Just got my MRI results back and the surgeon called me into his office, he said I have a large/massive tear of the supraspinatus tendon (rotator cuff, right shoulder) with 5cm of retraction and will require open (non scope) surgery. NOOOOOOOO...... Anyone with experience with this that can give me some insight on what to expect as far as recovery & long term rehab.
It's not the surgery that sucks....it is the lack of mobility that leads to lack of range of motion that leads to long rehab.....and that was only for a broken humerus. No idea what tissue will be like.
Bummer! Healing vibes to you! I guess now you have more time to decide about your next bike (ps get the norco)
Haha, actually I would like to have the new bike built so I can walk into the garage and drool while I am healing, motivation for PT. I am still riding (mild) and will be up until the day of surgery! I will also be hitting the gym extra hard when I am out, working on legs & lungs, prep to ride again.
I had the same tear on my left rotator cuff. Actually, it was torn and stretched, as I dislocated it close to 30 times prior to surgery. The initial dislocation was so violent, and it fractured the shoulder blade. Anyways, the procedure used a scope, but technically was not arthroscopic. Two cuts in the front and one in the back. The scars are only about 1cm long. Basically, they cut the stretched section at bit, folded it for reinforcement and reattached it. I haven't dislocated it since. A friend with same injury had an arthroscopic procedure, but his didn't hold and still has dislocation issues. Yes, it's the rehab and immobility that sucked the most. I was in a sling for 3 months. Atrophy was crazy! Depending on your Dr. and your age, PT can start after the first week and they'll try to encourage you to get off the sling sooner than later to lessen atrophy. It's been 16 years since my surgery, and I think I got 95% of my range back after the first year. Do all the stretches and exercises as advised, and you'll see the results. It's sucky and painful, but better than not getting your mobility back. Oh, be sure to ask for a video copy of the procedure. They lost mine or were trying to hide something... Good luck!!!
I Shattered the head of my humorous and also dislocated it.. we tried rehab, but it needed surgery. I was prepared for a lot more pain. They did the bancart repair and rotator cuff repair. I woke up in far far less pain than I went in with. Keep the ICE machine on! You'll get through it!
I had two rotator cuff repairs from baseball injuries. The first one was wide open. It was pretty painful for the first week or so after. The biggest help for me was the CPM Machine. Its the chair you sit in that moves your shoulder for you and slowly increases the range of motion day by day. You spend a few hours, minimum, per day in the thing but its a great help. It also helps get a head start on the PT.
ya no doubt on that one. heal up man! I tore my labrum last year and that was a good 6 months of healing. Didnt require surgery though. I was still able to ride mildly without any pain and actually used very easy indoor rock climbing as part of my physical therapy to keep some range of motion. I'm still stretching it daily to get full range back though.
+1. I did this exactly and luckily i am still waiting on my front wheel to be built. If not for that wheel, i'd probably already be trying to get some miles in on the dirt when i should be sticking to the trainer. Take your time to heal. In the end, you'll look back and forget about the pain that you endured for so long.
I did the same but was actually fortunate that I did some damage to the humeral head as well. The doc wouldn't operate for three months to let the humeral head repair itself, and when he went in with the scope, discovered that the rotator cuff was healed, Couldn't do anything about the torn bicep tendon. Because he didn't have to repair the labrum, I didn't have to have my arm immobilized and could ride again six weeks after surgery. The whole process turned me into part-time roadie. I borrowed a spare road bike from a friend before the surgery because riding the mountain bike hurt. That bike on a borrowed trainer after surgery helped keep my legs in half-decent shape. Ended up buying that road bike and now ride it once a week or so. I recommend a trainer or finding some spin classes for the time you can't ride. The loss of strength really sucks. Once I got past the rehab and started getting back in the gym in earnest, i was really frustrated. So much so that I didn't set foot in a gym for six months. I'm paying for it now!
+1,000 Lower back & rotator cuff stretches every morning for me. Good luck on your healing and rehab.
