Surgery = No Riding...

[Nelly]

It wasn't meant as an insult and I know it sounds like conspiracy talk but I've literally had pain management docs and surgeons state they do things because its a business. Most practitioners are ethical but maybe because I'm a naturopath and get patients after they have been through the to ringer Of conventional care I know that an easier less invasive fix earlier in there care would have prevented many unnecessary expensive procedures.

I know prolo doesn't work for everybody but if you have an injection that only cost $200 and the other option is a surgery that will eat up all of a $5000 deductible for the year I personally have went with the injection and it worked for me. In your situation it didn't work and you needed surgery which I've seen that happen as well and think that is perfectly fine.

The whole reason I made mention of prolotherapy in the first place was to encourage the OP to do some research and possibly get a second opinion to avoid the knife so he doesn't need to miss his soccer or riding season.

It was certainly a worthwhile discussion and your input helped to broaden the subject.

Thanks
Neil

 

[Nelly]

Thanks for the responses and wishes, especially Dr. Rob with the insight. I already plan on having surgery, and i know that the doc wasn't lying to me because he knew that i would be having surgery at a practice with no relations to his own, as well as the fact that he is the school's sportsmedicine specialist. As mentioned i go to school far from home so i will still have to wait a little over a month. Im still going to play soccer and water polo as i always have, but just a little less physically (i think that the water polo with the swimming should hep with shoulder strength without too much stress.

Im not really afraid of the surgery, more the fact that i wont be able to work at all for quite a bit of the summer, and since i work as a roofer over my breaks ill be useless even after i get out of the sling/cast. ill probably have to run deliveries. Maybe i can get a job with the local Yamaha place, since i know more than they (the sales guys anyway) do about every bike they have anyway.

Good luck with the surgery,

Neil,

 

[Erci]

Reserving for response in the morning.
Dr Rob

Okay, so labral tears are no joke. Your shoulder is the most mobile joint in the body, providing the widest range of motion on all planes of motion. The issue is that with this incredible range of motion comes ridiculous amounts of instability. Your labrum functions to deepen the cup of the glenoid, providing essentially a suction cup fit to the top of your humerus (arm bone). Without a properly functioning labrum providing this suction effect, you are at an increased risk of dislocating your shoulder and straining your rotator cuff, leading to a tear of the rotator cuff and worsening the damage to the labrum. Catching this early and getting it repaired is the only way to prevent major issues down the road for your shoulder. Get it fixed sooner than later and take it easy on the shoulder between now and then.

Some people mentioned below Prolotherapy. While there is some anecdotal cases of miraculous recovery using prolotherapy on stretched or torn ligaments, there is no evidence based medicine to support this. Here's the idea: healing occurs as a result of part of the inflammatory response. Prolotherapy injects a mild irritant into an area in need of healing, provoking an inflammatory response, thus hypothetically improving the healing of that damaged area. The question is how does the body know which tissues in that area to affect? It doesn't! Additionally, this has been shown to be helpful in stretching/sprained ligaments, but has been proven completely ineffective in complete tears of ligaments and would certainly have no affect on a torn labrum. I'm sorry Ssky0078 but prolotherapy is a bad idea in this case. There are some cases where I'd be willing to give it a try before more aggressive treatments, but this just isn't one of them.

In the end, my recommendation is to get it fixed sooner than later. Missing one season of riding is a small price to pay for a pain free, healthy shoulder for the rest of your life and being able to ride well in future years as a result of it. If it's any consolation to you, I torn all the ligaments holding my shoulder to my collar bone (AC Separation) in a motorcycle accident several years ago. I took a year and a half off riding while it healed up and eventually needed surgery. I did try prolotherapy at that time which provided about 20% relief, but ultimately still left me with a useless shoulder functionally (I couldn't life more than 3-4lbs without pain). I'm glad I took the time to get my shoulder fixed and now can ride without issue, lift weights, hold my kid, etc. It wasn't fun, but surgery was the right choice.

My last piece of advice is that as important as the surgery is, the physical therapy is 10x more important. Without a strong muscular capsule around the shoulder, the shoulder will never function right. Your physical therapist will guide you through the recovery, improving strength and stability gradually, until you are back to your pre-injury or better strength. What is important is to continue these exercises essentially forever to keep your shoulder in good shape. This will help you prevent future injury.

Hope this was helpful.

Dr. Rob

Awesome of you to put together such a thorough reply! Thank you, Dr.Rob! :thumbup:

 

[SweaterDude]

If the doctor said that it needs to be done ASAP, then don't take any advice from professional internet forum users etc.

Use your brain and be rational about it.

Get the surgery.

Start thinking in long term as opposed to short term.

i was asking more for information on rehab time, and if anybody else had gone through a similar injury to the shoulder. things to take care of before and after the surgery. i know i said ASAP but for me ASAP = 6 weeks from now, at the soonest. probably more like 9-10 with scheduling appointments with a shoulder specialist in Nashville then the referral to the surgeon from there.

