Old Guys & Shoulder Pain

druu58
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Camarillo, CA US
druu58 10/20/2013 8:16am
10/20/2013 8:16am
Hey Reded. My name is Drew. Ridden and raced for 35 years. Not so much racing lately but still ride and work out and live life, etc. had my share of injuries, all moto related. Both shoulders have been separated. Both collarbones broken. Crashes with some pretty hard impact that have definitely compromised every day comfort and range of motion. It got to the point that I had to change my gym workouts completely due to the pain and days of suffering. I'm sure some of the working out over those years has done its fair share of tearing the shoulders down too. Heavy weights for chest and shoulder work WILL eventually exploit those shoulders too. Anyway, last June I was riding out at Piru, nothing crazy, went into a rut and the bars were jerked pretty hard but BAM, that was it. Knew I really did something bad. Before this, moto was the ONE thing I was able to do because it is such a neutral position you sit in and no overhead motions really. Anyway, for the next two weeks I could barely get my arm 45 degrees off my body and after that I had little to no strength at extreme ranges of motion or just even arching into the fridge for a drink. Uggghhhh. Finally decided to get the MRI done. 2.5 centimeter full length tear to rotator cuff. Labrum was torn between 5 and 8 o'clock. Regular X-rays showed to rally bad bone spurs and lots of arthritis. Knew surgery was inevitable. Have heard over the years how gnarly shoulder surgery and the rehab is. Oh well...... Did it. Best decision I made. I'm 46 in December. I'm 10 weeks post op. They did a full 5 hole clean up and rotator cuff repair etc. no labrum repair as all three doctors I spoke with didn't seem at this point it would help. In fact they all seemed that it would hinder me range of motion-wise. LET ME SAY THIS, IT WASNT NEARLY AS BAD AS WAS EXPECTED. The first week was the toughest. No sling after three weeks. Have been getting strength and range of motion back daily. I'm sure recoveries are different for everyone but I highly suggest getting it worked on. I

I'm SUPER excited bout how things are and I'm definitely sleeping better these days
Falcon
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Menifee, CA US
Falcon 10/20/2013 8:55am
10/20/2013 8:55am
I dislocated my shoulder 6 times. I was always afraid of surgery because I figured I would never be as strong again. The Dr. even told me I'd never get 100% range of motion back. Well, after the last time, when I was able to put the shoulder back in all by myself, I knew it was so loose that it was time to get it buttoned up.
I did the surgery and it is easily the best decision I could have made. I was only down for a week and then started therapy. It took several more weeks before I could ride, but I was instantly aware that I was stronger. My first real crash confirmed it.

Anyway, therapy is key. Try talking to a sports medicine Dr. and he'll most likely give you some good exercises. Good luck!
Bauer
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Corona, CA US
Bauer 10/20/2013 4:28pm
10/20/2013 4:28pm
Man, these last two posts are exactly what I needed to hear! Thanks!
CaryPT
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Fairhope, AL US
CaryPT 10/21/2013 3:03pm
10/21/2013 3:03pm
Man. Go see an orthopedic physical therapist ASAP. Don't let the doctor stab you or cut you until you have seen a good PT!! You need to see someone who has the title "OCS" , or "MTC", or "SCS" behind there name. Not that others are not good... I know a few, but you don't know what you are gonna get with the others.
good luck.
Cary

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ImTheDude
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318
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8/20/2008
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Brookville, PA US
ImTheDude 10/21/2013 3:53pm
10/21/2013 3:53pm
ImTheDude wrote:
"Anyone else have shoulder problems or know how to alleviate it some without going under the knife?" sleep on your back if you aren't already. this...
"Anyone else have shoulder problems or know how to alleviate it some without going under the knife?"


sleep on your back if you aren't already.
this helped me a lot.
reded wrote:
I start out on my back but can't sleep that way all night. Usually around 2 or 3am I feel the urge to rollover and that's...
I start out on my back but can't sleep that way all night. Usually around 2 or 3am I feel the urge to rollover and that's when the night turns into a nightmare.

Malachi, I'll give the Sierra-Sil a try as I'm gonna try to put off surgery as long as possible.
Keep working on sleeping the whole night through on your back.
It took me at least a year before I could make it through the night.

good luck.
motolex861
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Fontana, CA US
motolex861 10/21/2013 9:08pm
10/21/2013 9:08pm
Funny that this post came along, at 43 my left shoulder is in need of repair too. Ive know for the last 10months that my rotator cuff needs repair(experiencing many of the same symptoms everyone has described) but I have been putting off. I have had several cortisone shots starting in January 2013. The first one provided relief for 4 months the next shots only lasted 3 months and the third just 2 months. Ive been riding/racing here and there the whole time ,and just this weekend I raced the 24hr race at Glen Helen. 4 weeks ago I had my ortho inject me with cortisone in anticipation of the 24hr race and the vet nationals that takes place in a few weeks. I plan to get it repaired after the first of the year. My doctor said plan on being out of work for 5 to 6 months "crap". Ive come to realize the cortisone shots are a butterfly bandaid for a bullet wound and that to fix it right i am going to have to have surgery. Im not apposed to it but i am bummed that its gonna cut into my moto time.
TeamGreen
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Thru-out, CA US
TeamGreen 10/21/2013 9:54pm
10/21/2013 9:54pm
reded wrote:
I quit racing around my mid thirties due to the aches and pains starting to pile up. My shoulders used to keep me awake at night...
I quit racing around my mid thirties due to the aches and pains starting to pile up. My shoulders used to keep me awake at night from aching but in the past couple of years it had diminished to the point of not bothering me. Last month I went on a weekend long camping/trail ride and my shoulders have been killing me ever since. It's gotten to the point where I can't even play ball with the dog due to pain when I throw.

