Upcoming shoulder surgery

StrokeofLuck

StrokeofLuck

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
So I went down hard playing basketball a couple of months ago and have had ongoing shoulder pain and weakness since. I went to the dr. a couple of times and he recommended an MRI on my second visit after the Cortisone didn’t have the effect he thought it would. It turns out I have a 3 cm rotator cuff tear that will require surgery in a couple of weeks. After that I’m looking at 6 weeks in a sling and a 6-12 month timeframe to fully recover. I’m really dreading the recovery and being a bow hunter too my goal is to be able to shoot my bow by mid-September. And yes I’ve finally given in to the fact that at 49 I’m probably too old to be on the b-ball court at 6 in the morning.
I was just wondering if there are any AZers that have had this done and how it affected the pool game. Right now I can play fine and only feel a twinge when I break. Certain movements otherwise are pretty bad though, like I can’t even lift a milk carton into the fridge with that arm
Anyway I’m looking for some words of encouragement if you’ve been through this and wondering how long before I can hit some pool balls after the sling comes off. Right before surgery I’m going to send my Huebler to Ryan at RAT cues and get a stack leather wrap installed to give me something to look forward to when during my recovery.
 
19 instead of 49

Sometime in my late teens I tore up my left shoulder about as thoroughly as you can do it. A hard fall off a motorcycle onto my left shoulder at seventy-eighty miles an hour in a t-shirt and using my left shoulder against a stump to break my fall when I flew off of a running horse. I was riding bareback and a cow horse made a quick stop and half turn. I didn't even slow down!

These two deals happened a few weeks apart. Shortly afterwards I went to do some standing presses and the shoulder fell out of place. It went back in place as easily as it fell out, nothing to hold it. No option, a cut almost three-quarters of the way around my shoulder to repair it back then.

This was the shoulder of my bridge arm. I was told to use a sling for 6 weeks too. In the meantime I found a nightly ring game that had some pretty good money in it. The very day the doctor told me I could take my arm out of the sling, I busted that ring game that night. I had been itching for weeks.

Supposedly my shoulder was as strong as ever once fully healed and I have driven late models and sprint cars, broke horses, climbed iron over three hundred feet tall working construction, pulled 150 pound buckets up over a hundred feet using a rope hand over hand, and done most anything else you can think of with no difficulty from the shoulder. Of course I have shot many thousands of hours of pool. My shoulder was torn up enough I was told there would be some arthritis in five or ten years however the shoulder might ache once or twice a year otherwise I don't notice it and that repair work was done more decades ago than I like to think about.

With a little luck this will be fixed and forgotten. I don't think it will have any long term effect on your pool game. My surgery did help my one handed play considerably!

Hu



StrokeofLuck said:
So I went down hard playing basketball a couple of months ago and have had ongoing shoulder pain and weakness since. I went to the dr. a couple of times and he recommended an MRI on my second visit after the Cortisone didn’t have the effect he thought it would. It turns out I have a 3 cm rotator cuff tear that will require surgery in a couple of weeks. After that I’m looking at 6 weeks in a sling and a 6-12 month timeframe to fully recover. I’m really dreading the recovery and being a bow hunter too my goal is to be able to shoot my bow by mid-September. And yes I’ve finally given in to the fact that at 49 I’m probably too old to be on the b-ball court at 6 in the morning.
I was just wondering if there are any AZers that have had this done and how it affected the pool game. Right now I can play fine and only feel a twinge when I break. Certain movements otherwise are pretty bad though, like I can’t even lift a milk carton into the fridge with that arm
Anyway I’m looking for some words of encouragement if you’ve been through this and wondering how long before I can hit some pool balls after the sling comes off. Right before surgery I’m going to send my Huebler to Ryan at RAT cues and get a stack leather wrap installed to give me something to look forward to when during my recovery.
Click to expand...
 
Sorry to hear that man, hope te surgery goes well and you would recover soon. Maybe a bit of light physical therapy after you are out of the sling might help you recover faster. I'm not expert though. If it is in your right shoulder, guess it gives you all the reason to learn how to shoot with your left hand. :) Good luck buddy!

happy shooting! :)

Chino
 
Good luck with the surgery...hope you get back to 100%

I'm guessing I will have to hit the surgery table for my shoulders in a few years. After years of powerlifting my shoulders are toasted and getting worse and the fact that I sleep on my side doesn't help matters one bit. I was practicing the other week and after breaking one time I felt a pain in my shoulder bad enough that my arm just hung limp at my side for a few minutes after.

If I could train myself to sleep on my back I might be able to save myself a few extra years, but I'm guessing that is just prolonging the inevitable.
 
I had this surgery April 17 two years ago. In the end i could not be happier. I'm back 100%. I was back to 100% in about 6 to 8 months. Maybe it was earlier.

I'll tell you my recovery was due to my commitment to physical therapy. Having a great dr and pt dr was key too. But in the end it is YOU who has to suck up the pain and do you PT everyday! If you do, i promise you will be back faster and stronger then you will ever think.

