STU- you’ve been a huge help to everyone that talks to you. I wish you a quick and speedy recovery, in the mean time, at least you’ve got squats 
Who doesn’t like squats?
In all seriousness, don’t stress the injury right now, keep doing your PT, get married, go on honeymoon then come back and deal with the injury. Keep fighting.
Stu,
I wish you a speedy recovery and a wonderful wedding / honeymoon.
I’ve enjoyed your posts immensely. I’m currently 8+ weeks out from my bodybuilding competition and reading your posts has continually inspired me. I’m down to 199.5 lbs from 207 lbs, which my diet and pre contest diet started on June 4.
For what’s it’s worth, I competed 12 years ago (this will be my third time competing) so I’ve waited a long time to have another shot. I’ve gotten married, had kids, moved 9 times and had 6 different jobs. I’ve also had numererous injuries, many of which you’ve had. All of this prevented me from competing.
However, I never gave up the dream of competing again. Every rep, every workout, was another advancement in order to compete again. I’m 8 weeks out, so now the big push is on.
So never give up. You may take a few steps back but just keep plugging away and know your PT and subsequent recovery is a process in a long journey.
Stuart
If I’ve learned anything from you
Its sugar free jello
I will always love you for that
Congrats on the Wedding today Stu! Try not to eat the WHOLE wedding cake now that you arent competing!
Hey all. Thanks for all the kind words, and wishes on my nuptials this past weekend. I always try to reply to every question or PM (which I get a hell of a lot) on here, so I just wanted to say that Cat and I will be leaving for Hawaii on our honeymoon in a few hours, and while I intend to do my best in getting online and checking in as best as I can (I do have several clients competing in a few weeks! Can’t forgo my charges in lieu of rollicking on the beach with the new Mrs Mighty), please forgive me if I don’t chime in as much as I usually try to.
Packing various bands and cables to keep up with my rehab work. Hopefully the hotel will have a gym, and I’ll be doing my best to keep up with my supps, and eat as well as I can… within reason of course 
S
Sorry to hear about the injury, Stu. I hope you have a speedy and full recovery.
Congratulations on the wedding!
I hope your honeymoon was awesome!
Every time I’m on Facebook, Stu’s got pics up of him and Cat eating cake/pancakes/whatever. Are you a modern-aged Michelin Man yet, Stu?
Lol, hey guys, thanks for all the comments and well wishes I’ve been getting on the wedding and in regard to the injury. We just got back to NY earlier today, and after 2 flights of about 6 hours apiece, and a nice 2 hour gap between 'em, added to a 6 hour time zone shift, we’re both feeling like a couple of zombies who blinked and missed an entire day.
I did the best I could to make use of the limited gym facilities at he hotels we stayed at in Maui and Kauai, especially being severely limited due to my torn labrum. Also, I managed to do at least some of my physical therapy exercises on the majority of days we were away, while downing flameouts, and curcumin pills with every (non-diet) meal I ate.
Tomorrow morning I’ll be popping back into the usual DPT who takes care of me when I can’t get out to my brother’s office (she’s his former coworker, so she’s one of the few PTs he actually trusts to treat me), and we’ll see what if any scarring over has occurred (usually takes 6 weeks, but I’m hoping we can at least get some idea, at least to put my own mind at ease a bit). Jeff (my brother) says that if we’re dealing with a minor tear, which was most likely already present for a long time, the proposed surgery would be more of a debridement (sp?), essentially a clean-up job, and would entail a much shorter rehab window. Of course a full blown shredded labrum, where they have to add a better supportive structure (screws, thread, etc - lotta videos online if you care to see), would require much more time to regain full ROM and strength.
