my arm up and back. That eventually came back, but movements felt tight and uncomfortable. At about the 6 month mark I started bouldering and MTB again and those activities brought my strength back and normalized the uncomfortable-ness after a few months. I think yoga would have probably given the same results.

In a nutshell, it wasn't until that 9 month mark that I felt like I was fully over it, and even now at almost year it still isn’t the way it was- but it doesn’t hurt. A lot of weird unexplained back issues that I had went away after the surgery too. Not sure if that was a direct result of the surgery or indirect due to the deliberate reconditioning though.

I’d do the surgery again, but only because when my shoulder blew I lost like 50% range of motion and it hurt all the damn time. The recovery still hurt more though, but at least it was temporary. Good luck, as it’s been stated- shoulders suck.

that's a rough road I am personally not a fan of 'unnecessary' surgery there really is no such thing as 'minor' or 'routine' surgery

if you are Pro athlete trying to maintain a career - that's one thing

for most of us weekend warriors trying to stay active, fit, etc as we age - I am more of a fan of modifying activity based on the new normal.

How old are you btw? I am north of 50 but am still in pretty good shape... did squats today. Can run a 7 min mile, 15+ dead-hang pullups, healthy weight / blood pressure, etc i make fitness a priority and have since my teens

one thing I do is more dumbbell work vs in my 20s-30s... i think the independent motion of the left and right is beneficial vs a straight barbell

I opted for foot surgery a while back - and it was helpful I think.

On the other hand - I opted NOT to get surgery after a damaging pec tear because - as you mentioned - I didn't want to have such a modified activity level for so many months

I guess what I am trying to say is - surgery isn't going to make you 25 again.

Had a jiu jitsu instructor many years ago said - 'what's the point of all the hard training just to injure yourself and be incapacitated for months...' that made a lot of sense and so I try to train hard but with a mind on the long term 'health' perspective...

you have to adjust. and also - if I get a ache or pain that persists - I am not shy about taking a couple days off if necessary and just recovering

good luck - keep us posted - i wish you well

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My right shoulder has been messed up since mid-January. Something is pulled or torn. Literally just slept on it wrong when I was out in Colorado teaching for a few days. After almost two weeks, PC doc tried a cortisone shot with relief for about 48 hours and that was it.

Off to the ortho guy who suggested PT after looking at X-Rays.

I've been going to PT three times-a-week since mid-February. I also was taking 15mg Meloxicam per day for six weeks.

I thought I was making progress and then went off the drugs. 48 hours later I felt like I was back to square one if not worse. PT guy said stick with it for a few days and take it a bit easier. I think I'm back to making progress and I'm trying to completely avoid the Meloxicam and even avoiding Advil.

If PT is an option, why not give it a try for a month?

When I mentioned to my PT that I was concerned someone would tell me I needed surgery and the recovery time looked like a bitch, he flat out stated some surgeons would suggest surgery would be necessary. He did not think I needed to go that route (yet).

Honestly, I get more information and am better able to understand what my PT is saying than the docs. The ortho doc I went to never even touched my shoulder.

Labral tears usually don't heal well without surgery. I lived with it for over 20 years until my should was unstable to the point where it would fall out of the glenoid socket at just picking up a bag of groceries.

I had my labral tear repair surgery over here in Orlando in March of 2018. Dr Travis B Vandyke did it at Orlando Orthopedic Center. I had a very quick recovery (despite my being 52), and was good about going to almost all of my follow up PT sessions. It hurt, but not so much that I had to take narcotics. I may have taken one or two the first couple of days. I have almost complete mobility in it, but most of all, it is stable.

quote:

Originally posted by Prefontaine:
Age strikes again. I lift pretty heavy in the gym, not meathead style though. Just strength and conditioning.

Each of our bodies comes with a set of design specifications. Unfortunately, we are not all the same and the specs change as we age. Breaking something means it's time to back off.

Good luck with the recovery. I haven't had the surgery, but have heard it can be tough.

Thanks Gents. For me it’s a double dose of this. One shoulder, then another probably 6 months later. One shoulder is bad enough but I will have to do it twice. Going to be a nasty 12 months.

I know it will never get better on its’ own. Pain is strong in both biceps since a bicep tendon attaches to the labrum. I also have 2 cysts on one. I don’t think PT alone is going to cut it. Pay now or pay later I guess.

quote:

Originally posted by Prefontaine:
I know it will never get better on its’ own. Pain is strong in both biceps since a bicep tendon attaches to the labrum. I also have 2 cysts on one. I don’t think PT alone is going to cut it. Pay now or pay later I guess.

