FLbeach321's Labrum surgery journal

[FLbeach321]

Hello everyone. Some of you may have seen some of my other posts about my shoulder injury. I'm going in for surgery on April 1, 2010, so I thought I would start a journal to help out those with the same injury. So many people on this board have helped me already from posting their results, so I hope to be able to help others as well.

I dislocated my shoulder over 2 months ago. Was put to sleep at emergency room to have it put back in. I went to a doctor the next day, to whom the ER referred me. HE WAS A JACKASS! I didn't even pay. I just left. Then I went to my hand specialist (thinking he was a shoulder specialist too) He told me to be in a sling for 4 weeks and not to move it at all and it would have a 75% chance of healing because I'm in my mid 30's and things heal tighter. Big mistake. That is the best way to get frozen shoulder...I found out the hard way. So I went to therapy for a couple of weeks. Most of the pain went away but I still had this horrible pain in the front/side of my delt. I decided to get the MRI(no contrast). I have SLAP tear and Bankart tear as well as Hills-Sachs deformity. So I found a well know specialist that is the head surgeon of a professional sports team. He should be great huh? NOPE. Very friendly but was dismissing my pain as if it shouldn't be there. I still set up surgery with him thinking that once he got in there he'd see what the problem was and fix it. After another visit with him, I realized that he was probably one of the best if he took his time and listened. Unfortunately, I didn't trust that he cared enough to take time during surgery to check on everything since he didn't take time during appointments to listen to me. So I went to a different specialist and am extremely happy with him. I obviously don't know what will happen until months after the surgery, but I felt beyond comfortable with him so I cancelled surgery with the first surgeon and am going with the second surgeon (my point is that if you aren't 110% comfortable with your doctor, look around and find another. This is your body and you only have one).

With all that being said. Surgery is a couple days away. He said 3 weeks in a sling. Therapy the day after surgery(It must just be moving my fingers and wrist). 3-4months before decent lifting and 5-6months before Jujitsu. I'll keep updating. If anyone has any questions you can PM me or ask here if you think it may help out someone else in the future.

[FLbeach321]

Surgery is tomorrow so I got all my food shopping and errans done so I'm prepared. I just wanted to note that the total surgery cost is about $6500 including physical therapy after, doctor fee, anasthasia fee(sp?), surgical center fee, and cost of anchors. Where I am going is allowing me to put half down and make interest free payments for 24 months (I'm self pay). My first doctor was going to be $8500 which included everything except the therapy. So there is quite a difference in the two doctors prices but that will give an idea about how much this surgery cost. I noticed that for both surgeries, they were pretty much giving me half price because of self pay.

[FLbeach321]

got home from surgery earlier today. so far its painless. haven't been this pain free since the incident lol. but im still numb from the nerve block so im sure im in for a painful couple of days when it wears off. anyway, i had 3 anchors to repair the labrum. about 12oclock to 5oclock tear, so almost 50%. bone spur removed. no tear in rotator. will update again tomorrow

[mkit8971]

got home from surgery earlier today. so far its painless. haven't been this pain free since the incident lol. but im still numb from the nerve block so im sure im in for a painful couple of days when it wears off. anyway, i had 3 anchors to repair the labrum. about 12oclock to 5oclock tear, so almost 50%. bone spur removed. no tear in rotator. will update again tomorrow

Good to hear man. Good luck with everything. Keep us updated!

[FLbeach321]

thanks mkit.

nerve block wore off about 3am. im taking ibuprofen 800mgs every 5 hours. pain is fine. nothing horrible. i was expecting a lot more pain. it doesn't hurt anymore now then pre-surgery. maybe even a bit less now but its in a sling so wont know if my problem was solved or not until a few days or couple of weeks i guess. therapy today. probably just wrist movements and getting drain tube out and bandages changed. yesterday the surgeon also told me that my shoulder was weird because most shoulders get looser after dislocation, mine actually got tighter. so i guess thats good...or at least wierd lol

[FLbeach321]

Still day after surgery. just got back from therapy. had drain tube taken out and bandages changed. 5 holes in shoulder. therapy was great. i wasnt expecting much range exercises today but doc wanted early ROM exercises so therapist really moved it around. i didnt get the painful catching!!!! hopefully by cleaning up the labrum, that fixed it. ill do more rom therapy on monday to find out for sure, but seems pretty positive so far! so im stoked lol. anyway, im supposed to do pendulums 3 times a day. doc said 11 days in sling. im definitely in WAY less pain today then i was yesterday before i went into surgery. ill keep updating as days go by.

