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So, I have been having some issues with my shoulder for quite a while. Basically, it kills me to do anything dynamic with that arm, especially when its under load and I release to quickly make a move..... i.e. campusing.

So I went to the Doc and got a script for PT. I did it for a month and noticed some improvement in my shoulder strength. The pain was so bad I could only do front shoulder raises with a couple pounds (but could do MUCH more on lateral raises). However, the PT has done nothing for the pain. I started lightly climbing again and can do quite a bit (moderate 11s), but I am very limited by my shoulder.

So, I got an MRI and the orthopedic surgeon found a small partial tear in my rotator cuff. So, my options are to:
A) fully rest my shoulder for a period of time and take Mobic (anti-inflammatory) and hope it heals on its own.
B) Go for a [relatively] minor surgery where he cleans up the loose fibers that [probably] cause the pain and this will be about a 2 month recovery period.
C) rest for a certain amount of time and then try the surgery.

So, obviously the downside to surgery is that there are inherent risks and there is a definite long recovery period. Also, he says that if he goes in there and finds that the tear is [much] worse than thought, he may have to remove and then re-attach the tendon which is a full reconstruction and takes several months to recover from. Obviously a scary thought.

I have resigned myself to the fact that I probably wont be able to climb in the spring/summer, but I hope to be back at it in the fall. So, if I opt to wait and see what happens on its own, then I would risk extending recovery time if I later find that I need the surgery.

So, what do y'all think? Do I wait and hope for the best, or do I give the surgery a go to ensure that its cleaned up before it starts to heal?

LOL I think the Doctor would have the best opinion for you. Two months off is NOTHING. If you tore any amount of tendon in the process you're looking at 6 months to a year for that to heal. Tendons take the longest to heal unfotuntaly. I just don't understand the thought process involved when and if an Ortho told you the best option would be to have the surgery (who BTW has gone to school for 14 years to specialize in this sort of thing) you would turn around and try and get a second opinion from a bunch of yocals whom couldn't name the four muscle groups that consist of the Rotator Cuff?

supraspinatus
infraspinatus
teres minor
subscapularis

Actually, there's many physicians, physical therapists, and medical students/residents who frequent this forum...not to mention dozens of climbers who have had shoulder injuries themselves (like me right now).

so, is it correct that you continued to train by campusing after/as/while this pain began? did the pain occur gradually?

yocal opinion from someone who has taken anatomy and phys courses and still can't name all the micro info every yahoo doctor who wants their name in a book came up with: i think it's crazy to cut into the body to help it heal. yeah, if it's broke and needs fixing, ok; but (and the reason i ask how it started) it sounds like you asked too much before you were ready.....

not that it makes much difference, but i continue to feel changes from regenerating tissue from an accident years ago. an amazing process, so enjoy.

i vote A.

I had arthroscopic surgery on my shoulder to repair tears in the rotary cuff group and labrum. I was doing PT three weeks later, lifting moderate weights in 2 months (was supposed to wait until three months, but it was feeling pretty good by then). and was back to full use by 3 1/2 months. Full strength didn't come until about 5 or 6 months, though. I was totally pain free 2 days after the surgery.

After dealing with shoulder pain for three years, after having the surgery, I wondered why in the world I waited so long.

Yes, I was not directing this toward the yocals, but the many doctors and physical therapists that frequent the site. And the doctor did necessarily advise to do the surgery. he said I had to decide how much it bothers me, and suggested I try resting first in the hopes it would heal on its own. I expressed my concern about climbing in the fall, so he said we could also do the surgery earlier.

I have always had issues with my shoulders. I have not done it for a while, but I used to do various training, including campus boards, and my shoulder would start to hurt really bad. So, I stopped when I felt that. The shoulder has never hurt as bad as it does now, and again, its only really during specific movements. I climber very hard last fall with no issues, and I can continue to climb without any pain if I stick to more moderate stuff. As for the current pain, that must have happened gradually over the winter. I know I strained it pretty hard one day, but dont know if that was the exact moment of the tear.

mike_a_lafontaine wrote:I had arthroscopic surgery on my shoulder to repair tears in the rotary cuff group and labrum. I was doing PT three weeks later, lifting moderate weights in 2 months (was supposed to wait until three months, but it was feeling pretty good by then). and was back to full use by 3 1/2 months. Full strength didn't come until about 5 or 6 months, though. I was totally pain free 2 days after the surgery.

After dealing with shoulder pain for three years, after having the surgery, I wondered why in the world I waited so long.

Thanks Mike, thats the kind of stuff I am looking to hear. And not just in favor of surgery, but how people healed by only resting. I'm just trying to get a realistic feel for recovery time. I have many months before fall climbing, so I will be a good boy do what it takes to rest and heal my shoulder.

So how involved was the surgery? Did they have to suture things back together or was it just to clean up some of the torn fibers? And how was your pain before the surgery? Was it a constant pain, like things were really messed up?

Over 18 years of climbing and 3 serious shoulder injuries (the 3rd being right now), I have never opted for surgery for any injury...& that includes a full spectrum. In my opinion surgery is usually not worth the risk and discomfort unless you have a very severe and/or chronic pain (>6 months). I have always managed to heal on my own, but that said I have very poor ROM in both shoulders. PT is usually the best option...ask the lurkist or pigsteak for good recommendations of PT, at least in the Lexington area.

I crushed my elbow a few yrs back, had to get a plate and 6 screws to hold it back together and they still had to leave some smaller bone fragments out (what can I say if I'm going to do something I do it right, that includes breaking bones!) At any rate, I was back to climbing 4 months after the surgery. Pt helped a lot but that was because my arm looked like a tooth pick after laying lifeless for 2 months.

My point is, the body is amazing it If treated right it can heal faster than you would imagine.
That and doctors do amazing things these days when it comes to surgery. I imagine yours would be fairly simple. I vote go for it, take care of yourself and you'll be back pebble wrestling in no time

Well, I'm in MI, so Lex might be a bit of a drive! =) I was actually doing PT with a guy that climbs at the gym. he helped me a lot with strength or my shoulder, but the pain didnt subside at all. The doc actually suggested that I only do light PT and not do anything where I have to reach over my head, even with light weight. As for ROM, apparently I am hyper flexible, but maybe that is because of how weak my shoulders are? =)