Who here has had shoulder surgery?

Discussion in 'Driver Health' started by MericanMade, Sep 13, 2020.

  1. MericanMade

    MericanMade Heavy Load Member

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    And were you back to 100% after rehab?

    While I was waiting six weeks for Melton to disinvite me to orientation a week prior to the start date, I did a big demolition job that required me to wield a sledge hammer overhead for two weeks. I think that was the final straw on top of 25 years of remodeling. Constant pain unabated by steroids and nsaids, awful sleep at night, and a zombie during the day. Can’t put it off much longer.

    I had an MRI of my right shoulder, and the results were pretty bad. Torn labrum, multiple partial tears in the rotator cuff, impingement from bone spurs on the bottom of my acromion, bursitis, and something that the Dr. likened to a wad of plastic cling wrap.

    Mid-November is when I’ll go under the knife, then three months of rehab and strengthen. After that, I need to re-evaluate my career choice. I hoped to make it to 60 before hanging up my tool belt for good, but it looks like 57.5 is going to do it. Maybe hiring out of Florida will pick up next year.

    I really want to be able to get back into my Crossrope exercise routines. After 64 workouts, the shoulder pain got to be too much. I’m softening again.

    How were your results?
     
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  3. silverspur

    silverspur Road Train Member

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    Have you researched stem cell therapy?I'm thinking about that before going under the knife.
     
  4. MericanMade

    MericanMade Heavy Load Member

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    I haven’t, but I’ve heard of it. I doubt it would make a bone spur go away, but it seems to have some promise for tears.

    Can’t you pick it up at the Planned Parenthood Store?

    Insurance doesn’t cover it, probably, so it would be a no-go for me.
     
    Last edited: Sep 13, 2020
  5. '88K100

    '88K100 Road Train Member

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    Shoulder surgery recovery is very long, more so than spinal surgery.
    My switch driver been off 9 months now from shoulder surgery. Previous switch off 6 months for shoulder surgery.
     
    Last edited: Sep 13, 2020
  6. Wasted Thyme

    Wasted Thyme Road Train Member

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    I had a "drive thru" shoulder. Basically a loose socket. They had to "freeze" it. PT didn't get full range back. So they had to sedate me and manually get back My range. Today it's still tight. But I can stretch it out and get comfortable. Ironically it also now suffers from my RLS that used to only be in my legs.
     
  7. kemosabi49

    kemosabi49 Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    I've had both hips replaced and one knee. And none of them were close to being as hard to get through as when I had rotator cuff surgery. Had to wear a sling that kept my shoulder immoble for 5 weeks and then rehab was a pain.
    But the whole thing was worth it to get my shoulder back to where it was and if I had to do it again, I would.
     
    ExOTR, REO6205, '88K100 and 2 others Thank this.
  8. Moose1958

    Moose1958 Road Train Member

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    I had shoulder surgery on my left shoulder in Feb, then again on my right shoulder in June. Fantastic VA Surgeon. The June surgery I also had a dermatologist and his PA to remove a growth on my face and a bad mole on my back just after being given a general. The surgery on the left shoulder was just impingement surgery and I quickly recovered. The right shoulder was impingement with several other things repaired. I am still in Physical Therapy. Because I don't tolerate drugs like morphine well I have managed mostly taking Ibuprofen 800s. The largest PITA about these surgeries is the nerve block done just at the base of my neck just after entering the O.R. Totally deadens that entire arm for around 14 to 16 hours. They also had to admit me overnight because I am an epileptic, in fact, this delayed BOTH procedures for almost 2 years.

    You can expect to be out of action for 60 to 90 days +. However, GET the surgery. You will be much better off once you fully recover!
     
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  9. '88K100

    '88K100 Road Train Member

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    My switch just returned to work,,,he was off 10 months for shoulder surgery. Its a long recovery for sure.
     
  10. MericanMade

    MericanMade Heavy Load Member

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    I had my surgery this past Monday. Nov 30. It took the surgeon 4 hours, which is about double the norm. He told my wife he was worn out. Wah!

    He couldn’t stitch up my torn labrum. Too deteriorated. He just cleaned it up. Doesn’t think it will be a problem. I had a 3 cm tear in my rotator cuff, and “many, many” bone spurs.

    It’s Friday, and I’m feeling pretty good. I had a long lasting nerve block that has worn off, but I’m in no pain, really. I’m just taking 2400 mg of ibuprofen a day and that’s doing the trick. I’ll hoard those 25 hydrocodone pills.

    Two PT sessions so far. I can reach straight up no problem, but outside rotation...yikes!

    I haven’t taken any nsaids since this morning, so I’m enjoying a bourbon on the rocks and will be cooking a ribeye for supper—French style—salt, pepper, seared in butter on the stove.
     
  11. Hammer166

    Hammer166 Crusty Information Officer

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    I dislocated a shoulder, totally detached top rotator, torn labrum. Doc said he couldn't fix labrum at my age (50 at the time) so they did a bicep relocation at the same time. I was pretty religious with my exercises (pre-surgery is just as important!) and I'm at 90% or better, although I need to loosen up a bit to get there in rotation.

    I could have driven in less then 90 days, and by 120 days was back to full strength. I'm a carhauler, so I was probably stronger and more limber than most guys my age, which helped.
     
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