Guys, I had a type 2 repair in Jan 2006. At the time, there was a cartilage defect on the humeral head (small but worrisome nonetheless) that was debrided. I wish the guy had done microfracture to it but he doesn't believe in the procedure. At any rate, having had the same thing done (without a cartilag problem) to the other shoulder a while before the right one, I can tell you that either it's the cartilage problem or a continuing problem with the labrum that makes me think my right shoulder is still damaged.

I get weird popping noises from the right shoulder every now and then. I can workout with problems, but certain daily activities (holding a baby with the right arm) feels uncomfortable.

The bottom line is that I had localized arthritis when the shoulder was scoped. I'll have problems associated with this from time to time, and might need another surgery down the road.

If someone dislocated their shoulder a number of times, as one of you stated happened, there's no doubt going to be a defect as well. I read a paper that demonstrated a 40% rate of defect occurrence in first-time dislocaters.

I don't make these statements to get anyone upset. Rather, I hope that you'll be able to work with your surgeons on addressing the cartilage defects if you should undergo further work down the road. Some docs will microfracture a shoulder, some won't. It doesn't destroy anything, and if you have a chance to get it done by someone who's good, you might as well pick them over someone who tells you upfront that it is not in their repertoire. I wish I had known about this issue prior to having my shoulder scoped.

Good luck!

hi. i'm 10 [going on 11] weeks post slap2 repair ; haven't been bodyboarding since my op. ; ...too scared to undo repair; bought a decline bench so i can keep/get my core muscles in shape; can't bear much weight with my left [operated on] arm ;from what i've researched 'full loading' is not ok at 10wks; seems this is a long process [pain in the butt...sometimes i feel like a cripple!]

Question for ctweigh.. I had a slap repair with 3 anchors, front and back capsule shift 16 weeks post op now. I was not allowed to get back in the water until 6 weeks. Then it was only floating on a kickboard for a week. Advanced to using good arm with a kickbaord. Now at 16 weeks I am allowed to use both arms to do breast stroke, and the one armed crawl. I can do 45 laps with no problems now. My question is your OS says he can get you back in the water at 3 months.. What will you be able to do in the water at 3 months. I cannot imagine paddling with surgical arm at 3 months. I would ask him what you will be allowed to do at certian milestones..I am not sure about the clicking and grinding. I have had my shoulder sort of pop, but it did for several years even before the surgery...I am very loose jointed I have been told, so it doesn't surprise me when my joints make noise. I sound like rice crispies walking across the floor. Toes and knees popping... I do wish you the best of luck...

Well, surfer, to me the general consensus is that 3 months is too soon to expect to surf. I'm not trying to be negative nay-sayer, but just recommending that you take a look at this surgery realistically and are prepared for a long recovery. It sucks, but you'll probably be better off planning for a lot longer before you're functionally able to surf. My surgeon gave me high hopes too and I was pretty depressed when they didn't come true (and what I was reading on slap tear was actually more like my recovery).

From what I'm hearing here looks like it's going to be longer than 3 months, Have the surgery scheduled for September 3rd, Can't surf like I used to anyways with this jacked up shoulder so I am just going to take a leap of faith and get it done. Been longboarding a bunch so I will just enjoy it while I can. Any Golfers in here? when could you guys hit the links again?