My concern isn’t so much the rehab time, it’s simply the issue of regaining lost muscle mass. Obviously not being able to train, let alone go about usual daily activities with a limb will result in some serious atrophy. I had been training 15 years before I ever competed, and even doing a lot of things incorrectly at the onset, that’s a nice long period of time to slowly add muscle. Compared to now, turning 40 next Spring, even if my body were in tip top form, how much muscle could a 40 year old, realistically gain, even if it is a matter of regaining lost tissue? Hormone levels are going to drop somewhat no matter how well I attend to minor details (which I always do my best to do), and the body can only synthesize so much new tissue in a given time frame.
So that’s what’s been weighing on my mind the last few weeks. I’m certainly not accepting that this injury may indeed prove the end of my competitive days, but in seeing how good the top WNBF Pros were at the Pro American this past Spring, and knowing that I still need to improve if I’m going to even feel that I belong up there fighting it out, I’m not certain what the future holds.
All I can say as to the injury for now is this:
I’ll keep everyone updated as I get more information, and detail how I’m training, rehabbing, and possibly undergoing surgery. As always, I’ll keep this thread going, answering questions, and giving my opinion on training and dietary matters (I am still a WNBF Pro after all -lol), and hopefully, we’ll have some very entertaining documentation on this site about how Stu Yellin competed in his first contest in 2009, won a USBF Pro Card in 2010, won a WNBF Pro Card in 2011, suffered a horrible Labrum Tear in 2012, and then came back from this incapacitating injury to bring his best ever physique to the stage in 2014.
S
So earlier today, my brother scheduled me an appointment with one of the top orthopedic surgeons in NY. I received X-rays, MRIs, and even a Cortizone shot, which he felt would at the very least ease some of the discomfort. As amazing as it seems, due to my brothers position in the sports medicine field, I’ve really got some top level talent seeing to my injury, rehab, and recovery. Every facet of post-surgery has been discussed at length, which certainly makes me feel like a respected athlete! Also, as my brother himself has experienced Labrum surgery and one his own rehab (such a testosterone filled S.O.B.), he was very quick to outline just how we’re gonna take these lemons, and use them to build our physique back to where it supposed to be!
Tomorrow, I’ll hear just how screwed up everything is, and what the outlook is. All in all, everything considered, I’m feeling positive. Just another chance to prove myself, and that’s how I’ve viewed my progress every year since I first stepped onstage.
S
[quote]The Mighty Stu wrote:
So earlier today, my brother scheduled me an appointment with one of the top orthopedic surgeons in NY. I received X-rays, MRIs, and even a Cortizone shot, which he felt would at the very least ease some of the discomfort. As amazing as it seems, due to my brothers position in the sports medicine field, I’ve really got some top level talent seeing to my injury, rehab, and recovery. Every facet of post-surgery has been discussed at length, which certainly makes me feel like a respected athlete! Also, as my brother himself has experienced Labrum surgery and one his own rehab (such a testosterone filled S.O.B.), he was very quick to outline just how we’re gonna take these lemons, and use them to build our physique back to where it supposed to be!
Tomorrow, I’ll hear just how screwed up everything is, and what the outlook is. All in all, everything considered, I’m feeling positive. Just another chance to prove myself, and that’s how I’ve viewed my progress every year since I first stepped onstage.
S[/quote]
Do it! Let us know how it goes and I bet Hawaii was awesome!
Quick summary of MRI results (I’ll copy the specifics later for you science folks).
Grade 6 slap tear with a 5 mm tear in the superspinatis. Pretty major as my brother says he’s usually encountering grades 1-4. When. I popped into PT a few minutes ago (on my cel at the moment) they had gotten the results and I was met with “somebody’s getting surgery” -lol
Now I guess I need to figure how when to schedule the operation and if I can somehow take a few days medical leave from work. I want to get on this as soon as is realistically possible. I’d hate to have to shovel my car out during a snowy new York winter using only one arm.
Looks like this thread may take a real rehabilitative turn these next few months.
S
Im sorry to hear that Stu…
Good luck with surgery and rehab, our thoughts are with you.
