Discussion Topic |
|
This thread has been locked |
| Messages 1 - 44 of total 44 in this topic |
lubbockclimber
Trad climber
lubbock,tx
|
|
|
Topic Author's Original Post - Mar 21, 2012 - 02:19pm PT
|
What was the recovery from the surgery like.
|
|
Mike Friedrichs
Sport climber
City of Salt
|
|
|
Mar 21, 2012 - 02:24pm PT
|
For me it was like five months of running. Good luck.
|
|
SCseagoat
Trad climber
Santa Cruz
|
|
|
Mar 21, 2012 - 05:27pm PT
|
I'm six weeks from torn labrum and rotator cuff surgery. Lots of physical therapy and being vigilant to my home program...
Still considerable discomfort...primarily when I work on increasing range of motion. For about 4 weeks after surgery it just constantly hurt.
Lots and lots of icing.
Susan
|
|
couchmaster
climber
pdx
|
|
|
Mar 22, 2012 - 12:11am PT
|
Lubbock, you went from asking what kind of cams to use to what to do with a torn rotators cuff. Dude, warm up, start slow. stretch first.....sigh....get that Eric Horst book on training. he emphasizes over and over: first, don't get hurt don't get hurt: don't get hurt. Then he shows how to minimize you getting hurt.
For myself, I slipped on snow a year back hiking and ripped both shoulders. Pretty good. At first I could not move my right arm and the left was only slightly better. Driving home entailed no radio and a lot of work. They still hurt a year later. I deal. Sigh... I may go to the Dr too.
..after I get back from the climbing trip I'm heading out on tomorrow.
Good luck.
|
|
lubbockclimber
Trad climber
lubbock,tx
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Mar 22, 2012 - 10:13am PT
|
Thanks for the advice guys.
However I was not asking what kind of cams to "use" I just like talking about them. I am a good deal more experienced than my post suggests I am. Texas can spit out good climbers too.
|
|
OldEric
Trad climber
Westboro, MA
|
|
|
Mar 22, 2012 - 12:52pm PT
|
Unfortunately just "torn rotator cuff" doesn't give enough information to really talk meaningfully. There are 4 primary tendons. Which one(s) do you have torn" How bad was the tear - they are typically categorized into 4 types. How long ago did the tear happen? What is the accessed quality of the remaining tendon and associated muscle?
I am 5 weeks post surgery for the repair of a type 4 (massive) tear of the subscap. The bicep tendon was impacted and repaired too. The subscap was detached (from the bone) and retracted (into the muscle). It has been tough - lots of pain. Another 5 months before I can think of climbing and a year before I will be fully recovered - which probably won't ever be to the same level as per injury.
In other words I am sort of a worse case scenario. It would do me no good to hear what a walk in the park it was for someone who had a partial tear of the supraspinatus (most common cuff injury) repaired.
The devil is in the details.
|
|
guyman
Social climber
Moorpark, CA.
|
|
|
Mar 22, 2012 - 01:29pm PT
|
Hi, best of luck to you and recovery.
I went lo angle slabbing after about 6 mo. It went ok
I was able to climb some "steep" in the ORG after 12 mo.
All of this on TR so I could let go before putting to much pressure on my arm.
I started leading and it was 3 years before I was confident enuf to really go for a run out right arm mantle....... with serious fall potential.
So to answer your Q.... 3 years. Good luck with it.
Dwain... good luck to you, let us know how it goes.
|
|
Ksolem
Trad climber
Monrovia, California
|
|
|
Mar 22, 2012 - 01:59pm PT
|
Eric, I had the same deal in 2004. Fully ruptured subscap. Also tore off the outer bicep and had some other partials. It was a traumatic injury so the tissue was in good shape other than being torn.
6 months rehab with no climbing. Then easy routes. 1 year to 100%.
