just had the third glenoid repair since my attempted return to masters 5 yrs ago. the first was the thermacapulorraphy- heat wand, the second 3 clips to hold it, this one 4 screws to hold it. yeah-i want to swim real bad....to go thru this for it!
anyone else have a labrum repair? success? failure?
and, to any orthopedic md/swimmers out there- is there a stroke that's less likely to loosen the labrum specifically?
note- years and years of being a butterflier is great prep for surgery...post op pain still isn't as bad as the last 75 yds of a 200- plus you can breathe!
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kimberlee-
i hadn't heard rotator is death to swimming. in fact they are pretty repairable these days. recovery is hell, 6 wks in an immobilizer. the glenoid is more difficult. 85% of pitchers who have the rotator repaired go back, as opposed to the 3% of pitchers who have glenoid tears. so don't lose heart.
a couple of suggestions: only have an orthopedist who specializes in shoulders work on you. i have an hmo- have to travel 2 hrs to get to the only specialist- but she only does elbows and shoulders. all my docs have been specialists and it's worth insisting on. all orthos do rotators, but read below to see why you want someone who can handle the unexpected.
not to scare you but to prepare you-they may find stuff, particularly a glenoid, when they actually do the surgery. they are hard to diagnose on phys exams and can be missed on mris. swimming with an injury may be also causing smaller tears elsewhere. discuss ALL pssibilities before you go in the or.
write me before you have surgery, i'll be working then and may not check the forum. having had 4 total surgeries- also had a repair on the right one-and i have a zillion tips to make life easier. for example post op they put your immobilizer on your naked body and by day 3 you have rashes. now i give them a loose t-shirt to put on before i go in-they do it while you're still out. my email is cbf@sonic.net. good luck.
kimberlee-
i hadn't heard rotator is death to swimming. in fact they are pretty repairable these days. recovery is hell, 6 wks in an immobilizer. the glenoid is more difficult. 85% of pitchers who have the rotator repaired go back, as opposed to the 3% of pitchers who have glenoid tears. so don't lose heart.
a couple of suggestions: only have an orthopedist who specializes in shoulders work on you. i have an hmo- have to travel 2 hrs to get to the only specialist- but she only does elbows and shoulders. all my docs have been specialists and it's worth insisting on. all orthos do rotators, but read below to see why you want someone who can handle the unexpected.
not to scare you but to prepare you-they may find stuff, particularly a glenoid, when they actually do the surgery. they are hard to diagnose on phys exams and can be missed on mris. swimming with an injury may be also causing smaller tears elsewhere. discuss ALL pssibilities before you go in the or.
write me before you have surgery, i'll be working then and may not check the forum. having had 4 total surgeries- also had a repair on the right one-and i have a zillion tips to make life easier. for example post op they put your immobilizer on your naked body and by day 3 you have rashes. now i give them a loose t-shirt to put on before i go in-they do it while you're still out. my email is cbf@sonic.net. good luck.