I have a feeling you will be back with a vengeance after the surgury. Gotta be nice to have someone like your brother in your corner through all of this. He seems like a real positive dude (with a lot of med hookups it seems) that’s always there to encourage you. Good luck man.
So here’s a copy/paste of the actual email of my MRI:
CLINICAL HISTORY:. evaluate for rotator cuff versus labral tear
TECHNIQUE:… T1, proton density and FS T2 coronal, T2 FS sagittal and proton density FS and T2 axial scans of the left shoulder were acquired.
FINDINGS:… The visualized osseous structures are unremarkable. The glenohumeral joint is intact. There is complex tearing of the superior labrum. There appears to be a flap tear and extension of the tear into the bicipital labral complex. The appearance suggests a type 6 SLAP tear. The anterior labrum is intact. There is tearing of the inferior and inferior posterior labrum with a tiny paralabral cyst in the six o?clock location. Minimal subcortical cystic change is noted in the inferior glenoid. The glenoid is otherwise intact.
There is hypertrophy of the acromioclavicular joint capsule. The acromion and acromioclavicular joint touch upon the superior margin of the supraspinatus without deformity of its contour.
There is supraspinatus tendinosis with fraying along the inferior margin of the anterior tendon just proximal to the footplate. There is a 5 mm partial tear along the inferior articular surface of the posterior infraspinatus with subcortical cystic change at its insertion and focal fraying along the bursal surface. The infraspinatus is otherwise intact. No full-thickness rotator cuff tear is demonstrated. The subscapularis and teres minor are intact. No abnormal fluid collections are noted within the subacromial or subdeltoid bursae. The biceps tendon is visualized within the biceps groove. It is intact with a small peritendinous fluid collection suggesting a biceps tenosynovitis.
IMPRESSION:. 1. Complex SLAP tear, with a flap tear and extension of the tear into the bicipital labral complex suggesting a type 6 SLAP tear.
Tearing of the inferior and posteroinferior labrum with a tiny paralabral cyst and subcortical cystic change in the inferior glenoid.
There is supraspinatus tendinosis with fraying along the inferior margin of the anterior tendon just proximal to the foot plate. There is a 5 mm partial tear along the inferior margin of the infraspinatus and fraying along the superficial bursal surface. No full-thickness rotator cuff tear is demonstrated.
Biceps tenosynovitis
I’ve managed to quickly schedule surgery for Friday 9/14. As I have the following Monday and Tuesday off from work (official school holidays) I’ll request the Wed, Thurs and Fri of that week as medically excused sick days, giving me a solid week to be “miserable” around the apartment before seeing how well I can function outside again.
The stories I’ve heard have ranged quite a bit as far as post-surgery and recovery goes. Some people are complete messes for longer, others are back in the gym benching 2 plates just a few months later (my brother can be pretty bad ass at times -lol).
Still, I realize two things that remind me to take this whole matter a day at a time:
1- A ‘grade 6’ means that you’ve not only torn the labrum badly, but there are additional issues as well.
2- I’ve obviously had this matter building for some time, not fully knowing what was going on, and with my usual analytical meat-head approach, training around any nagging little aches and pains. I need a full recovery here, because I have every intention of resuming training with a purpose (the only way I know how) once given the green light.
A lot of surgeons will talk about returning to the quality of life after a procedure. My particular quality of life involves some serious stress on my body, and I’ve got to go about the recovery aspect like I go about my training and diet, with attention to every issue above and beyond what anyone else in my situation would do.
In the meantime, I’m still having PT treatments to keep everything strong and keep the pain at bay (although some of the manual adjustments and ART are pretty f-ing painful -lol), and doing what I can in the gym without aggravating the joint. This includes normal back and tricep work (although I had to adjust my form a bit and substitute a few exercises, it’ still a decent session), leg work without supporting weights on my shoulders (single joint stuff and leg press).
