Excellent news. Any twinges, or is it feeling ok?
Subacromial Decompression - Shoulder
- Thread starter fossyant
- Start date
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Excellent news. Any twinges, or is it feeling ok?
OP
OP
fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
Bit weak, but nothing to bad - risked 10 miles on the road bike today - 90 PSI up front. Was fine, but I can't get out of the saddle at all (arm isn't strong enough), so it's climbing sat down, and no honking it from the traffic lights. That said, did the 10 miles with 600ft of climbing at 18.5 mph.
Fairly pleased at progress.
Fairly pleased at progress.
Hi fossyant,
Do you mind me asking you how your shoulder is now? Having lived with shoulder pain for years following a fall, I am now due to go in for the same procedure at the end of this month. Although my MRI shows no signs of bony spurs on the acromion, my guy (who is apparently the top shoulder surgeon in the country) is convinced that this procedure is what's needed.
- How long was the initial recovery phase?
- Was there anything (day-to-day stuff) that you were prevented from doing during this phase?
- Are you fully pain-free now?
- Less revelant, but how much did the procedure cost? I am presuming my insurer will cover it, but would like to know its affordability should this not be the case.
Many thanks
Do you mind me asking you how your shoulder is now? Having lived with shoulder pain for years following a fall, I am now due to go in for the same procedure at the end of this month. Although my MRI shows no signs of bony spurs on the acromion, my guy (who is apparently the top shoulder surgeon in the country) is convinced that this procedure is what's needed.
- How long was the initial recovery phase?
- Was there anything (day-to-day stuff) that you were prevented from doing during this phase?
- Are you fully pain-free now?
- Less revelant, but how much did the procedure cost? I am presuming my insurer will cover it, but would like to know its affordability should this not be the case.
Many thanks
OP
OP
fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
Just seen this.
Shoulder is 100% now.
I'm 2 years post op. I'd say a good 6 months before the pain is right down, and 12 months before it's gone. I had added complications that meant I needed trigger point injections on my left side, two in my back and two in my trapezius in Feb 2012. This was not as a result of surgery, but on-going issues from the original incident. Basically the muscles on my left were very tight and wouldn't relax. The injections did sort it, and by May 2012 I was back to 95%
I was back riding within 2 weeks of the operation, back commuting daily on the bike by 7 weeks but the shoulder wasn't strong, so no honking the bike. By 6 months it was OK, still a bit painful on the bike, but by early 2012 and certainly after the injections, it was brill.
I'd recommend having it done, but it does take 12-18 months before you are pain free. Mecahnically my shoulder was click and crunch free from the day after the surgery.
Initial recovery was about 6 weeks. Off work for 5. Could cycle every day by week 7. Even managed a hilly 40 miles in my 4th week !
Day to day after surgery - getting dressed was 'interesting' - didn't have much movement in the shoulder without quite alot of pain to start with, so had to re-learn getting dressed. You'll endup laughing in pain some times. Movement was a bit limited at first, but it's important you keep moving the shoulder and don't rest it. After the operation, your arm will be completely dead - they give you a nerve block. You must leave your sling on until you can move your arm - about 24 hours till it wears off. Your fingers are the first to start moving. It was very weird having this dead limb and trying to get dressed.
As for cost, our wonderful NHS did it. Had an excellent surgeon at Stepping Hill, Mr Clive Warren-Smith. The surgery costs about £5k-6k I think.
My repaired shoulder is mechanically 'smoother' than my other one now. Oh and the three scars are not visible now, they take time to fade, but I can't find them.
Worth having done, long term shoulder pain, and lack of sleep isn't funny.
Shoulder is 100% now.
I'm 2 years post op. I'd say a good 6 months before the pain is right down, and 12 months before it's gone. I had added complications that meant I needed trigger point injections on my left side, two in my back and two in my trapezius in Feb 2012. This was not as a result of surgery, but on-going issues from the original incident. Basically the muscles on my left were very tight and wouldn't relax. The injections did sort it, and by May 2012 I was back to 95%
I was back riding within 2 weeks of the operation, back commuting daily on the bike by 7 weeks but the shoulder wasn't strong, so no honking the bike. By 6 months it was OK, still a bit painful on the bike, but by early 2012 and certainly after the injections, it was brill.
I'd recommend having it done, but it does take 12-18 months before you are pain free. Mecahnically my shoulder was click and crunch free from the day after the surgery.
