This is my first time posting, though I have been looking at this site for months. It has helped me significantly to prepare for surgery and to make valuable decisions along this journey. I am very grateful for those of you who have shared your experiences. Thank you!!!

I have had it easier than most on this site, which has made me hesitant to tell my story. But if there's anyone who has similar symptoms or a similar surgery experience, I thought it may be good to have my story in the mix.

In October of 2010, I came to terms with the fact that I had a shoulder injury (and at the time a knee injury too). I'm an active guy - 37 years old and I like to jog, play sports, and rock climb. My injury seemed to be unique. I could do pushups, and even pullups, but anytime I tried to bring my arm behind my body, it was incredibly painful and difficult. For example, if I tried to throw a football, I could only throw with about 5-10% strength, and a great deal of pain. I couldn't even swing a Wii remote to play with my kids. Anytime my arm brought weight back behind my body, I had major problems, whether it was above my body or at the waist made no difference ... no dislocations, though.

I saw my doctor and he sent me on to an ortho. Due to not wanting to burn my deductible late in the year, I waited until Feb to have the two MRIs done. My knee needed physical therapy. My shoulder needed surgery. The MRI showed a type 2 slap tear. My doc was awesome and explained everything well to me. Because I still had a decent range of motion, he wanted me to try physical therapy with injections first.

For 3 months after the injections I did PT at home and was careful with my arm - no heavy lifting, no throwing, etc... My arm responded really well. I'd say I got back to about 80%. But as soon as I put real-life strain back on the arm, it returned to its original bad state within a few days ... confirmation for surgery. Bummer. I have five kids (all boys), so the thought of doing life without a right arm for several weeks/months was a rather daunting thought.

I had the surgery December 1st, 2011. My scheduled surgeries were a SLAP repair and a bicep tenodesis. I prepared a little "nest" for myself in our basement where I planned spending the next few weeks in a recliner.

I woke up from the surgery (in a daze, of course) and found out that they had not done the intended surgeries. They did a debridement of damaged tissue (arthroscopic subacromial decompressions), along with a removal of some bone (bursectomy). He told me there was quite a lot of damaged tissue to be removed, specifically bursal tissues. I had no anchors placed, and technically no "repairs" were done.

What does this mean for recovery?

Day 1 - Surgery at 7am. Home before Noon. Right arm completely dead from nerve block. I was in and out all afternoon. My wife is a saint. I took some Vicodin before the nerve block wore off as per people's advice here. By midnight I could move my fingers slightly. The nerve block was crazy weird. I didn't care much for having my brain separated from my right hand, but I'll take the lack of pain. I felt good enough that night to sleep on my back in a bed. I didn't end up sleeping in a recliner, but I can't say it was a restful night.

Week 1 - I stopped taking Vicodin on day 2. Ibuprofen was enough, though the pain was definitely there. I worked 4 times a day on range of motion. I was surprised at how quickly my range of motion came back, though it took constantly working through the pain to keep it there. Showering was a pain in the butt that first week. We figured out a way to cut up a ziploc freezer bag and duct tape it around me so that it created a water barrier. I spent the first 3 days sitting down, but after that it helped to be up and around. I wore out easily, but it's hard for me to sit. I tried not to nap during the day, but I was sleeping 11 hours at night. I was back in my normal bed after about 6 days.

At my followup appointment (Dec 6), things looked good. I had a nearly full range of motion by that point. My doc said that I had no limitations and that I needed to let the pain be my guide as to what I should or shouldn't do. He told me to stop taking ibuprofen when I was ready. I went to PT afterwards. My PT was awesome. Even thought there was a good deal of pain, it felt good to stretch more and start the workout process.

Week 4 (as I'm writing this) - I have been shocked at how fast everything has moved, but that's because I did not have the SLAP repair surgery done as my doc originally thought. I'm lifting light weights, doing yoga most mornings and working through the pain. I have had light back pain as long as I can remember. The exercises for my shoulder have made my back pain disappear (who knew???). This process has helped me realize how important it is to work out all those muscles in your back and shoulders and not just to pick a few. Yoga has been great for that.

I still have pain. Lots of ice, but I'm measuring the improvement in weeks instead of months. I went back to work in a week (had planned being out for at least 3). I could play guitar after 10 days. I'm hoping to be doing some light climbing at the end of 7 weeks. I'm being careful to listen to my doc and PT for their advice before moving to quickly.

Most of the damaged tissue and work on my shoulder was on top, which is what explains why the throwing motion was the worst for me. I am unbelievably grateful to not have undergone the surgeries I was expecting to. This hasn't been easy, but it is far exceeding my expectations.

The only complication from surgery was some nerve damage in my right side, in my neck. My surgery was 4 weeks ago and my right ear still feels a little numb and cold. Sometimes there is shooting pain up my neck into my right ear. (The pain starts at the spot where they injected the nerve block and stretches up across my neck.) It was intense at first, especially the first week, but it is settling down with time. My doc said it's likely I have some nerve damage and that it will simply slowly get better. His only concern was if it started to get worse. Though it's gotten better, it's odd to feel like my right ear is cold 4 weeks post op. But it is getting better.

I'm feeling like my story is likely the best case scenario. It's still work, but the PT and recovery is going quickly. I'm looking forward to being able to use my shoulder the way I could in the good 'ol days, and throwing a football with my kiddos. Maybe by this spring.

Blessings to you all - I do hope your recovery goes well, no matter what stage you're at. I've learned that prayer and good cookin' go a long way, and my wife's done a lot of both of those things, so I'm a blessed man. Thank you all for sharing your lives in a way that helps other people along their journey. Be well!

They did a debridement of damaged tissue (arthroscopic subacromial decompressions), along with a removal of some bone (bursectomy).

That is a GREAT story! So glad your surgeon didn't do more than needed - so often they do more, or even do surgery, when it isn't necessary, leading to issues that didn't need to happen.

BTW, the bursa is a fluid filled sac that can become inflamed - called bursitis. The bursa can be removed if inflamed and will grow back. It is not bone. They may have burred down some bone on the acromion if it was rough.

well done you i wished i could say the same thing, but 4 more weeks before i even know what has been done, now and again i have a severe pain in one ear, and it feels like its pouring with blood/warm liquid but it isnt, slowly this is getting better .... as for the movement at this moment in time i would rather have popeye arm than go through what i have lol..... good luck and i hope you still keep improving, all the best steve

Awesome story, it's good to have positives on this site to go with the negatives

Gives hope!

riderk - thank you for the correction. It's likely I misunderstood the distinction there as he was explaining them. He described an archway that the tendon passes through (I am unaware of what it is called), and they removed some bone from that archway to allow it to pass more clearly. Thanks for explaining the bursa.

Well, I have been through the wringer 4 times, and came out irreparably damaged. So I have learned a lot. No more hope, no getting better, have to adjust to a life of constant pain. Lately I've been compared to people with polio or 10 failed back surgeries by surgeons & medical docs. OK, then. Plenty of people live like this with no help or relief, and I will join them now and give up.