Steve W.
Level 8 Valued Member
I haven't posted about this because it falls under the second line in my signature, but I'm almost two weeks post surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff (supraspinatus tendon). I tore it playing basketball in September, but wanted to see how it responded without surgery before committing to a surgical repair.
I've been able to do alot of productive training in the interim. KB swings, mace swings, crawling, KB hack squats, inverted rows, many clubbell and band exercises, wheel rollouts/ring fallouts, and LSD on the NordicTrack skier were all well-tolerated, and I was able to continue to play basketball, albeit hampered.
I was not able to snatch, press, clean, do anything holding a KB in the rack or goblet position, do pullups or get ups (which I rarely do anyway), or do many clubbell exercises. Sleeping and many daily activities were also hampered to varying degrees.
Although I was able to maintain a reasonable degree of function (after seeing the MRI and then examining me, all the doctors I consulted were shocked at the degree of functionality I had), and the general trend over time was positive, it became clear to me that surgery was ultimately necessary and should not be put off any longer.
Due to the degree of the tear, my doctors are being very conservative about starting physical therapy, but optimistic about my overall long term prognosis.
So I'll be wearing a sling, sleeping (or at least trying to sleep) in a chair, and not driving for probably another month and a half. The overall rehab period will be several months longer than that.
I plan to scrupulously follow the rehab program and other training guidelines prescribed by my doctors and physical therapists, and then intelligently ramp up my training as I am cleared to do so.
Hopefully, in the long run the result will be positive.
I've been able to do alot of productive training in the interim. KB swings, mace swings, crawling, KB hack squats, inverted rows, many clubbell and band exercises, wheel rollouts/ring fallouts, and LSD on the NordicTrack skier were all well-tolerated, and I was able to continue to play basketball, albeit hampered.
I was not able to snatch, press, clean, do anything holding a KB in the rack or goblet position, do pullups or get ups (which I rarely do anyway), or do many clubbell exercises. Sleeping and many daily activities were also hampered to varying degrees.
Although I was able to maintain a reasonable degree of function (after seeing the MRI and then examining me, all the doctors I consulted were shocked at the degree of functionality I had), and the general trend over time was positive, it became clear to me that surgery was ultimately necessary and should not be put off any longer.
Due to the degree of the tear, my doctors are being very conservative about starting physical therapy, but optimistic about my overall long term prognosis.
So I'll be wearing a sling, sleeping (or at least trying to sleep) in a chair, and not driving for probably another month and a half. The overall rehab period will be several months longer than that.
I plan to scrupulously follow the rehab program and other training guidelines prescribed by my doctors and physical therapists, and then intelligently ramp up my training as I am cleared to do so.
Hopefully, in the long run the result will be positive.