Torn Labrum Surgery

rotaor cuff tear

I am a right handed player and had "mini-open" rotator cuff surgery on my right shoulder in mid-dec (3.5 cm tear). I am 63, in pretty good physical condition and the dr told me that because i remained active in spite of the injury the muscles had not atrophied.

Only 1 week in a sling.

I told him I played pool and he picked up a cane and demonstrated a series of exercises I could do with a pool cue.

PT 3 times a week for the first 5 weeks. I did 3X the PT exercises on my own every day. I also used my cue as my dr suggested during practice.

I played left handed with a bridge for a couple of weeks and then started trying to hit balls right handed.

I am not completely recoverd but I am lifting weights again and can finally do a pushup.

good luck with surgery. If you want to discuss it send me a pm.

Bert
 
Thanks everyone for your input, I was really talking about being able to play pool after the surgery, that was the main point for the thread. I am definitely going to do therapy as much as possible. Hopefully I'll be back playing pool and ready for the Derby. I think that is a realistic goal and I will update either on here or Facebook as to my progress. Thanks again everyone.
 
I tore my rotator cuff back in August of 2012. I opted for no surgery and to exercise for rehab. I had to stop lifting weights and tone down my martial arts training. I never took PT, but work in construction and never missed a day. It was painful and is about 80% healed.

I'm starting a light lifting program and do a lot of stretching. Doing the surgery would have kept me out of work. I'm self employed and it was a no brainer. If you can take the pain and diligently work at it, rehab is the way to go. Unless you have to do the surgery, I would heal up naturally.

Best,
Mike
 
jamesroberts said:
The big day is tomorrow so who knows I might chicken out.lol
probably not though
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silly ortho. he might know dr stuff, but he dont know pool players...he shoulda made you post up!;)

haha...best wishes, james. like i tell all my broken peeps, you gotta remember that it is the long term you are doing this for. you only got one body and you are gonna keep it for life.
 
Oh- I use Dr. Brian Jurbala in the mid-west of FL, whenever possible. Is he your guy? He is a bad mofo.
 
I had the surgery last tuesday with Dr Eaton, It went ok I guess and I am in a sling. The Dr said he didnt think I would have the ability to play pool at a high level anymore but my shoulder feels ok, I think he is wrong.

I am ready to start rehab and we will see once I have a decent shoulder,I cant tell you how much $ I have been saving not playing all the bad games I used to. lol. I am sure Justin Hall is missing his usual donation from me.

Thanks for all the well wishes, I really appreciate them all
 
jamesroberts said:
I had the surgery last tuesday with Dr Eaton, It went ok I guess and I am in a sling. The Dr said he didnt think I would have the ability to play pool at a high level anymore but my shoulder feels ok, I think he is wrong.

I am ready to start rehab and we will see once I have a decent shoulder,I cant tell you how much $ I have been saving not playing all the bad games I used to. lol. I am sure Justin Hall is missing his usual donation from me.

Thanks for all the well wishes, I really appreciate them all
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Fuggit! Time to learn with the other arm then. You wouldn't be the first to do it, + you already know pool.

Thansk for the update, Mr. Don't forget about us while you are on the pool break.
 
Yep,
I had mine done from the White Sox doctors twice. I would recommend that you work hard at physical therapy on your range of motion.otherwise you will be tight when lifting your arm over your head. My surgery resulted in me retiring for baseball early. My range of motion throwing isn't good.
Good luck.
 
jamesroberts said:
I had the surgery last tuesday with Dr Eaton, It went ok I guess and I am in a sling. The Dr said he didnt think I would have the ability to play pool at a high level anymore but my shoulder feels ok, I think he is wrong.

I am ready to start rehab and we will see once I have a decent shoulder,I cant tell you how much $ I have been saving not playing all the bad games I used to. lol. I am sure Justin Hall is missing his usual donation from me.

Thanks for all the well wishes, I really appreciate them all
Click to expand...