I'm now stronger and more flexible in my repaired shoulder then in the other.

Sorry you have to go through this, I will not lie, IT IS VERY PAINFUL, but commit now, tell yourself you're committed to get better and you will.

good luck.
 
StrokeofLuck,
I had rotator cuff surgery three years ago at the age of fifty and am doing great.Get them to let you go to physical therapy as soon as possible.The sooner you start movement the better,at six to eight weeks of following my physical therapist's instructions to the letter I was hitting balls again although taking it easy breaking.At three to four months I felt like I had a new shoulder.
BEST OF LUCK
 
cbi1000 said it best - all boils down to your commitment to PT - had surgery on a Tues and was at PT on Fri - as your PT progesses and the exercises become more inolved it will definitely be painful - in fact that's where you'll probably be using the pain pills your surgeon prescribes - I didn't use mine until about 2 weeks in - took one about 1 hour before my session -

And don't forget to tell your surgeon about your pool playing - since he's the one who'll be issuing the exercise protocol you'll be following he can make or add any adjustments to the schedule and so can your therapist - this way your PT will be finely tuned to your needs -

Good luck and don't worry - you'll be just fine - let us know how you progress - Jackson:thumbup2:
 
To my knowledge, shoulder surgery is very safe and effective, as testified by the posters here. But there have been some problems associated with the use of pain-pumps. I only became aware of it through some late-night advertisements from lawyers and the fact that another poster just had some surgery done on his shoulder (he's coming along fine). See here:

http://www.schmidtandclark.com/Shoulder-Pain-Pump/

I'm not pointing this out to alarm you. I would guess that surgeons are fully aware and taken the necessary steps to correct it. But an ounce of prevention....

Jim
 
StrokeofLuck said:
So I went down hard playing basketball a couple of months ago and have had ongoing shoulder pain and weakness since. I went to the dr. a couple of times and he recommended an MRI on my second visit after the Cortisone didn’t have the effect he thought it would. It turns out I have a 3 cm rotator cuff tear that will require surgery in a couple of weeks. After that I’m looking at 6 weeks in a sling and a 6-12 month timeframe to fully recover. I’m really dreading the recovery and being a bow hunter too my goal is to be able to shoot my bow by mid-September. And yes I’ve finally given in to the fact that at 49 I’m probably too old to be on the b-ball court at 6 in the morning.
I was just wondering if there are any AZers that have had this done and how it affected the pool game. Right now I can play fine and only feel a twinge when I break. Certain movements otherwise are pretty bad though, like I can’t even lift a milk carton into the fridge with that arm
Anyway I’m looking for some words of encouragement if you’ve been through this and wondering how long before I can hit some pool balls after the sling comes off. Right before surgery I’m going to send my Huebler to Ryan at RAT cues and get a stack leather wrap installed to give me something to look forward to when during my recovery.
Click to expand...

Get a second opinion before being cut. I had about the same injury and was told I needed surgery. After a second opinion with Greg Norman's doctor one of the best in the business. I just had therapy. That was 12 years ago and I am 100%. You let them cut and you can end up with nerve damage or be on pain meds for the rest of your life. I am not saying your don't need the surgery just get a second opinion.
 
With a 3 cm RTC tear, it is highly unlikely that he will get away without surgery. That is considered a large tear, which really never heals conservatively (assuming the MRI is correct). I work as an orthopedic physical therapist, and work with a number of shoulder specialists in the chicagoland area. I see these injuries all the time. I would tell you that, while the time frames given to you seem very accurate, their is definately some variability. How quickly you come back to pool will depend on which arm it is. Your bridge arm will be harder to use than your back arm, and will be more easily irritated when playing. Assuming things were going well, I would tell you to start playing with your back arm around 9-10 wks, and the front not until at least 12 wks, or as quickly as your motion and strength allow normal biomechanics to return with overhead movement. Of course you should defer to the Dr. and PT working on you regarding this.

Be ready for the first few days to be pretty sore, but it will improve each day, and should be much more tolerable after the 3rd day (again, everyone is variable). It is usually no driving, and no active motion for 6 wks, then a slow progression to active and active assisted motion after that. I always like my patients to have full active motion with good mechanics for forward flex (raising arm in front of you) by 12 wks. The arm will continue to gain strength for a full yr, so continue your exercises throughout that time.

Very common areas of soreness will be your upper trap and biceps muscles as they compensate for RTC weakness. So , if yo uget that, don't be too alarmed. Also, remember that your soreness will increas after you are allowed to begin active movement again.

Each case IS individual, but most people have pretty good active motion at 9-12 wks, but this can go longer. Reaching behind your back will become last. You should fairly normal around 16-20 wks, but still have difficulty with higher level activities, and still lack some endurance. I would be happy to answer any other questions you may have. But remember that each case can have its differences, and my statments are generalizations. Please also remeber to always defer to your personal Dr. and PT.
 
