Shoulder surgery - what's your experience?
Discussion
Guys,
Looks like I'm going to have surgery on my shoulder.
Injured it when I slipped over about 18 months ago.
Had physio and a steroid injection along the way but pain and movement problem have come back.
Went to see the consultant yesterday and basically have beem advised that surgery is the best route.
My AC joint basically impacted and started rubbing together. This has caused wear and pitting to both sides which now that it's aggrevated is now full of fluid which is forcing the joint apart.
Should have taken a pic of the xray as it looked a bit of a mess!
The surgeon wants to smooth off the bone on the shoulder side and then take off about 5-10mm from the end of my collar bone and scrape out/clean the socket to remove any scar tissue which is causing an impingement.
All sounded a bit full on and drastic yesterday and has taken me a while to get my head around it.
He offered surgery in August but I've asked to defer it until October/November so I can enjoy the summer with the kids - he agreed to give me an injection to to help over the summer.
He said recovery time could be between 4 & 12 months depending on how well I respond and physio etc.
He's not put a timeframe on me getting back out mountain biking either which I'm a bit gutted about but understand as shoulders take a battering and need to be right before I get back to it.
Going to work on my general fitness before surgery to try and give myself a bit of a boost and make the most of getting out on the bike over the summer.
I know we're all different but has anyone had this type of operation and how did you find recovery?
Looks like I'm going to have surgery on my shoulder.
Injured it when I slipped over about 18 months ago.
Had physio and a steroid injection along the way but pain and movement problem have come back.
Went to see the consultant yesterday and basically have beem advised that surgery is the best route.
My AC joint basically impacted and started rubbing together. This has caused wear and pitting to both sides which now that it's aggrevated is now full of fluid which is forcing the joint apart.
Should have taken a pic of the xray as it looked a bit of a mess!
The surgeon wants to smooth off the bone on the shoulder side and then take off about 5-10mm from the end of my collar bone and scrape out/clean the socket to remove any scar tissue which is causing an impingement.
All sounded a bit full on and drastic yesterday and has taken me a while to get my head around it.
He offered surgery in August but I've asked to defer it until October/November so I can enjoy the summer with the kids - he agreed to give me an injection to to help over the summer.
He said recovery time could be between 4 & 12 months depending on how well I respond and physio etc.
He's not put a timeframe on me getting back out mountain biking either which I'm a bit gutted about but understand as shoulders take a battering and need to be right before I get back to it.
Going to work on my general fitness before surgery to try and give myself a bit of a boost and make the most of getting out on the bike over the summer.
I know we're all different but has anyone had this type of operation and how did you find recovery?
Ouch.
I've only had tendon repairs on both shoulders, and neither were successful. I am no longer in pain, but I have a ruptured long-head proximal biceps tendon in my left arm, and ruptured supra- and infra- spinitis tendons in the right shoulder.
I'm sure more knowledgeable people will be along, but I guess that work on the bone is different kettle of fish....
I've only had tendon repairs on both shoulders, and neither were successful. I am no longer in pain, but I have a ruptured long-head proximal biceps tendon in my left arm, and ruptured supra- and infra- spinitis tendons in the right shoulder.
I'm sure more knowledgeable people will be along, but I guess that work on the bone is different kettle of fish....
This sounds very similar to the procedure I had carried out c18 months ago. This involved shaving off part of the clavicle via keyhole surgery. My underlying issue was due to rugby days but was becoming an increasing day to day problem aggravated by deskwork etc. Basked on what you say I assume that you are having this done privately which I was able to do via a work insurance policy. It can be done as a day procedure and your arm will be in a sling for c2 weeks during which time you will be given various physio exercise to do. You won't be abler to drive for a period defined by the doctor. Post op you will have no power in the affected arm shoulder for atleast 2 weeks and sleeping will be a challenge! The stitches require regular cleaning . The arm/shoulder will be weak for c4 weeks.
In my case I was able to start light weight training c6 -8 weeks after the operation but all below shoulder height- it's was probably 4/5 months before I felt confident to do much above should'er but this might not be relevant to you -a longer rehab period might apply due to risk of falling on the shoulder.depending on what your activity is.
Based on my experience I would advise full physio after the op to strengthen the shoulder specifically - this was not recommended for me as the op went well. However subsequent weight training aggravated the nerves in the arm which the physio sorted and which I now do on a monthly basis.
Choosing a good surgeon is important too- my guy was excellent . I had a mate who had a similar operation at the same time and which did go as well. Unlike me they were subject to a nerve block as part of the operation and have now a frozen shoulder- so I would ask your surgeon as to whether he will use a nerve block as these are not universally used.
My shoulder will never be OEM again but I wish had the operation years ago- the longer you defer to the worse it will become and age becomes a factor too...
Hope this helps but any further queries please PM me
Good luck
In my case I was able to start light weight training c6 -8 weeks after the operation but all below shoulder height- it's was probably 4/5 months before I felt confident to do much above should'er but this might not be relevant to you -a longer rehab period might apply due to risk of falling on the shoulder.depending on what your activity is.