Guy... 3 years? I guess I wasn't paying attention, but that is an awfully long time.
|
|
OldEric
Trad climber
Westboro, MA
|
|
|
Mar 22, 2012 - 02:15pm PT
|
K. - that's encouraging to hear thanks.
|
|
Gene
climber
|
|
|
Mar 22, 2012 - 02:59pm PT
|
My recovery time frame was about the same as those who posted above. About 7 months from surgery until my doc gave me a free pass. About a year or so to get back to the pre-injury level. My surgury was rather involved - 5 hours under the knife, actually, under the scope.
g
|
|
Bruce Morris
Social climber
Belmont, California
|
|
|
Mar 22, 2012 - 03:12pm PT
|
Yes, there's big difference in these things between a partial and a catastrophic total tear. My partial healed in about the same time it would have taken to therapize after surgery and with less pain. However, a catastrophic total tear has to be repaired because it'll never fix itself. A full range of motion studies can often give you a better idea about how likely it is you can heal yourself versus going through invasive surgery that invariably will cut muscles that will never return to normal. Can you hold your arm out in front of you at a 90 degree angle? Not total then. It all varies case by case. I'm back to bicep curling 160lbs, but it took over three years to come back to full strength and improve beyond it. Sure did hurt like heck to begin with!
|
|
guyman
Social climber
Moorpark, CA.
|
|
|
Mar 22, 2012 - 04:22pm PT
|
Yes, Kris it was 3 years. That's full strength, my shoulder deteriorated over the spam of about 10 years, my doc told me the dam thing was almost gone and was held on by a milimeter.
I had done lots of PT, like you did, but I finally decided to get it fixed. (That took some time to convince my PPO to OK it)
Maybe a traumatic injury is better???
If anyone is thinking about having this done, I would do it now, B4 Obama care kicks in and THEY won't authorize elective surgery. (heay your arm is still attched, why wory? Come back when it's worse)
|
|
Ksolem
Trad climber
Monrovia, California
|
|
|
Mar 22, 2012 - 05:21pm PT
|
Yeah Guy, Dr. El'Attrache told me that traumatic injuries are usually more straightforward repairs than degenerative ones. Frequently in a degenerated shoulder he has to resect (remove) diseased inflamed tissue and work with what healthy tissue is available.
I had a small tear in my subscap which he said was probably a couple of years old. It was not in the cuff but rather in the body of the muscle, and the muscle slacked off, despite PT, to defend itself from further injury. I suspect that in my somewhat self guided PT I was not doing the right things to strengthen it (if I knew then what I know now...) Anyway the joint was unbalanced but not inflamed (Guy, you got those shots of me doing Liquid Jesus the week before) when I hit it with a "perfect storm" of external rotation while pressing up on an undercling at full reach straight out to the side. I was having a bit of difficulty but not about to fall and just went to full emergency power and... crunch. A bunch of stuff all tore at once, folks heard it on the ground.
edit: Good luck Cosmic! I'm getting an eval on my left one in a couple weeks. It's not serious, just feels weak and as one who learns from experience (sometimes) I want to get into the right PT program to keep it from going south.
|
|
Ksolem
Trad climber
Monrovia, California
|
|
|
Mar 22, 2012 - 05:31pm PT
|
I'm back to bicep curling 160lbs
Good God man!!
That's 15 pounds more than I weigh!
That's with both arms and a barbell, yes?
|
|
ec
climber
ca
|
|
|
Mar 22, 2012 - 06:47pm PT
|
Kris...I'm waiting to hear back from you.
 ec
|
|
Bruce Morris
Social climber
Belmont, California
|
|
|
Mar 23, 2012 - 01:09am PT
|
That's with both arms and a barbell, yes?
I cannot tell a lie: No, not with free-weights on a barbell. Once at 160lb max on a weight machine. 7-8 at 140lbs on the same machine, 15 at 120lbs on the machine. The machines are not nearly as accurate as free-weights, but are a bit safer, less hoingo-boingo on the tendons. Took about 3 months of power lifting to move up to that max, but no pain whatsoever at the site of the old injury.
Like they say, if it hurts don't do it!
|
|
neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
|
|
|
Mar 23, 2012 - 02:32am PT
|
hey there say, lubbockclimber...
hope and prayers so this all goes well for you...
as you can see, many fine folks have 'gone before you'
and have so much to share...
(my dad had it done too--not a climber, but a 'fine folk') :)
get well soon as possible, :)
|
|
LilaBiene
Trad climber
Technically...the spawning grounds of Yosemite
|
|
|
Dec 12, 2014 - 08:45pm PT
|
Hey All!
I realize you've probably all moved on to bigger and better things, but I just wanted to ask if there's any advice you might offer now in hindsight? What worked well, not so well, etc.?
Surgery in a little over a week to repair where I separated the labrum from the back of my shoulder, a tear in my A-C joint and shaving off of some bone spurs in the same joint. Bonus will be whether my biceps tendon is also shot.
