Shoulder surgery in ~1 week, recover in time for skiing?

[Sheik Yerbouti]

Hey all,
I'm having some shoulder surgery on the 19th for several dislocations over the past 20 years. I had a severe dislocation this past May playing softball (out of the socket for about 30 mins) and finally came to the conclusion, no matter how much I work my shoulders, there is something fundamentally wrong with it.
So I was wondering if anyone else here had shoulder surgery and what kind of recovery time I'm looking at, and will I be ready to ski by December. It is not rotator cuff surgery, it's shoring up some stretched out tendons, it's not going to be arthroscopic, but an incision, so I guess it's more invasive.
I am going to follow doctors orders, do the PT, and whatever I can to make it ready for November/December.
Thanks in advance for you advice.

 

[ALLSKIING]

I would think the DR would be able to give you a better idea on how long the recovery would be then we would. Good luck!!

 

[sledhaulingmedic]

I'm still working hard to avoid surgury. So far, rather sucesessfully. My situation sounds more stable: Pain and limited range of motion, but it stays in place.

A friend of mine has what sounds like a similar situation in both shoulders (I've had to reduce his shoulder on more than one occation). He had a quite invasive proceedure that went a far as relocating attatchment points (I believe attatchment, not insertion, but I could be wrong). He was very happy with the results, although still has not done the other shoulder. I don;t recall his orthopedist, but he was at NE Baptist.

As well as being very comfortable with your surgeon (get second opinion if you're not), make certain you're VERY comfortable with your anesthesiologist. The Surgeon is responsible for your shoulder, the anesthesiologist is responsible for your life.

Good luck with it. Post some X-rays and a trip report.

 

[Sheik Yerbouti]

I would think the DR would be able to give you a better idea on how long the recovery would be then we would. Good luck!!

I know, I was just wondering if anyone here has gone through it prior to ski season and how much it affected their skiing. Thanks tho.

 

[Sheik Yerbouti]

I'm still working hard to avoid surgury. So far, rather sucesessfully. My situation sounds more stable: Pain and limited range of motion, but it stays in place.

A friend of mine has what sounds like a similar situation in both shoulders (I've had to reduce his shoulder on more than one occation). He had a quite invasive proceedure that went a far as relocating attatchment points (I believe attatchment, not insertion, but I could be wrong). He was very happy with the results, although still has not done the other shoulder. I don;t recall his orthopedist, but he was at NE Baptist.

As well as being very comfortable with your surgeon (get second opinion if you're not), make certain you're VERY comfortable with your anesthesiologist. The Surgeon is responsible for your shoulder, the anesthesiologist is responsible for your life.

Good luck with it. Post some X-rays and a trip report.

I'll see if I can get the doc to stream the video uke:
I'm very comfortable with the ortho and the anesthesiologist, I've had more surgeries than I care to remember. If I had the tiniest bit of doubt, it'd be a no-go. thanks again

 

[skidbump]

rotator cuff and bicep 8 weeks in sling then 8 weeks of pt...bact to work on dec 3 skied dec 4..rushed a bit to get back on 3rd ...4th paid and needed to return by 3rd to get it off..was warned to go slow and not fall

 

[Sheik Yerbouti]

Thanks, surgery is on the 19th, I return to work on the 29th, (possibly), doc said about 3 - 4 months total recovery, but mileage may vary.

 

[kingslug]

I need this too but can't afford the recovery time. Would be nice to not have to worry about it though.

 

[BeanoNYC]

For my surgery (now diagnosed as a type 5 a/c separation) the doctor is quoting 3 months until I can use it to ski or kayak. I think I'm going to have it in April some time. What tendons are separated?

 

[ALLSKIING]

For my surgery (now diagnosed as a type 5 a/c separation) the doctor is quoting 3 months until I can use it to ski or kayak. I think I'm going to have it in April some time. What tendons are separated?

Thanks for the pic Beano....:blink:

 

[BeanoNYC]

Thanks for the pic Beano....:blink:

Lmao...BobR turned white as a ghost when I showed it to him in person.

 

[gores95]

Is that even human?????

 

[kingslug]

For my surgery (now diagnosed as a type 5 a/c separation) the doctor is quoting 3 months until I can use it to ski or kayak. I think I'm going to have it in April some time. What tendons are separated?

Holy crap!

 

[davidski]

Hey all,
I'm having some shoulder surgery on the 19th for several dislocations over the past 20 years. I had a severe dislocation this past May playing softball (out of the socket for about 30 mins) and finally came to the conclusion, no matter how much I work my shoulders, there is something fundamentally wrong with it.
So I was wondering if anyone else here had shoulder surgery and what kind of recovery time I'm looking at, and will I be ready to ski by December. It is not rotator cuff surgery, it's shoring up some stretched out tendons, it's not going to be arthroscopic, but an incision, so I guess it's more invasive.
I am going to follow doctors orders, do the PT, and whatever I can to make it ready for November/December.
Thanks in advance for you advice.

