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Can you time your op to take place in winter
The problem with that hora is (as I understand) that the longer a damaged ligament/tendon is left the more it atrophies. Also the chance of enlarging the tear is increased. To the point,eventually, where it is no longer repairable.
@ pipiom, thanks, that's reassuring. The Physio I went to yesterday is linked to prof funks clinic at Wilmslow so I'm hoping I'm in safe hands. I'll probably have at least one if not two more Physio sessions before I see prof funk next Saturday.
I can totally understand why you have gone to prof funk and paying for the op this time round!
I'll probably think of more questions - I hope you don't mind!
Oh. I was due an operation in Feb that I asked for a second opinion and pause- the surgeon wanted to saw out three segments if bone. It's been largely fine however last night it feels like I've bloody pulled the thing/strained it (no exercise at the time). I've got a rotor/slap tear too in there.
The problem with that hora is (as I understand) that the longer a damaged ligament/tendon is left the more it atrophies. Also the chance of enlarging the tear is increased. To the point,eventually, where it is no longer repairable.
Oh well 🙁
Probably too late for me then. I ruined my shoulder last June (2015). I started doing pressups again two weeks ago though.
Can you ride your bike hora?
Yes- that's good? I adapted how I rode (no longer pull on the bars/leant a certain way). I have started front dumbell raises though now too
I think that's the confusing thing about RC injuries. I certainly couldn't ride my bike at the moment but I'm only 2 weeks post injury.
I'm only 2 weeks in as well,and I know that I could eventually compensate and build up enough muscle around the area to be able to ride. However,at almost 61 years old, if I crashed and tore further,or even worse,fully ruptured the areas that I've torn,there may be no way back.
Been "Funked now": RC repair/bicep tenodesis; still numbed from nerve blocker; more to be revealed in the morning; he's happy though,so I'm happy
Lots of pain in the night when nerve blocker wore off. The only "comfortable?? position was sitting upright,therefore little sleep after first two hours........early doors,I know, I'll update in a few days.
Thanks for posting pipiom, I remembered you were getting funked yesterday! Hope it all heals well. I see prof funk Saturday.
2nd night in,home now: slept a bit last night;still lots of pain but didn't use the Tramadol (really want to avoid if poss); just stuck to the paracetamol /codeine phosphate cocktail; started light stretching excerises.
I think this will be the the order of business for the immediate future so I'll just update,if there's anything new happening, or weekly.
Nothing I didn't expect so far.
Good luck for tomorrow nsbikescore1....keep us updated
Any update @nsbikescore1?
Is the EVS brace only suitable for sports or would it help my day to day coping with my office job?
I'm supposed to be family camping so would the brace make much difference? Initial diagnosis is vague: mis-sharpen clavicle (bent) and my AC joint is an "odd shape". Waiting on consultant to review findings.
I got funked on Saturday and it was a more than acceptable experience. He first took details of my accident and what had been happening with my arm and shoulder since then. He then tested my resistance when he applied slight pressure to different areas of my arm. He did an ultrasound and fortunately found I had no tears in my rotator cuff or surrounding muscles so I was absolutely made up about that! I had lots of new xRays on my broken clavicle and ribs to ensure nothing had been missed and what was notable here was that the images were so much clearer than the original NHS ones and they were taken from all manner of angles. They clearly showed a new rib fracture which my NHS consultant thought was old. Back to prof funk in 2 weeks for more xRays to see how the bones are healing and continue with Physio in the meantime.
How are you getting along pipiom?
Good news NSB1......I'm off all heavy painkillers (just a few paracetamol now) first Physio yesterday and she's happy (she's "Funk taught and approved re shoulders)
I can already feel it getting stronger,but I'm a long way off even basic swimming etc.
I think it's the area where the bicep has been re-attached that gives me the most discomfort .....load of twitching and cramping as the fibres reconnect.
Good luck with your treatment and keep us informed.
Good that you've started Physio pipiom, makes you feel like you are doing something to aid the healing. My Physio said I can start gym work now so I had an induction yesterday, just lower body stuff at the moment, ie cross trainer, leg press etc. She said not to swim yet as I'm not strong enough for the resistance of the water. The twitching and cramping feelings are pretty weird aren't they and take you by suprise! I'm having some magnetic and scenar treatment on Friday to hopefully bring things on even more.
Good luck!
Sounds fun: I'm starting hyperbaric this morning; then regular Swiss ball action.....really worried about it being a future weak point ATM, hope that wears off.
Swiss ball is quite fun but knackering! I had my first go on one yesterday
Me too, but not too knackering for me: only forward arm rolls,then sideways; a very small roll at that.
I was using it more for my core... Bouncing on it with one leg raised... Phew!
Results of x-ray show no fractures so still in the queue to see someone from the oddly named Orthopedic Choice!