Based on my experience I would advise full physio after the op to strengthen the shoulder specifically - this was not recommended for me as the op went well. However subsequent weight training aggravated the nerves in the arm which the physio sorted and which I now do on a monthly basis.
Choosing a good surgeon is important too- my guy was excellent . I had a mate who had a similar operation at the same time and which did go as well. Unlike me they were subject to a nerve block as part of the operation and have now a frozen shoulder- so I would ask your surgeon as to whether he will use a nerve block as these are not universally used.
My shoulder will never be OEM again but I wish had the operation years ago- the longer you defer to the worse it will become and age becomes a factor too...
Hope this helps but any further queries please PM me
Good luck
This sounds very similar to the procedure I had carried out c18 months ago. This involved shaving off part of the clavicle via keyhole surgery. My underlying issue was due to rugby days but was becoming an increasing day to day problem aggravated by deskwork etc. Basked on what you say I assume that you are having this done privately which I was able to do via a work insurance policy. It can be done as a day procedure and your arm will be in a sling for c2 weeks during which time you will be given various physio exercise to do. You won't be abler to drive for a period defined by the doctor. Post op you will have no power in the affected arm shoulder for atleast 2 weeks and sleeping will be a challenge! The stitches require regular cleaning . The arm/shoulder will be weak for c4 weeks.
In my case I was able to start light weight training c6 -8 weeks after the operation but all below shoulder height- it's was probably 4/5 months before I felt confident to do much above should'er but this might not be relevant to you -a longer rehab period might apply due to risk of falling on the shoulder.depending on what your activity is.
Based on my experience I would advise full physio after the op to strengthen the shoulder specifically - this was not recommended for me as the op went well. However subsequent weight training aggravated the nerves in the arm which the physio sorted and which I now do on a monthly basis.
Choosing a good surgeon is important too- my guy was excellent . I had a mate who had a similar operation at the same time and which did go as well. Unlike me they were subject to a nerve block as part of the operation and have now a frozen shoulder- so I would ask your surgeon as to whether he will use a nerve block as these are not universally used.
My shoulder will never be OEM again but I wish had the operation years ago- the longer you defer to the worse it will become and age becomes a factor too...
Hope this helps but any further queries please PM me
Good luck
In my case I was able to start light weight training c6 -8 weeks after the operation but all below shoulder height- it's was probably 4/5 months before I felt confident to do much above should'er but this might not be relevant to you -a longer rehab period might apply due to risk of falling on the shoulder.depending on what your activity is.
Based on my experience I would advise full physio after the op to strengthen the shoulder specifically - this was not recommended for me as the op went well. However subsequent weight training aggravated the nerves in the arm which the physio sorted and which I now do on a monthly basis.
Choosing a good surgeon is important too- my guy was excellent . I had a mate who had a similar operation at the same time and which did go as well. Unlike me they were subject to a nerve block as part of the operation and have now a frozen shoulder- so I would ask your surgeon as to whether he will use a nerve block as these are not universally used.
My shoulder will never be OEM again but I wish had the operation years ago- the longer you defer to the worse it will become and age becomes a factor too...
Hope this helps but any further queries please PM me
Good luck
Thanks for the info Googie.
Will avoid the nerve block - that sounds horrendous.
Your recovery sounds like what I was expecting tbh.
It'll be a good few months before I can get back out and hit the trails on the bike by the sounds of it
Did you have private or NHS treatment?
Was it day surgery or did you stay in for any time?
Will avoid the nerve block - that sounds horrendous.
Your recovery sounds like what I was expecting tbh.
It'll be a good few months before I can get back out and hit the trails on the bike by the sounds of it
Did you have private or NHS treatment?
Was it day surgery or did you stay in for any time?
Hi Woody
I was lucky to have this done privately and would have been less keen on an NHS op. I did an overnight stay ( discharged next morning ) only because the op was later in the day but it's a not that long a procedure.- c60-80 mins. As you will be under anaesthetic they will be strict that you have an adult at home to keep an eye on you until it eases off.
Hope this helps
G
I was lucky to have this done privately and would have been less keen on an NHS op. I did an overnight stay ( discharged next morning ) only because the op was later in the day but it's a not that long a procedure.- c60-80 mins. As you will be under anaesthetic they will be strict that you have an adult at home to keep an eye on you until it eases off.
Hope this helps
G
Another voice of experience. Short story; big crash on Alpine DH trail:
Selfie taken in mirror of A&E treatment room, post crash.
the aftermath of semi-emergency op':
Brief summary regarding your questions:
Selfie taken in mirror of A&E treatment room, post crash.
the aftermath of semi-emergency op':
Brief summary regarding your questions:
- The open-ended recovery time-span is correct, but if surgery and rehab goes well, then 6 months to serious ride is do-able.
- Take all physio available.
- Do all excercises offered/suggested, but also read into subject and question surgeon and physio more on a "what can I do?" basis, rather than a "what shouldn't I do?" Surgeon and physio will react well to a patient who has a clear (but not dangerous) desire to get back into activity.
- Consider getting Norco shoulder pulley.
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