Glad the surgery went well James. I am surprised your doc thinks your high level playing days are over. I ripped my cuff pitching, had surgery, and was young and dumb - I didn't PT well at all. I'd guess I'm at 85%. My pool game is not affected. My main loss is lifting weight straight up above my head (and I don't have a 100 mph fastball any more ;) ).

Good luck on PT and recovery.

Matt
 
I went in for surgery for the same thing and what started out as a couple hour surgery turned into an 8 hour surgery. We did all the MRIs with contrast and there was still more damage than what was shown. The head on my arm was smashed from the years of abuse racing motocross and putting off surgery. Anyways I lost 35% mobility in that arm and it is my bridge arm. The loss of mobility has now given me what is call frozen shoulder and I am in constant pain with it. Therapy didn't help it and the other options were surgery again or try to pull it out of socket to loosen up the shoulder. While I was under for my knee surgery I told him to go ahead and pull it out. That didn't work, he said that he was afraid the arm was gonna break as hard as he was pulling on it. He got me a little more mobility in it, but since then it has tightened back up. Do all of the therapy and get as much ROM as possible. Good luck.
 
eddie0776 said:
I went in for surgery for the same thing and what started out as a couple hour surgery turned into an 8 hour surgery. We did all the MRIs with contrast and there was still more damage than what was shown. The head on my arm was smashed from the years of abuse racing motocross and putting off surgery. Anyways I lost 35% mobility in that arm and it is my bridge arm. The loss of mobility has now given me what is call frozen shoulder and I am in constant pain with it. Therapy didn't help it and the other options were surgery again or try to pull it out of socket to loosen up the shoulder. While I was under for my knee surgery I told him to go ahead and pull it out. That didn't work, he said that he was afraid the arm was gonna break as hard as he was pulling on it. He got me a little more mobility in it, but since then it has tightened back up. Do all of the therapy and get as much ROM as possible. Good luck.
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That sucks big time,I have put this off long enough, glad I did it now though
 
I work as an orthopedic physical therapist, and do this rehab all the time. I assume you are going to Dr. Koco Eaten as he is the Devil Rays orthopedic surgeon. I agree with the post about finding out who he sends his professional players to and going there. Rehabbing both a labrum and RTC tear together is best done by someone with a lot of experience. Do not expect that all places you go for rehab will be equal.

Most people reach a very functional level of activity by 4-6 months, but I wouldn't call it 100% as you are probably thinking. Both of these injuries require a full year to fully heal physiologically, so you will continue to make gains over that time. Every Dr has a different protocol, and you should follow whatever THEY tell you.

Realize that everyone heals a little differently, and try not to compare yourself to what others tell you. I have seen a lot of variation in people's recovery, but the vast majority have very good results in the end. As far as how long it will take to play pool again, I would tell you that it depends on which arm you injured. Your bridge arm takes more pressure, and will take longer to comfortably play with again. I would tell the therapist that playing pool again is a goal of yours so they can focus some exercise towards that type of positioning.

I can give you more specific time lines of how and when my patients are allowed to do things if you would like, but realize there can be some variation in Dr protocols that would influence that. It is a tough rehab for most, but with some patience, a close adherence to what you are told, and some effort, you will have a good chance of regaining very good use of your shoulder. Good luck.
 
KoolKat9Lives said:
Glad the surgery went well James. I am surprised your doc thinks your high level playing days are over. I ripped my cuff pitching, had surgery, and was young and dumb - I didn't PT well at all. I'd guess I'm at 85%. My pool game is not affected. My main loss is lifting weight straight up above my head (and I don't have a 100 mph fastball any more ;) ).

Good luck on PT and recovery.