Brand new to this board but as a fellow victim to shoulder surgery I thought I would weigh in.

I fell hard on my last run on a trip with my two boys at snowshoe (I live in NC) last february. Broke my collar bone badly and after reading various forums and texts urged my consulting orthopedic to do surgery (ORIN)

They put on the plate feb 11 and as a carpenter I was out of work and all motion for four weeks, then I pushed things a bit more and was back to light work for my trade at the six week point.

At that point I considered but did not ski the last available days. Then of course the snow melted. And now I am a few hundred away from finishing paying my doctor/specialty hospital bills in time for the new season and I can't wait.

My injury was different but if it is surgery and shoulders count on two months at best and probably three before making first turns.

The following was the most thorough and useful link I ever found concerning amatuer (or in my case at best recreational) athletes and shoulder injuries. --- http://www.cyclingforums.com/t-133419-15-1.html

Finally regarding kingslugs pics -- please save it for your doctor,lover, or mother

No casual observor needs to see that.

 

[bvibert]

Welcome to the forums davidski, thanks for the insight.

Be sure to stop by our New Member Introductions Thread to introduce yourself.

 

[Sheik Yerbouti]

Brand new to this board but as a fellow victim to shoulder surgery I thought I would weigh in.

I fell hard on my last run on a trip with my two boys at snowshoe (I live in NC) last february. Broke my collar bone badly and after reading various forums and texts urged my consulting orthopedic to do surgery (ORIN)

They put on the plate feb 11 and as a carpenter I was out of work and all motion for four weeks, then I pushed things a bit more and was back to light work for my trade at the six week point.

At that point I considered but did not ski the last available days. Then of course the snow melted. And now I am a few hundred away from finishing paying my doctor/specialty hospital bills in time for the new season and I can't wait.

My injury was different but if it is surgery and shoulders count on two months at best and probably three before making first turns.

The following was the most thorough and useful link I ever found concerning amatuer (or in my case at best recreational) athletes and shoulder injuries. --- http://www.cyclingforums.com/t-133419-15-1.html

Finally regarding kingslugs pics -- please save it for your doctor,lover, or mother

No casual observor needs to see that.

Thanks for the info, I was thinking about 2 - 3 months myself. Hopefully a little less, but who knows. I'll check out that link, thanks again.

 

[JimG.]

For my surgery (now diagnosed as a type 5 a/c separation) the doctor is quoting 3 months until I can use it to ski or kayak. I think I'm going to have it in April some time. What tendons are separated?

OUCH! That looks like something out of an "Alien" movie. I have to say thanks though because I'll never complain about my occassionally aching shoulders again after seeing those pics.

 

[dmc]

For my surgery (now diagnosed as a type 5 a/c separation) the doctor is quoting 3 months until I can use it to ski or kayak. I think I'm going to have it in April some time. What tendons are separated?

Did the same thing to my shoulder... But mine is a 3 - didn't know there was a 5...
I opted for no surgeory... Got a second opinion from my sisterinlaw who's an ortho surgeon.. She agreed that i didnt need it fixed...

 

[BeanoNYC]

Did the same thing to my shoulder... But mine is a 3 - didn't know there was a 5...
I opted for no surgeory... Got a second opinion from my sisterinlaw who's an ortho surgeon.. She agreed that i didnt need it fixed...

Yep...it goes up to type 6 actually. A type 4 is extremely rare where the clavicle twists behind the ac joint towards the back.

a six is where the clavicle makes it's way down. A five is a more severe type three.

Type V Shoulder Separation:
A type V shoulder separation is an exaggerated type III injury. In this type of separated shoulder, the muscle above the AC joint is punctured by the end of the clavicle causing a significant bump over the injury.

Some more information can be found Here.

I've been to 5 surgeons and 4 of them agree that it's a type 5. The one who will do my surgery uses either existing or cadaver ligaments to repair the damage. 3 others were honest and wanted to refer me to other shoulder specialists. The first wanted to put a screw in at the joint and wire down the ligaments....WWDMCD?

 

[BeanoNYC]

OUCH! That looks like something out of an "Alien" movie. I have to say thanks though because I'll never complain about my occassionally aching shoulders again after seeing those pics.

I'll be skiing with my shoulder like this for the season. I'm still hoping to work on the bumps. I'm a bit concerned about poling though...we'll see how it feels.