Shoulder surgery - relapse?

[KAgantua]

I got injured at a boxing session (Not through boxing, rather a vigorous warm up) 3 years ago, symptoms were 'weakness' in my right arm, when raising my arm up to 90 degrees parallel to the shoulder. Also 'clicking' and a little bit of pain.

I went to a shoulder surgeon in September and they diagnosed a SLAP tear, and gave me an intramuscular injection of steroids which relieved the pain for about 5 weeks. It wore off though.

In October I had an operation, Arthroscopy, Bursoscopy (i.e. keyhole surgery), subacromial decompression (Shaving away bone spurs causing the tendon to impinge), arthroplasty and cuff repair (i.e. reattaching the muscle and tendons to the joint)

I started doing exercises as outlined by the doc/ physio, and these are ongoing. I got the green light a couple of weeks back to go full on with the gym/ BJJ.
I did a long session in BJJ on Thursday, and have been sore on Friday. Yesterday (Saturday) my arm is weak, and very sore. It feels like i am compensating for movement by moving my body to reach for things instead of the arm. It feels like it did before.

Has anyone had the same operation?
Have I just wrecked my shoulder again?
Will I ever be normal again, or should I just retire from everything?

I am researching other remedies for this, wonder if maybe i have arthritis too?

Sorry for the long rambling post.

[brownspeed]

I had same issue a few years ago (following a ski accident*); went in for a subacromial decompression ; while I was opened up they also found I'd managed to detach my bicep and tendon(s). I was given a brachial block which meant no post op pain. Even several days afterwards it was still not so bad. I had to re-learn to use my arm via several months of physiotherapy. I'd say after 6 months I had made a full recovery. I'm not built like a boxer, maybe you'll be quicker. or slower!

• On holiday in January I was hit by an out of control snowboarder travelling at speed, I was stationary; same shoulder!!; luckily I seem to have survived going back under the knife.

[lemmingjames]

KAgantua said:

I got injured at a boxing session (Not through boxing, rather a vigorous warm up) 3 years ago, symptoms were 'weakness' in my right arm, when raising my arm up to 90 degrees parallel to the shoulder. Also 'clicking' and a little bit of pain.

I went to a shoulder surgeon in September and they diagnosed a SLAP tear, and gave me an intramuscular injection of steroids which relieved the pain for about 5 weeks. It wore off though.

In October I had an operation, Arthroscopy, Bursoscopy (i.e. keyhole surgery), subacromial decompression (Shaving away bone spurs causing the tendon to impinge), arthroplasty and cuff repair (i.e. reattaching the muscle and tendons to the joint)

I started doing exercises as outlined by the doc/ physio, and these are ongoing. I got the green light a couple of weeks back to go full on with the gym/ BJJ.
I did a long session in BJJ on Thursday, and have been sore on Friday. Yesterday (Saturday) my arm is weak, and very sore. It feels like i am compensating for movement by moving my body to reach for things instead of the arm. It feels like it did before.

Has anyone had the same operation?
Have I just wrecked my shoulder again?
Will I ever be normal again, or should I just retire from everything?

I am researching other remedies for this, wonder if maybe i have arthritis too?

Sorry for the long rambling post.

Not sure what the code or name is now but both of my shoulders have had the tendons reattached so some of my information might be helpful to you or not and i wont ramble on about my issues.

The MRI would have shown in you had the beginnings of Arthritis so might be worth asking the surgeon again to see if they can see though they'd also have noticed it when inside. Both of mine have some wear but i guess that was to be expected as i used to have flexi shoulders and my sporting background.
I had to give up BJJ/wrestling etc as i was told that within 5 years that sort of movement would wreck my shoulder further and id need a new joint by the age of 40.

Pending on how old you are, sadly, and its not easy but you just have to accept that you are getting old and it takes the body longer to recover. My body has had to overrule the head/heart on numerous past times and so ive 'retired' from certain sports.

The inflammation will go down with rest and anti-inflams. Do you need to retire, pends on if the surgeon found any 'damage' within that'll speed up arthritis and you possibly needing a new joint before the suggested age.

At the same time, your shoulder was 'recently' operated on and so is still going to be recovering internally. The bicep(?) tendons been shortened and so youll be compensating for this as well with your body. Sometimes having shoulder mass from before is both beneficial (other muscles have been built up and so can take the strain as such) and a hinderance (your new muscle isnt allowed to 'train') hence why your body is moving to lift something down from the top shelf,

My best tip for you would be regular trips for a sports massage (i got so many knots in my back that once released, would give me further range of motion after each visit) and one of those massage guns for small scale instant pain relief.

You probably wont have wrecked your shoulder again though, just go easy and slowly and maybe give BJJ a rest for a bit whilst you rebuild the shoulder. Try to avoid frozen shoulder as this seriously fked one of my shoulders up and set recovery back for a year.

Drop me a pm if you want some more of my ramblings but the above is what id suggest.

Do you have another post-op check up with the surgeon? I cant remember if theres one at the 3 month mark or not.

[KAgantua]

Yes he saw arthritis when he was in there
I have appt with doc in a week.

My friends are saying minimum 6 months before working out... But doc said it was ok?

[lemmingjames]

KAgantua said:

Yes he saw arthritis when he was in there
I have appt with doc in a week.

My friends are saying minimum 6 months before working out... But doc said it was ok?

I was back in the gym as soon as I could but just took it easy on the joint. Tbh though,I probably wouldn't have rushed back to bjj but your body your choice.

Did he say how much is gone or what time limit you have if you carry on with bjj until its ducked?

[popeyewhite]

KAgantua said:

But doc said it was ok?

Does the doc do BJJ?

[KAgantua]

Hell no... hes more of a sking type chap

[popeyewhite]

He won't have any idea of the stress you'll place the shoulder joint under, which is a lot more than many other martial arts. Personally I'd avoid any grappling for quite a while. Did you explain to him what BJJ involves? I reckon if you did he'd be horrified

Then again maybe not, I'm no shoulder surgeon!

[KAgantua]

Thanks for the comments guys.

I saw the doctor again today and had an MRI. It shows some brusing and inflammation in the area but no detachment. Have been told 6 weeks of rest.

Looks like I started back too soon but have had a lucky escape

[lemmingjames]

And bjj?

Or how much wear you've got?

[KAgantua]

I didnt ask that as im not sure it will be an answerable question.

My plan is to bin off the BJJ for now, and wait 3 months. That will be 6 months since the op,
I will then go back to doing something , BJJ or Capoeira (Which I did for a while just before lockdown)

My concern with training is this: Im 42, and I have a skinny body type. My previous injuries (Arm first time, second time and the one a few days ago) have all happened at medium exertion (ie. during warm ups or normal operation).

Perhaps this is my body telling me I need to take it easier.

[lemmingjames]

you mean, you didnt ask him as you didnt want the answer :wink:

[KAgantua]

Lol probably

[SlimJim16v]

I would forget about something as hard on the joints as BJJ for this year at least. When the inflation has gone down, work on strengthening the rotator cuff for a while before adding some careful weight training to strengthen your muscles and tendons. Make sure you're getting enough protein.

You don't want to end up with a chronic injury.

This may be a bit controversial, but have a read about MK 677.