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REAL
May 19, 2010, 5:57 AM
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Registered: May 13, 2009
Posts: 90
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Here's the first post I made regarding the shoulder shortly after the injuury happened. http://www.rockclimbing.com/...ng=shoulder;#2187327 After over 2 months of PT it was determined that I had gotten signifcantly better, but had plateaued and should not have if there were no injury, so an MRI was ordered with dye-injection. Diagnosis = SLAP tear in the labrum w/other possible injuries. The decision was then to complete more PT and start climbing again to see if I could get by with the injury after healing a bit more, and just maintaning stronger muscles, as so many people with this injury actually do. Answer = No. It felt fine for another couple of months but I had to stop all physical activity, no climbing, no push ups / pull ups, martial arts, etc. Conversation with Doc = This is not a good enough lifestyle for me, I need surgery to repair. Discuss w/therapist: she says "it is a very patient recovery" meaning choose wisely. MARCH 13th, 2010, finally go under the knife. Doc says it was very tore up and he had a lot of work to do but it all went very well and I should have a full recovery in about 6 months. The Labrum was tore and seperated from the bone. Tears were cleaned up and the Labrum was anchored back to the bone. 8 weeks out: Near full range of motion in some directions (way ahead of schedule), lots of progress still to be made in others (as expected according to recovery schedule). Just starting weight bearing exercises on hands and knees, leaning against the wall w/palm out against it. No lifting of anything more than the weight of a dinner plate yet. Starting to feel much better and closer to "normal" every week or two. (except for waking up or at the end of the day, at least) Itching to get outdoors, I took my first hike last week. I'll be doing an overnight trip w/friends in a few weeks to Kelso, Mt Nemo, or Rattlesnake Point, no I will not be climbing, just gotta get out around it all again. Here's to recovery... the next 4 months will be a fun adventure, and insurance stops coverage for this in under 2 weeks. Wish me luck...!!
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jh_angel
May 19, 2010, 6:36 AM
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How many anchors did they put in? I'm mostly curious because I have a slap tear and went through a lot of pt in the hopes of staying away from surgery until I'm at least in my 40's.
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Gabel
May 19, 2010, 11:08 AM
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Registered: Apr 25, 2010
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Best wishes to a full recovery. Try to be as patient as possible.
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Jnclk
May 19, 2010, 1:11 PM
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Registered: Nov 21, 2007
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Curious as to what "other possible injuries" means? What did they find? How did you tear it? Sounds like your labrum was flapping in the breeze. Was your shoulder dislocating or did your shoulder ever dislocate? My curiosity stems from the fact that I've got a SLAP lesion too. I've been managing it successfully so far.
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dynosore
May 19, 2010, 1:50 PM
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Registered: Jul 29, 2004
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I had my right shoulder operated on for torn labrum and bone spurs. My left had already been done for rotator cuff, so I knew a few things about recovery. I pushed the envelope a bit because I felt like therapy had moved too slow after my 1st surgery. They said keep it in a sling for two weeks and I took it out after one. Started therapy at home two weeks before my 1st official pt visit. Bottom line is I was able to do a pullup seven weeks after surgery which is far from the norm. Listen to your body but don't be afraid to be a bit aggressive in your approach if you're comfortable with it. I'm convinced having my left arm in a sling for two weeks greatly slowed my recovery, stiffness and weakness had time to set in. IMHO
(This post was edited by dynosore on May 19, 2010, 1:53 PM)
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onceahardman
May 19, 2010, 11:12 PM
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Registered: Aug 3, 2007
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REAL, I'm glad you are taking it slowly and carefully. Pay attention also to what dynosore said. Some therapists can be a little too conservative, others can be a little too aggressive. Pay attention to your body. Immobilization is generally not all that great for joints in general. Incidently, where are you from? I cut my climbing teeth at Rattlesnake, Buffalo, Nemo, and Kelso. Maybe you are nearby (I'm from Western NY) and maybe I could have a peek.