Looking forward to it because I haven't slept in several months, having thought I was just having my usual every-so-often bout with muscle spasms. I fully went to the doctor expecting a PT prescription, which would have been just ducky. He was already into the explanation of the arthroscopic technique, anchors and stitching before I realized he had said "surgery". I blinked my eyes a few times and croaked out: "Surgery? Seriously?" Yep. If I ever want to climb, swim or do handstands again.
I wish I could say it happened doing something athletic, but the muppet jumped out of my arms without warning and took my arm with her. lol
If you have a moment, if you could share your thoughts on other ways to train while recovering, I would be so grateful. I've already been sedentary for many months and it looks like from what I've read I've got a long road ahead -- not good for someone as hyper as I am!!!
Many thanks in advance for your guidance!
LilaBiene
|
|
Ksolem
Trad climber
Monrovia, California
|
|
|
Dec 12, 2014 - 09:30pm PT
|
If the Long Head Outer Bicep is ruptured talk to your doc about re-attaching it to the front of the humerus, keeping it entirely out of the rotator cuff.
None of my biz of course, but if my doc didn't understand this procedure I'd be shopping...
Ruptured subscap and just about everything else at least partial thickness tear. Notice the lack of inflammation. Clean livin' pays off. The outer bicep went to the humerus. Works great, better than the other one.
|
|
LilaBiene
Trad climber
Technically...the spawning grounds of Yosemite
|
|
|
Dec 12, 2014 - 09:38pm PT
|
Thanks -- the reattachment is an option, but the surgeon won't know what's going on until he gets in there -- the MRI image didn't provide enough info. He's a sports orthopedist, and I'm in good hands. Just really not looking forward to being out of commission for such a long time. ")
|
|
Ksolem
Trad climber
Monrovia, California
|
|
|
Dec 12, 2014 - 09:59pm PT
|
Just really not looking forward to being out of commission for such a long time.
Beats the heck out of being out of commission forever.
Take advantage of the PT as a time to learn about your body from professionals, and challenge them to teach you.
|
|
Pete Hill
Social climber
Squamish
|
|
|
Dec 13, 2014 - 01:52pm PT
|
I feel for you. I had a supraspinatus reattached a couple of years ago. Be diligent on the PT to get range of motion back. I was 3 weeks of 3 times a week being pushed to my pain threshold. But I got full range back. Don't settle for anything less.
All the mind numbing boring pt exercises with a rubber band, keep up on them.
|
|
JonA
Trad climber
|
|
|
Dec 13, 2014 - 04:01pm PT
|
Ruptured subscap and just about everything else at least partial thickness tear. Notice the lack of inflammation. Clean livin' pays off. The outer bicep went to the humerus. Works great, better than the other one.
Lack of inflammation is thought to possibly be part of the problem for some folks. Traumatic cuff tears are certainly possible, but it's more likely that the shoulder experienced many years of impingement or tendinitis beforehand. Chronic tendinitis can create very unhealthy, poorly nourished tissue that lacks a healing response and won't really get inflamed. Some nonsurgical techniques to treat tendinitis actually try to induce inflammation.
|
|
Ksolem
Trad climber
Monrovia, California
|
|
|
Dec 13, 2014 - 07:53pm PT
|
You raise an interesting point. In my particular case Dr. El'Atrache told me that the lack of inflammation in the case of my particular injury was a benefit and a sign of a lack of degeneration in my shoulder. I trust him - he is among the very best in the field.
The point you raise regarding inflammation and it's various mechanisms, beneficial and detrimental, is way out of my scope.
I will never forget what Dr. El'Atrache said to his Fellow when he saw my MRI: "Look here, this guy tried to tear his arm off but his skin held it on."
|
|
east side underground
climber
Hilton crk,ca
|
|
|
Dec 13, 2014 - 08:44pm PT
|
eight weeks out from severed upper bicep tendon and rotor cuff repair. motion is coming along but im not cleared for weight till end of december, six weeks in a sling played havoc on my elbow and wrist, im still having some nerve issuse but everyday it gets alittle better....painful rehab .......good luck..... not sure when I'll be climbing and surfing but hopefully back to work soon!
|
|
LilaBiene
Trad climber
Technically...the spawning grounds of Yosemite
|
|
|
Dec 13, 2014 - 09:56pm PT
|
Thanks for thought-provoking input.
