I started PT Monday, March 23. I'm going to Architech in Ballantyne for a number of reasons. They have a program just for baseball. Lots of baseball players injure their shoulders. So that means they have a ton of experience with working on messed up shoulders. And they also have a womens specific program aimed at women who lift and workout and all the problems that come along with our anatomy. There were also several people there at each appointment who were post-op for various injuries, just like me. Therefore, I am confident I chose the correct place for physical therapy.
Had my first post-op appointment on Friday, March 27. Got a clearer picture of what my future entails. The good news is that tbey didn't have to anchor my labrum, so only 12 weeks of PT, not 24. Just trimmed it up, and it should be ok for a while. Bad news is, the nice protective "teflon" coating on the top of my humerus (arm bone), is gone. So I've got some nice bone on bone action. They knew it would be worn and were hoping it would still look kind of hairy, but it's not (of course). What does this mean exactly...in 10 years or so (hopefully later), I will have to get the top of my arm redone. Not just cleaned up again, but replaced as a "humeral head replacement". They essentially remove the head of the humerus and insert a metal component into the bone shaft that has a new ball on the top. And after another 15 years, I'll need the socket done since metal on bone don't work very well together long term. Somehow the stupid socket that's causing this still looks ok. And I got my bone spurs taken off too, which according to the PT was probably the main cause of my shoulder pain. The spurs caused the joint capsule to have even less space for everything to move around.
This is the immediate future of my shoulder, the humeral replacement.
As far as working out, PT told me to take it easy the first 2 weeks. All I did the first week was walk the dogs and my PT stuff. And ice. Lots of ice. This week I've gotten back to some body weight work, bike work and have used the dip belt to add some weight for squats and lunges. When I do my rehab exercises on my own, I feel fine, but after each appointment, I leave very sore and it seems to get worse as the day goes on. Not painful, just sore, because nothing beats having someone else move your joint in a way it doesn't want to. Yes, it NEEDS to move that way, but it doesn't mean I like it. And I haven't really used my shoulders since, oh...August.
This is the immediate future of my shoulder, the humeral replacement.
As far as working out, PT told me to take it easy the first 2 weeks. All I did the first week was walk the dogs and my PT stuff. And ice. Lots of ice. This week I've gotten back to some body weight work, bike work and have used the dip belt to add some weight for squats and lunges. When I do my rehab exercises on my own, I feel fine, but after each appointment, I leave very sore and it seems to get worse as the day goes on. Not painful, just sore, because nothing beats having someone else move your joint in a way it doesn't want to. Yes, it NEEDS to move that way, but it doesn't mean I like it. And I haven't really used my shoulders since, oh...August.
I do have a lot to think about the next several months. I was told by the doctor to never do any pressing movements again. No chest press (flat or incline), no push-ups and no shoulder press. Which means I'll never be able to do jerks or long cycle. I can demo them. I cannot do them. I did show him video of snatches, and he said if it's absolutely necessary that I do them, I can, it'll just cause everything to wear out at a much faster rate. I've been joking I'll treat my refurbished shoulder like a rental car since it'll be replaced in about a decade anyway, but I'm not sure giving up time is worth it. Nothing will be as "good" as what I have now, and is only getting 10 years out of it better than 15? I'm not sure. Are those 5 years worth competing? Maybe. Only time will tell. Then again, will I regret not competing and sitting on the sidelines forever? There is no clear cut answer.
Here's the stupid shoulder. Top Left: back side of the tear; that thing that looks like a chunk to the left of the tube is he tear. Top Right: not sure, but there's a lot going on. Bottom Left: all that white furry stuff is the nice protective coating, it looks a little worn, but it's still pretty white. Bottom Right: the top of my humerus where you can see the the bone is already exposed.