On a side note, i have thought of a couple places i might be able to work with only 1 arm:

sales/parts at one of two Yami shops in town
local soccer shop


if anybody has any suggestions on potential positions that i might be able to succesfully perform with 1 arm, that would be a great help. obviously more of a general kind of thing as nobody on the forum knows me personally nor do many live near me, but you all should get the gist of what im asking?

Thanks,
Chris

 

[PosterFZ6]

i was asking more for information on rehab time, and if anybody else had gone through a similar injury to the shoulder. things to take care of before and after the surgery. i know i said ASAP but for me ASAP = 6 weeks from now, at the soonest. probably more like 9-10 with scheduling appointments with a shoulder specialist in Nashville then the referral to the surgeon from there.

On a side note, i have thought of a couple places i might be able to work with only 1 arm:

sales/parts at one of two Yami shops in town
local soccer shop


if anybody has any suggestions on potential positions that i might be able to succesfully perform with 1 arm, that would be a great help. obviously more of a general kind of thing as nobody on the forum knows me personally nor do many live near me, but you all should get the gist of what im asking?

Thanks,
Chris

I see Chris. I hope everything goes well for you in regards to the surgery etc. Keep us updated.

As far as I know certain jobs in the "fertility outsourcing" are one hand jobs.


On a serious note, a job at a dealership might be pretty fun.

 

[Nelly]

i was asking more for information on rehab time, and if anybody else had gone through a similar injury to the shoulder. things to take care of before and after the surgery. i know i said ASAP but for me ASAP = 6 weeks from now, at the soonest. probably more like 9-10 with scheduling appointments with a shoulder specialist in Nashville then the referral to the surgeon from there.

On a side note, i have thought of a couple places i might be able to work with only 1 arm:

sales/parts at one of two Yami shops in town
local soccer shop


if anybody has any suggestions on potential positions that i might be able to succesfully perform with 1 arm, that would be a great help. obviously more of a general kind of thing as nobody on the forum knows me personally nor do many live near me, but you all should get the gist of what im asking?

Thanks,
Chris

As Rob has stated, Physio is very important and will ultimately maximise the surgery.
I have had no personal experience with having surgery on my shoulder but have had lots of fractures. When I worked in Orthopaedics we used to work on a rough guide of "For every week a limb or joint is immobilized, it will take three weeks of recovery with Physio" to reach functionality.

Good luck
Neil

 

[rsw81]

i was asking more for information on rehab time, and if anybody else had gone through a similar injury to the shoulder.
Thanks,
Chris

Hey Chris,
Course of recovery for a shoulder is 4-6 weeks immobilization, 3-4 months PT.
Rob

 

[Hellgate]

Man that sucks. I had the same surgery and impingement repair back in '06.

Good luck and do your PT.

Sent from my LG-P925 using Tapatalk 2

 

[paulie75]

I had a laberal tear in my hip and had it fixed on Dec 17th. I just got back on my bike this weekend. I know it is not the shoulder but I figured I'd throw in my 2 cents... I tried my best to keep in shape and exercise to the best of my ability before hand. You are better off going in to surgery in good shape to help with recovery, my experiance with 2 knee surgeries in the past. My surgery went well, I used the prescribed drugs in full dose for three days and weened off in a week and a half. Being diligent with your P/T is the most important thing you can do. When I had my knee surgeries, I was still playing hockey so I had a timeline to get back, this time I had no reason to rush back(hockey or the bike) and we took our time getting me strong and getting my range of motion back. This was the best thing and I feel great now!

Good luck with your proceedure, everyone has had good advise here as they always do, whether it is about bikes or body joints!!! :thumbup:

 

[SweaterDude]

I had a laberal tear in my hip and had it fixed on Dec 17th. I just got back on my bike this weekend. I know it is not the shoulder but I figured I'd throw in my 2 cents... I tried my best to keep in shape and exercise to the best of my ability before hand. You are better off going in to surgery in good shape to help with recovery, my experiance with 2 knee surgeries in the past. My surgery went well, I used the prescribed drugs in full dose for three days and weened off in a week and a half. Being diligent with your P/T is the most important thing you can do. When I had my knee surgeries, I was still playing hockey so I had a timeline to get back, this time I had no reason to rush back(hockey or the bike) and we took our time getting me strong and getting my range of motion back. This was the best thing and I feel great now!

Good luck with your proceedure, everyone has had good advise here as they always do, whether it is about bikes or body joints!!! :thumbup:

I'll be doing my best to stay in shape, especially to try to be fit for the soccer season. ive already planned on getting a fluid trainer for my bicycle (since i wont be able to run: Shoulder bouncing...) so i can fix the bike in a balanced position and continue to keep my legs in good shape.

Im still in the process of thinking of job positions i can work with the use of one arm, ill most likely have to work sales or reception somewhere. i can supplement any days i wont work with delivery runs with my current job. i might possible get to rely on simply running deliveries all summer full time since I learned today that we gain another full crew, but i have to wait on that.