[FLbeach321]

day 2 post op. still feeling pretty good. sleeping in recliner. Have to take my 800mgs ibuprofen every 6 hours. pain kicks in around 6.5 hours so im staying ahead of pain. taking oxycodone 2 times a day just to make time pass. it does nothing for pain.so far, im thrilled that i got the surgery. doing pendulums. i guess not to much new to report other than im still very positive and hopefully each day gets better

[JDkeystone]

hey FL, glad to hear everything's going well, so far. you actually sound like you're doing a lot better than i was for the first couple days after my surgery (i'm jealous haha). i'm sure you'll be making a speedy recovery!

[1joey1]

/showthread.php?t=122527891

hey this is my recovery status on this same surgery

i had to put just the backslash stuff because i dont have 30 posts yet

[FLbeach321]

Balller...ty for your journal. i checked it out and seems we have the same injury. please keep me updated since your weeks ahead of me.

4 days post op labral repair and bone spur removed...Shoulder still feels pretty good. i actually am taking ibuprofen about every 10 hours now just to keep the inflamation down, other than that i don't need it for pain. had second pt today. more rom movements. front and side passive raises. supposed to do these 3 times a day. about parallel to the floor on both. can do more but not supposed to yet so im not. have soreness/tightness in front delt where i had catching pain. i guess thats just from surgery in that area and will heal in time...AT LEAST IT SEEMS THAT HORRIBLE CATCHING IS GONE!!! pt said docs want people out of slings faster if they just had labral repair and nothing else like capsule shrinkage, rotator repair, etc. Will continue to update. next pt is in 3 days.

[FLbeach321]

7 days post op for SLAP tear and bone spur removed. Everything is still going well. I'm taking Ibuprofen once a day now, usually first thing in the morning or in the middle of night. The pain kicks in while sleeping because of arm staying stiff so long i guess. did therapy again today. I'm allowed to do assisted side raises to 90 degrees and front raises unlimited range with pain as my guide. I'm allowed to do these movements as many times a day as I want to keep arm loose. they have me put a long belt on top of a door and close the door to hold the belt. then i grab belt at bottom and walk either backwards or sideways. as I walk away from door, the belt raises my arm. I'm not supposed to let belt pull on my arm so i have to use some shoulder muscle to lift arm. So that feels real good to us the muscles just a little bit. I can't do any more than 25 degrees on external rotation until 3 weeks, so I'm just working on the other rom. all in all, things are going great so far and everything is on schedule. the pain should just be from the surgery and not from the torn labrum that i was feeling before the surgery. my recovery seems to be a lot more aggressive than others but remember that I only had labrum repair with no other proceedures.

[FLbeach321]

Day 8 post op. i decided not to sleep with the sling on last night to see if i'd have less pain. My arm felt great through out the night and this morning. i just used a pillow to prop it up so it felt much more natural. I'm glad i did this. I'm not suggesting that anyone else do this if you might roll over on it in your sleep or if you need to keep your arm in a certain position for a period of time for tightening. I pretty much just need to keep my shoulder "rested" so i don't pool on the anchors/stitches. So far everything is still a success.

[FLbeach321]

Day 10 post op. Not too much more to report other than things are still going well. Pain is less a little each day. Still not wearing sling and not sleeping with it. For me, it was the best decision. I'm not getting the night pain or first thing in the morning pain that I was getting. But remember that I'm keeping it very still on a pillow as if it were staying still in a sling. there's no extra stress on it, just in a more comfortable position. I'm taking 800mgs of ibuprofen before bed and in the morning when I get up, just to make sure the inflamation stays down. next PT and stitches out in 2 days.

