3rd shoulder recon in 12 months - 1 step forwards, 2 steps back

[fittofattofit]

3rd March 2011

163lbs

3rd Operation in 12 months
Arthroscopic and open reconstruction of left Rotator Cuff (infraspinatus and supraspinatus tendons)

And now for the pics!

Pre-op: just starting to get back to shape - I'm still about 10 lbs lighter than before my first operation. Benched 225 for the first time in a year last week, now back to zero!




I've still go the 'painbuster' tube going into the shoulder joint


You can see the arthroscopy hole at the back


Big open scar across the shoulder. He knocked off the vein across the right shoulder last time - looks like he might have knocked off the one on the left now as well!


It's tough getting older!!

Bumped over page

[fittofattofit]

3 days post-op

Lots of bruising and very painful!
Need lots of sleep time!

[skullcrusher149]

3 days post-op

Lots of bruising and very painful!
Need lots of sleep time!

BAH! That looks painful, man! Hope you have a speedy recovery!

[fittofattofit]

BAH! That looks painful, man! Hope you have a speedy recovery!

It is painful, and I've been doped up on the Oxycodone!
I'm more worried about losing muscle mass though - each time I've lost about 10lbs, and then have to slowly put it back on!

[Mark42]

Fitto, I know you'll bounce back man. I've no doubt of that!!!
Just really sorry to hear about it again.

Mark.

[monsieur_jj]

wow looks painful!

[fittofattofit]

Fitto, I know you'll bounce back man. I've no doubt of that!!!
Just really sorry to hear about it again.

Mark.

Thanks Mark - the mass you put on over 3 years inspires me, so if I could be as lean and dense as you in 3 years time I'd be delighted!

wow looks painful!

Thanks - it is painful, but it's also very stiff - every time I take the sling off, my elbow aches!

[ramacc]

Ouch! If its any consolation, you're becoming a bit of inspiration for me....your shoulder woes mirror my knee problems but each time I think of giving up on limping down to the gym and resigning myself to couch potatoe land I remember your struggle and carry on!!
(No decent pom could ever be happy to be outdone by an ozzy anyway)

[fittofattofit]

Ouch! If its any consolation, you're becoming a bit of inspiration for me....your shoulder woes mirror my knee problems but each time I think of giving up on limping down to the gym and resigning myself to couch potatoe land I remember your struggle and carry on!!
(No decent pom could ever be happy to be outdone by an ozzy anyway)

Thanks - that's what keeps me going - hoping I might get that call up to bowl in the next ashes series!!

[Mark42]

[QUOTE=fittofattofit;640987293]Thanks Mark - the mass you put on over 3 years inspires me, so if I could be as lean and dense as you in 3 years time I'd be delighted!

As I said I know you'll bounce back and hit it even harder than ever. So hitting that goal will not be a problem once you start to recover.

[fittofattofit]

[QUOTE=Mark42;640994613]

Thanks Mark - the mass you put on over 3 years inspires me, so if I could be as lean and dense as you in 3 years time I'd be delighted!

As I said I know you'll bounce back and hit it even harder than ever. So hitting that goal will not be a problem once you start to recover.

Thanks - down to 159 already!

[dtoxUK]

This scares the sh*t out of me.

I was born with naturally loose joints, especially in my right shoulder. The ball moves around in the socket quite easily, the ligaments aren't tight enough. I often have pain within the joint once a week, mainly after shoulder/back day, but only mild. Physio/doctors say nothing but 'strengthen it', which is what i am doing, and it has improved. But this kinda thing scares me, makes me think ill be going through the same ****.

What exactly brought all this on?

You are right about one thing though. these weaknesses force you to use strict form and this has helped me a lot with my progress.

[Heathhd008]

amazing dedication right there, very motivational.

[Brierley]

Massive knock backs but you've kept going, inspirational man, keep going.

[fittofattofit]

This scares the sh*t out of me.

I was born with naturally loose joints, especially in my right shoulder. The ball moves around in the socket quite easily, the ligaments aren't tight enough. I often have pain within the joint once a week, mainly after shoulder/back day, but only mild. Physio/doctors say nothing but 'strengthen it', which is what i am doing, and it has improved. But this kinda thing scares me, makes me think ill be going through the same ****.

What exactly brought all this on?

You are right about one thing though. these weaknesses force you to use strict form and this has helped me a lot with my progress.

Training for 30 years brings out the 'wear and tear' factor! I'm getting 're-treads' on my tendons!
My form is much better now!

amazing dedication right there, very motivational.

Thanks!

Massive knock backs but you've kept going, inspirational man, keep going.