I feel ya

when I got that foot surgery I mentioned earlier - I had BOTH done at the same time : right and left

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIcn548xcNY

I was concerned the recovery would be so bad i wouldn't go back for the opposite side surgery off my feet completely for ~10 days and very light activity for a couple weeks after that

it sucked but in the end I am pretty glad I had it done... funny thing is the right side which was worse - recovered more fully.

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If your ortho doc is using the latest techniques the procedure won’t be anything like it was even a few years ago. Forget the scare stories. My shoulder was as bad as it gets. Doc recommended a replacement, which I declined. The PT may suck for those who never worked out in the first place but for someone who is healthy and in shape it’s no big deal. However, I do think you are a bit over optimistic if you think you’ll do two procedures in twelve months.

Ortho docs are still generous with the opiates. You’ll need them. And the trend now is for the ice machine - the miracle icing device you see in football and baseball. Good luck!

quote:

Originally posted by PD: I do think you are a bit over optimistic if you think you’ll do two procedures in twelve months.

Maybe so. For more years than I recall, I’ve lifted 4 days a week and eat like a nutritionist 6 out of 7 days a week. Used to pain as well. So however difficult PT is, I’ll do it, vigorously. My same ortho did my wrist after a complex break. I had full range of motion months before I should have. I did all of my own PT. And that wrist was pinned, with multiple pins sticking outside the skin under the cast. It hurt like hell the first month. Excruciating pain. The PT was hard and extremely painful. Bending that damn wrist back 5 times as much as they recommended. It paid off.

Thankfully the tears in both labrums are small. I have no shoulder problems at all. Pain is all in the biceps. Maybe you are right but I am going to try. I don’t want to spend the next 2 years of my life with the use of only one arm or the other. I just watched someone do one, then the other 8 months later. His injuries were much worse than mine. Have to get started to find out.

I can tell you that after 3 surgeries (2 Left, 1 rebuilt right) and multiple anchors and screws in each shoulder, all I can say is do whatever the doc tells you. Modern techniques will allow for better repairs, IF you do the therapy, Ice and take your medication as directed. Depending on your age, recovery times will vary, but thinking you'll be back to normal in a year is a bit optimistic. Not sure if your Doc mentioned a bicep tenodesis, as it is often common if there is damage to the long head bicep.

As far a weightlifting is concerned, you will no doubt find that certain exercises will no longer be wise. As a former heavy lifter, I have had to change my routines to compensate for the lack of mobility I lost. Certain exercises cause me pain such as benching, so I often use hammer strength machines, cable presses or floor presses for chest, and landmine presses have replaced military presses. There are many to choose from, so talk to your doc and physical therapist. If you have any questions, feel free to email me.

I have had both shoulders done. My left was much worse than my right shoulder. They were done several years apart.
Follow through with the PT. I do not like taking pain meds so only took them on the first night of surgery.
I have an absolute nightmare story from my Anesthesia Dr. during my second shoulder surgery, so much so, he called to apologize to me the next day. If you get the surgery and a nerve block is done, make sure it takes effect before they wheel you in for the surgery!!
I did not find the PT to be hardcore and I had anchors put in my left shoulder.

quote:

One shoulder is bad enough but I will have to do it twice. Going to be a nasty 12 months.

calm yourself Prefontaine....you can do it. I once lived in a full length spica body cast for 12 months after 3 months in traction. 'Powerful pits' was the least of my concerns.

Adaptability and finding ways to improve other parts of your body will help.

I had a torn right bicep that also pretty much tore my labrum apart about 7 years ago. The post surgery wasn't to terribly bad or painful, I was off pain meds in a few days. Using the left hand for everything was a major pain in the ass until you get used to it. Just do what the surgeon tell you and you will be fine.

The physical therapy was worse than the post surgery pain wise, but it is short term pain. They will hurt you and make you hurt yourself, but it is necessary if you want full recovery and full range of motion. I did every thing they wanted both there and pushed myself as hard as I could stand with the at home exercises.

If I remember right it was supposed to be 3 times a week for 12 weeks. I finished up in 10 weeks with almost full range of motion and 70-80 percent of my strength. The only major range of motion issue was reaching behind my back. It took about 7 or 8 months before I could reach most of the way across without any pain.

I don't work out like I used to but have no problems or pain using weights at all.

