Calling Pelicans: Shoulder Surgery Recovery

[Embraer]

Hey Guys,

So about 6 weeks ago, I had an accident and landed hard on my shoulder. Of course, I heard lots of popping and crunching when it happened, but with the adrenaline flowing, I put things back into place and was on my way.

It's been in constant pain, so I had x-rays done. There was a fracture on my collarbone, but in the 6 weeks since it happened, it had largely healed. I'm 33 years old.

However, after having an MRI done the other day, my ortho guy (shoulder specialist for the Colts and Pacers) determined that I should have it repaired surgically.

He said my bicep was torn, my labrum was torn and as a side note, there was a huge contusion on the top of my humerus, and I had bone spurs present (most likely from years of heavy lifting).

He said the labrum would be repaired, and he would cut the bicep to relieve pain and have it heal faster. also said he would take care of the bone spurs.

im having my surgery on a Friday...is it feasible that ill be ok enough to head back to work on Monday? I didn't ask him this....slipped my mind. I'm not digging ditches...I just have an office job.

[Tobra]

Good luck, get the gel ice pack thing that straps on your shoulder.

Keep in mind that the physical therapist is trying to help you, not kill you.

[Embraer]

if it didn't hurt so much, id just suck it up. but sleeping has been a real biatch since may.

[creaturecat]

Originally Posted by Embraer

if it didn't hurt so much, id just suck it up. but sleeping has been a real biatch since may.

I chicken-winged it, off the mtn bike.
i know what you mean.

[Arizona_928]

I had my left shoulder done. Only tacked the ligaments. Ended up having a fractured humerus head. The recovery isn't bad. +1 on the gel packs. Buy two.

[gt350mike]

I think you'll be fine by Monday. I've had surgery 3x on my right shoulder and don't recall having too much discomfort after a few days. Just don't expect to be throwing a football (or anything else) anytime soon.

[Embraer]

ok, cool!

[porsche4life]

Ok you can say that and not tell us what Ya did! And why wait so long man. Sounds like it would have hurt like a mofo!


Get well soon! Do we need to take a pool for a nurse for you?

[LeeH]

I think shoulder recoveries can vary greatly. I have a friend who's been through several and it hasn't been pleasant for him. My right shoulder's really giving me fits lately. Going to have it checked out soon. Hope it's something simple like a bone spur. I do know that status quo isn't going to be acceptable.

[LakeCleElum]

Really messed up my shoulder in dirt crash in April. Took 2 surgeries to fix it all. My rt arm was useless for about 4 weeks. Can you do work with just your good arm? Recovery varies with the damage. Yours sounds kinda major? G luck

[Embraer]

the final straw happened about a week and a half ago......

I was sitting on the couch, and raised my arms (gently) above my head to stretch...while I stretched, my right arm popped out of its socket and flopped down...resulting in me screaming like a little girl. I was able to put it back in, which also had me screaming like a little girl.

like you, my arm has been useless. if I pick up something that weighs 5 pounds, and turn my arm a certain way, it feels like my arm will come out.

and sid, ill just say I had an accident involving my garden tractor and the ravine behind my house. tractors aren't fun when they land on you. ha.

im old school....and stubborn. I wanted to see if it would get better on its own. the dislocation a week or so ago was enough to get me to go to the doctor.

in the last 4 months, ive hurt myself more than the previous 33 years...no joke. in fact, my buddy had a serious talk with me...he thought I was intentionally doing risky things to hurt myself. I had to assure him I wasn't

[Noah930]

Best of luck, Mike.

I'd be surprised if you were back to work so soon, but I don't do shoulders for a living.

[Embraer]

thank you! I was kind of bummed when I found out I would be getting general anesthesia. I wanted to watch.

[aigel]

Good Luck - I hope they get you fixed up okay. I am also in the "let's wait and see" camp. Man injuries go away over time, but sometimes you have to get help ...

G

[porsche4life]

Originally Posted by Embraer

thank you! I was kind of bummed when I found out I would be getting general anesthesia. I wanted to watch.

Will the be doing it laparoscopic? My dad got a video of his surgery. Pretty cool to watch! Ask your surgeon.

[madmmac]

I have had 3 shoulder surgeries.

Sure you can go back to work on Monday, but I would think you would be pretty miserable, but you more than likely can.

What I did not read in your story is where they are going to shorten your bicep, ligaments and tendons to regain shoulder stability? PT is your friend. If you don't get as much range of motion, within sensible pain tolerance, everyday, you are going to deeply regret it later.

