Shoulders are for ham

...and not for operations. Home today with Tim, who just had rotator cuff surgery, and from the looks of him, this is not something I ever wish to need. He had the surgery yesterday, and starts physical therapy tomorrow--yikes. That seems harsh even to me, which is scary considering I pretty much subscribe to the Kathy Bates/"Misery" school of nursing.

Anyone have any words of encouragement/warning/whatever to share? My biggest fear had been that he wouldn't take this seriously enough and follow through with the p.t., but I think last night's pain got his attention.

Margie

PT/OT is the only way to get full ROM back. If you don't want to do it, may as well chop your arm off.

In reply to Marjorie Suddard:

Margie, my niece has had rotator cuff surgeries on both sides; one side more than the other. She's a very self-disciplined and fit young woman who has managed to heal very well, but she has to avoid the activities that caused the problem, like gymnastics, cheerleading and intense soccer.

Tim's going to have the usual pain and mobility/flexibility issues that are all part of recuperation. Pay close attention to the PT regimen and don't stray from it.

In due time, get on top of the problem and make the therapy mutually beneficial. But make him work for it first.

Best of luck to him. I saw the word HAM and got excited...

Best of luck in the recovery Tim. As somebody who's job title includes "Vocational Rehabilitation", I can assure you that the PT/OT afterwords is the only way to get back to full ROM and no pain. 100% of my cases where they quit PT have recurring shoulder issues, and 100% who followed through as directed are working. I even went and checked all the cases to be sure. You can do iiiiit!

guy I work with had it done this last winter. he was in PT for a good 4 months..

Having gotten over Bursitus in my shoulder at the same time.. shoulder pain SUCKS!

stick with the regime ... don't over do, thinking you know what's best.... the therapist knows LOTS more than you'll ever know about this

Short term PITA, long term wicked better.

Tim, do the exercises but go ahead and use this opportunity to lube the joints with beer while getting out of dishes and some Dolly Domestics. You come out of the showroom with only one body so take care of it.

Margie's got you covered for a while but you know what you have to do.

Be well.

Dan

Crap, this one is on my horizon too. dammit

Another ham, they're lurking everywhere. (Hey, that's my old tuner)

de N1GUT

N Sperlo wrote: Best of luck to him. I saw the word HAM and got excited...

wbjones wrote: stick with the regime ... don't over do, thinking you know what's best.... the therapist knows LOTS more than you'll ever know about this

Not entirely true.

My physical therapists didn't know E36 M3 about proper lifting and thought 60 lb deadlifts would help my knee.

The home exercises are tedious. Multiple sets of 15 reps of pansy little exercises that are really really hard. They are the least rewarding thing ever while you are doing them but not doing them is horribly punishing. The exercises themselves won't motivate you to do them so you have to find some other way to make them happen. Attach them to some other daily ritual so they become normal. Do them immediately after waking up or right after you brush your teeth, etc... Another big thing is to get them done early in the day. The later you wait the more likely life is to screw up your schedule. (plus you have the added benefit of being half asleep so you don't think about how boring the exercises are)

Don't know anyone who's had the surgery..but I know a couple of PTs. They say it has to hurt, and it has to hurt soon. Only way to get the full range of motion back is to force the all the tissues through it before scar tissue can form. Otherwise..the procedure's a waste of money (just like Ranger50 said).

Hell, with Tim.. you should be able just to ask him to imagine his future if he couldn't turn a wrench without having to place the bolt at waist level. Paint a mental picture of Quasimodo stumbling through Notre Dame's Garage-Mahal with a torque wrench.

PT! GOOD FOR YOU! GOOD FOR ME!

I'm gonna go watch full metal jacket now.

Just give him the right motivation:

Tell him he will never enjoy working on a car again if he doesn't do the PT. Once he has absorbed that, tell him that he will lose range of motion at the steering wheel and his laptimes will suffer.

I know, I know. I'm a genius.

My work here is done.

I had rotator cuff surgery last year. KEEP THE SHOULDER MOVING. If it sits for any length of time, it really hurts to move later. Do all the exercises. ICE, ICE, ICE. It heals pretty quick as long as you follow dr's orders. He may get flare ups later on. Just over a year and I had to get another shot in the shoulder and some pain meds due to some joint swelling, but everything is still in proper working order. Don't ignore pain in the joint later on because it will cause you to ignore exercises and make the joint weaker again. Get it checked out. Good luck!

What causes this? I've had lots of medical experiences but nothing related to rotator cuff. Educate me please.

PT? He's gonna work on a Cruiser? That'd make a distinctive autocrosser.

In reply to cwh:

I my case it was a BMX injury from about 15 yrs ago. Shoulder popped out and back in causing the joint to become loose in the socket. Also developed a bone spur on the tip of the bone above the cuff that caused some minor tears. When i started working out really hard for racing, it got aggravated enough that I had the surgery done (this was after physical therapy, etc.)

Feel better Tim.

Just last night, my daughter-in-law (M.D.) said my shoulder pain MIGHT respond to double doses of Motrin and rest, but that I need to be prepared for surgery. I can't touch my ear without pain.

I'm in denial right now - this thread didn't help. I'm supposed to play golf tomorrow....

I've had frozen shoulder in both of my shoulders at different times. Even that was a bitch. Celebrex helped a lot. Took months for it to go away.

Grizz wrote:

wbjones wrote: stick with the regime ... don't over do, thinking you know what's best.... the therapist knows LOTS more than you'll ever know about this

Not entirely true. My physical therapists didn't know E36 M3 about proper lifting and thought 60 lb deadlifts would help my knee.

sounds like you were sent to a wannabe not a real PT

I would have told the PT why I was leaving and found another immediately .... they really do know what they're doing ....

bludroptop wrote: I can't touch my ear without pain.

solution: use your other hand... I'm sure it'll reach far enough

Tim get a bell to ring for help when you need stuff , seen couple friends going thru the therapy working well for them . Wonder if a steering wheel spinner ball is legal on the race car ?