Am diligent about PT, so I've got that going for me, which is nice. ")
The inflammation issue is an intriguing one -- I've never broken a bone (but should have more times than I can count -- think aggressive New England ice skiing) -- but have had joint stability issues since elementary school. Never tore anything, either. For a little over 3 years, have lived mostly without the chronic inflammation I had for 40+ years, since being diagnosed with celiac disease.
Will have to noodle the effects of having eliminated chronic inflammation...
And so true -- I'm grateful that surgery is an option, rather than being put out to pasture.
|
|
phylp
Trad climber
Upland, CA
|
|
|
Dec 14, 2014 - 07:59am PT
|
LilaBiene , your surgery sounds like the one I had a year ago. They decided not to pin the bicep, only trimmed 1/2 of it off. They did have to cut and pin another tendon. Bone trimming, rotator cuff repair etc.
Don't expect to get a good night's sleep for 3 months more.
After 3 weeks of post surgery non-sleep due to the pain at night, what worked well for me was insisting that they give me both a muscle relaxer and ambien. The pain killers and nsaids did nothing for that night pain. I didn't take those drugs every night, but the nights that I did were the only ones when I got some sleep. It may be different for you.
I was climbing low angle after 3 months and back to steeper after 6 months.
|
|
LilaBiene
Trad climber
Technically...the spawning grounds of Yosemite
|
|
|
Dec 17, 2014 - 07:30pm PT
|
Thanks for the insights, phylp! I'm grateful.
I haven't had a good night's sleep in about 3 months, and in the last month the pain at night has just gotten progressively worse -- I wake up every morning counting the days until surgery like many kids are counting the days until Christmas.
Thanks, also, for the info on your recovery time -- it's given me back some hope!
|
|
Lorenzo
Trad climber
Oregon
|
|
|
Dec 17, 2014 - 09:57pm PT
|
In my case it was pretty massive also, and in 1990. Things with arthroscopy weren't as evolved as now.
Torn subscap, torn labrum, ruptured synovial sheath, torn acromio-clavicular Ligament, and the end of the humerus that did all that was punched in like a ping pong ball, as the surgeon described. Lots of crud in the joint as a result. And a tendon was reattached to the front, which one I was never really clear about.
The surgery took much longer as a result and what they thought was outpatient turned into a two day stay. I got written up in a journal as patient X.
I think the key was then the rehab, about 1500 hours worth over a couple -3 years, starting three days after surgery. I lived in a rehab center. Fortunately most of that was free. They took me on as a project long after insurance ran out. Lots of that was range of motion stuff. The pain wasn't all that bad except for the first couple weeks. It might be that I have a high pain threshold. I rarely used prescribed pain drugs.
Climbing came back slow. I can show you lots of one armed projects in the DC area ( right arm only). For about seven months there was none with two arms. Then I could climb reaching high only with the right and the left tucked to my side. It took 18 months before I could reach high with my left with confidence. But recovery was total. Even now it seems stronger than my right. It doesn't appear I lost any range.
The failures were prediagnosis and pain management early. This was before MRI was very common ( don't recall it was even mentioned) and I don't think they had a clue as to the full extent of it until they went in. As to the pain, I had surgery on a Friday which meant the attending surgeons weren't around much and the weekend folks weren't attuned to the issue. When they fill your joint with gas (insufflation) it hurts a LOT until it is absorbed - usually 2 or so days. That also was never mentioned. I'd talk to your surgeon about how they would handle early pain.
I do now have a little arthritis in the joint, but I was a carpenter. That was probably inevitable.
Good luck. Joint surgery has come a long way.
|
|
phylp
Trad climber
Upland, CA
|
|
|
Dec 17, 2014 - 10:18pm PT
|
Yeah, so I should add that my post surgery pain may have been related to my very aggressive immediate PT routine. My surgeon is a sports med doc who works with a lot of pro athletes. So he's used to client's whose main goal to get strong again, fast. The PT is what got me back fast, but you pay the price.
|
|
Lorenzo
Trad climber
Oregon
|
|
|
Dec 17, 2014 - 10:32pm PT
|
Yeah, I was pretty shocked when they started three days later. My guy was a sports med guy who did tennis players ( Stan Smith, Capriotti) and several climbers I know. I scheduled the surgery in January so I could still go to the valley that summer. It was both our goals. Reality set in when all that stuff was done, so the emphasis was range as well as strength, especially early. Maybe that doesn't hurt as much...I don't know. There was pain, but like I said, it didn't generally bother me much after sessions. They said it reduced scarring.
