Rotator Cuff Repair - When did you get back in the saddle?

[EjGlows]

Hey all,

I know a few of you have been through this...

After my last MOB ride in May I had full rotator cuff repair on April 9th.  MD says I'll be back on the bike before the end of summer. There is no summer in SF and that's far too vague of a statement for me.   So, what I'd like to know...

Age:26
Months until riding: TBD
Kind of rotator repair: Full suprispinatus, decompression, plication
Clutch/Throttle: Clutch

Additional bits:
Sex:F
No. of shoulder surgeries (same shoulder):3

Just hoping to get some insight...and hope now that PT has started.  Hot damn  I forgot how much this hurt!

Thanks so much,
e

[Popeye the Sailor]

Which shoulder is it?

[EjGlows]

Which shoulder is it?

Modified my post - clutch

I almost forgot that would be an important detail...

Cheers

[Magnus]

i had left shoulder surgery, not rotator cuff, but for a torn labrum...   arthroscopic.  they also shaved down a bone spur on the top of my shoulder. 

it took a good three months before i had adequate strength and range of motion to ride.

three surgeries already on the same shoulder?  for the same injury? 

[Evil_Ductator]

I had an MRI last Friday to find out if I have a torn labrum or rotator cuff.  So I'll be watching this space and update when I find out whats up next week (I'm away from home on business this week). 

I had hip surgery last September though.  It was arthroscopic, fixed a torn labrum and also ground down some bone to give it more space to move instead of rubbing.   I was riding (a little bit) in November, but it wasn't until early spring this year that I was able to ride comfortably a lot.  Still get pretty sore from lots of activity (running, climbing stairs, etc).

The main question to you is: was the surgery open or arthroscopic?  That makes a HUGE difference in recovery time (and post-op pain).  Keep up with that PT!   

[Norm]

I'm not sure of the exact proceedure you had, but about 20 years ago I had a rotator cuff operation that involved spreading the tendon & cutting a small amount of the bone off. I had minimal pain & was running in about a week and swimming in about 3 weeks. I've hed no pain & no mobility issues ever since. Conversely, I have a friend that had the same proceedure by the same doctor & has never regained mobility.

[c_rex]

I'm not sure of the exact proceedure you had, but about 20 years ago I had a rotator cuff operation that involved spreading the tendon & cutting a small amount of the bone off. I had minimal pain & was running in about a week and swimming in about 3 weeks. I've hed no pain & no mobility issues ever since. Conversely, I have a friend that had the same proceedure by the same doctor & has never regained mobility.

hey me too!  well- all except the 'going to the doctor' part.  Not quite 20 years yet but it still bothers me to this day.  I should do that... and so should anyone else who gets this danged injury.

[bdfinally]

I had an MRI last Friday to find out if I have a torn labrum or rotator cuff.  So I'll be watching this space and update when I find out whats up next week (I'm away from home on business this week). 

I had that problem about 3 years ago. Had a frozen shoulder, a non-invasive procedure to correct that and then 6 weeks of PT. After not making much progress in regaining the strength in that arm, had an MRI to see if there was rotator cuff tear and turned out it was a torn labrum. My orthopedic surgeon, told me to stop PT and just go live my life for 3 months and see what happened. It pretty much healed itself in 10 weeks. Good luck on your results.

[Popeye the Sailor]

From a completely clueless point of view about your particular injury....when I've hurt myself...I just would give it a try when I started feeling good. Maybe a short ride, and see how it felt, and build up from there.

If you can get into first ok and shift from there on without the clutch, you could just ride one handed.

[EjGlows]

It's always interesting the breadth of injuries people have...especially with shoulders.

To answer a few questions:

1.  Arthroscopic (thank gawd)
2.  The SLAP tear required screwing down both my labrum and my biceps tendon.  Took 3 months before I could lift a beer....I mean use my biceps. Oh, I've also had electrothermal shrinkage.  Which is completely outdated now.  Good thing they stitched my capsule back together.
3.  I was injured playing D1 softball - at 5'2" i was merely a target for those 5'10" buck-90 girls.  Scary.
4.  Official recovery time is slated to be 6-9 months and almost 100% around 12

I'm thinking I'll have a decent ROM in another month or so but I'm a bit worried about re-injury.  This is not a surgery I want to have again. 

I like the riding one handed suggestion, but in the city I'm afraid this probably won't be such a good idea.  I guess I'll have to be patient  .  Building up is a great suggestion.  How do those track guys get right back on their bikes again? 

Has anyone used one of those shoulder braces?

Cheers,

e

[Manny]

It's always interesting the breadth of injuries people have...especially with shoulders.