Appreciated!

[Exezy]

damn i feel like imma be in same boat as you later on. Im only 17 and have already have shoulder/elbow issues. My bicep tendon keeps flaring up and keeps setting me back. Most frustrating thing ever. And my doctor just says to train through it. idk wtf to believe anymore

[fittofattofit]

damn i feel like imma be in same boat as you later on. Im only 17 and have already have shoulder/elbow issues. My bicep tendon keeps flaring up and keeps setting me back. Most frustrating thing ever. And my doctor just says to train through it. idk wtf to believe anymore

If you are getting biceps tendon compression type pain, then you really need to rest that tendon - you can still do biceps work but avoid the hyperextension of the shoulder as you curl your elbow forwards - this puts the greatest stretch on the tendon and the greatest tension on the labrum
You won't be able to work through it!
You can work around it!

[Lepjm45]

Keep at it man, heal up and let muscle memory take its toll.

Did you end up coming back to fast? How are you doing now many years later?

[Joeboy808]

**** gws

[fittofattofit]

Did you end up coming back to fast? How are you doing now many years later?

**** gws

Wow ... this is a blast from the past, 6 years after the last post!
Well I ended up with another three operations, a full rupture and repair of the SS and IS on the right and a ruptured long head biceps tendon on the left and then the last was a distal biceps tendon repair on the right 3 years ago. I don't think I came back too soon so much as that the first repair wasn't good and re-ruptured straight away and the other 4 operations reflected the fact that I'd worn out my shoulder tendons over 30 years of training with bad form. The last injury, the distal biceps rupture was as a result of a skiing accident

I've never stopped training and I've managed to hit PR's on deads @ 190kg/418lbs and squats @ 165kg/363lbs since although I really can't press anymore because of the shoulders. The shoulders are mobile and pretty pain free but I just don't have the RC support to press heavy. I've introduced a lot more functional work into my training to try to avoid injury and I'm a lot fitter, faster and more flexible.

A pic from a few weeks back
IMG_6978 2 by Andrew , on Flickr

I'm still around the same size as I was @ 165lbs and I feel like I'm doing OK for a guy about to turn 56

[Gameover89]

Wow ... this is a blast from the past, 6 years after the last post!
Well I ended up with another three operations, a full rupture and repair of the SS and IS on the right and a ruptured long head biceps tendon on the left and then the last was a distal biceps tendon repair on the right 3 years ago. I don't think I came back too soon so much as that the first repair wasn't good and re-ruptured straight away and the other 4 operations reflected the fact that I'd worn out my shoulder tendons over 30 years of training with bad form. The last injury, the distal biceps rupture was as a result of a skiing accident

I've never stopped training and I've managed to hit PR's on deads @ 190kg/418lbs and squats @ 165kg/363lbs since although I really can't press anymore because of the shoulders. The shoulders are mobile and pretty pain free but I just don't have the RC support to press heavy. I've introduced a lot more functional work into my training to try to avoid injury and I'm a lot fitter, faster and more flexible.

A pic from a few weeks back
IMG_6978 2 by Andrew , on Flickr

I'm still around the same size as I was @ 165lbs and I feel like I'm doing OK for a guy about to turn 56

nice job man getting back to it.

I have had 1 arthroscopic reco done on my left shoulder when i was 20, 3 screws and tightening, rotator cuff repair. Skiing last week i had a subluxation of it and its blown up swollen and cant move it, MRI is inconclusive and physio is unsure as well... off to a surgeon again for his opinion.

I cant imagine going through 6 operations, I am looking at a 2nd and hoping i can avoid it. Best of luck man.

[fittofattofit]

nice job man getting back to it.

I have had 1 arthroscopic reco done on my left shoulder when i was 20, 3 screws and tightening, rotator cuff repair. Skiing last week i had a subluxation of it and its blown up swollen and cant move it, MRI is inconclusive and physio is unsure as well... off to a surgeon again for his opinion.

I cant imagine going through 6 operations, I am looking at a 2nd and hoping i can avoid it. Best of luck man.

Thanks! I'm sorry to hear about the injury ... I love skiing but injury is an occupational hazard. You must be in Aus or NZ if you've just been skiing
It's possible that you've just strained the RC and that the movement will come back as the swelling subsides. Good luck with your visit to the surgeon and hope you can avoid an operation

As for me, my shoulders are feeling really good at the moment. Here's a pic from a few weeks back

Slowly regaining thickness by Andrew, on Flickr

I've got a lot of fat to lose before summer but my shoulders and back are feeling strong despite having pretty much no rotator cuff left