Soooo I thought I’d take advantage of the off-season and get my shoulder fixed...rotator cuff scope to clean it up, and biceps tenodesis open surgery. I knew recovery would take some time...I’m only 1 month in but daaaammmmmn. Still not allowed to move it / in a sling for another couple weeks then start rehab. I’m starting to think there is a big difference between doc’s “recovery” time vs “back to normal”...with normal being riding and playing sports, not sitting around on the couch lol. Anyone have these fairly routine surgeries? How long before you felt you could trust it on the track? I’m eyeing the 2019 schedule and it’s killing me....
Shoulder surgeries are hard to gauge. 12/27/17 I had rotator cuff surgery along with ligament reattachment, but I started rehab (passive range of motion stuff with no weight for 6 weeks) followed by 6 weeks of strength building. My first weekend on the bike in 2018 as mid April and although I could ride, I was definitely not 100% recovered, I'd say the shoulder was probably 80% at that point. And every surgery can be different depending on exactly what work was done.
Thanks guys - I’ll ask doc again but he doesn’t ride...that’s why I joke that for some, the window to 3-6 months back to normal activity just assumes day to day tasks and not this type of thing. But who knows, maybe he will have some opinion. He didn’t do much in the rotator cuff but did cut / relocate the bicep tendon with a bone anchor. Very similar “no weight” range of motion stuff in first 6 weeks (2 more to go), but no idea how long strength training plan is yet. I was planning to give it 6 months and try to ride June or July, but for those that had that type of work done, did pain still linger throughout the season? Any issues on track?
I had 2 bone anchors in my surgery as well as I tore them off the bone and had to be reattached. A lot of your recovery will be how hard you dedicate yourself during the physical therapy, you do have to put in the work to get the strength back for sure and some of the exercises will test you. I'd say I was as 95% 6 months after surgery, unfortunately in September I set myself back some as I had a stupid slip/fall and dislocated the same shoulder. Fortunately I didn't damage the work done in the previous surgery and only lost about 2 months of riding from that one but just now getting back to the 95% I was at, still working at it everyday.
Thanks for the advice man - I’m sure it’s gonna be a lot of hard work. I need to put Barber or some other “big” trip on my calendar to serve as motivation to work through it. I think what makes me nervous about the timing is I’m still a “budding novice” and worry about things like “what if I lose shoulder strength / hand grip or get a stab of pain” on corner entry...what would I do, etc... I just want to be safe out there for myself and others. Maybe first time out just drop to slowest pace groups. For better or worse though, at least I won’t be tempted to get back before the 6month window....bit of bad luck and got a couple pulmonary emboli from the surgery ....blood thinners until July lol.
Skier Johnny, personally I try ridding a bicycle first. If I can't ride that then I'm definitely not ready for track riding. If I can support myself on the bicycle under braking then I consider moving to the track bike. I don't street ride or that would be another option. The ability to hold myself in place under heavy braking is my biggest concern. Good Luck