Also i have an appointment scheduled to meet with a shoulder specialist at home the week i get home from school, so the ball is rolling. I will keep y'all informed, mainly because i wont have anything to do for a few weeks:tard:

 

[PurpleZJ]

I had a laberal tear in my hip and had it fixed on Dec 17th. I just got back on my bike this weekend. I know it is not the shoulder but I figured I'd throw in my 2 cents... I tried my best to keep in shape and exercise to the best of my ability before hand. You are better off going in to surgery in good shape to help with recovery, my experiance with 2 knee surgeries in the past. My surgery went well, I used the prescribed drugs in full dose for three days and weened off in a week and a half. Being diligent with your P/T is the most important thing you can do. When I had my knee surgeries, I was still playing hockey so I had a timeline to get back, this time I had no reason to rush back(hockey or the bike) and we took our time getting me strong and getting my range of motion back. This was the best thing and I feel great now!

Good luck with your proceedure, everyone has had good advise here as they always do, whether it is about bikes or body joints!!! :thumbup:

Hey same here on the hip surgery! ditto on what you said, being in good shape and plenty of attention to PT is very important. Take your time and don't try to over do it, that's something I'm trying to work on so I don't keep re hurting myself ha. good luck man

 

[SweaterDude]

So I just got back from meeting the surgeon, and I'm to be cut on in 2 weeks. Its an orthoscopic surgery, which is good, but ill be down for the rest of the summer afterwards as far as riding is concerned....

so ill be riding AMAP for the next 2 weeks:thumbup:

 

[PhotoAl]

Wish you the best with the surgery - no fun but you won't remember it - just waking up after. For my surgery they knocked me out long before I expected and the next I know I'm waking up in recovery.

 

[LFZ6]

I work in physical therapy, and just a little advice. If you smoke, try to lay off while your healing, that will help. Make sure you are eating a nutritious diet as your body will need that too. Also, follow your doctors instructions and your PTs instructions. If your told not to do something, it's for a reason. Just fyi, the people that take the longest to heal are usually the ones that think they know best. Good luck!

Sent from my SGH-T989 using Tapatalk 2

 

[aclayonb]

Had three shoulder surgeries fixing two labral tears. Complete separation from 12 o'clock thru 6 o'clock across the front and the other was the same across the back. No idea how I did it. Military... what can I say?

After spending 2 years in physical therapy, I can tell you that the surgeon is important but the physical therapy will make or break your surgery success. My first surgeon didn't send me to physical therapy for 3 weeks and my shoulder froze. I couldn't internally rotate my shoulder at all. No wiping my arse, no getting my wallet, constant pain, etc. Almost killed my liver with pain pills and the booze I drank to make them work. Did 4 months of physical therapy with ZERO change. My phys therapist could literally lean her body weight into my arm and it wouldn't rotate. 80% range of motion loss. Surgeon said - Oh, yeah, that happens some times. This was the president of Norton Bone and Ortho in Louisville, KY....

After getting an immediate second opinion, I got a second surgery. Had to get all that scar tissue and crap cut out and undergo about 5 or 6 more months of physical therapy. Works pretty good now but I've got arthritis... at 31. That's the good shoulder, now. The other one was worse even though I knew how to mitigate the stupid.

I tell you this not to scare you but to make sure that you understand the NECESSITY of getting PROFESSIONAL physical therapy post-surgery. I recommend a sports-medicine physical therapist if you are athletic at all. I mean, the best you can afford. Preferably the guy that works on your State baseball team. The surgery itself is pretty standard and most small-medium sized city docs can handle it.

The hard part is that as soon as you get your shoulder cut, it becomes retarded. Your arm will completely forget how to function. You have to relearn just about everything with that arm, especially if it freezes. This is the most articulate joint in your body and don't believe anyone that tells you it's just like having an ACL replaced or some other minor surgery. It's like having HIP replaced.

My unit has had almost a dozen labral surgeries and NOBODY has walked away "athletically" functional in under 6 months. At least, not able to 70-80 pushups anymore. Most recovered pretty well but the guys that did the worst spent the least amount of time in the therapists office.

Good luck with your surgery. Hopefully it's a pretty minor tear and you recover quickly. The good news is that riding the bike is one of the few activities that my shoulder tolerates well and that, at least, seems to be a trend.

Oh, and keep your arm in the sling while driving. Some lady with a death wish almost bought me a 4th surgery.....

Doing dumb stuff like trying to catch a dropped cell-phone will make you cry too....

 

[Motogiro]

So I just got back from meeting the surgeon, and I'm to be cut on in 2 weeks. Its an orthoscopic surgery, which is good, but ill be down for the rest of the summer afterwards as far as riding is concerned....

so ill be riding AMAP for the next 2 weeks:thumbup:

Good luck with your surgery and heal up quick!

 

[SweaterDude]

they cut off the wrong arm!!!!!

no, everything went well but my mouth is dry so i got some ice cream....

 

[Nelly]

they cut off the wrong arm!!!!!

no, everything went well but my mouth is dry so i got some ice cream....

Nice one, delighted to hear from you, heal up soon and keep us posted.

Nelly

 

[Erci]

Glad to hear everything went well. Here's to a speedy recovery! :iconbeer:

 

[PhotoAl]

Great that you are doing well - hope you heal up real fast!