[pvdude]

Day 10 post op. Not too much more to report other than things are still going well. Pain is less a little each day. Still not wearing sling and not sleeping with it. For me, it was the best decision. I'm not getting the night pain or first thing in the morning pain that I was getting. But remember that I'm keeping it very still on a pillow as if it were staying still in a sling. there's no extra stress on it, just in a more comfortable position. I'm taking 800mgs of ibuprofen before bed and in the morning when I get up, just to make sure the inflamation stays down. next PT and stitches out in 2 days.

who diid your surgery?

[FLbeach321]

PVdude...Dr Jeffrey Greenspoon in Melbourne FL. I think his website is Greenspoonortho.com. I've had a wonderful experience so far with him and his whole staff. He'd be about 3hours from the FL/GA line.

Well today is the 2 week mark for labrum repair with 3 anchors. Stitches came out, no biggie. Some incisions aren't healed all the way so they put some tape over them. Everything is going well. I do therapy 3-4 times a day. arm raises to the front more than 90degrees but not over my head yet. side raises a little more than 90 degrees. table slides to the front. and do stationary bike pedals 3 minutes forwards and 3 minutes backward.

So far I'm still very happy with the results. I'm thinking (and hoping) that when I get my ROM back and start with strengthening, I will come back pretty quick. The PT told me that he has a bodybuilding friend who is three months out from labrum repair and he just added dips and wide pull ups to his weight training routine. He said he has been weight training again for a while with all other movements. I hope to follow that same pattern

[FLbeach321]

23 days post op for SLAP tear. I talked with the Physicians Assistant and he explained that my proceedure was 3 anchors for the labrum. The labrum itself was not torn. it was torn away from the bone but still in tact with itself. So at least that's one less problem that I have to worry about healing lol. I did some pretty good therapy today. The PT stretched me VERY good today. It was painful, but felt so good. It only hurt as he was stretching but went away when he was done (a very good sign in my opinion). The Physicians Assistant told me that it takes about 6-8 weeks for the labrum to attach itself to the bone. He said its like glueing carpet down to the floor, you have to wait for the glue to dry before you try to pull up on the carpet. After that time, the restrictions are lifted depending on pain. Pretty much just to start back into activities slowly. Anyway, I'm still knocking on wood and saying my prayers to the Almighty Healer, as this seems to be a "textbook" recovery so far.

[pvdude]

23 days post op for SLAP tear. I talked with the Physicians Assistant and he explained that my proceedure was 3 anchors for the labrum. The labrum itself was not torn. it was torn away from the bone but still in tact with itself. So at least that's one less problem that I have to worry about healing lol. I did some pretty good therapy today. The PT stretched me VERY good today. It was painful, but felt so good. It only hurt as he was stretching but went away when he was done (a very good sign in my opinion). The Physicians Assistant told me that it takes about 6-8 weeks for the labrum to attach itself to the bone. He said its like glueing carpet down to the floor, you have to wait for the glue to dry before you try to pull up on the carpet. After that time, the restrictions are lifted depending on pain. Pretty much just to start back into activities slowly. Anyway, I'm still knocking on wood and saying my prayers to the Almighty Healer, as this seems to be a "textbook" recovery so far.

Having any popping/cracking/clicking?

[JDkeystone]

Glad to hear it's still going smoothly for ya, FL. Outta curiousity, though, do you find yourself waking up with a lot of neck pain in the morning (from the lack of shoulder movement)?

[FLbeach321]

PV dude...Yes, I do get some popping/clunking/clicking. It's not too bad but I believe it will get worse before it gets better as I get more ROM. It has popped (like when a chiropractor releases a back) a few times when I stretched it, but that's a good sign. It's painless and just releasing itself from not being moved. It's normal. There will be plenty of popping/clunking/clicking for quite a while, I'm sure. There's a lot of swelling in there plus a change of anatomy (either small or great, depending on proceedure) to the joint.

Pumped4life... No, I don't really have any neck tightness because I started ROM the next day because my injury is somewhat different than yours. I can see how your neck would get tight from not moving it, plus having that sling around it all the time. Now that I think of it, it was getting tight when I wore sling at the beginning. That put a lot of stress on my neck. Try to use your good arm to stretch it a bit. Just DON"T try to move your shoulder too soon just to get rid of the neck tightness. I know it's driving you crazy now but soon it will go away when your internal wounds have healed and are strong enough to move around.

