[quote]Carlsbad wrote:
ctownsend - I feel for you. From what I’ve read you really need to get your ROM back. It is especially critical for the shoulder joint. I’m not a doctor or a PT. Only a layman as Nobby wrote. I’ve had many sports related injuries in the past years but my shoulder recovery is taking a lot longer than anything else ever did. That’s probably due to the complexities of the shoulder and my age.
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How old are you? I will be 43 in a few weeks.
Actually the last few days I feel great (well not GREAT, just that I can stand the pain or I can put up with it)
I almost have full ROM with these exceptions:
I can’t put my right arm behind my waist (as if I was being handcuffed) I hope I don’t get arrested.
With my palm facing up, I bring my arm up straight in front of my body, or up on my right side. Both of these moves are just killer on the pain. I am supposed to do 15 reps 3 times a day. I can’t even do 5 reps!
The surgeon NOW says I am doing well given the time since the surgery, I just saw him the other day.
[quote]Carlsbad wrote:
I really hate the idea of going back in to my doc. I know what he is going to say. “Stop lifting heavy. It’s a waste of time.” That’s like telling me to stop breathing because it’s bad for my lungs. I can’t stop. I’ve known this guy for 15 years. He’s actually a great guy. But he doesn’t understand.
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My surgeon says that the “bone spurs” that he grinded off my shoulder joint were caused by heavy weight lifting, and that most weight lifters he sees, have these problems.
He also told me to stop lifting. I think most of these doctors just don’t understand. My doctor in particular has gained about 60 lbs from the time I first saw him to now! Either he knows little about nutrition/exercise or he is just too swamped to care about it.
[quote]Fawkes wrote:
I am scheduled for surgery next month. He is going in and take care of what he sees. An MRi I had 4 years ago showed to bone spurs (I think these are causing most the pain) a supraspinatus tear that is 11 mm X 14 mm, a torn labrum (but the surgeon says you really can’t tell from an MRI), a degenerated AC joint, and possibly a subscapularis tear (although subscaps don’t respond well to surgery).
The game plan is to grind down the spurs, sew up the supra, and maybe throw a stitch or two in the labrum.
I function pretty well. I can’t bench, but did 73 dips last week, and 10 dips with 160 LBS harnessed on. Overhead presses are fine. I won a state swimming competition this summer. Swimming and 3 stretches has helped me the most. I have no pain for the most part, I think I am just afraid it will get worse over time - and this spring will be the only time in the next 3 years I can plan on being able to afford the down time.
I don’t know I am thinking of canceling - if it stays like this I can live with it. I hate to risk getting out of shape and fat due to frustration of not being able to train. I also fear getting stiff - I am pretty flexible right now, but I have to spend a good deal of time every day to stay flexible.
I don’t know[/quote]
Fawkes those are EXACTLY the same problems I had with the exception of the labrum tear. Same thing, they grinded down the spurs, sewed up the tears and cleaned everything up. They went in with a small camera and fixed what needed to be fixed. Being in LA-LA Land after the surgery, I didn’t understand when the doctor explained what he did to me, so my wife filled me in on the details. I NOW can sleep on my right side, but not the whole night. For over 2 years i could not. My injury happened in Martial Arts when I landed the wrong way doing a roll. It was painful but not too bad, so I ignored it. About 2 yrs later I threw a young 20 yr old over my shoulder and that was it. I knew right there and then it was over.
I see lots of other guys in physiotherapy that have 8" or 9" slice down their arm. I was extremely lucky! There are only 3 very small 1/2" cuts. One on the front, one on the side, and one on the back of my shoulder. Ten years ago I would have been worried but today’s technology is a lot more advanced.
You should have the surgery. I am no doctor, and I don’t know how old you are, but I was told the bone spurs may never heal. It won’t get any better, and may get worse. And besides, all of the trouble you went through to get the MRI, and all of the doctor appointments are wasted if you back out. Think of what will happen when you are old?
I am starting to feel almost normal (still not bench pressing, and I am taking no chances). I think the worst thing is the drugs they push on you.
I saw my family doctor today and he was quick to take out the prescription pad. I told him NO! I am going to try to ween myself off the nerve pills they got me on that are supposed to help with the damaged or inflamed nerves caused by the surgery(I think its called Lyrica) I don’t know, the doctors must get a kickback from the drug companies.
So having gone through almost the same thing you will probably go through, its not so bad. In my case, before the surgery, I was in a great deal of pain every single day. The worst (I think) is over for me now.
If you are worried about gaining fat, don’t. I eat properly now more than ever, and I run on the treadmill. I work my abs twice a week and swim 3 times a week. Up until 3 weeks ago, I could NOT swim without a great deal of excrutiating pain (especially before the surgery)
I might start to work my legs in the next few days. I have a leg press in my basement, so there is no lifting the barbell over my shoulder to do squats.
Well best of luck Fawkes!
