I am interested in hearing any stories or advice from people who have undergone supraspinatus tear repair. I recently suffered a 1 cm "clean tear" during an incident when I was tumbled by a rogue wave down a lava wall. The good news is I survived with no neck or head injuries, only abrasions and - the bad news - a messed up shoulder, which will require surgical repair "sooner rather than later".
I know the recovery from this is slow but can be successful. So while I am very sad I will miss several months of swimming, I am optimistic about getting back to it this summer.
Any tips? what questions should I ask the surgeon?
Thanks, Karen
If I understood his explanation, the outcome of the study was that it is better not to do much physical therapy during the first 12 weeks post-op.
well i totally blew that!
SLAP tear surgery on 6/16
swimming with it on 8/12 granted slowly and using full fins
on 9/12 went from full fins to burners
10/18 got rid of the burners
raced on 11/20 and did 2 TopTenTimes in the 50 and 100 fly scm.
i think the results show me doing pretty well at the Clovis Nats :D
Sorry to hear about your injury, Karen. I'm currently just shy of 6 months post-surgery for a supraspinatus tear and repair. I'll try to give you a few quick things here, but feel free to PM or email me any other questions you may have about the e
One thing I can recommend is that before the surgery, try daily activities with the surgical arm at your side. My surgery was on my "off" arm, which makes it easier, but still wash your hair with one arm, try to dry yourself off with a towel using one arm (this is pretty difficult), brush your teeth with the other hand, try to use buttons and zippers with one hand or tie your shoes with one hand, etc. Try to get used to these things before your arm hurts like ***.
I really agree with the suggestion of trying (before surgery) to do things with the uninjured arm. My best friend was an electric toothbrush. One suggestion--get a bunch of EXTRA LARGE t-shirts to wear while in the sling. You can fit the sling UNDER the t-shirt while still getting the good arm out. My sling itched like crazy and I had to wear a pillowcase (literally) between the skin on my back and the sling. Front closing bras are also a good suggestion.
Had 6 shoulder surgeries so well experienced. I have a slight rotator cuff tear in my non-dominant shoulder but the doctor feels I have too much motion to bother with it. Bothers me sometimes but not enough to want to do surgery.
Make SURE you get the cooling cuff (either cyro or some of the newer technology)--it will make all the difference in your healing and how you feel!!! One of the newer devices is called a Hyperice. Most insurance companies will cover the cost of the cooling unit if ordered by your surgeon (you come out of surgery already in one in many cases). If not--check in advance---I purchased a complete cryo-cuff for my knee for under $30. The day before the exact same model went for over $100 (missed out on that auction)---next day or two--got one for 1/3rd the price! Used but still cheaper than the co-pay and my doctor was unable to order one as he isn't a surgeon. Forgot to mention--I was bidding thru Ebay. Check there to see what you might be able to get without insurance if your doctor doesn't rx one for you.
I'm sorry that you got this injury. During my recover, I read that rotator cuff surgery is one of the top three worst surgeries to recover from. You'll be sleeping in the recliner for weeks, if not months. PT will suck, and feel more like torture. But do as much of whatever they tell you to do (on your own at home), and you'll recover a lot quicker. But...the one thing that I never thought of, and no one mentioned to me before the surgery...were the things I do with that hand/arm that I wouldn't be able to do during recovery. Simple things like brush your teeth, comb your hair, drive your car, wash your backside, etc. And I hate to mention this, but no one else did...and it was diffficult for me...wiping after taking a poop. Had I realized that before...I'd have practiced a little bit before the surgery. Sounds dumb, and gross...I know...until you have to do it. Otherwise, I think you'll do just fine. Since you're a swimmer, you'll be itching to get back in the water...and that will expedite your full recovery. Good luck.
Dan
Hopefully I'll get out of the sling this week. I evidently had less pain than most, but the doing everything one handed is getting old. I know that getting the sling off doesn't mean I can actually do anything with my left arm, but at least I can get in the pool and kick.