Also, I did slow my number of therapy's down each day to about twice a day now, but I do pendulums and raise my arm a few time through out the day to keep it loose. My therapy sessions now last longer too because I'm doing a lot more exercises as time goes on.

On another note, today is the 3rd day in a row of not taking any IBprofen or Oxycodone.

[FLbeach321]

Well today is day 27 post op. Everything is still gonig pretty good so far. Had therapy today. The therapist is stretching me pretty hard. it's not the best feeling in the world but boy do I feel better when I leave. I'm now doing the overhead rope pulleys(which are FANTASTIC for ROM). I also just started with some external rotation which I couldn't wait to start. I'm hoping that the real progress is just now starting because I think that as I'm able to put my arm through more range it will loosen up and start feeling better day by day. I'm back to taking IBuprofen every 1 or 2 days because I'm using arm more now with PT and very small daily activities such as turning on a light or washing my hair, etc.

On a side note, I met someone in PT the other day that had surgery and healed well but developed frozen shoulder. She had the minipulation while she was put under anasthesia. She said it was the best thing she could have done and said the rehab is WAY easier now. So anyone thinking of this route, there's a positive for you on shoulder minipulation.

[Lyght13]

Hey bud, great thread..a lot of ppl who are going into the surgery or are debating whether or not to admit to it will look at this and will know what to expect.

With that said, I had the same surgery (difference is 4 anchors), however, Im almost at 8 weeks post-op. This thursday (29) itll be 8 weeks. Reading your thread, my accounts were very similar. I read on the internet all of these stories where they remained in the sling until 6 weeks, not starting rehab until 2-3 weeks post op, and it seemed like a bunch of crap. I know diff surgeons have different protocols. But a little update on what you may expect since things seem similar. As of now, Ive been doing light bicep curls (7.5lbs), light tricep extensions/pushdowns, various different infraspinatus exercises with bands, weight resisted external/internal rotations, push ups on knees. I have therapy tomorrow, and it increases each time for what I am allowed to do (I go once a week, Im a football player in college and dont have time to go more, they just tell me what I can do and the athletic trainer helps and is given the outline). I wouldnt be surprised if I will be allowed to do a couple sets of reg. push ups tomorrow. This last week I have been working with shoulder stabalization though going up in the push up form but not doing the concentric motion, just staying at the top for various time limits (30 secs, 60 secs, 90), while doing this I was told do lean to each side, putting all my weight on each shoulder.

Just a lil heads up on what you may expect, and you are right, once you get to a certain point it seems like it just takes bounds and leaps forward..However with that said, you have to be realistic and not do too much, rather take two steps forward than eight back..


Good luck on rest of rehab

[jepitt]

How did you get your labrum tear? Just one shoulder ?

[FLbeach321]

Lyght13...Thanks so much for the post! It means a lot to me that you posted your experience (as well as to others that will read this over the next few years). I agree that it's not right to be in a sling that long after surgery for a simple labrum repair. I understand that they are just over protecting the repair but they could say "just treat it like it's in a sling...NO LIFTING ANYTHING.. because if you do it will mess up the repair" or something to that extent. Please keep checking back and let everyone know of your progress. Also, how long before the surgery soreness went away or got minimal? I'm at 4 weeks now. Surgery pain has gotten better but still pretty sore since I continually have to push hard everyday to get ROM back. I was thinking it would go away when I got range back and didn't have to push it that hard?

Another small update...day 29...As i said I started with ER yesterday morning. then I did stretching again last night. I was pretty sore when I woke up this morning but still did most of my therapy this morning including ER. As I was doing ER I was getting some popping. To me that's a fantastic sign because it means my shoulder is loosing up, so even though I'm very sore now, I feel good about this morning.

[Lyght13]

Ive never had that soreness you are talking about. My physical therapist always asked if I had felt sore after any of the sessions, and I really didnt. I always felt like I couldve did more than they asked, but didnt want to risk doing more so I kept it at the limits at what they asked. Furthermore, I only took the oxycodone the two days post surgery. I couldve took it more, but Im a pre-med student and hate the fact that all it does is mask the pain, so you could do something bad to it and not realize the full effects. Just over cautious I suppose.

