Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by acidrock23 on December 28, 2011 at 6:35am

I had something going on in my shoulder over the last year or two, maybe related to painting the walls for like 1800 square feet of our 2300 square foot house in August 2008. Sometime not too long after that, we got a coupon/ deal thing for a free gym, pulleys, 200 lbs of weight, various stations, if we bought a treadmill so we have both of those and an elliptical in our basement. I found that my shoulder seemed to get better with lifting so I did that for a while. I drifted away and the shoulder while still what I would describe as a bit "creaky", seems to slowly improve if I keep exercising. Are there any sort of repetitive motion things that you could change that might be annoying it? I switched to mousing left handed when my right wrist flared up. I also noted some shoulder pain from doing "behind the back" layups w/ paper towels in the men's room at work. I stopped that and that may also contribute to the recovery.

Surgery seems pretty extreme but if you've already tried the PT angles and all of that, maybe you have to go for it? I would watch out for anything that might cause frozen shoulder though. MrsAcidRock has that.

I read ortho reports about car accidents all day and I'd also be curious to know how he knows it's "tendonitis", bicep repair (which to me, if he's repairing it, it would have to be torn?) vs. frozen shoulder? I'm sure that an orthopedic doctor knows everything but reading reports, a lot of times it sometimes it seems like 6 of one and 1/2 dozen of the other.

Re surgery recovery and running, I did the Chicago Marathon 100911 and had an umbilical hernia fixed 102111 and was running again about 3.5 weeks later, gingerly at first but am slowly rebuilding the mileage. I sort of have similar plans although I might squeeze in a full in May if the weather cooperates over the winter. It may be an "apples to oranges" situation on the surgeries but I think that being in decent shape (44 y.o. male...) may have helped the recovery process? I'm not sure about a shoulder though as those are pretty important for running.

Permalink Reply by colleen on December 28, 2011 at 2:28pm

Thanks for all the info. I did go through PT for 4 months and there was no relief. I also had 2 cortisone shots. The last one in Aug. got me through my first marathon. I had hoped it would have "cured" my shoulder but no luck. I also have a great personal trainer who came to my doc. appointments with me and she agreed with what he said.. which was either live with it or surgery. I figured since I am only 43, I don't want to live with this pain as it really is
impacting my every day living/exercise and teaching my kindergarteners. Doc. said he is going to have to take out some of my bicep and reattach .. Starting to get nervous... I have been doing so great with my running and it is going to be a big halt.. however I will stay positive and look forward to crossing that marathon finish line again :)..

Permalink Reply by Kathleen Jacobs on December 29, 2011 at 4:19pm

Sounds like you have a great attitude and I think that you will do fine in your recovery. I wish you the best.

Permalink Reply by Kathleen Jacobs on December 28, 2011 at 11:42am

I haven't had any shoulder surgeries but I do have frozen shoulder. It used to be really bad but with some chiropractic appointments and machines at the gym I am gaining flexibility. It has been a couple of years though.

I just started running and I haven't had a problem with it - but mine is almost resolved. It used to be torturous to do anything with the frozen shoulder. I am glad to be out of that phase and hope you don't get it. I understand that women diabetics are more prone to it.

I sure do wish you well.