But I was able to do two-a days pretty early. It just became daily routine.
You still gotta do it. It's as important as the surgery, I think.
|
|
LilaBiene
Trad climber
Technically...the spawning grounds of Yosemite
|
|
|
Dec 22, 2014 - 02:13pm PT
|
Hey, thanks very much for your insights. Surgery is tomorrow morning -- I feel a mixture of pure elation and creeping dread. ")
I've promised repeatedly to take the pain medication as prescribed for at least 24 hours -- beyond that I typically can't stand the meds and switch over to Advil. It'll probably take about a day and a half before I'm stircrazy... lol
Lorenzo, great to know that you have already explored this area from a right-arm-only perspective!!! I was signed up for a self-rescue course just a few days after I was diagnosed and was so far into denial that reality didn't sink in until the morning of -- thankfully I came to my senses and didn't go.
I'm hoping I'll be able to get back to easy swimming fairly quickly -- even if it's just treading water -- the lack of having a physical outlet is torture. I'm very diligent about PT -- I've done enough of it for knees, back & SI joint to know that it's imperative. When I had knee surgery about 10 years ago I had full range of motion back before the PTs had taken any range measurements -- they were a little surprised. :D This surgery is far more complicated, though.
Thanks, again, for sharing all of the valuable insights -- I have a much more realistic perspective going in, which should make the rehab process a lot more tolerable.
|
|
couchmaster
climber
|
|
|
Dec 22, 2014 - 02:44pm PT
|
I learned not to wait and try self-rehab. Atrophy and age can affect all of these little muscles and tendons, rendering them irreparable. Did mine in a non-climbing accident, but I got lucky, perhaps because I kept trying to climb through the pain. Or not, who can say. Both of my shoulders were screwed fairly seriously up. Went to the valley in the spring, 3 years after the last of several injuries to the shoulders and living in daily pain. Did some half way OK climbs considering raising either arm was a painful effort. One day we camp to camp the Arches Crest jewel link up in 8 hours. Next jumped on the Prow and they hurt so bad (probably from biking over on the trail with the haul bag on in addition to working different and long unused things in there) couldn't sleep all night, next day arms didn't really want to move. Told my buddy, "hey man, I screwed up my arms even more, if you want, I can follow you and jug by keeping my arms low, but I'm in some big pain". He let me off the hook and we bailed.
Went to the Dr when I got back. They MRI'ed the left one first and shocked me by letting me know that for the last 3 years my Infraspinatus was torn almost all the way through and was hanging by a thread, the supraspinatus was half way ripped, the Labrum was torn, there was a bunch of artritus stuff they cut out (tissue showed white on the MRI, I didn't know they could cut that stuff out, ....Bonus!), and the bicep tendon was also screwed up and needed to be stitched back somehow. Then they said they'd grind down my collarbone when they got in there just in case of potential impingement. So they did. Open surgery. It hurt more than Lorenzos although I skipped the plentiful pain pills they gave me. I'm 1 year in and that shoulder is 90 percent back, and I've been religious on the PT. Got back on rock 5 months in.
At 6 mo of hard rehab on the left one, and because I was starting to climb at about month 5, indicating I was doing better, they then did the right one. The pain decreases over time, but I'm 7 months in on this one to this day and it still hurts some. The Dr was adamant that I shouldn't climb on the right one until 6 months - so except for a few very easy footwork bouldering seshs, I've stayed true to that. I watched the calender ticking off the days of 6 months and now I've done a few easy laps of favorite climbs now and it's empowering not to screw them up again...yet.
What I've learned is 3 fold.
1st) Get thee to the Dr early.
2nd) Early professionally directed PT may (Not in my case as I was so screwed up) help you avoid being cut.
3rd) As Lorenzo says, stick to the PT, no more no less. I over did it 2nd go-round and backslid into more pain, irritating it worse and then having to take days off from PT to avoid injuring it more.
Lastly, I think diet is not addressed by the Dr's and PT folks considering the healing path, for you this will be a critical component, don't hesitate to share your issues with your team, and seek outside expertise if you feel you need it.
I'm glad I was pushed into seeing a Dr by my wife and the shame of having to back off a fairly easy route. It shouldn't have come to that. Anyway, it's gonna hurt like hell, but it will get better...slowly. Good luck Lil Brianne.
|
|
SC seagoat
Trad climber
In What Time Zone Am I?
|
|
|
Dec 22, 2014 - 03:16pm PT
|
Good luck Audrey. Been there, done that. It's not a pleasant rehab but that shoulder has never been stronger! No regrets on this end.
