Yep, the MRI results were not good. Displaced biceps tendon and it’s accompanying sub scapularis tendon tear. What I need is clarification of whether it is a Partial Thickness Tear, or a Partial Full Thickness Tear. That will color my decision on when to have the surgery. Either way, I’m looking at major activity restrictions for 6-8 weeks, and a ban on lifting anything on the left side for 12 weeks.
I am either having surgery in April, or October. I want to lose at little ground on my fitness as possible during the restricted period. I will be able to ride my recumbent using a rear wheel trainer as soon as I can get on/off it myself, and should be able to road ride once I am out of the pillow/sling combo around 6-8wks post op. I will have limited ability to do resistance training until I begin formal PT at 12 weeks.
I am looking for suggestions for what strength training I can do post operatively to maintain what strength I have built up this winter. I am thinking body weight squats, rear leg elevates split squats(with or without a dumbell in the right hand), walking, cycling, crunches, leg lifts and maybe glute bridges. Planks will be out, unless I can manage one arm front planks.
I had a shoulder done in 2005 (to fix a torn labrum, which is the cartilage that holds the ball in the socket), and they had me doing stationary bike, leg presses, and limited range-of-motion almost immediately after surgery. I was 22 at the time. I did have to wait to rebuild my upper body strength, because I couldn’t do anything other than range-of-motion with my right arm for 6 weeks, but I was “full up” within 5 months, including running, lifting, and scuba diving.
Age, injury, and the type of surgery (open or keyhole) will play a factor in recovery, but you should be able to do legs, some core, and limited non-impact cardio to at least maintain some level of fitness. Shoulder surgery isn’t a picnic to recover from, but if surgery is recommended, I wouldn’t wait- you will only be tempting fate later in life when recovery is more difficult.
I’d say you’re on the right track with post-op exercises. Use this time to really focus on leg development. The only exercise I’d try to add is pistol squats, if you can manage them. They should be quite challenging without any additional weight.
I thought about trying to learn pistol squats, but balance would be an issue. I also lack access to a leg press.
Seven helmet, this is my second shoulder rodeo. I had pretty much the same thing done in 2009 on the other side. However now I am over 50. That means I will heal more slowly.
Once released to start picking things up and putting them down again, I want to use the occlusion training that Will linked, as it is betting used in rehab settings. I an hoping it will help speed healing some and regaining strength.
I hope that this isn’t a highjack, but I’ve been following the shoulder threads for several days since I’m going to have to have the rotator cuff reattached in my left shoulder on Thursday morning. I understood from the doc’s explanation that the part of the humerus where the rotator cuff attaches broke off and is floating around, and the doc is also going to detach/reattach the bicep tendon on that side because it’s shredded. He’s also going to shave out some arthritis build-up (I’m 51) since he’ll be in there. I fell on some ice Friday before last and went to the doc only after having gutted out the weekend. I figured the doc would tell me it’s just bruised and banged and to suck it up, but x-rays and an MRI later confirmed the damage. I’m not looking forward to this…
I’m going to follow along here and get back into the gym ASAP for leg work and whatever else I can do. Anyone been through the rotator cuff ordeal? Any advice, words of wisdom, cautions?
No hijack at all afff, feel free to post in this thread. This isn’t my first shoulder rebuild, so feel free to PM me. I’m just trying to figure out when to have mine done. I suspect I will get stuck having an open large incision, though my doc did say he sometimes is able to repair my type of injuries with just arthroscopy. However, his most telling comment was, “They all start out arthroscopic!”
Talked with the doc’s office some more today. It’s a partial thickness undersurface tear at the insertion with a partial dislocation of the biceps tendon. Doc says operate sooner not later, and to stay conservative (ie: no shoulder weight work (no OPH, no bench)) and try not to damage it more.
So with that in mind, I guess the surgery will be in mid/late April, and until then I will refrain from Benchpress, OHP, any heavy biceps work (I will use light weight high rep and occlusion on biceps), try to keep on top of the pushups, and see if I can continue the pull ups at least until surgery. I did find that I CAN do one-armed front planks, so I will be keeping that one in the post op routine. Squats should be ok, and I will think about the deadlifts. I want to keep progressing on deads, but I also don’t want to cause any more damage, though the damage is NOT due to lifting–It’s bugged me for years. Just lifting caused additional inflammation, and pain, which led me to get the MRI.
A week and a day in from repair of a sever rotator cuff tear and bicep tendon detach/reattach and I hate the entire world. Physical therapist says that’s probably par for the course. Pain meds really screw me up with hallucinations and I can’t sleep for more than an hour or so at a time. **** this.
Oh man, aff, I know your pain. If they put you on oxy or perco, that @$&#! will mess with your mind. I am refusing to take it when I get my repair done. I had 'em put that in my chart. I’ll make do with Tylenol 4 and naproxen. I’m suprised they have you in pt so soon. I don’t get any pt for 6-8 weeks at least. I know that up front.
I wish I could remember how long it was before I drove again, post op. I remember I slept flat on my back for a month, under a woobie, because sheets and blankets were too heavy. The heating pad was my best friend for nighttime pain relief. How many bone anchors did you get? I do remember driving, while still in the pillow and sling, so in my case I was driving in less than 8 weeks. Probably inside of 3wks, as I wasn’t on any scrip meds.
I had shoulder surgery September 2013. Aside from PT I could not do squat with the affected arm until February, and was not declared 100% until September of last year. Even today I can tweak it the wrong way and it’ll remind me I had surgery. I slept in a recliner for 8 weeks, sling, ice machine, the whole enchilada. If you choose to not do the surgery route, get a really good physical therapist, one with a sports med-type of background as they will understand how to supplement with exercises so you can remain active.
Flyinghunter on here is a PT, gave me lots of good gouge when I went under the knife.
Seven bone anchors: 1 in the bicep tendon; 3 on major part of the cuff; 3 on minor part of cuff - pardon the terminology. I went to therapy today, and it sucked. Doc visit went well, and I should be able to drop the sling at the end of April. That’s a long way from now…
I stopped the narcotic pain meds last week. All of the negative side effects, according to the doc today, were likely tied to those. I have slept better the past couple of nights, and he suggested some alternative, natural sleep aids instead of some kind of Rx. We’ll see how it goes…
I’ve had my left shoulder rebuilt twice (shredded labrum each time, just bad luck getting a second go-round). I can’t take the Rx pain medication at all, I tried the stuff they prescribed but I’m not a good candidate for that stuff.
Good luck with your shoulder, I found the every-other-day trip to the physical therapist helpful, albeit painful.