Bankart Repair - Dislocated Shoulder

[Bandit Man]

Although I never officially checked in to become an official "gimp", I am about 12-weeks post-op on a Bankart Repair (aka "filet and rebuild") of my left shoulder, and I'm itching to start some real skiing. Doc says it looks good and PT says I'm at 90% strength. Anyhow, I was curious if there are any other maggot-minions out there who have undergone a similar rebuild (might have been a rotator-cuff repair, too), and what I can expect in terms of a total comeback. I'm feeling really good, but I'm sure I need more a bit moer time before going full throttle. Anyone?

[spanky]

Hey Bandit Man,

I can't help you, but maybe you can help me. I took a nasty fall back on New Year's Eve, had an MRI last week and found out I have a torn labrum and torn rotator cuff (original post here).

I saw a specialist this past week and he said I'll need arthroscopic surgery to repair the rotator cuff and labrum. He said I'll be in a sling for 4-6 weeks post-op and then up to 6 months of rehab before I'll be back to 100% strength and able to do full activity (ski, mtn bike, lift weights, etc).

The good news is, he said it's up to me when I want to do the surgery and that I'm cleared to continue skiing. My decision point is the longer I postpone the surgery the more I eat into mtn biking season.

Bankart Repair only? Did you have a torn rotator cuff as well? Was it an open surgery or arthroscopic? Any other advice/insight you could provide would be greatly appreciated.

[Bandit Man]

Spanky,

My Bankart Repair was meant to prohibit frontal dislocations of my left shoulder (I was at about 75 occurences and counting). Here is a play by play of a typical repair:Bankart Repair

You ought to be better off than me, as mine was not arthroscopic...the doc had to cut 4"-5" across and through all of the muscle down to the shoulder capsule. The link has pics of what it would have been like. I had my labrum repaired, and actually scarred up a bit to help keep the shoulder in place.

I faced the same tough decision...MTB season or ski season. I pulled the trigger on ski season and Mammoth got dumped on the day after surgery...Doh! Anyhow, back to your repair. You'll be sore for about 1.5-2 weeks, depending on how invasive the surgery actual is. After that, it's the dull pain that will drive you nuts. My rotator cuff wasn't torn, but I was coming close. Prior to the surgery, the whole joint/capsule would just ache. Now it feels so much better. I'm really glad I didn't post pone it, because I have some skiing to salvage and lots of riding this summer that won't scuk because I'm fixed up.

As far as getting back on the bike, I'm now 13-weeks post op, and I can hit aggressive XC riding with no worries. I don't think that I'll be hitting DH for awhile, but then again, most lift-access places have too much snow... Anyhow, the doc warned me about being too aggressive, as soft tissue repairs (like to the labrum) take longer to completely heal (hence the 6-months warning). Obviously, a tough decision for you (timing wise), but take it from someone whose been there...being relatively pain free and able to do things I couldn't before sure is a blessing now that I'm on the other side.

[Foggy_Goggles]

I had an open bank a little over three years ago. Surgery was is September and I was skiing by Christmas. I was slightly conservative until about Feb. with no problems. You need to hit the PT super hard to build up the stabilizer muscles. Standard gym exercises are not enough. Did you have yours set aggressivly (over tight)? My bionic shoulder is better than my good one.

[nest]

^^^^
Agreed. My repaired shoulder (tightened agressively) feels more solid than my other one. If you fall skiing keep your arm close to your body. YOur PT is your god, follow his/her commandments. God how I miss dislocating my shoulder every time I rolled over wrong while asleep. Good Times.

[Bandit Man]

Did you have yours set aggressivly (over tight)? My bionic shoulder is better than my good one.

Yep...super tight. I skied Mammoth over the weekend and loved the fact that on steep pitches, when I extend my formerly jacked arm to plant a pole prior to turning, my shoulder feels solid and the darn thing doesn't jump out of the socket. I fell once of twice in the pow, and out of habit keep the left arm close to the body. I wanna play, but I don't want to be a repeat offender. Anyhow, still hitting the PT, but for now I'm back in the game...but staying out of the park, since that's how I ended up here...