Well thanks everyone for your advice and well wishes. It is my back arm or right side. I will say that I'm kind of a workout nut and lift weights and do cardio about 5 days a week so I'm going to be a bulldog rehabing this thing. As far as the surgery I think a 2nd opinion would turn up the same and I don't think I could get by without. I've hurt my shoulder before and this time it's different. I have some bone spurs that have to come out too. Damn it I have to miss out on the VNEA in May but hope to be back stronger next year.
 
You didn't say whether the surgery will be done arthroscopically. If you have the choice, that's by far the better way to go. About a dozen years ago, I had three shoulder surgeries (not for a rotator cuff), and I had a terrible time with recovery. The problem was adhesions, where the nice, raw meat of the incision heals and attaches itself to the underlying muscles. With arthroscopy, you can avoid most of that problem.

Good luck to you,
Howard
 
I cannot speak for rotator cuff, but I had a torn labrum, and that surgery sucked(I have had a few, lol). The recovery time was long, and they wouldn't even let me jog for 3 or 4 months. Sleeping is impossible, as you had to keep it in a sling, and on top of you. It has been a year, and I still have pain. Pool wise, it was actually tougher than either of my hand surgeries, and just the sheer time off took a couple of months to just get my confidence back. I know that the rc is a more common surgery, and supposedly has a shorter recovery time, but good luck all the same. I wish for a successful surgery, and a rapid recovery and rehab!!
 
junkbond said:
You didn't say whether the surgery will be done arthroscopically. If you have the choice, that's by far the better way to go. About a dozen years ago, I had three shoulder surgeries (not for a rotator cuff), and I had a terrible time with recovery. The problem was adhesions, where the nice, raw meat of the incision heals and attaches itself to the underlying muscles. With arthroscopy, you can avoid most of that problem.

Good luck to you,
Howard
Click to expand...

The guy doing it supposed to be a good shoulder man and yes his intention is to scope it but due to the size of the tear he said using an incision might be required. I guess he won't know for sure until he gets in there.
 
I had shoulder surgery on my right side in November 2007. I am 99% recovered after 15ish months. It will take closer to 12 months than 6 for someone of your age (I'm 24) but it's worth it in the end. My shoulder feels more solid than before. The only think lacking is flexibility but it's only a few degrees.

It will completely change your pool game. You'll need to readjust to the way your shoulder moves after it heals enough for you to play. I've been playing since 3 or 4 months after the surgery and it only took a couple months of playing every day for an hour to exceed where I left off before the surgery.

Stick with the physical therapy as long as possible and do ALL the exercises they recommend. Rowing is the #1 exercise for rotater cuff injuries IMO. Also, change up your grip from over to under as it works a new set of muscles in the same area.

Good luck! Remember it's going to hurt like shit if you even jostle it a teeny tiny bit so be careful the first few weeks.
 
Today marks 3 weeks for me post surgery for a rotator cuff operation. I had about a 3cm tear as well. I had arthroscopic surgery with five incisions in my shoulder about 1 inch each. This was done on my shooting arm (right shoulder for me). Im 42 yo btw.

I am out of the sling and currently doing PT 3 times a week with daily icing and this neat chair that automatically raises my arm up and down. The PT is going to start me on the home exercise routine starting tommorrow. I'm already back in the gym as of this week doing cardio and some careful ab and leg work.

Yesterday I got down and bridged on my table and tried a few gentle swings with a house cue and quickly determined I was not ready. No way, not even close. The PT guy tells me it will be about another 4-6 weeks before he thinks I might be ready to shoot pool again but then he also says im ahead of schedule and it might even be earlier. Alot depends on the next 3-4 weeks of PT. Besides pool, I want to get back to lifting weights and tossing various balls and frisbees around with my sons, so I am highly motivated.

The pain has been tolerable but from what I read in this thread it looks like the worst has yet to come. If its as much pain as I got the first two days post surgery, then its going to be brutal. The pain actually wasn't as bad for me as not being able to sleep well. The day I was able to sleep flat on my back again (for me day 5) was a great day indeed.

Just some insight from someone going through it right now.
 
You might try contacting Melissa Little (WPBA pro). She had shoulder surgery last year I think and is doing well. Good Luck.
Bob Keller
 
My shoulder used to pop out of the socket regularly, and I had a surgery called "capsular reconstruction" (I think that was it) to tighten things up. The surgery was in 1995. I echo those who said that the key is to do your physical therapy and stick with it. It took me a long time to get a throwing motion back, but it didn't effect my stroke too much (once I was out of the sling, of course).

Best of luck!!
 
You'll be fine. I recently played a guy who had rotater cup surgery (about your age too)...I don't recall how long he said it was 'til he started playing again, but I do remember his excitement to be at a table again, doing what he loves...and you will be too no worries...as for the B-ball, my dad is 52, and he still schools the 29 out of 30 regulars that show up for the Saturday night game, most of which are in their low 20s...I'd say keep playin' that too if you enjoy it! (no matter how good you are):p

Just watch out for the hockey players on the court.:cool:

And of course, good luck with your surgery and recovery.
-Aaron Silva
 
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