HOWEVER, with all that said I did experience my first soreness this morning. As I typed earlier, my PT session was Wednesday (yesterday). As I expected they had me do bodyweight pushups, a pushup step (get in push up form, and use your hands to walk up and down a little step), other previously mentioned exercises, and BODYWEIGHT CHAIR DIPS! Now, they only had me to partial ROM, but nonetheless, I was very surprised they were having me do any type of dips. I mean I was really limited on ROM cause my butt hit the seat before I went down too far. I was cautious towards it but reluctantly proceeded. They felt decent, felt about as good as youd think they would post 8 weeks of the surgery.

But as I said previously, this was the first real soreness Ive had, but I also put alot more weight onto the joint then I previously had for awhile so it's expected. I have had tightness before (which I might be getting mixed up with your soreness, so they could be the same things, pardon me).

At the end of the session, my PT told me that my restrictions werent limited anymore - meaning I could increase weight/exercises that were tolerable. Obviously I dont take this as an order that I am allowed to hop under heavy weight and start pounding it out, or am allowed to do EVERY exercise in the book. Today I am starting a Chest/Back day, going light and getting the form down and seeing how it feels. Seeing how it feels as in the present state, and the morning after. It could feel really great immediately after working out, then be not cooperating with me the next morning.

FLBeach, like I said our accounts are very similar. Everything youve typed down, I did pretty much the same timing. So tough it out for the next few weeks. I seen your age too, I am only 19 (turning 20 in June), so that may be a reason why I am not feeling as much of the soreness.

[FLbeach321]

Thanks again for the update. Mine is a soreness from being tight as well as probably the surgery. It seems the more ROM i get, the better it feels so it may just be sore from having to stretch it past where it can go at this point. Please post back and let us know details about your work out, weight, reps, pain level, etc.

[Lyght13]

Heres an update on how the workouts went, stuck to really the basics. I feel as if i am already fortunate because I didnt plan on being able to lift again for atleast another month so Im taking my time with it.

April 29 Chest/Back
DB Bench Press 2 Sets x 10 reps 20lb DBs
DB Incline Press 2 x 10 10lbs DBs
Curl Bar Rows 2 x 10 Bar + 5lbs
1 Arm Db Rows 1 x 10 10 lbs DBs 1 x 10 15lbs Dbs
Push up 2 x 10 BW
Reverse Flyes 2 x 12 5 lbs Dbs

April 30th Shoulder/Arms
DB Front raises 2 x 10 5lbs DBs 1 x 10 7.5lbs Dbs
Lateral Raises 1 x 10 5lbs DBs 2 x 10 7.5 lbs Dbs
External Rotation 3 x 12 5lbs DBs
Standing DB Curls 3 x 10 10lbs DBs
DB Incline Curls 1 x 10 5lbs DBs 2 x 10 7.5lbs DBs
Overhead Extensions 2 x 20lbs
DB Skullcrushers 3 x 10 10 lbs DBs
Stability using Basketball

May 1st
Moderate Legs/Light Running/Stretching

Like I said I didnt plan on using any type of heavy weight at all, for these first workouts I wanted to get a feel on where its at and where I can push it more. Obviously weights are ridiculously low, but I feel it to be a success. The only exercise that I felt was "sketch" was the overhead tricep extensions. It wasnt because of the weight, it just felt like the stretch of it felt weird on my shoulder. I got a good warm up in prior to the workouts in the whirl pool, so the exercises felt stable. The next morning on each of the days there was minimal soreness and stiffness, which helped me to believe it was successful days in the gym. Once again, I only did the most basic of exercise just to help my shoulder joint build up a foundation again. The reason I did curl bar rows and not a BB row was because of the weight distribution. For right at first, I want the weight to be distributed more evenly to my body (closer to it), then I dont have to worry so much about balancing it quite yet (sounds stupid, but Id take sounding stupid then getting set backe even farther).

With the pain level being at what it was, and with how the exercises felt; I will be increasing each of the weights/volume of the exercises/workouts. For each of the exercises I plan to increase the weight and in some increase the volume at which weight I decide to use. As you see some of the exercises I used a couple different weights, on some I will just increase the number of sets at the highest weight.