Best of luck.

[WPOZZZ]

6-8 week healing process, but you should be okay at work the following week. You also need to make time for rehab about 3x a week.

[Tobra]

You want a general. You also want him to throw some Marcaine in there at the end. If you smoke, stop, like right now and don't go back to it for at least a month or two after.

Do the PT at home, without fail

[pavulon]

Not an orthopod so keep these writings in that context.

If your shoulder is so unstable that it dislocates with passive stretching, you want whatever can be done. In my work, I often cannot see everything that is being done during a repair. However, just last week I watched a surgeon intentionally sever a perfect appearing bicep tendon. I asked about it and the surgeon said that cutting it is age-dependent (his opinion was that it becomes a consideration at >55 years) and the idea is the tendon can be a "pain generator". I found this odd as I've watched lots of biceps tendon repairs as part of shoulder surgery in the past. There must be more thoughts that go along with that structure. I don't do that stuff so... .

As for anesthesia, get an interscalene brachial plexus block. If available, ask them to put it in before surgery. If available, ask them to use ultrasound imaging to place it which you can ask to watch on the screen. We routinely get 24-36 hours of good pain control from that single injection block using bupivacaine (a local anesthetic) and dexamethasone (a steroid) mixture. Your arm should feel like numb and limp for most of that time. If they are willing to place an interscalene catheter, an infusion can give 3 or more days of pain control via a small reservoir and portable pump that attaches your sling. Everything has risks. The block is not immune to risks ranging from block failure to nerve damage to seizure, cardiac arrest and/or death. You're probably more likely to crash on the way to the surgery but risks are quoted because complications happen.

It is not uncommon to have a general anesthetic on top of the block. Some places (surgeons) will do the surgery without general anesthesia but the odds of someone being bolt awake, watching surgery, understanding and remembering what they saw are relatively small and also with potential downside (access to the patient to fix potential pain, panic, and or ventilation problems...). It's a considerable preference/risk/reward equation.

Lastly, I'm told that you should hate therapy when you're done--if not, you might want to try harder.

As for returning to work, I worry that you've possibly under-estimated the problems associated with functioning well on one good arm. I also may be under-estimating your determination and resources ("Hey Sue, will you zip my pants?") when I write that.

Good luck and please circle back with your experience!!

PS-I thought of you when walking past the Embraer set-up in Oshkosh last Thursday.

[DonDavis]

Lee put it best, shoulder repairs vary greatly.

I'm right handed. Very active and played a ton of baseball/softball and lifted weights/worked out most of my life. I'm 50. Had the surgery at 43.
I had a torn labrum in my right shoulder. I tried to 'man up' for a few years but as I got older, the pain got worse and sleeping was a real issue.

Finally had the labrum fixed and a general debridement of all the torn junk in the socket, removed a few bone spurs. It was laproscopic and under general anesthesia. My arm was imobilized using this thing...


Not me in the pic, but same haircut.

Two days after the surgery, I was changing the dressing with my 8 yr old son helping and raised my arm a little more than I should've. I went down immediately and nearly passed out from the pain. My son was panicking and all I could do/say is "no, no, no". After an eternity of 45 seconds or so, I regained my senses, calmed him and proceeded very cautiously.

I began physical therapy and couple weeks later. Every session started with a TENS unit to warm the muscles, then on to several arm exercises. I can't remember how often I went. But it seems like it was a few times a week at first, then backed off with more "at home" assignments.
Good Lord, it was awful. I have a very high pain tolerance and this was dizzyingly challenging for me. After every session, I'd sit in my car and nap for 30 minutes.
I kept thinking "This is a minor shoulder repair, step up and deal with it!" It was humbling to say the least.

After about a year I was feeling great. My entire right side was like new. Full range of motion, zero pain, and sleeping great. Btw, while sleeping, I never put my arm up over my head while on my side to rest my head on my bicep any more. I keep my arm down along my body and use better pillow action to support my head. That was a great move. Big improvement.

My arm felt so good, I realized my left arm felt crappy. Saw the same doc and he did a general debridement/cleanup/bone spur removal ( no labrum repair, just a clean out ) and the follow up was easier. Smaller sling, faster recovery and now my arms feel fantastic. I'm hitting the weights harder and I love it.

You're 33. Now is the time to fix any physical bug-a-boos because you'll heal better. Then when you're 50, you'll be glad you did.

Don't skip or shortcut the PT. It's worth it.

I'm sure you can probably go to work, but I would recommend staying home at least a couple days to determine your abilities.