Happy Holidays to you and you family.
Susan
|
|
guyman
Social climber
Moorpark, CA.
|
|
|
Dec 22, 2014 - 03:50pm PT
|
Good Luck .....
|
|
SC seagoat
Trad climber
In What Time Zone Am I?
|
|
|
Dec 23, 2014 - 07:31pm PT
|
Hoping all went well with your surgery!
Susan
|
|
LilaBiene
Trad climber
Technically...the spawning grounds of Yosemite
|
|
|
Dec 24, 2014 - 06:45pm PT
|
Well, as it turned out, my shoulder was actually frozen, so that was added to the list...but the good news is my bicep tendon is intact, so the surgeon only had to grind away some of the inflammation there.
This morning had initial follow-up appointment, and wouldn't you know, PT started less than 24 hours post-surgery!!! Thanks, everyone, for setting my expectations - I think I would have otherwise run screaming.
Thanks for the well-wishes! ")
Edit:
Stupid pain meds - switched to Advil before 48 hours was up - didn't even understand what the surgeon did!!! Yesterday he told me that my shoulder was completely frozen & he had to release it, as well as do some major clean-up. Then he had to weave back together a half-way torn bicep to the tendon & anchor my rotator cuff. Grateful to have had a very determined and talented surgeon, and a physical therapist that doesn't give in when I sob. ")
|
|
LilaBiene
Trad climber
Technically...the spawning grounds of Yosemite
|
|
Begging for advice on how to gain some level of control over the muscle spasms that keep popping (literally) up in my arm pit, bicep, under my scapula, neck, etc.! (Pain medication & muscle relaxants don't work thanks to my biology.)
Has anyone had luck with any alternative treatments? I'm grateful for your input!!!
P.S. I'm being diligent with my PT!
|
|
Lorenzo
Trad climber
Oregon
|
|
Keep with the PT. The first couple months are the worst.
Here are a few things to try:
Just use a sling for a few hours a day to rest the muscle groups, the spazzing sounds like it might be fatigue. You will know in a day or two. What part of the day doesn't really matter, so driving(safely) or watching TV is as good as anytime.
See a chiropractor. ( not the pop your neck kind, the gentle realignment kind. There are guys who use very gentle methods for realignment with adjusting instruments.) he might have to do it over the course of your healing. I had sub scapula pain that my guy helped a lot with.
Some people think acupuncture helps. Never tried it.
Likewise a tens unit. I have one and think it's great for my back when it starts spazzing. Some doctors don't want you using them around your head or heart.
Your health plan might cover those things if pain meds don't work. Mine does.( I still do a copay)
Drink a really hoppy beer or some single malt. It will still hurt. You won't care.
As it happens, I just started PT on my knee today. Hurts like hell. I'm starting with method five.
( just joking. I assume your doctor has counselled you on alcohol inhibiting healing.)
But since this is the new Taco....
Juice!
|
|
phylp
Trad climber
Upland, CA
|
|
|
Jan 10, 2015 - 07:51am PT
|
Lila, so sorry to hear, this was what I was warning you about. For me, the pain from the rock hard spasmed muscle after the surgery was unrelenting for months. Sorry the muscle relaxers aren't working for you. That's the only thing that gave me relief.
After some time had passed I had my massage person do some direct work in the area, which did help. I was reluctant to do that when all the sewing was still fresh. Your doc may be able to advise when you could do that...
Phyl
|
|
tradmanclimbs
Ice climber
Pomfert VT
|
|
|
Jan 11, 2015 - 07:04am PT
|
It's important to have a doc who is not just in it for the $$$$$ I was essentualy cripled. Working with one hand. had my boss known how screwed up I was I would have been layed off for certain.. My doc told me that rehab from shoulder surgery would be at least 3 months before i could do construction work so why nott give me a giant shot of cortezone and try the rehab first. it worked. Obviously what he saw in the MRI helped him make that decision.
|
|
LilaBiene
Trad climber
Technically...the spawning grounds of Yosemite
|
|
|
Jan 12, 2015 - 08:48pm PT
|
Today my PT figured out why I've been howling -- she said that the problem isn't actually my shoulder (that's doing great! woohoo!), but rather my neck. Apparently the nerves in the neck and shoulder can gang up on you, leading to muscle spasms that pop up all over the place. (I'll never forget waking up in the middle of the night and feeling the golf ball spasm in my bicep just above my elbow -- I have practically no bicep left, but it managed to curl itself into a rather sizeable knot anyway.) Turns out that the sling caused the problem with my neck -- go figure.
