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Rags, I didn't have to keep my shoulder immobile for a whole month, only for 10 days or so. After that I gradually start moving it, passive movement at first, and eventually active movement. The first three weeks or so after surgery were the most delicate time - the physical therapist warned me about certain movements that could damage my newly repaired tendon and require re-surgery to fix again. After those first few weeks it was sufficiently healed that it could handle normal wear and tear, though not yet anything strenuous.

I was in PT for three months after the surgery, and got stretching assignments from the therapist that took probably 45 minutes a day to complete at home. This was probably the hardest part of recovery: the stretching took a lot of time out of my day, and every single movement hurt. But it is the most important part of recovery - you don't get your movement back unless you stretch regularly.

On the plus side, arthroscopic surgeries are not as big of a deal as traditional surgeries. Your recovery will probably be quicker than it was for Jared and me.

Good luck. Feel free to contact me if you have questions or concerns: jebruhn@purdue.edu

Rags, Are you having the labrum repair done, called a SLAP lesion repair? This is what I had done. It's a bicep tendon repair at the attachment of your shoulder. I was not allowed to use my arm(bicep) for 6 weeks to be sure I didn't damage the repair. This lead to a lot of musle atrophy in my arm and back muscles. What I am getting, if you are having the same repair I had be ready for a long recover. Also be ready for a pretty painful three days after you wake up from surgery. Make sure you have someone to take care of you for at least 3 days.

get a 2nd opinion..

Thanks! Rhunt, that's what it is exactly: a SLAP lesion repair and you are the bearer of great news arent' you? I think I will go get a second opinion next week, it will be worth the piece of mind. 3 days, eh?

***on the plus side: Terri is taking me to a cabin on the Olympic Peninsula for the first couple of weeks after surgery! sitting on a porch listening to the trees will be GREAT!

Thanks Joel and J-rock. It's good to know that you guys are still getting out.

I am not trying to give you bad news. I am just trying to help you see all that is involved and to share my experience. Yes the first three days after surgery were pretty bad. I was in a lot of pain and didn't get much sleep. Chillin at a peaceful place does sound like a great idea yet the last thing I would have wanted to do after surgery was get in a car or plane and travel anywhere.

Oh yeah, and I'd recommend some "herbal medicine" with lots of stretching and massage instead of those nasty pain killers... Worked for me anyway.

Yes, stretching and massage and, especially, ice pack instead of pain killers. I fell in love with my ice pack in those first couple weeks post-op.

The Dr. gave me a prescription for Vicodin (aka Oxycontin, aka Hillbilly Heroin). A bottle with 30 pills, and I think I took ten of them total. I was told that the rest of the bottle would have serious street value, which I suppose could be something to consider if you're going to miss work because of this.

I'm totally down with avoiding the pain killers as I have a real aversion to those things. And my ice pack has been a good friend lately. Actually I prefer the Green Giant's frozen broccoli.

Rags, I hate to keep giving you bad news, maybe I am just a super wimp. You are going to need those pain killers!! Do your homework and consider what the SLAP lesion repair involves. They will be drilling into bone, setting an anchor point and stitching your lebrum tendon back to that bone. I have 5 holes in my shoulder...yes it is artho sugery but it is still very painful.

holy shit.

After my arthroscopic surgery I followed the instructions of the physical therapists and my shoulder was quickly reinjured. After the next surgery it was the same thing. Finally on the 3rd surgery (Bristow Procedure) I ignored the advice and refused to participate in any physical therapy. The ball of my shoulder was cut completely off and it was rotated and then put back on (one side was badly broken/crushed/scarred, etc). 2 plates where installed (one very long and the other short). 4 screws were added and one pin. Several muscles were "restrung", ligaments were restitched, etc. It was quite painful after the surgery, but I refused the pain killers and physical therapy. Less than one month later I was climbing and everything has been fine since then (the last operation was in 1997).

True, you will probably want those pain killers, but I didn't like the way they made me feel, so I chose a more natural healing method consisting of some good herb, lots of stretching, massaging, and light climbing.