Ok, so i have a superior labral tear in my shoulder and am going to see an ortho specialist in December, I am really curious if after it is repaired, if I will be able to resume some good aggressive weight lifting or will i be up a shit creek? As of right now, pulling( rows, etc) doesnt bother it at all, but when I do any pressing, OUCH, even getting out of the bath tub is a bitch! Anyone with any experience in this, I would greatly appreciate some info. Thanks BGRASN
I had this done 2 months ago, L2 SLAP tear repair. Doctor also cleaned up some minor rotator cuff damage. You’ll need to be very careful to let the repair heal, but my doctor, PT and the reading I’ve done say that after 4-6 months, it will literally be good as new.
Did you’re doctor do an MRI and how do you think you tore it?
Very common in throwers, especially javelin throwers. Many of the best have had the operation and returned to throwing.
yes i have had the mri, and i have no idea how i tore it. dont really remember that one oh shit this hurts, situation. Thanks for the reply.
Doctor told me I could have torn it years ago. It was my left shoulder (I’m right handed, so no throwing issues). Dr said if not throwing or swimming related is usually due to catching yourself as you’re falling or catching something falling from above. I had some cysts growing around the tear (which is common) and messing up the movement in the shoulder which were giving me problems.
I see you live in Illinois. Unless you have insurance issues or real bad pain you may want to consider not having surgery until winter is over. I was told that for the first month or so you have to be really careful not to stress the repair. You’ll have to be real careful on icy surfaces so you don’t slip.
John 2009
Did all your movements and lifting strength come back to normal?
Not yet, but it’s only been 2 months since I had the surgery (first month was in a sling). I’m doing a bunch of rehab work to get the mobility and a little bit of strengthening. Normal healing time is considered 4-6 months before real heavy lifting or hard throwing. Doctor said no reason why the repair won’t make the shoulder good as new. I’m working with the guy that’s considered the shoulder expert at a sports medicine/occupational injury practice so I’m pretty confident in his ability.
Bragsn
I had a labral tear and had it operated on in 2003. Took about 6 months before I was lifting regularly again, and more time from there to get some strength back. It wasnt a superior tear from the top, but about the size of a quarter right out of the middle. I personally think I got it from power cleans. Sucks, I don’t think I will ever have cartilage there again. It still bothers me when I am driving and put my elbow out the window, and don’t do dumbbell pullovers (can do machine fine).
I would tell you to find a good surgeon and get it done as soon as you can, so you can begin recovering, since recovery speed decreases with age. Some things my surgeon told me that I will pass on to you (don’t know how true they are but…)
-once you operate on a shoulder it will never be the same again. once you invade the joint capsule…
-you are merely extending the life of it before it fails again, and it will. How long before it fails again is unknown, but determined by the wear and tear you put on it.
The surgery was successful for me, they merely cut the flap off entirely, it was shredded, and poked the labrum to get it to bleed and try and grow new tissue. They also removed 2 calcium deposits which were impinging movement (great!). All I have now are 2 small scars from where they inserted the scopes and flushing and tool stuff. I have full range of motion, bench press, overhead press, kettlebells, everything but what I mentioned above.
My boss also had a SLAP,but his required screws and/or staples I can’t remember and was more severe of an injury and longer rehab because it tore away from the top, whereas with mine there was no re-attachment to heal.
I went through hell to identify it. superficial evalution by General Practitioner, referral to ortho, xray at ortho, contrast MRI at ortho finally found it.
Get some kind of shoulder ice pad that goes over your shoulder and a sling to support it. The first thing you will be doing is just bending over at the waist and letting it hang to the floor and making small circles so you don’t get frozen shoulder. Then just range of motion, then bands, then bodyweight, and 6 months later you are back to lifting. Although, I will say, I don’t do overhead presses behind my head anymore.
good luck and PM me if you have any questions. Just get on the net and learn all you can before your appointment to ask the important questions. There is an old procedure where they cut your shoulder from the front like a filet of fish and peel back the muscle. Avoid it if possible.
My repair involved the screws as mounting points and they tie the parts of the labrum together to heal they will heal. The low blood flow in the area contributes to the longer healing time.
Here’s a pretty decent summary article:
You get into more issues and longer recovery time if the biceps tendon is involved.
Thanks for the great information fellas, I couldnt get into see the ortho until Dec 22nd so i was really curious for some good info, and it was all answered!! Thanks again.
My repair involved the screws as mounting points and they tie the parts of the labrum together to heal they will heal. The low blood flow in the area contributes to the longer healing time.
Here’s a pretty decent summary article:
You get into more issues and longer recovery time if the biceps tendon is involved.
For what it’s worth had the 2 month post op visit with the doctor today. Said I had about 85% range of motion back and am healing on schedule. Said I can do pretty much anything in the gym I want to but should avoid jerking movements. (clean and jerk, jumping up to grab a pull-up bar, etc). Said I should use weights that I can get 15 reps with, again to avoid any jerking movements. Have a f/u in a month and at that time should be done with the doctor visits.