shoulder surgery question

[htrip 0]

Just wondering if anyone has had shoulder surgery?
How long until you got back in the air?
I recently underwent a shoulder arthroscopy to repair a laberal tear. At the same time some bone was removed from the shoulder. The doctor says twelve weeks before I can return to freeflying. Wondering if mabey hop & pops would be okay sooner than that.
Thanks for any responses,
H.

[billvon 2,989]

>Just wondering if anyone has had shoulder surgery?

A lot of people on the World Team did. Kate Cooper had her shoulder repaired a few months back.

>How long until you got back in the air?

A long time. It depends on a great many things - your age, whether you smoke or not, how well you care for it, the type of repair. Your doctor is going to have the best answer to that.

>Wondering if mabey hop & pops would be okay sooner than that.

If you are OK with the risk of re-injuring it, and going through another surgery and another 12 weeks of recuperation. The problem on such a jump is not "what happens if everything goes OK" it's "what happens if I fall on landing and pound that shoulder." And if you just decide you're going to jump and not fall down - remember that everyone you see falling down at your DZ didn't plan to do it.

[lopullterri 0]

Depends on the repair. It was five months for me. What hurt the worst (at first) was throwing out my p/c.

~"I am not afraid. I was born to do this"~

[htrip 0]

Same procedure?
Thanks for your time,
H

[crashintou 0]

I had an arthroscopic bankart repair to my right shoulder. The doctor released me after 6 months, but I jumped after about 4 months. I also wear a shoulder brace to help provide support.

[brits17 0]

Ditto. I held out for about 5 months. Every surgery is different though. Mine was fairly unusual. Note that you will always have to pay special attention to it, even after its repaired.

_______________________
aerialkinetics.com

[freakydiver 0]

I had it - I first injured my right shoulder snowboarding, about a year later, it popped at pull time, not good - went for reserve.

I got the repair - but I had major damage, rotator cuff as well as primary ligament repair - I was back up in 12 months though. It was THE WISEST decision I ever made. Once a shoudler starts goin bad it aint gunna git better. 12 weeks is much nicer than 12 months. Keep in mind, during alot of freeflying maneuvers, your shoulder is in the WEAKEST possible position - you really should take time to heal appropriately.

Good luck!!!!

-- (N.DG) "If all else fails – at least try and look under control." --

[htrip 0]

Thanks for all the great responses. Good advice from all! It sure is boring down here on the ground!

[christelsabine 1]

You are absolutely right! WISE decision, especially as shoulder injury is never recovering by itself.

After arthroscopy, stopped for 3 months, started skydiving again, arm popped out several times (falling down while jogging, starting skydiving with a tandem: popped out), finally agreed to proposal of my doc: Traditional operation, repairing all (like you sad rotator etc.), torn muscle---
Lost one complete year.

Today I simply trust in my shoulder, never had problems again.


@ htrip: Like to repeat what freadydiver said: ...WISEST decision...... absolutely true!!
Do not mess around, you only lose time.

Wish you the best

dudeist skydiver # 3105

[freakydiver 0]

Absolutely - I can throw again, for that matter, I've never had to worry about it since surgery and rehab. Rehab is a beeyotch though. Not fun, necessary, but not fun at all. But seriously, I've done many things to it since surgery and its stronger than it was before.

-- (N.DG) "If all else fails – at least try and look under control." --

[ltdiver 3]

Quote

Rehab is a beeyotch though.

Thanks!

But it's really, really cool to see your progress throughout and finally 'graduation day' as you march out of the clinic for the last time...
ltdiver

Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon

[htrip 0]

How long was your rehab? Mine starts mon. and Im not sure what to expect. Any advise? I really appreciate all the responses! Thanks

[christelsabine 1]

Fully agree. Anything else just is lost time.

My right shoulder today is much more powerful than the left one, eventhough there still is a very small limitation on final grip moving to pull. On that I was working hard, tried many times "pulling grip" , training my right arm to reach out for the pull in a "floating, brandish movement" to touch pull with only one smooth movement.

If this all, it's easy to live with.

You're right: rehab is work not fun. As soon as I was able, I combined it with workouts, training on all machines available. So finally, it was kind of fun and made the time pass quicker.

dudeist skydiver # 3105

[freakydiver 0]

Aww my rehab sucked. I had extensive repair though, all ligaments retightened as well as rotator cuff repair. Rehab was like 10 months and then another couple until I stated feeling comfortable doing things again. When I got out of surgery my arm was in a sling across my chest essentially. It had 0 degrees of motion, i.e. it didn't move anywhere because everything was tightened back up. PT consisted of moving it a lil more each day. You love and hate your physical therapist hah!

-- (N.DG) "If all else fails – at least try and look under control." --