I'm baaaaaaaack!!!

[Merryprankster]

Ok, not one hundred percent!

But I did a 20 rep squat set on the Smith machine. My shoulder finally doesn't hurt from the pressure and I don't have to worry about balancing the bar.

I also was able to do some assisted pull-ups, machine rows and curls, albeit with pretty light weight.

Yee-hah!!!!

[Ford Prefect]

Your doc having you do any rehab?

[Vash]

Congrats, Mp.

I get to start karate after 15 months off next week, and I start in on weights the week after.

[Merryprankster]

Ford,

Nah, I've been sittng around, watching it freeze :D

Yeah, she sent me for PT after week one.

I think the worst thing about PT is there's no "It's over" until it's really over.

I mean, your reward for all that pain is....more pain. A bit more movement. Or maybe not. But definitely, more pain.

If anybody is thinking about getting shoulder surgery, you know, just for ****s and giggles... I wouldn't.

[YinYangDagger]

Been there, your advice is too late MP :(

Had major shoulder reconstruction after playing some college football, it sucks. Basically, they fused some bones together with a 3" stainless steel screw (it's still in there). it was called the Bristol Procedure or something like that.

But the good news is, several years later it was ok, even to the point of powerlifting when i was in the service. I would only feel it a little when doing some heavy military presses, but the bench presses and deadlifts I couldn't even tell I had had surgery.

Of course, since I'm getting older now, I can feel it when it gets real cold outside, other than that, still good to go.

[Toby]

I was all ready for voluntary surgery 2 weeks ago. My procedure would be removal of the end section of the clavicle. 6-12 weeks recovery apparently. I tweaked the shoulder in class and the pain was ****ing me off so I was ready to get an op. Luckily the pain went away after a few days and my doc talked me out of it. He said the speed of pain reduction was a good sign and I should avoid surgery. It was **** tempting, though, especially since my problem is a potentially lifelong recurring one without corrective surgery.

[YinYangDagger]

Toby - Avoid surgery at all costs. I wish I wouldn't have gotten mine, although things worked out for me. I was lucky. I know plenty of more guys who had the same surgery, but the shoulder is still f'ed up. You're just rolling dice if you decide to get it.

Plus mine was a chronic injury. I couldn't even lift up my arm without it dislocating. It dislocated 7 times before I had the surgery.

[FatherDog]

Hey, congrats, MP. Good to see you on the recovery road.

[Merryprankster]

YYD and Toby,

Things have come a long way since the days of yore.

Arthroscopic labral repairs are de riguer for specialists now. You can expect nearly a full recovery (90-95% range of motion) unless something goes horribly wrong.

[Toby]

Yeah, mine's just annoying pain. A dull ache occasionally. But I'm not doing myself any long term favours leaving it. Essentially I've got arthritis and a burr in the AC joint. So any surgery I get would (hopefully) eliminate the dull ache and remove the propensity for further arthritis. I would get arthroscopic surgery, but I read that you need a good surgeon. Poor use of arthroscopy can be bad. I also read that after arthroscopy you can be back at full strength "as soon as the patient is ready", but never a rough figure. They state 6-12 weeks for open surgery and imply it's less than that, but no numbers. 6-12 weeks is a bit long for me at the moment. Also, I'll have to look into upgrading my private health cover if I want something like voluntary arthroscopy :(.

[Merryprankster]

Well, there are risks involved with everything.

My surgery was definitely not voluntary - it was necessary. I did not have my range of motion. Since I'm in the military it was necessary anyway and paid for.

Sometimes socialized medicine is pretty cool.

That was pretty much that!