quote:

Originally posted by Prefontaine:
One month 10 days post op. Full range of motion almost back, probably 85% of motion back. I can use shoulder/arm and touch my back overhead. Some pain day to day but it’s very light. Started PT last week on Monday the 8th. Was told I was way ahead of the game by PT Dr. and staff. They said that was due to being in excellent shape with muscle prior. Just reinforced me always staying in shape and lifting. Strength is definitely going to take time to come back. Starting back at the gym tomorrow night doing legs and cardio. They cleared me today to do light bicep and tricep work. Excited to get back in the gym and start working out again. Had enough of this sitting around bullshit. Making sure to get 6 small meals a day in with 30 grams or more of protein so close to 200 grams of protein a day. Drinking massive amounts of water since op. Probably 4-5 liters a day. Turmeric and Glucosimine religiously. At this rate if I had to do surgery on the other shoulder I could have surgery in 2 months.

Why are you taking glucosamine? Digestive?

quote:

Originally posted by jsbcody:

Take your pain meds as directed.

I quit taking pain meds after 36 hours post op. Ortho prescribed percocet. Pharmacy generic was oxy. Hated how it felt, so quit taking it 36 hours after surgery, and threw that bs in the trash. Haven't taken anything for pain since.
Using to being sore from weight lifting so the pain has no big deal to me at all.

quote:

Originally posted by dave7378:

Why are you taking glucosamine? Digestive?

For the joints. Shoulder surgery the other muscles and tendons try to compensate, especially the joint. It's definitely helped.
Been drinking bone broth every day as well. That and 180-200 grams of protein a day. Lots of ice too. Wish I had that electro machine, whatever it is called, that they have at PT that sends electric pulses to wherever you apply the pads. I'm up to 34 on the setting in just over a week. It visually rattles the skin. I've noticed that helps immensely with scar tissue. Best thing for pain has been them manually working the shoulder by hand with that deep penetrating lotion and that machine. After PT, and I'm already on light weight dumbbells there, zero pain.

I quit using the sling after 1 week post op. Started mowing the yard and taking care of the property by myself 2 weeks ago. Now I understand how Marc Marquez was back on the bike 60 days after full rotator cuff and labrum surgery. Being in shape pays off massively when recuperating from surgery. Maybe I'm overly optimistic but improvement has been rapid. That's down to my physical health prior, a good ortho, modern surgery, stem cell injections, plentiful hydration, high protein diet and excellent diet in general, and a positive attitude. Looking forward to seeing my crew at the gym tonight!

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.

I appreciate the concern. Your words were definitely a source of encouragement.

Sunday will be 3 months since surgery. I started lifting weights again this week. Lower weight than before surgery and more reps. I could do the surgery on the other shoulder right now. Not bad huh?

Physical therapy has mostly been a waste of time. I could have saved myself a whole lot of money by going in once a week to get hooked up to the machine and a printout of my exercises for the week and done it all on my own. My range of motion is somewhere close to 97%, only a few percentage points left. PT was helpful for maybe the first 2 weeks, after that a waste of my time more than anything. If I had access to that electrical machine in there I could have done the whole recovery on my own with a print out. The PT doctor, she won’t release me, even though I have basically full range of motion back and solid strength. I have been doing overhead dumbbell presses for weeks in PT, to the point my PT guy is even telling me it’s a joke to keep me in there. We did all the small muscles the first few weeks, I wrote everything down, and did stuff on my own diligently. We did a pressure test last week and I was between 2-4 lbs from my good, or non operated on shoulder. Once you are at 5 lbs difference they are supposed to release you. PT doctor doesn’t like much that I had 16 visits at that point where most people aren’t at the same stage with 36 visits. To me it’s a medical game of getting my money. Going to keep going twice a week until I see my ortho again on the 16th. I know he’ll sign off at that point and there is a chiropractor at the gym who has the machine so I’ve already got additional PT figured out where I don’t have to play into this game once my ortho gives the go ahead. My PT guy said she should have released me last week and I really only need to come once a week to work out any inflammation. Games I tell ya.

Tomorrow will be a true test as it’s back/biceps day. Just using lower weight and high reps went well for my first 2 workouts this week. I’d say another few weeks to a month and I’ll be on my own. I’ll go once a week to PT to get hooked up to the machine and for my guy to use the scraper on any inflammation/scar tissue.

Going to give the other shoulder another month or two to see if the stem cell injection took. I may not need surgery on it. If so I’ll definitely go under again in November and knock the other shoulder out. That way I’ll be out of the sling on the other shoulder by the end of the year. Strict diet, lots of protein, and being in excellent physical condition prior has been the biggest keys for success. My ortho and modern techniques making up the other 50%. From everything I read I thought it would all be worse. Even PT has been meh. Yeah there is pain, but if you are used to lifting you are used to pain, stretching, etc.