Karen~ Did they do a bicep tenodesis last surgery? That is interesting that your repair did not heal either. Did they have an explaination? Everyday I keep hoping the pain will go away but it doesn't. I don't know that it hurt this bad before the last surgery. The doctor I saw yesterday (not an OS) said to not let the pain go and to get something done sooner rather than later because it is going to be a major problem later in life. My OS is a great guy but I never really know what he is thinking and I feel like a pain in the ass always calling but I am beyond the point of enough is enough. I swear there are times when I just want to rip it off because it is so hard to have a normal life with it hurting. I can't even put on a shirt with a sleeve yet without getting severe pain...thank god it has been in the 90s not sure what I would do if I lived somewhere cold. I can't remember...is it the same doctor doing all 3 surgeries?

Tennisgirl-Yes, I had a tendonesis the last surgery. Doc had no reason as to why it didn't heal. He said it happens in some people but they don't know why. He also told me my shoulder doesn't like the surgery. The second time he went in the tissue was red and inflamed. That was 18 months after the first surgery. I also create too much scar tissue that doesn't help things. I got a second opinion thank god. My doc that did the first two surgeries was at a loss for why I hurt so bad.

I know what you mean about the pain. I just want to cut my arm off when it gets bad. Today out of no where it just started aching. Going to hit the tramadol tonight so I can sleep. The aleve hasn't done too much but I'm going to try for a few more days.

Did you ever consider another opinion? I wasn't going to but my doc couldn't do anything else for me. So glad I did now.

Try to have a good night,
Karen

Karen~ That is the same thing that happened with my first surgery. When they went in ten months later the my posterior anchor healed but the anterior one had red and inflammed tissue all around it and it did not heal. I also had synovitis. Did they do a SLAP repair with anchors your first time around? If so how many anchors and how many did not heal? Did the tendonesis heal? I am on my third doctor at the moment. The first doctor could not figure out what was wrong then sent me to a second who went in thinking debridment and I came out with two anchors and some shaving of the suprasinatus tendon. He gave up six months later and referred me to another doctor but I chose to go with a guy in another city. That OS went in thinking he was going to release the posterior capsule and do a SAD and he ended up replacing the anchor, doing the SAD, releasing multiple contractures, debriding scar tissue and doing a glenohumeral synovectomy and releasing the CA ligament. Last time I saw him he said I had bicep tendonitis based on the bicep pain and when he went to inject the capsule could barely get the needle in and comment wow there is a lot of scar tissue. He stopped PT and gave me voltaren gel and oral voltaren. It felt better two days after the injection and then the fourth day it started hurting bad again when I took off my coat. I really don't know what to do at this point because he doesn't want to see me until December but I know that something is not right based on what I am feeling. I have tons of pain in my armpit area and it is very tender to the touch on the anterior part of my shoulder where the anchor repair was placed. My scapula also hurts. That on top of finding out my thyroid is out of wack (which the endocrinologist thinks is from 4 surgeries in 3 years). She could not believe all the things I have going on at my age. I'm definately feeling like a freak at this point. I don't know if I should pressure the OS to do something (what I have no idea) or refer me or just wait this out and pray it gets better. Any advice? I feel like just waiting this out is taking away time in my life I could be active and be enjoying it and I don't think not doing anything in regards to PT is helping with the scar tissue issues. I try to do PT at home but I can only inflict so much pain on myself and stretch it so much.

Sorry to ramble...just feel confused and lost. I am glad they figured yours out. You must be excited (not the right word but you know what I mean) to be getting this taken care of. Best of luck to you.

Wow, I had synovitis also. Looks like our shoulders react the same to this surgery. I had two anchors for the slap repair. It healed fine. It was just the rotator cuff that never healed even though anchor/sutures were intact. I had quite a bit of scar tissue removed also. I'm sure the doc will check the tendonesis and everything else when he is in there. I have stopped Pt since it wasn't helping any.

I know that feeling of being lost and confused. I didn't know what I was going to do especially when my doc said he was at a loss. I am having real pain and there had to be a reason. I really hope they can do something for you. I know what it is like to be in pain all the time. I used to be very active before all this started. I have gain weight and feel I can't work out because of the pain. I am very bummed I won't be able to ski again this year. hopefully this will be it and I can get my life back.

Take Care,
Karen

Karen~ I used to ski when I lived back east but since moving to the desert haven't had much of a chance...considering it was 92 today in november (but thankgod because I can't get much on besides a tanktop still). I wouldn't exactly call it lucky, but I haven't gained weight from not being able to work out because my overactive thyroid is causing my metabolism to be really high.

Why did they do the tenodesis? Did you have bicep tendonitis that wouldn't heal? Wonder what they do if the SLAP repair doesn't heal a second time? I emailed the doctor's nurse today telling her about when I took my coat off I still have the severe bicep pain and also said I felt like there was still something wrong since it feels just like it did before surgery. She responds by saying "the doctor says to give it time and be careful when you take your coat off." with a big smiley face at the end. I appreciate that they got back to me quickly but it just reinforced the idea that they truly do not know what it is like to be in this much misery and be told to sit and wait. I don't know what the answer is but this is ruining my life. Sorry about always sounding like a complainer...

Don't ever feel like a complainer. What your feeling is real. I know it is not easy to live with pain...I'm right there with you. I only wish you could find an office that could get to the cause of your pain.

The tendonesis was done because the surgeon found my bicep tendon was torn and inflamed when he went back in the second time. I believe this was from psycho therapist.

I wish I could do something for you. It is not fun living with that pain. I have been on the Aleve for almost a week now. It seems to have made my pain more tolerable now. I have only used the tramadol once this week. It could also be that I have stopped PT which I think may have aggravated it more than helped. There has to be a doc that can help you out there. The trick is to find them.

Feel Better,
Karen