Shoulder surgery? Have you had one yet?

on the contrary--I am 21 years old and have had 2 shoulder surgeries...1 for each arm. It was a rotary cuff surgery, but required the reconstruction of both joints. I had the surgeries one month apart, was in a sling after each surgery for about 3 days...and by the 2nd day after surgery i was able to laying on the floor put my arm all the way back into streamline position--something I couldn't do 3 days prior. I had an amazing surgeon, and used only the 1 painkiller that they give u before you leave the hospital for both surgeries...it was painless and well worth the time I had to take off from the pool. after the first surgery i was able to get in the water and kick with a board starting at about week 3--when the stitches started getting raggy and falling out. After the second surgery same thing, but at that point my first arm was strong enough to start doing some one arm drills and such. After about 3months in total from the first surgery I was swimming 2000 yards a day and kicking 3000, and within 4.5 months from the first surgery I was competing at the top of my collegiate conference and swimming PB times. I wouldn't be swimming in college at this moment if I hadn't had those surgeries..I know I wouldn't have been able to continue with the pain and frustration of having such a limited range of motion. Surgery was the first thing that was suggested to me, because MRI scans showed a pretty significant problem, but I did try alternatives beforehand including 7months of PT and quterizone(sp?) shots. I had done shoulder/rotator cuff exercises for years before my surgeries and nothing really made the difference. Considering surgery for shoulder injuries really comes down to how much money you have to put towards this--because the surgeries were expensive, the doctor I used was expensive and I had to travel to her, and I was in PT for 9months from start to finish. (though i think PT should be a requirement for swimmers year-round because i was so much stronger because of it). And it depends on what kind of swimming you want to do and how limited you are or may become to perform at your highest possible level and improve if you don't have the surgery. Different person...different shoulders...different story.

on the contrary--I am 21 years old and have had 2 shoulder surgeries...1 for each arm. It was a rotary cuff surgery, but required the reconstruction of both joints. I had the surgeries one month apart, was in a sling after each surgery for about 3 days...and by the 2nd day after surgery i was able to laying on the floor put my arm all the way back into streamline position--something I couldn't do 3 days prior. I had an amazing surgeon, and used only the 1 painkiller that they give u before you leave the hospital for both surgeries...it was painless and well worth the time I had to take off from the pool. after the first surgery i was able to get in the water and kick with a board starting at about week 3--when the stitches started getting raggy and falling out. After the second surgery same thing, but at that point my first arm was strong enough to start doing some one arm drills and such. After about 3months in total from the first surgery I was swimming 2000 yards a day and kicking 3000, and within 4.5 months from the first surgery I was competing at the top of my collegiate conference and swimming PB times. I wouldn't be swimming in college at this moment if I hadn't had those surgeries..I know I wouldn't have been able to continue with the pain and frustration of having such a limited range of motion. Surgery was the first thing that was suggested to me, because MRI scans showed a pretty significant problem, but I did try alternatives beforehand including 7months of PT and quterizone(sp?) shots. I had done shoulder/rotator cuff exercises for years before my surgeries and nothing really made the difference. Considering surgery for shoulder injuries really comes down to how much money you have to put towards this--because the surgeries were expensive, the doctor I used was expensive and I had to travel to her, and I was in PT for 9months from start to finish. (though i think PT should be a requirement for swimmers year-round because i was so much stronger because of it). And it depends on what kind of swimming you want to do and how limited you are or may become to perform at your highest possible level and improve if you don't have the surgery. Different person...different shoulders...different story.