I broke my non-throwing shoulder

[Disc Golf Doctor]

At least it is your non-throwing arm. It is not a fun process, but you should be able to get back to disc golf without any significant issues, it will just take a while. It shouldn't take a full year to get back. Certainly your surgeon and PT will give you more specific guidelines on return.

 

[Alexplz]

I manage worker's comp claims for a living - I see a lot of RC tears from falls unfortunately. I get the impression you're pretty spry? I bet things will turn out ok as long as you don't have to work above shoulder height; that seems to be the first thing that goes out the window.

I would encourage you to listen to the ortho and PT, but keep advocating for yourself! Ask them questions, let them know your goals, and see how quick they will allow you to start home range of motion exercises. Adhesive capsulitis (frozen elbow/shoulder) seems to be a real kick in the ass. I am fortunate not to ever have had to deal with this crap personally, but I feel your hurt

 

[Alexplz]

At least it is your non-throwing arm. It is not a fun process, but you should be able to get back to disc golf without any significant issues, it will just take a while. It shouldn't take a full year to get back. Certainly your surgeon and PT will give you more specific guidelines on return.

I defer to this guy but it sounds like we're mostly on the same page anyway - I AM A LAYMAN

 

[Jay Dub]

The frozen shoulder is a biotch but you will learn to adapt if that happens. Recovery is going to suck somewhat but in the long run you'll also adapt.

I would encourage you to listen to the ortho and PT, but keep advocating for yourself!

I completely agree with this also.

 

[Blobfish]

So update on all of this:
I underwent open reduction internal fixation surgery to repair an avulsion fracture of the greater tuberosity of the humerus along with a rotator cuff repair on 9/20.

And apparently I'm a total lightweight with respect to anaesthesia and was crazy nauseous from it.
And dang, nerve blocks are... wow. An experience.
And also, I don't really respond to narcotics... I must have responded to the fentanyl during surgery because I remember nothing until I woke up and then they put a nerve block in me. But once that wore off--and boy was that noticeable when it did--they put me on Roxicodone and an hour later, I was asking when that was supposed to take effect and they hit me with a small dose of morphine through IV and I was like, "cool, this should be like Trainspotting and I'm going to totally feel this" and again.. nothing. In fact, they put me on the oxy every four hours, but I didn't actually feel any pain relief until I added Tylenol to it. So after a day, I just skipped the oxy and have only been on Tylenol (and now Aleve) since the day after I came home, which is nice because I could skip out on stool softeners and I can drive, which is convenient.

I have to go to my postop meeting with the surgeon on Wednesday, where I guess I'll finally get to learn what the long term plan for recovery is. I'm hoping that the 4-5 months in this new sling was an overly conservative estimate.

Incidentally, I was really itching to throw today, so I putted a bit and then took my stack of sols and started a game of just flicking them off my finger (no body rotation, heavily reduced arm motion, about 60-80% power just coming from wrist and finger flick) and found that I could still get some decent distance and shot shape from them

 

[wolfmandragon]

So update on all of this:
I underwent open reduction internal fixation surgery to repair an avulsion fracture of the greater tuberosity of the humerus along with a rotator cuff repair on 9/20.

And apparently I'm a total lightweight with respect to anaesthesia and was crazy nauseous from it.
And dang, nerve blocks are... wow. An experience.
And also, I don't really respond to narcotics... I must have responded to the fentanyl during surgery because I remember nothing until I woke up and then they put a nerve block in me. But once that wore off--and boy was that noticeable when it did--they put me on Roxicodone and an hour later, I was asking when that was supposed to take effect and they hit me with a small dose of morphine through IV and I was like, "cool, this should be like Trainspotting and I'm going to totally feel this" and again.. nothing. In fact, they put me on the oxy every four hours, but I didn't actually feel any pain relief until I added Tylenol to it. So after a day, I just skipped the oxy and have only been on Tylenol (and now Aleve) since the day after I came home, which is nice because I could skip out on stool softeners and I can drive, which is convenient.

I have to go to my postop meeting with the surgeon on Wednesday, where I guess I'll finally get to learn what the long term plan for recovery is. I'm hoping that the 4-5 months in this new sling was an overly conservative estimate.

Incidentally, I was really itching to throw today, so I putted a bit and then took my stack of sols and started a game of just flicking them off my finger (no body rotation, heavily reduced arm motion, about 60-80% power just coming from wrist and finger flick) and found that I could still get some decent distance and shot shape from them

Talk to your Doc about the NSAIDs. Whilst they can make you fell better, they will slow down your healing. Maybe that's all you can do, but at least see if there is an alternative( like a combo of non NSAID painkillers and proteolytic enzymes).

I had a complete AC separation, with tendon, ligament and muscle tears, when I was a teenager. Take your time healing; being young and dumb I tried to play frisbee a few weeks after the screw was removed from my shoulder. That was one of the stupidest things I have ever done. It set me back a good while and I am not for sure that it did not do permanent damage.

Best of luck

 

[zgmc]

I know exactly what's going to happen. You will convince yourself you are healed enough to play. you will tear your shoulder up again, setting you back another 6 months.

Did you injure yourself at work?

 

[Blobfish]

I know exactly what's going to happen. You will convince yourself you are healed enough to play. you will tear your shoulder up again, setting you back another 6 months.

Did you injure yourself at work?

No, definitely not a work injury. I was out with some folks helping to build and put together an obstacle course for kids. I lost my footing and fell off the top of one of the structures about 7-8 feet while inspecting it.

I don't really anticipate convincing myself that I'm healed at any point. I still grill by time and temperatures, not feel. Doc says don't move the shoulder, I will keep it immobilized until further notice. At the same time, I AM testing the boundaries of what I can actually do. At 43, I have no desire to extend the timeline of recovery, but I also see no need to do less than I am able simply out of fear/anxiety of exacerbating the recovery. I guess what I'm saying is, I am trying to be sensible, not reckless

 

[Blobfish]

Talk to your Doc about the NSAIDs. Whilst they can make you fell better, they will slow down your healing. Maybe that's all you can do, but at least see if there is an alternative( like a combo of non NSAID painkillers and proteolytic enzymes).

I had a complete AC separation, with tendon, ligament and muscle tears, when I was a teenager. Take your time healing; being young and dumb I tried to play frisbee a few weeks after the screw was removed from my shoulder. That was one of the stupidest things I have ever done. It set me back a good while and I am not for sure that it did not do permanent damage.

Best of luck

I don't know of these proteolytic enzymes. I like the Aleve because I take one in the morning when I get up with my zyrtec and a multivitamin and another at dinner. I am actually skipping this morning's dose to see if I can get off that too to give my stomach a break, maybe go back to Tylenol for the day if it hurts too much. But yeah, was planning to talk to doc about the nsaids on Wednesday when I see him for the follow up, thanks