Shoulder surgery

@lightluz I did have a minor SLAP tear in my shoulder that healed without surgery. I had been in PT a long time in pain and wasn't progressing, and then they did the imaging and found the tear. My other shoulder became frozen after a diagnostic MRI with an injection of gadolinium for shoulder instability. That became so inflamed and painful, I couldn't move it for a couple months. After that, I was in physical therapy, and they got the range of motion back which was painful.

Has your specialist discussed not surgical options with healing and possible physical therapy, or is the injury bad enough that it needs surgery?

An update with you regarding my journey with my [condition/injury], as I know you've been going through a similar struggle trying to avoid surgery.

If I understand correctly, you’re still working hard to get well without surgery, and it seems like you haven’t found the success you were hoping for yet. I can totally relate, as I’ve been on a similar path.

I’ve been doing physical therapy for the past three months, even though my doctor initially wanted to jump straight into surgery. I’ve been working really hard with my training, but unfortunately, the pain is still there, especially when I sleep. I wake up feeling really sore and in pain every morning, and it’s been difficult to manage.
Given that I haven’t had the relief I was hoping for, I’m now seriously considering surgery. From what I understand, it has a good success rate, which is why I’ve been thinking it might be the right option for me. That said, I wanted to ask anyone with experience with post-surgery pain and recovery. If you’ve or anyone had any insights or tips about what to expect or how to manage after the procedure, I would really appreciate hearing about it.

Any shoulder surgery, especially for women, needs to be assessed by the best surgeon you can find. I regret not doing this. My surgery went very bad. Awful pain and swelling. They call it Complex Regional Pain Syndrome(CRPS) Took 3- 5 months to get back the full use of my hand and arm. Also many hour of of PT and OT. Just be a smart consumer and if you have to have surgery, get a second opinion!😚

Yes, get the best surgeon you can. Shoulder surgery is the worst and takes months to heal with lots of PT. And everyone is different and heals differently.

My brother researched surgeons for months to find the "best" one. His surgery still didn't go as planned. He was in more pain than usual and spent a week in the hospital before he could go home. Everyone's outcomes can be very different even with the best surgeon they can find. Be prepared.

Thanks to all who have commented here. I didn't even know what a SLAP tear was.

I have a severely arthritic left shoulder. I guess "severe" is relative because I can still do a lot and I'm in the gym everyday. I just know it's not gonna get better and I'll need a replacement, hopefully not a reverse. I don't think my rotator cuff is damaged and I have good range of motion. But some nights it hurts like hell even when I don't sleep on that side.

I have heard more success stories from shoulder replacement patients than from patients who have had surgery to repair a RC, or is this case, a tear in the cartilage lining (SLAP). I don't have any cartilage left so there is nothing to tear. Call me lucky I guess.

I just don't understand why, in general, surgery on soft tissue in the shoulder is so difficult to treat successfully. Does anyone have any insight into this?

I'm 70 now, very fit fortunately and have had both knees replaced, left hip scheduled for March and left shoulder on deck. I'm just baffled that a TSR or RTSR seems to generate fewer post-op complaints than surgery on soft tissue in the shoulder. Any insight is greatly appreciated.

(And I suggest doing whatever it takes, and waiting as long as it takes to get a good surgeon. My criteria, FWIW, are doctors in their late 30s to late 40s with a solid med school pedigree and/or residency at a prestigious facility (Mayo or Cleveland Clinic). These surgeons are still young and ambitious, current on best practices, and have done hundreds if not thousands of procedures. Hope that helps, and all the best to my fellow shoulder sufferers. I sincerely wish you all the best. Joe)

@desi27 May I ask if you are petite?? I have had well over a year of therapy, acupuncture, cortisone and nerve blocks. I “tweak” the arm constantly by making motions out of habit. I get it was a reverse shoulder replacement but it’s greatly caused me so much pain! The surgeon is not even sure why but she says I have golf ball sized muscle, not softball size as I should, and that being petite may factor in. ( hardware is visible underneath skin). Please anyone out there let me know! I’ve found only 1 other gal who has had a similar experience. Thanks!!

I had two bone spurs in my shoulder that were tearing through the supraspinatus muscle in my right shoulder (dominant arm). Local doctor said it would be an 8-12 week recovery to remove spurs and repair tears. Went to an expert in neighboring state of Wisconsin for the surgery. When I told him what local doctor had said he just looked at me and said it will be more like 8-12 months and it was 12 months exactly before I had full range of motion.

At my two week checkup I had taken a months worth of narcotics because of the pain. Doctor said that of the thousands of surgeries his very large practice performs, recovery from fastest/easiest to slowest/most difficult are hip, then knee, then shoulder replacements. And the very hardest and longest for recovery are shoulder REPAIRS. When asked why he said the shoulder space is very congested with nerves, tendons, muscles, bone in a very small space.

I’m not sorry I had the repair done because I didn’t have a choice. The spurs had nearly severed that muscle. But I’d sure think twice about having another shoulder repair unless it was absolutely necessary.

I would add that it’s critical that you find an expert who’s done many of these repairs. Travel if you must and are able.

No I am not petite. I am average. I stay active but know my limits.
I feel the research in shoulder anatomy, especially in women, is lacking. Keep doing all you can. Use all the meds, do not suffer.