Started to see a physio, shoulder specialist, who says I've got a partial tear of my rotator cuff. Am going to do 2 x physio sessions a week and by the time I get to my hospital appointment he'll know if it can be fixed without surgery. Had 6 weeks off the bike and looking at another 3 - 4 months as my neck injury also needs fixing 🙁
Has anyone had experience of a steroid injection into the shoulder for these sort of problems?
My shoulder's not really bad (yet), but it's getting progressively worse and the physio hasn't helped. Band exercises are fine in some planes of movement, but other directions are always painful. My physio reckons an injection is defo worth trying and can make a big difference, but it doesn't sound like it will clear up the cause of the problem?
Injections can work but need a really skilled person to do it. If your GP offers ask him how many he has done. If its only a few ask for a referral to an orthopaedic specialist to do it and ask him the same. It has to be precisely into the right place and that takes skill and practice to do.
Personally I never had one to my injury
What tja said, and also to quote myself from another thread a while ago:-
I've had them in both shoulders for rotator cuff and bicep tendon problems.It'll take a few days for the joint to settle down from the disruption and the cortisone to take full effect.
After that, bear in mind it's not a magic healing agent by itself, it's just a strong anti-inflammatory which stays active in the joint for two or three months. This buys you some time to heal and re-strengthen the tendons progressively while in a less aggravated state. If you don't do that systematically (ie do your exercises!) you'll be back at square one when it wears off.
Thanks lads. Like the idea of a fresh run at the physio - it's been hard to do properly a painful shoulder.
5 weeks post op tomorrow and I'm starting to get a bit more movement. Exercises are tedious but I'm forcing myself to do them (and the freezer sling thing)
I've watched Funk's videos of the two ops he did on me and found them extremely interesting if a little scary for the future of my MTB ing.
The tenodesis op (repair of the tendon that attaches your bicep to your shoulder/neck)was the most impressive/frightening....how he separates the tendon sheath/pulls out the snakelike ligament/cuts it/ drills a hole in your bone,and shoves it in with a screw/peg thing, is mind blowing.
Check out his vids on YouTube if you're in any doubt as to his capabilities.
I'm just worried that: at almost 61; with both of these injuries; coupled with my previous,invasive,neck section from the throat cancer, I've lost too many body parts from this area to get back on it. My shoulder was already dropped and most of my traps were cut.
Anyway I'm giving it a bash and improving daily.....dark side machine is going to be purchased as soon as I'm allowed....goes against the grain but hey ho......good luck/any, updates the rest of ya's?
I'm seeing the surgical team on Thursday to work out what they are going to do to fix my rotator cuff, the scan showed a significant tear but it's not 100% clear how much damage there really is. I've had 8 hands on sessions of physio with a physiotherapist that has 30 years experience of shoulders and the improvement in movement is tiny but there's no reduction in pain hence heading to the surgeons!
Looks like with this and a 'fairly' urgent bladder op looming I will be out of action until spring!
pipiom- glad to hear you are doing OK. Have you the resistant bands?
I keep doing my exercises for the shoulder 3/4 years on. It keeps it strong, and trouble free. I can tell when I have not done any, as it does feel a little weak. Keep it part of as workout routine and you'll be trouble free.
I got funked up - couldn't do keyhole (smashed the shoulder quite a bit!) so I've got a nice big scar but the man know's his stuff - I'd say you're literally in the best hands the NHS can offer and probably the best hands private can offer for joint surgery!
Good luck with it all - be strict with the recovery - I found the local physio's I was referred to weren't great so I googled more exercises / stories of others to help it along the way.
Feels good now and has seen a few crashes onto it but it does ache randomly on cold days or if I need to hold my arm above my head when I've been lazy... so I'm back on rock climbing now to keep it strong
So I'm a big fan of the NHS - when it really goes wrong and you need urgent life saving treatment there's no-one better than the NHS.
Sadly when I turned up thinking my torn rotator cuff, as diagnosed by my physio and GP from an ultrasound, would be looked and surgery booked I found out I'd be referred for my neck not my shoulder! To be fair the guy I saw showed me the referral notes and my shoulder wasn't mentioned! To rub salt into the wound despite the GP saying I'd torn my rotator cuff - whilst looking at the scan result - the guy I saw yesterday said I haven't and it's actually severe subacromial bursitis!
So today I'm off to Orthopedic Choice to see someone who is expecting, I hope, to see someone with a damaged shoulder! I'm 3 months in and have had an xray, an ultrasound, 8 sessions of physio (very hands one), 2 visits to hospital and I'm still not sure what my injury really is and how it needs to be treated!
Just an update for anyone interested, 5 months in:seeing Funk again tomorrow for debridement of small secondary RC tear cleaning out of,stubborn,superficial infection in original wound site.
Rehab,in general, going well (if a little tedious) swimming,although boring,seems to be the most beneficial. Also road bike and bands/pulleys daily.
All in all it's a long job, but hopefully will result in one 5 month old Hightower being ridden in the non too distant.
I anyone needs any advice,please ask.