To put this in concrete terms, I hope to feel comfortable to use 30lbs DBs for bench press for ATLEAST 1 set, 2 sets at most. I plan to get 3 sets total for db bench press, so that means a possible 2 sets out of the 3 at 30, with the other one being 20-25lbs. For CurlBar rows, I hope to feel comfortable with the Bar + 5-7.5lbs on each side. DB Incline Press, Ill probably stay at 10lbs for one set then 15lbs for the next 2 sets (Im doing 30 degree incline, I dont want to push it too much). 1 arm db rows 3 x 10 at 15 lbs, possibly getting the 3rd set with 20 lbs. Then with bw pushups I will hopefully just increase the reps, not the sets.

Not very high weight adjustments, but I personally feel some increments with be more secure, and will be more beneficial in the end. Also to note, I plan on increasing the weight AND the volume, so itll be a double whammy. Ill update you on if the little increments were a good idea or not in a few days, because Im appointed to workout chest/back tomorrow morning.

[jepitt]

Lyght, How did you tear your Labrum, or labrums again? I was working out heavy back in december of 2009. Just 4 months ago, I don't know exactly what exercise did it to me, but I was also doing tricept extension machine which I never use. With that day I also used incline, decline, flat BB bench. So who knows exactly what set my injury off. ALso it was a gradual on set. My story is here and around the forms as it is a long one if you are intrested. I have no idea whats going on still with my shoulders. Let me know thanks

[FLbeach321]

Hey Lyght. WOW, that's awesome bro! That's a lot of weight for only being at 8-9 weeks post op. You're doing fantastic. Keep to your plan and move up slowly every week like you have planned. A secret I always use when nursing an injury is to NEVER wear headphones so I don't get stupid thoughts of pushing myself, lol. Thank you so much for posting in detail of your workouts. Please continue to update us. Its very helpful.

As far as my rehab...today is 31 days post op for SLAP repair only. I had just started doing ER and also trying to put my arm behind my back a few days ago. So the pain really started kicking in again. I got a little depressed but kept focusing on the positive that my arm hasn't been moved there in a long time so it's going to be painful for a while. Anyway, now a few days have past and I'm feeling great. I still have the expected pain at this point of post op, but I can see that the pain doesn't kick in until a little further of the stretch. So that's a positive. I still believe that as soon as I get my range back, most of the pain will be gone because I believe a lot of the pain is from everything being tight from not being used. I have my re evaluation in 2 days. Also I switched from IBuprofen to Naproxen 500 2 times a day to keep the swelling down while i work on ROM

[Lyght13]

FL, yeah ER is difficult..this past week they measured mine and I dont have 90 degrees yet, only 80. So be patient with it. I TOTALLY understand you on the headphones thing lol, I try to set my times when I think barely anyone else will be in there, then I can just focus on myself and not push myself too much either. I appreciate you letting me post in your thread, I am not trying to jack it or hijack it or whatever they call it, my intentions are just to help out, as I wish I had someone do in my early weeks, keeps the morale up.



Jepitt,. I injured mine in the weight room. I never have dislocated or sublaxed my shoulder. Honestly, as embarrassing as it may sound, I injured it doing my WARM UP sets for DB bench. Lets put it to this degree, during those weeks we would do 4 sets of 5 reps for db bench press, Id do 110lb dbs, so if you put that into context, I wouldnt be tested until I got to 95lbs dbs...I injured myself warming up on 35lb DBs. It didnt hurt when it happened, just when I set the DBs back on the rack, then the pain set in. Since I never dislocated it or anything, they thought it may have been overuse (which makes sense, Ive been in sports forever, three sport athlete in high school, summer ball --all while lifting and working out). So the overuse thing makes the most ideal sense to me, but after I tore it by using 35lbs dbs, I figure you can do it just about anyway possible.

[FLbeach321]

Liyght, No problem at all. It's very much apprecitated that you are posting your results here so please keep them coming! On a lighter side, is it just me or is it funny that all of us on the injured reserve list are sitting home on a Saturday night?