Matt
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I had shoulder surgery about 4 years ago. Prior to the surgery pain was so bad when I tried to stretch over the pool table (left shoulder), I had to quit playing. I went through physical therapy first and didn't help at all. Finally had the surgery. They repaired two tears in my rotator cuff and removed some bone spurs. I went through therapy for close to 4 months and it was very painful at the beginning. I didn't think I was every going to recover. It slowly got better and after a year it felt nearly 100%. Needless to say I am not tipping Diamond Tables into carts anymore (60 years old).

Bill Stock
 
Bill S said:
I had shoulder surgery about 4 years ago. Prior to the surgery pain was so bad when I tried to stretch over the pool table (left shoulder), I had to quit playing. I went through physical therapy first and didn't help at all. Finally had the surgery. They repaired two tears in my rotator cuff and removed some bone spurs. I went through therapy for close to 4 months and it was very painful at the beginning. I didn't think I was every going to recover. It slowly got better and after a year it felt nearly 100%. Needless to say I am not tipping Diamond Tables into carts anymore (60 years old).

Bill Stock
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Is that how you shredded your cuff Bill? Playing Hercules with 300 pound slates?

Oh, the days gone by when we thought we were immortal. Now, as we get older, all those dumbass injuries haunt us! I have too many to count, lol.

Glad you worked it through and you're healed!

James, how did you mangle your shoulder? A 40 mph break perhaps? Or Kama Sutra levitating 3 fat chicks? ;)
 
KoolKat9Lives said:
Is that how you shredded your cuff Bill? Playing Hercules with 300 pound slates?

Oh, the days gone by when we thought we were immortal. Now, as we get older, all those dumbass injuries haunt us! I have too many to count, lol.

Glad you worked it through and you're healed!

James, how did you mangle your shoulder? A 40 mph break perhaps? Or Kama Sutra levitating 3 fat chicks? ;)
Click to expand...

I set the new high score on a punching bag machine...over and over and over....
 
mantis99 said:
I work as an orthopedic physical therapist, and do this rehab all the time. I assume you are going to Dr. Koco Eaten as he is the Devil Rays orthopedic surgeon. I agree with the post about finding out who he sends his professional players to and going there. Rehabbing both a labrum and RTC tear together is best done by someone with a lot of experience. Do not expect that all places you go for rehab will be equal.

Most people reach a very functional level of activity by 4-6 months, but I wouldn't call it 100% as you are probably thinking. Both of these injuries require a full year to fully heal physiologically, so you will continue to make gains over that time. Every Dr has a different protocol, and you should follow whatever THEY tell you.

Realize that everyone heals a little differently, and try not to compare yourself to what others tell you. I have seen a lot of variation in people's recovery, but the vast majority have very good results in the end. As far as how long it will take to play pool again, I would tell you that it depends on which arm you injured. Your bridge arm takes more pressure, and will take longer to comfortably play with again. I would tell the therapist that playing pool again is a goal of yours so they can focus some exercise towards that type of positioning.

I can give you more specific time lines of how and when my patients are allowed to do things if you would like, but realize there can be some variation in Dr protocols that would influence that. It is a tough rehab for most, but with some patience, a close adherence to what you are told, and some effort, you will have a good chance of regaining very good use of your shoulder. Good luck.
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Yup thats my guy, I was going to go to Dr Andrews in Pensacola but Dr Eaton studied under him so that coupled with the fact he is the Rays ortho I figured I was in good hands. I am going to go to the best therapist I can find. You can bet on that
 
jamesroberts said:
Yup thats my guy, I was going to go to Dr Andrews in Pensacola but Dr Eaton studied under him so that coupled with the fact he is the Rays ortho I figured I was in good hands. I am going to go to the best therapist I can find. You can bet on that
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Andrews is definitely the best there is for this stuff. I had the good fortune to train at his facility with his physical therapist and watch a number of his surgeries. That being said, his fellows do excellent work. I work daily with one of his fellows, and he is one of the very best in the Chicagoland area. I am sure that Eaton will be the same. I am surprised though that you had the surgery a few days ago and have not started PT yet. I am sure they will get you going though. Good Luck!!
 
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