Patrick's Shoulder Surgery and Recovery Log: Athlete Down

[berice]

Hello everyone,

I though I would start a recovery journal to plot my progress.

I will lay out some brief details and if anyone wants me to say more please just ask and I will fill in the details.

So I was in great shape in early 2010 when I had an accident. I was an elite athlete competing on the worlds stage in my event.

Immediately after my injury I thought a weeks rest on the joint would solve the problem and I continued to train as much as I could without stressing the injury. When it didn't get better I visited the doctor and requested an MRI which didn't reveal much. I was then sent to an orthopedic shoulder specialist who put me on a rehab program. By this time the long thoracic nerve of bell had started to switch off causing instability in the scapula. I was given further rehab to switch the nerve back on. This worked in a matter of hours/days and the joint then stabilized and the pain decreased dramatically but the initial problem still persisted.

After a lot of rehab work the doctors finally decided I needed an operation to repair a suspected a partial superior labral tear extending posterior from the biceps anchor but not involving the anchor. In addition an MRI arthrogram confirmed earlier Ultrasound findings of articular surface tendon change within the supraspinatus tendon consistent with tendinopathy or possible small partial thickness tears. Lastly bony excrescence were seen deep in the infraspinatus insertion and several small loose bodies were visible within the posterior and anterior joint space.

I was scheduled to have the procedure done by a good doctor but was advised just a few days before the operation by a world class physios and an Olympic team doctor to go and see the UK's leading shoulder surgeon. So that took some time to get a second opinion and then rebooked for surgery with this new doctor.

So I have finally been scheduled for the surgery and it is going to take place next week.

It has taken a while but I am on the road to full recovery. Well....
If I wasn't an athlete I probably wouldn't have this operation as I can function almost normally now. But I can't lift heavy weights through a certain range or move the joint quickly in a stable manner at speed. For instance to throw a ball quickly. Well I can do it but the shoulder is going to be unstable and hurt a bit afterwards.

I am a winter sports athlete and the timing of the surgery now kills my coming season chances but I believe it is better to have this operation as soon as possible and get it out of the way rather than trying to compete in very poor shape and then having it done in the spring.

The actual injury isn't too painful during normal day to day living. I can get by pretty much without noticing it now. Only sleeping can be a bit challenging but lift anything heavy through a certain range and I will know about it. The back of the scapula tends to ache a bit in the cold. It feels stiff and inflamed which seems strange as it is located a good distance from the labrum.

The overall shoulder pain is a long long way from where I was several months ago. As I said I almost don't notice it most days. So knowing that in one weeks time I will be out of action again for three months, albeit hopefully on the road to full recovery, is a bit weird to contemplate.

Since I was found about that I really need surgery to fix the problem, I stopped all training, lost motivation and lost a load of muscle mass and tone. I'm just not motivated to go to the gym and train when I am injured after so many months. I hope after I have this operation that I will get my mojo back and be ready for some training sessions. At the moment I feel like a tub of lard. I have gained a few Kgs but lost a lot of muscle so that is fat coming on now. I will have to really work hard and get motivated if I ever want to regain my form.

Here is where I could do with some advice from experts:
Shortly after my operation I am scheduled to fly to several sports conferences around the world. I was wondering if anyone could suggest whether I should cancel my trips. One conference would require 15 hours of straight travel and the other would be around 30 hours on several planes to get there. The events would be coming within about 16 days after having arthroscopy to fix the labrum tear.

Does anyone, who has had a similar procedure, think this is achievable and what sort of medication were you needing from the outset? I'm not a fan of taking pain killers but friends who have had this procedure had mix reactions. Some were in agony for about 4 weeks and others were fine after just a few days.

Any help or advice preparing for this operation and the initial aftercare recovery would be most appreciated. I will endeavor to update this as time goes by.

Cheers,

Patrick

[braindx]

Talk with your docs about the meds.

Generally, it will depend on your own tolerance to pain, and the type of surgery + how much damage, and a whole host of other factors.

You should be able to travel soon after, and you'llprobably sleep through most of the trips anyway as that's the fastest way to heal.


Also, you should really get your strength and mobility back up as much as possible. It will SIGNIFICANTLY increase your recovery rate especially because you will lose ROM and atrophy after the surgery. The more fit and strong you are coming in will make you come back that much faster.