I suffered shoulder injuries to my right shoulder several times from motocross crashes. Each time I was told they would heal, which I later found out was a wrong diagnosis. Then after one crash I dislocated my shoulder. This was now about 3 years of dealing with back pain I felt was related to the shoulder injuries so I went to,a very well respected shoulder specialist who looked at all of my MRIs and said I should have had surgery from the very first injury.

He didn’t know if he could fix things as the MRI he did showed I had several tendons almost completely torn and he didn’t know how damaged they would be after so many years. He did the surgery and it fixed all of my problems. The recovery was pure hell, but I don’t regret it.

The pain was terrible the first few days and it took probably about 6 months to have good use of my right arm and a full year to,be completely normal. Doing physical therapy correctly is an absolute must; I can’t stress that enough.

quote:

Originally posted by PD:
If your ortho doc is using the latest techniques the procedure won’t be anything like it was even a few years ago. Forget the scare stories. My shoulder was as bad as it gets. Doc recommended a replacement, which I declined. The PT may suck for those who never worked out in the first place but for someone who is healthy and in shape it’s no big deal. However, I do think you are a bit over optimistic if you think you’ll do two procedures in twelve months.

Ortho docs are still generous with the opiates. You’ll need them. And the trend now is for the ice machine - the miracle icing device you see in football and baseball. Good luck!

That ice machine is a miracle, I ran that thing damn near 24/7 for the first couple weeks and it really helped a lot. I think it woulda been much worse without it

Met with my ortho again this morning to discuss. Right shoulder will need bankart. I asked how many anchors and he said 1-2, so whomever said it above, that this type of surgery is leaps and bounds beyond even just a few years ago was correct as my ortho verified that this morning. He lifts like I do, and he actually had it done on one of his shoulders. he was back at work in 2 weeks. I asked many questions so typing this out to help others.

I asked percentage of tear on both my shoulders, 10-15% of the 360% circumference.

Anchors, 1-2 per side

Doing right shoulder, bankart first
ROM: 2 months
Strength: 3 months to a year
Length of time in sling: 4 weeks
PT: 4 weeks
Bicep tenodesis: possible, will investigate during surgery
Length of time to recover: 3 months to 1 year
How long before left shoulder surgery (SLAP): 3 months
Use of right hand after surgery: immediately
Length of time before working dog with good hand, mowing grass, cleaning pool: immediately
Baths only for how long: 1 week
Walking (as in taking walks for some exercise): immediately
Driving: immediately
light cardio: Immediately
Lifting (light): 6 months
PT: 4 weeks

And some good news. While I'm under he's going to do a bone marrow transplant (stem cell injection) into my left arm. He thinks surgery may not be needed as the SLAP tear in my left shoulder is very minor, 10% of the 360.

I'd get a second opinion but this isn't my first rodeo with Terry. He is one of the best orthos in my metro area, very well respected and I've had surgery with him before. His previous work on me was 100% and saved my motorcycle riding career. I'd call him slick as snot. He's done a complex wrist break for me prior and I also tore the tendon that attaches the bicep to the forearm, and he guided me away from surgery and did stem cell injection instead, which worked 100% but took 6-9 months to get back to 100%. I feel 100% about all this after going back this morning. I had a full page of questions after researching the surgery extensively. I am fairly confident now of a quick(er) recovery as my tears are on the light or minimal side compared to those who have sustained more extensive shoulder injuries. Knocks on wood, I've suffered no dislocation only bicep pain. I'm going to continue to lift until surgery but lighter weight and try to fit in more cardio so I'm in good shape going in. I set my surgery date early next month to give me 3-4 weekends to get many things done in the house, the yard, my vehicles, etc. Going to have to prep the motorcycles for summer winterization so to speak, my manual car, and try to organize the house, tub, and anything else I can think of since I'm Han Solo at the house.

Thanks for all the replies.

quote:

Originally posted by limblessbiff:

quote:

Originally posted by PD:
If your ortho doc is using the latest techniques the procedure won’t be anything like it was even a few years ago. Forget the scare stories. My shoulder was as bad as it gets. Doc recommended a replacement, which I declined. The PT may suck for those who never worked out in the first place but for someone who is healthy and in shape it’s no big deal. However, I do think you are a bit over optimistic if you think you’ll do two procedures in twelve months.

Ortho docs are still generous with the opiates. You’ll need them. And the trend now is for the ice machine - the miracle icing device you see in football and baseball. Good luck!

That ice machine is a miracle, I ran that thing damn near 24/7 for the first couple weeks and it really helped a lot. I think it woulda been much worse without it

What brand? Surgery is friday and I can have it here Friday. I've looked a lot of them from low price to very expensive.