So i was going to play through my pain so i wouldnt have to lose my sophmore basketball season as a starting guard. Turns out that there is a change in plans. My parents finally let me have the surgery, and I realized, as much as I wanted to deny it, (and still do) that I know I wouldn't have made it through. I am in so much pain all of the time and can't imagine waiting another whole year to do this and start my recovery. Everyone that I've talked to also thinks that this is the right decision, and I know it is but its really hard for my to except. The other day when I walked into the gym and saw the hoops down and my coach, I started crying. He said that I can see still be a part of the team and be involved with literally everything, but its hard because I don't want just that... But its getting easier through time, and especially when the really bad pain comes on I know that I'm making the right decision and that I'll be back for aau and the next couple of seasons to come, as well as hopefully a college career. So I'm scheduled for surgery in 22 days, and ready to get the recovery process on its way. I wasn't scared for surgery at all, but the more I think about it the more i get nervous about certain things like getting my blood take at my doctor's. I usually get very woozy and they have to lie me down so I don't faint. Plus I absolutely hate the pressure feeling when they take the blood and then the needle out:( But that will be over soon enough, and then I will be on to my next worry-the effects of the anesthesia because my grandma throws up all over when she has it, then pain afterwards and how badly my hygiene will suffer haha, and the pain! the surgery itself i'm really not worried about because I know how good the surgeon is and I trust him. And although I hate the IV part I've had my fair share already, so that should also be a piece of cake. I have a recliner, and i'm pretty decent at writing with my left hand for school, but any other tips or comments would be great! My friend is also getting this surgery the same day as me, with the same doctor, at the same place just different times:) so that will help haha.
I am a long time weight lifter, fire fighter, swimmer, and I love to do pull ups every day. My shoulders have gotten a lot of use at age 43. I had long standing bicep tendonitis (5-6 years) which had required several ineffective cortisone shots. In December of 2009 I got a partial tear of my left bicep tendon while doing a set of pull ups. I also had mild impingement syndrome. On June 15 2010 I had surgery at Stanford by a sports oriented orthopedic surgeon who performed a bicep tenodesis, SLAP repair, humeral head microfracture, acromoplasty, bursectomy, synovectomy. I had a grade IV cartilage lesion of the humeral head (so all the way to the bone) and a grade III chondral lesion of the glenoid which had not shown up on the MRI. The doctor also said that for some reason the cartilage on the humeral head was very "loose" and not well attached to the bone. The micro fracture is meant to get some fibrocartilage to take the place of the lost cartilage and to attach the other cartilage back to the humeral head. The Dr. was so concerned about the humeral head cartilage issue that the bicep tenodesis, SLAP repair, acromoplasty really became secondary to the microfracture.
Ten years ago I had my left shoulder done...now it's time for the right side.
pt updates
By jwookie,
on 15-07-2010 20:53
seventh week post-op coming up. I have been doing PT for 4 days now. Am now pushing against the wall more like a punching from front and then elbow against the wall. Thats for the initial strength. Am supposed to take easy for now. The ROM for the elbow has to go from 30 degrees to 45 degrees in the coming 2 weeks. Also I got to literally pick my arm more than 90 degrees.
All this does not involve any shoulder external movements, just small baby steps to get the muscles moving and getting used to real life.
6th week post-op
By jwookie,
on 13-07-2010 21:34
Yesterday was my first PT session . Started on two exercises. Hand on which surgery was done movement is limited (actually its not there at all). Hoping that at the end of the long PT it will get back to normal. I do PT sessions twice a week and at home do it 3 times a day.
Currently I lie down with face up and slowly try to lift my surgical hand with the other hand and try to make it 90 degrees.
Another one lying down face up I try to move my elbow to 30 degrees. This will gradually increase over a period of time.
Will try to get the technical names of these excersizes
Post Op tips for girls :]
By Jasmine Culwick,
on 08-07-2010 01:07
The first week after surgery is probably the most difficult. I found it toughputting on a bra, so what I did was I cut the strap of the affected shoulder and used a sports bra. Then I just stepped into it and slid it on. Thought it was a pretty neat tip, it did wonders for me because I didn't have to move my shoulder when it was very painful.
My name is Jasmine and I injured my right shoulder playing softball last year. I went to dive for a ground ball during a game and I heard a pop.Surprisingly, I partially dislocated my arm and was never aware,and went a whole year without saying anything about it. Next season rolls around and the excessive throwing quickly became very painfull.To all softball players:If your shoulder hurts, don't throw with it! Sitting out for two weeks beats four or five months! I went to my primary doctor who didn't think it was anything serious, so he just gave me a cortizone injection and some ib profuen. Two weeks later the pain would not subside, so again I went back to the same doctor. They took x-rays and then referred me to an orthopedic surgeon. I had to wait a whole two months before I could even get an appointment! When I went in for the consultation he said that I could possibly have a SLAP tear, and that I would have to get an MRI done to see if there was a ny abnormality. Six weeks later I went and had the MRI scan done, and the contrast dye injections really sucked! :( Eight days later I had another appointment with the surgeon, and he said I had torn my labrum completely through, and that I would need surgery. Surgery day rolls around(same day as my High School Graduation, go figure right? There were issues with the insurance company so they couldn't do it any other day) I remember waking up and being in quite a bit of pain so I went home and slept.
