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Shoulder Surgery?!

C

Carbo

Diamond Member
I posted about my bum shoulder about five weeks ago here.
Finally, we had the MRI done, and the results came back on Friday. Turns out that in addition to the tendinitis/impingement syndrome problem that originally brought me in to the doc, the MRI also revealed a frayed labrum. That explains why the shoulder pain was not limited to one area of the joint, but was painful all through the shoulder area.
The surgery is optional, of course. The pain and pinging is persistent, but not to the point where I can't live with it. Problem is, as long as I have the pain and the frayed labrum cartilage, it won't get any better. Tendinitis will ease off as I lay off the exercise. In fact, that's feeling better with my not doing any lifting for the past month. But the fraying won't heal itself. And as long as the cartilage is in that condition the pain will be present, and I can forget about any sort of lifting or serious workouts.
So, I can live with it as is, and adjust my exercise habits to my old man's shoulder. Or, I could go for the surgery, deal with all the aggravation that causes, and once healed up be as good as new.
Anyone been through shoulder surgery before? Is there a doctor in the house? Should I just retire to the old folks home and forget my efforts at being America's Sexiest Senior?
 
I had it this past Wednesday. I had a bad fall back in February and they finally got around to letting me have surgery. I had broken my humerus but what the Xray didn't show was that there was a bone chip biting into my muscle, my rotator cuff was screwed up and there was swelling in the muscle.

A MRI showed the REAL damage.

So, I got wheeled into the operating room and I went to la la land.

The doctor had explained that he would attempt to do the whole thing arthroscopically but if he could not he would have to make an incision to repair the rotator cuff. He was able to do it using the former method.

I assume that the operation was done on schedule (1:00 PM) and I woke up about 4:00 P.M. screaming for food since I had not eaten for 23 hours.

They had me hooked up to morphine so there wasn't too much pain. Early the next morning they sent me home.

Pain... I have three holes in my shoulder and they hurt all of the time. Even worse when I am lying down. So bad that I tried to sleep in a chair last night but gave up because I couldn't fall asleep.

THe doctor prescribed Vicodin for pain but I refused it. It simply doesn't work for me so I am going without. All it does is constipate me. A stool softener fixes me up fine.

I woke up after surgery with my arm in a sling and still use it.

Give up on being America's Sexiest Senior. I am 70 and already hold that title.
 
Talk in depth with your doctor, and see what posible problems you might run into with or without the surgery.

Ask yourself some questions.
Do you want to live with it or try to fix it?
Is the short term aggrevation of surgery worth a long term fix?
 
I have to make a decision along these lines as well. My shoulder has been hurting very badly for about 1.5 years and now that I can afford to take care of the problem...
 
just make sure you go to a great surgeon. i know some that are horrendous in the OR. seriously read up on the surgeon before even thinking about the surgery.
 
What caused the injury to your shoulder? I'm just curious because sometimes when I lift (inclined bench presses) I get a twinge in my shoulder. I don't do inclined presses anymore because I just know if I keep doing it I am going to damage something.
 
As one old guy with a bum shoulder to another, I would get it fixed, if I had insurance that is, which I don't, so I wont. 🙁
 
I would get it fixed too if I were you. I had cronic dislocations and had a Bandhardt procedure done in 1998. I am very glad that I did. My problem was not the same as yours and I am by no means some pro-surgery person, but living with a bad shoulder is a real hardship. Get it fixed, if you want to come to NYC, the doc that did my surgery is supposed to be one of the best.
 
Seems the consensus is to slice and dice and be done with it. Well, I'll be getting a second opinion tomorrow with a doc who comes highly recommended. In fact, both docs leave me feeling warm and fuzzy. I'm not concerned with them doing the right thing. My concern is the hassle of wearing a sling, post op BS, etc. I'll listen to what tomorrow's doc says, and then go from there.
Will any of you be visiting? Cooking for me? Sending flowers, at least??
 
Originally posted by: Carbo
Seems the consensus is to slice and dice and be done with it. Well, I'll be getting a second opinion tomorrow with a doc who comes highly recommended. In fact, both docs leave me feeling warm and fuzzy. I'm not concerned with them doing the right thing. My concern is the hassle of wearing a sling, post op BS, etc. I'll listen to what tomorrow's doc says, and then go from there.
Will any of you be visiting? Cooking for me? Sending flowers, at least??
Click to expand...

They have you on pain meds already?! 😉
 
For those of you who have had a shoulder surgery... how long did it take you to recover full functionality? Did you recover full functionality?
 
Originally posted by: Carbo
Seems the consensus is to slice and dice and be done with it. Well, I'll be getting a second opinion tomorrow with a doc who comes highly recommended. In fact, both docs leave me feeling warm and fuzzy. I'm not concerned with them doing the right thing. My concern is the hassle of wearing a sling, post op BS, etc. I'll listen to what tomorrow's doc says, and then go from there.
Will any of you be visiting? Cooking for me? Sending flowers, at least??
Click to expand...

We'll send flowers.:thumbsup:
 
They have you on pain meds already?!
Click to expand...
No. But, I'm on them anyway.
We'll send flowers.
Click to expand...
I would think that's the least you guys can do for me.
For those of you who have had a shoulder surgery... how long did it take you to recover full functionality? Did you recover full functionality?
Click to expand...
Good question. My doc told me from surgery to 100% recovery should be two months. Maybe more if, once he's in there, a few unexpected surprises should appear.
 
I'd do it just so I could continue to work out after I heal. Plus why live with pain the rest of your live if you don't have too?
 
Originally posted by: Red Dawn
I'd do it just so I could continue to work out after I heal. Plus why live with pain the rest of your live if you don't have too?
Click to expand...

Mike, people who have not experienced this pain have no clue. If you know the pain scale-- my pain has been between 6 and 10 since Feb 19th. Who could live with that?

I never thought that I would look forward to surgery with such anticipation.
 
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