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REAL
May 22, 2010, 6:24 AM
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Registered: May 13, 2009
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Hey all, thanks for the responses. I'll try to cover them all. I'm not certain how many anchors they put in angel. I was a little out of it when that was discussed with all the meds. I'll check though for sure. My friend had 10 anchors in his, and after a car accident he may now have to have it corrected again. A lot of people have had this injury, to varying degrees, and never had to have suregery. The first shoulder specialist that looked at it told me that if I was in my 50s and didn't lead such an active lifestyle, he'd probably lean toward not operating. that was before it got worse though. Being 35 (next week) and having the desire to continue with pushups, pullups and sports, I opted for the surgery. It had gotten to the point where it was locking everyday. Taking off my seat belt (drivers' side) was one of the worst offenders. That position was bad for how mine was tore. Originally, I had 6 weeks of PT to try to avoid the surgery too, which extended to 6 more weeks so 3 months total to get back to "normal." And it was good for a few months before something happened to further the issues. JNCLK Other possible injuries was what they expected they might also find once they got in. Main concern was rotator cuff but there was another muscle that they thought may have been affected too; I don't recall which one. The labrum had pulled away from the bone and was torn. Still hoping to get a CD with the pictures of the surgery and the MRI. The shoulder had sublexed for sure, whether that is minor dislocation, pre-dislocation or actual dislocation, I'm not sure but I know I could also push on it fom the pec-mino in an outward direction and it shifted, painfully, more than the good side, I'm sure this was where it had seperated from the bone. How it happened? I was stemming in a dyhedral, arms and feet behind me in a corner climbing upward. My right had slipped and I fell backward into my left extended arm, almost the same motion asif you were to fall on your butt with your arms extended fully behind you with palms to the ground. My shoulder crunched as if I had cracked my knucles about 50 times. Dyno, I was in an immobilzation sling for 5 weeks. PT started the first week with passive ROM (range of motion) where I lay completely relaxed, and they move my arm for me. I wasn't allowed to use the muscles at all for that 5 weeks, to allow the labrum to heal back to the bone properly and so it didnt slip out of place or anything. They told me of patients that waited 4 weeks for PT that had frozen joints and in 1 case it took 6 months to get back to acceptable use for daily life. It was a person in his late 40s that wouldn't try or push himself though. I also do try to do the therapy with intensity, focusing on the muscles, proper form and holding for a few seconds with each rep, rather than just going thru the motions. You only get out of it what you put into it, that's for sure, and as you said, only "you" know your body. (but they do know "the" body and what can damage it, so I'm not too gung ho with it yet...) I've been thru 5 knee surgeries and have gotten a feel for when it tells me to stop, and know also that an extra couple months of recuperation isn't going to affect me 10 years from now, but reinjuring it certainly will. :-) OCEAN, I live in th Detroit area and the tentative plan as of now is to go to Kelso or Nemo June 3-4. Feel free to PM me with your thoughts / opinions about the routes at either place. I greatly appreciate it actually! I did top rope belay today with a gri-gri and it was very doable. The hard part was remembering not to pull with my left hand. I normally use both hands to feed rope thru (push/pull), so there was a bit of extra friction pulling thru the grigri with my right arm only, but that's just good for getting me stronger. hehe So thank you everyone, for the good wishes and advice and intrigue. Catch you back here soon...
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REAL
Sep 9, 2010, 12:19 AM
Post #8 of 8
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Registered: May 13, 2009
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Final Update on my shoulder (hopefully) for anyone searching info on a SLAP tear. I got cleared to slowly start climbing a month ago. I've been out to the gym 4-5 times, plus a weekend at the Red River Gorge. Things are feeling great, I feel like a newb again though, and the shoulder still hurts for hours after a long workout but getting less and less, and usually better the following day. Doc says to still listen to my body, and don't rush it. No bench press, Military Press, Lateral raises with any significant weight yet. BUT I CAN CLIMB! Long in the short - Take your PT very seriously, and take your time with recovery if that's what your doc says to do. All in all, I've been out a year and gained 20+ lbs, but now I'm back with a new-found respect and admiration for climbing; and because I didn't try too much, too soon (so far) I will be able to continue climbing for many many years to come. Take your time that is needed to heal. You wont regret it nearly as much as the possible alternatives. Good Luck to anyone else with this foreboding injury.
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