[Closed] Riding after open rotator cuff surgery

Broke my left collarbone into 5 pieces in Sep 19 after a heavy, fast impact with the ground. I had it plated and screwed back together and worked hard on the physio to got back to full strength and mobility. Took it easy getting back into riding on the road before going off road on short mild rides and gradually worked up from there. I got back to where I was before the injury.

The doc said a heavy fall/landing could break the bone where it's not plated (at the ends), though I imagine another crash like I had would result in the same outcome - plated or not! There is no muscle surrounding the collarbone it to protect it so it's always going to be exposed. I haven't fallen on it and don't really think about it now (i'm not a serial crasher).

Take is easy to start with, work back into riding as your confidence and strength improves and you'll be ok I reckon.

Ease yourself back into it. I've broken various bones over the years and if you take the time to let them heal properly, there's really no way they're any more likely to break again.

I had exactly the same as you OP. I felt a little nervy at first, so wore a shoulder support which really helped with confidence. I still do shoulder strengthening exercises that my physio showed me after the op and the op was 7 years ago. I feel it if I have not done my exercises for a time, so just keep up those up. I have fallen on it a few times, but all OK, after my first fall and nothing happened (didn't pop out) I did gain even more confidence.

This is the brace I wore- https://www.dirtbikebitz.com/EVS-SB04-Shoulder-Brace/d57134482.htm?colour=Black&sku=753170&productid=205597&gclid=CjwKCAjwu5CDBhB9EiwA0w6sLb8QjzJUGRHra4bZdq-m3gZ-9GVu7DuMTEUJdNqVqgNnTvX6EX63HxoCxL8QAvD_BwE

I’m assured by the hospital that it will be as strong as before

Well, if you haven't used it for a year then it won't be. Perhaps they meant it has the potential to heal to full strength.

Not quite rotator cuff, but I had surgery on a shoulder ligament tear a few years ago. All keyhole in my case. I was worried about its strength initially but so far it's been absolutely fine. As above, I'd do some shoulder-strengthening stuff and then get riding and not worry.

I've broken my collarbone 3 times and had rotator cuff surgery. What I didn't do enough of was shoulder strengthening exercises. What I knew I should have done was shoulder strengthening exercises. What I would recommend doing is shoulder strengthening exercises.

Apart from the bone breaks, I've not had further issues, luckily. But I do now do more... shoulder strengthening exercises for confidence when - not if - I fall off the bike. Had a big fall a year ago and am still amazed my shoulder / cb survived in tact.

Long time no see TM.
Welcome back.
Broke my collarbone last July
Operated on in September and the bone still isn't fully healed (about 80% now)
To add to my problems I also got frozen shoulder and impingement through lack of being able to use it for so long.
Still getting pain from it but it seems to be more the tendons and chest muscles that are tight and hurt.
Been doing physio on it twice a day since October and it is very slowly getting better.
Couldn't get a real answer on how strong it is or if I should be riding.

Got totaly fed up with the situation so just started riding anyway.
Very gently at first and I was really worried about crashing.
Been about a month now and I've started to ride more and more techy/steep stuff as the fear of damaging it subsides.
I've also moved to a better riding area and the temptation is just too much to not ride some of the trails.

My advice is just try and see how you feel and take it very steady to start with.
You'll know pretty soon how much you want to push things or not.
Theres no rush. The trails will still be there in six months time, just slowly get back on it.

Thanks all for your replies and hello back to you SSS, a long time indeed.
Encouraging words from all. I’ve been strengthening the shoulder pretty much since the sling came off but as you all know, there’s a limit to how much you can do to strengthen it. I ride Dartmoor for the first time yesterday and didn’t do anything crazy but it’s impossible to avoid steps,drops, rocks and ruts. The shoulder feels a bit weird this morning but I suppose it’s going to until I build the supporting muscles up a bit ?
Thanks again all. Any other useful anecdotes appreciated.

Trailmonkey, I dislocated my shoulder in Sept of last year and in the process tore off my rotator cuff tendon. They tried to re-attach it in Nov, but the ball at the top of the humerus was too soft to accept the ‘hooks’, so it’s gone for good. I was offered reverse shoulder replacement or physio to work on other muscles to compensate. I chose the physio (for now at least).
I’ve been on the turbo for months and have just been allowed back on the road bike this week, providing I don’t fall off 😂. I do a lot of physio every day, but it’s going to take a long time. Was told absolutely NO mountain biking. Good luck.

Sorry to hear that Watty, mine was a complete tear so I can sympathise with where you are with it. Good luck with your recovery.

The shoulder feels a bit weird this morning but I suppose it’s going to until I build the supporting muscles up a bit ?

I did 1300 meters of descending yesterday on my eeb and my shoulder felt like it was going to fall off.
Woke up this morning and it's still attached but aches like ****.

Mine has felt pretty weird from the word go. I was told there could be nerve damage so I’ve always assumed it was that. It can feel bad some days just from having my arm on the desk at work. I’ve not lifted anything heavier than 5 kilos with it so there’s a lot of strengthening to be done for sure. Obviously a few rocky descents was always going to be a test for it.
Sorry to hear about your injury though Stu, collarbones are a horrible injury. Mine wasn’t that bad a break but it never healed well, I have huge distension and having now done my opposite rotator cuff, I’m pretty sure I damaged the rotator cuff on the broken collarbone side in the same crash.
Good luck with the healing.

Cheers TM.
Same goes to you.
I'm sure we'll both get there in the end.
I think some of the pain I'm still having could also be nerve related.
I had no feeling to touch in my upper arm and chest to start with which has slowly got better.
It still feels a bit dead/odd/ painful kind of deep down in the tissue on my chest/peck area,
Acupuncture help me get the nerves working again and get some feeling back but I've stopped that now as it seemed to have stopped working on me after about 8 sessions.

Good luck with your recovery.

Thanks TM, and you.

Ha, I’d forgotten about the nerve damage, that pain’s always there in the background and gets worse the more exercise I do (I say pain, it’s almost a cross between extreme pins & needles and numbness). After an hour on the road bike yesterday my right hand was pretty much numb. The surgeon I had said nerves ‘repair’ at roughly the same speed as hair grows 😳, yet my physio said the pain MAY never go away. I’m just getting on with things now as best I can.

How's the healing going @trailmonkey ? I have rotator cuff surgery coming up in a few weeks and I'm not really looking forward to the long layoff from riding.