Chest work is VERY limited, using cables and dumbells to create a very limited ROM, not a flye, nor a press, but sort of an exaggerated isometric while keeping my arms close to my sides to avoid any stretch in the left shoulder joint. Shoulder work is completely off the table, and while I had been doing limited bicep work (just barbell curls with my shoulders pulled back), I’m wondering if I should just leave them out due to the indications in the MRI report.
S
Time to spec the Legs! Seriously though, speedy recovery and all the best. You will recover fast I’m sure… The kinds of people who take months and months are not hard training, healthy, in shape lifters.
And seriously… Leg spec. 3 times a week and just blast em
I had a surgery for almost this exact same thing 1 year ago today. With an added Bicep Tendonisis (SP?). Had to cut the basterd off and reattach the tendon someplace else becaause the tear was headed straight for it.
I don’t have a brother or a whole team of rehab people behind like it sounds you do, but it took 3 months before back into weights, another 3 months to get back to respectable weights moved, and right now at 1 year, back to my original size.
I will say that during that time I had been farting around a little, with no additional rehab post surgery, which I can only assume would expidite the recovery greatly. Have a feeling you’ll be back in no time. Ask for a plain block if they do them. Works wonders.
How you will develope the muscle what a great to see.
Lonnie: That’s the plan! My brother did the same thing when he was torso-limited following his own shoulder surgery. 3 leg days per week, several rotating exercise selections/approaches. Admittedly, it’s not like I couldn’t use some addition leg work. Jeff says I could be hitting legs (limited) a week after the operation, but I want to be smart about this. I love training, and it’s going to be something I will always do, but the last thing I want to happen is that I rush back too quickly and screw myself for the long run.
LITTLEBIGGUY: While reading up on possible scenarios, I heard of that being an issue. Great that you’ve returned to your previous size, although I am a bit curious about what if any differences you may have noticed having your bicep attachment repositioned like that. Obviously the bicep is a very basic single joint, but after so many years, might your body-awareness get thrown off by such a change?
I am very lucky to have my brother and all of his connections in addressing this injury. There’s no way my NYC teacher medical insurance would set me up with such a top orthopedic surgeon. Nor would I be receiving physical therapy at a performance center that has professional athletes walking in and out on a daily basis. Sure, I know I’m in for a hell of a rehab, no one is sugar coating that fact, but the feeling of support in amazing. A lot of these folks (Athletic Trainers, Physical therapists, Orthos) have gotten to know me over the years, and you can tell they truly care about getting me back up training hard again.
I’ve heard about pain blocks (or, ‘nerve blocks’ as my brother referenced). They say once it wears off I’ll be in a world of pain… great, something to look forward to
ABBEY-SHA: This is going to be an experience for me as well. How well can a 39 year old Pro Natural bodybuilder regain lost muscle mass following serious surgery and extensive rehab? My brother in law and I were discussing earlier today how quickly it would take us to reach our peak levels of performance (or appearance in my case) if we could go back to when we were first starting out training, but knew then what we know now. Sure my body’s not going to respond at almost 40 like it did when I was 20, but it won’t be for lack of intelligent effort!
S
My bicep does seem a little shorter. At first it was more noticable cloer to the shoulder, and maybe just a bit of a higher peak. This was just getting back into lifting that it was most noticable. Now that things are more symetrical, it is not as bad, but me being self critical, I can see it. It does feel tighter once the pump really gets going as if the muscle is shorter, but I have focused on my right bi, and delt a lot more recently to bring things back to as even as I can get them.
If they do the nerve block, just start taking pain killer right away so they are in your system. It’s hard to play catch up with those, and the sooner you can get them in, the better off you will be when it starts to wear off.
I was doing legs a month after when I got my sling off. Mostly machine curls, extentions, and leg press just to get them moving again. All really light so I would not tense my upper body to much. Shoulder surgery is a totally different beast. You don’t realise how much you use it in every day little tasks. Adapt and conquer though. Best of luck with it.