Anyone else have shoulder problems or know how to alleviate it some without going under the knife?
Wrecked my shoulder really, really "badly" in 2011. I had sooooo many people telling me that it's probably nothing...

Uh, no.

Surgery, a year of rehab, and...now...well...I just finished the 24HR at Glen Helen.

Go get'er fixed. You'll be Glad you did!

"Get'er Done!"
1
Falcon
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Menifee, CA US
Falcon 10/21/2013 9:54pm
10/21/2013 9:54pm
CaryPT wrote:
Man. Go see an orthopedic physical therapist ASAP. Don't let the doctor stab you or cut you until you have seen a good PT!! You need...
Man. Go see an orthopedic physical therapist ASAP. Don't let the doctor stab you or cut you until you have seen a good PT!! You need to see someone who has the title "OCS" , or "MTC", or "SCS" behind there name. Not that others are not good... I know a few, but you don't know what you are gonna get with the others.
good luck.
Cary
I'll second that, even though I had a good surgery experience. If PT will get you where you want to be without surgery you're better off.
1
hellion
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Westfield, MA US
hellion 10/22/2013 5:35am
10/22/2013 5:35am
I go on a riding trip, usually out west, every other year with a group of long time riding buds. On the last trip, sitting around the camp fire, someone pulls out a football he brought. Then we realized not one guy in the group of seven had a shoulder left to the point where he could throw overhand. Here we all are, tough 40 somethin' riding all their lives dirt bikers, playing under hand catch like a bunch of girls.
Bytor
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Colorado Springs, CO US
Bytor 10/22/2013 7:47am
10/22/2013 7:47am Edited Date/Time 10/22/2013 7:48am
hellion wrote:
I go on a riding trip, usually out west, every other year with a group of long time riding buds. On the last trip, sitting around...
I go on a riding trip, usually out west, every other year with a group of long time riding buds. On the last trip, sitting around the camp fire, someone pulls out a football he brought. Then we realized not one guy in the group of seven had a shoulder left to the point where he could throw overhand. Here we all are, tough 40 somethin' riding all their lives dirt bikers, playing under hand catch like a bunch of girls.
The only thing I can throw anymore is a frisbee. That's ok cause I always prefered it over balls.
BattlezFMX 10/22/2013 10:48am
10/22/2013 10:48am
Before going under knife, take a look at something called Prolotherapy. My daughter has rotator cuff and bicep tendonitis. Nothing has really worked. Physical therapy, ART, rest, Ice, etc.. It's OK for a while, but whenever she cranked back up to 4-5 days a week of swimming, it flared back up and she had impingements.

A friend recommended Prolotherapy, because he had great success on both shoulders and a knee using it. Started researching it and was impressed. She started 3 weeks ago. Amazed at results already. Says she feels better then in last 2 years. I just started on my back after 20 years of back issues. Insurance does not cover it unfortunatley, but at this point we were both desparate and paid. Everyone I know who has done it says its worth every penny.
BattlezFMX 10/22/2013 10:52am
10/22/2013 10:52am
motolex861 wrote:
Funny that this post came along, at 43 my left shoulder is in need of repair too. Ive know for the last 10months that my rotator...
Funny that this post came along, at 43 my left shoulder is in need of repair too. Ive know for the last 10months that my rotator cuff needs repair(experiencing many of the same symptoms everyone has described) but I have been putting off. I have had several cortisone shots starting in January 2013. The first one provided relief for 4 months the next shots only lasted 3 months and the third just 2 months. Ive been riding/racing here and there the whole time ,and just this weekend I raced the 24hr race at Glen Helen. 4 weeks ago I had my ortho inject me with cortisone in anticipation of the 24hr race and the vet nationals that takes place in a few weeks. I plan to get it repaired after the first of the year. My doctor said plan on being out of work for 5 to 6 months "crap". Ive come to realize the cortisone shots are a butterfly bandaid for a bullet wound and that to fix it right i am going to have to have surgery. Im not apposed to it but i am bummed that its gonna cut into my moto time.
Check out Prolotherapy. It's a fix rather than a mask like Cortisone.
The Rock
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HAIKU, HI US
The Rock 10/22/2013 11:25am
10/22/2013 11:25am
This won't help for bone on bone issue but for reducing inflammation there is nothing better.
thomasanderson 4/15/2015 12:12am
4/15/2015 12:12am
I used to suffer from acute shoulder pain, but physical therapy and exercises helped me.
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