Initial recovery was about 6 weeks. Off work for 5. Could cycle every day by week 7. Even managed a hilly 40 miles in my 4th week !
Day to day after surgery - getting dressed was 'interesting' - didn't have much movement in the shoulder without quite alot of pain to start with, so had to re-learn getting dressed. You'll endup laughing in pain some times. Movement was a bit limited at first, but it's important you keep moving the shoulder and don't rest it. After the operation, your arm will be completely dead - they give you a nerve block. You must leave your sling on until you can move your arm - about 24 hours till it wears off. Your fingers are the first to start moving. It was very weird having this dead limb and trying to get dressed.
As for cost, our wonderful NHS did it. Had an excellent surgeon at Stepping Hill, Mr Clive Warren-Smith. The surgery costs about £5k-6k I think.
My repaired shoulder is mechanically 'smoother' than my other one now. Oh and the three scars are not visible now, they take time to fade, but I can't find them.
Worth having done, long term shoulder pain, and lack of sleep isn't funny.
ColinJ
Puzzle game procrastinator!
- Location
- Todmorden - Yorks/Lancs border
That's great news! 
I damaged something in one shoulder a few years back doing something really trivial - trying to reach behind me in the dark to turn my alarm clock off!
It was so bloody painful that I couldn't get my arm over my guitar comfortably for more than a year, and I struggled to even put a shirt on. I didn't seek help though. It took ages for the pain to go away, and this thread has just reminded me that the shoulder feels almost 100% again. I think it would flare up if I did anything to strenuous with it like lifting heavy weights, but everyday activities are fine.
Funny things, shoulders! They are such complicated parts of the body that it is amazing that they normally work as well as they do, so it isn't surprising that now and then they can cause a lot of problems.
I damaged something in one shoulder a few years back doing something really trivial - trying to reach behind me in the dark to turn my alarm clock off!
It was so bloody painful that I couldn't get my arm over my guitar comfortably for more than a year, and I struggled to even put a shirt on. I didn't seek help though. It took ages for the pain to go away, and this thread has just reminded me that the shoulder feels almost 100% again. I think it would flare up if I did anything to strenuous with it like lifting heavy weights, but everyday activities are fine.
Funny things, shoulders! They are such complicated parts of the body that it is amazing that they normally work as well as they do, so it isn't surprising that now and then they can cause a lot of problems.
OP
OP
fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
Quite right there. Complex joints that can take time to heal. Thank goodness we don't play rugby, that's really bad for shoulders.
Shoulder injuries are common in cyclists as well, but nowt like rugby.
Shoulder injuries are common in cyclists as well, but nowt like rugby.
ColinJ
Puzzle game procrastinator!
- Location
- Todmorden - Yorks/Lancs border
3 weeks. Just 3 damn weeks after I posted that, I've only gone and buggered a shoulder again!That's great news!
I damaged something in one shoulder a few years back doing something really trivial - trying to reach behind me in the dark to turn my alarm clock off!
It was so bloody painful that I couldn't get my arm over my guitar comfortably for more than a year, and I struggled to even put a shirt on. I didn't seek help though. It took ages for the pain to go away, and this thread has just reminded me that the shoulder feels almost 100% again. I think it would flare up if I did anything to strenuous with it like lifting heavy weights, but everyday activities are fine.
Funny things, shoulders! They are such complicated parts of the body that it is amazing that they normally work as well as they do, so it isn't surprising that now and then they can cause a lot of problems.
I thought I'd triggered the same shoulder, but then I realised that it must have been the right one last time because that is the arm I put over the guitar. This time it is the left one.
I know what has caused it - same kind of thing as last time - an unnatural sideways movement of the forearm. In this case, reaching behind me and pulling out the large cushion that I prop myself up on when using my Galaxy Tab in bed, then tossing the cushion to one side. I did it a few nights on the trot and ignored the twinges, then did it one more time and it hurt a lot!
I can still use the arm, but the shoulder ached a lot when I got back from a 19 mile ride this afternoon.
Funny things, shoulders ... NOT!
The Jogger
Legendary Member
- Location
- Spain
I still haven't went to the doctor about mine. I put both mine out in january doing push ups. I can't raise arms above my head, difficult putting on a jacket or ruck and can't sleep on my side, I don't think they can do much for it, time will probably sort mine out.
DooDah
Veteran
- Location
- France, now Northamptonshire
Yes, I guess a knee in the rear would be painful