To answer a few questions:

1.  Arthroscopic (thank gawd)
2.  The SLAP tear required screwing down both my labrum and my biceps tendon.  Took 3 months before I could lift a beer....I mean use my biceps. Oh, I've also had electrothermal shrinkage.  Which is completely outdated now.  Good thing they stitched my capsule back together.
3.  I was injured playing D1 softball - at 5'2" i was merely a target for those 5'10" buck-90 girls.  Scary.
4.  Official recovery time is slated to be 6-9 months and almost 100% around 12

I'm thinking I'll have a decent ROM in another month or so but I'm a bit worried about re-injury.  This is not a surgery I want to have again. 

I like the riding one handed suggestion, but in the city I'm afraid this probably won't be such a good idea.  I guess I'll have to be patient  .  Building up is a great suggestion.  How do those track guys get right back on their bikes again? 

Has anyone used one of those shoulder braces?

Cheers,

e

Sounds like we had pretty close to the same surgery. Scope, 2 large flaps got tacked down, acromioplasty, supraspinatus tendon tightened, etc. I was 28ish, and am a pretty athletic person. It was my first rotator cuff repair.

My recovery was 6 weeks in a sling, then another 2 weeks 'til I could wash my hair or use a light switch. At 12 weeks post surgery I was riding a road bike and at 16 weeks I was riding mountain bikes with my PT (and crashing in front of him; got up, moved my arm around, and said, "Well, looks like the doc did a good job." We laughed and kept riding). It was probably a year before I felt comfortable riding a trials bike.

So I'd say 12 weeks 'til basic moto riding, 16 for harder/longer rides. For me, at least.

Towards the end of my PT I was doing pretty well and we got bored. So I was doing pushups with my feet on an exercise ball and suddenly thought, " Hmmm, treadmill...."  So I put my hands on the treadmill and my feet on the ball and my PT (laughing the whole time) pushed the throttle. Like a "wheel-barrow race," but harder and more dangerous. Good fun. 

Good luck on your recovery.

[Movin]

Last October I damaged my rotator cuff as a result of DCS - the "bends" for you non-divers.  Declined to let my Doc refer for surgery.  Been through that before with my knee - no thanks.
About a month ago I was finally able to start working with very light weights (after many years of lifting).  Range of motion is returning but not there yet.  Self directed PT continues and my Doc expects return to full (or nearly so) range of motion.

Good luck to all with your rehab.

[monster2b]

I've had 3 rotator cuff injuries from crashing on the mountain bike. Never had surgery, the second time took me about 6 months before I had full range of motion and no pain.  Having said that,  I only took a week off the bike because the riding position didn't hurt my shoulder (unless of course I crashed again...)

[EjGlows]

Sounds like we had pretty close to the same surgery. Scope, 2 large flaps got tacked down, acromioplasty, supraspinatus tendon tightened, etc. I was 28ish, and am a pretty athletic person. It was my first rotator cuff repair.

My recovery was 6 weeks in a sling, then another 2 weeks 'til I could wash my hair or use a light switch. At 12 weeks post surgery I was riding a road bike and at 16 weeks I was riding mountain bikes with my PT (and crashing in front of him; got up, moved my arm around, and said, "Well, looks like the doc did a good job." We laughed and kept riding). It was probably a year before I felt comfortable riding a trials bike.

So I'd say 12 weeks 'til basic moto riding, 16 for harder/longer rides. For me, at least.

Towards the end of my PT I was doing pretty well and we got bored. So I was doing pushups with my feet on an exercise ball and suddenly thought, " Hmmm, treadmill...."  So I put my hands on the treadmill and my feet on the ball and my PT (laughing the whole time) pushed the throttle. Like a "wheel-barrow race," but harder and more dangerous. Good fun. 

Good luck on your recovery.

This sounds very similar to what I am currently experiencing.... I like knowing that I can finally raise a beer glass, wash my hair, and reach for light switches.  I'm 7 weeks post op and dying to get on a bike.  16 weeks huh?  I went to the D Store to watch the GP race today....I needed the smell of leather and sound of motos.

Treadmiil?  I'll have to see what I can find but I'm sure there will be a challenge I'm dying to do before I get the official "OK".  I hate my PT guy.  He treats me as though 1.  i've never been through this before and #2 I'm a girl so I don't need to "push" it.  make the beast with two backs him.  I think I need to find someone who understands what I want to do...

oh, and I'm so close to asking someone just to let me ride pillion...I miss being on the road so much.

Thank you all for the support and suggestions.  I'll buy you a beer.

e

[LA]

Your physical therapy is extremely important to your return to riding and to your long term ability to use that arm again, especially above the shoulder level. If you are highly motivated in physical therapy it will make a big difference.

If your damage wasn't too bad I could see you being able to ride in at least three months. Most of riding doesn't require the type arm use that you will be deficient in.

I DESTROYED mine and it took almost a year. Once you can take a full gallon of milk and set it up on a shelf over  your head, you are well on your way to being there.

LA