She gave me some neck and wing-span-type stretches against the wall, and, wow, what a lifesaver. My hope has returned. ") (And, thankfully, my sense of humor, too.)
In the meantime, I ordered the Back Buddy thing from Amazon to use with the Trigger Point Therapy manual -- it looks truly medieval -- but it worked on one knot already. I begrudgingly ordered Cramp911, too, as oppressively priced as it is, just for emergencies, because it actually works.
I really appreciate all of the thoughtful and great advice. Going to pick up a different tens unit -- the one I have has set programs that are just a little too aggressive for my shoulder to take just yet. Today they upped me to 4 pads @ PT with ice, and I've been pain-free nearly all day (no Advil, either!).
My other approach has been to optimize my nutrition -- I picked up a slow cooker last week and have been drinking / eating bone broth soup with lots of anti-inflammatory seasonings and high nutrient veggies. I was pretty skeptical until this morning when my PT showed me that I have great range of motion -- I think it's really helped to be consuming the basic healing building blocks. And...I don't "juice," but a few months ago I did pick up a killer blender on deep discount on amazon (it even makes hot soup!!!) and try to drink a big bottle of healthy pureed fruits and veggies (the more colorful, the better) together with anti-inflammatory spices and such (e.g., turmeric, cinnamon, kelp, cayenne, hot curry, fresh ginger, resveratrol, flax & chia seeds, etc.).
I'm going to get in the pool tomorrow morning and use the kickboard for a good bit, which should help flush a lot of the cortisol and other garbage that's built up in my system the last few weeks. Usually helps tone down the muscle spasms, too.
Hey -- thanks, again, for all the input and support -- that's helped me immeasurably, too. ")
|
|
blahblah
Gym climber
Boulder
|
|
|
Jan 29, 2015 - 05:50pm PT
|
I had surgery two days ago to fix the damage I sustained in a fall six weeks ago.
The surgeon thinks it went well--everything got attached to to where it's supposed to be.
Now six weeks in a sling, and we'll go from there.
My surgeon is young, which I know doesn't always correlate to the best outcomes. But he's a sports medicine guy, got good training (fellowship at Kerlan-Jobe, which I see did a good job for ksolem), is motivated and conscientious, and what can you say, everyone has to get experience.
Hope you're all doing well. This stuff isn't always easy to deal with, but I'm grateful to get good medical care that at least gives me a shot for a good recovery. If nothing else, I've developed a lot more sympathy for injured people and especially people who don't get the medical care that they need.
Here my MRI summary--the surgeon had a busy afternoon working on me:
Impressions
1. Complete tear, with retraction, of the distal supraspinatus and infraspinatus tendons. Strain and partial tear of the infraspinatus muscle and mild strain of the supraspinatus. There is also strain of the teres minor.
2. Capsular injury, with tear of the humeral attachment of the inferior capsule and inferior glenohumeral ligament, anterior and posterior band.
3. Severe partial tear of the long head biceps tendon both in the bicipital groove and intraarticular and a portion appears subluxed over the anterior superior subscapularis tendon.
4. Evidence of tear in the posterior superior labrum in the 10 to 12 o'clock position and at the biceps anchor. There is also a probable nondisplaced or partial tear of the anterior inferior labrum.
5. Moderate degenerative change acromioclavicular joint, with bone marrow edema indicating an acute component to the arthropathy or injury.
|
|
Ksolem
Trad climber
Monrovia, California
|
|
|
Jan 29, 2015 - 06:45pm PT
|
Christ Blah, You might have even out done me with that mri report. Just remember the guys who write those reports are in the business of "hanging the curtains" to lower your expectations. Your Doc came out from the best learning environment IMO. There are places that are better at degenerative joint problems, auto immune joint problems, the list goes on. But for traumatic sports injuries that group is the best (YMMV.)
Get on the therapy when you're cleared for takeoff. I was climbing easy in 6 months. After a year it felt like it never happened and still does. Something about a trip around the sun...
I stalled out at the strengthening phase of rehab (after ROM,) but Pilates won the day. But to each their own.
|
|
| Messages 1 - 44 of total 44 in this topic |
|
SuperTopo on the Web
|
Let us know!