Triumphrat

LEE

The MRI showed a large tear and muscle atrophy of the super spinousess. The surgeon is a great one and I respect his advice. he told me it was not going to get better with out surgery. I am not sleeping right now the pain is high and I can't afford to wait and damage it even more..

Tremor

Sounds like you made up your mind. Good luck. Hope everything goes great! How long is recovery? Looks like its going to be at least March- April for me.

LEE

I should be back on my bike by the end of January...about eight weeks. I will start PT after three weeks. My wife works in PT and is going to help me on teh road to recovery. I want to be in shape by June of 2013

I have a freind at work who I did the Texas ride 1500 miles/22 hours and 43 minutes with he is asking me to do the 10,000 iin 10 days (no four corners though)with him. I have decided to do it again and try to do it in less than nine days this time. He is a great rider and I told him he could ride with me any time. We hit it off and had a great texas ride. we took turns setting the pace..at night we maintained speeds of 85 to 90.

The route will be set to maximize the ability to cover distance. Minimiize traffic and far away from tourist traps and NY, NJ and such.

So I don't want to assume my shoulder will get better with out surgery and go with the surgery to ensure it will. I have a few more IBA rides left to do over the next decade or two.....

leemadinger

I tore my left shoulder rotator cuff about 10 years ago. The doctor told me it was arthritis and gave me arthritis medication, which didn't help at all. I kept going back to him, and he kept giving me stronger medication, which didn't help the shoulder pain. Meanwhile I developed frozen shoulder and could hardly move my left arm.

I finally called the insurance company and insisted I be allowed to see an orthopedist. He did an MRI and discovered the torn rotator cuff. He gave me some exercises to do at home to get the shoulder moving and put off surgery until I tried that for a few weeks. I was able to get back to full range of motion without surgery, and consider myself very lucky.

I never did figure out what I did that caused the rotator cuff to tear. The only after-effect of the torn rotator cuff I have experienced is that I don't feel comfortable hitting a golf ball hard. It actually improved my golf game because even though I don't hit the ball as far as before, I don't slice it off into the rough every time I take a shot.

Hope everything goes well with your operation. With time you won't even remember the problems you had!

__________________


Lee

LEE

Thanks Lee. The Rotator cuff is made up of a group of muscles with the tear being the origins for each one. I have had this tear for a couple of years. If I don't act on it I could make it much worse. I don't take medication but I have been hitting the Ibuprofins 800 mg ...which you should not do long term...I do appreciate all the responses. thanks

HAP

I do expect you to heal up and continue this Iron Butt run across Texas with me.

LEE

Hap I promise you if I have to do it with one good arm ....it will not deter me from doing the Iron Butt with you....we will have a great ride.

After my surgery we will talk route and how far our bikes can go with out fueling... I have an auxillliary tank that gives me a range well over 300 miles but we do not have to wait that long .... as long as our stops are short and we push on ...so we minimize our night riding.... it will be fun.

We can do it in Texas or pick out another route. We can do 1000/24. or two day one. I don't think my first IB of the year...I would not want to do another 1500/24 very tiring and I would like to enjoy the ride....

M.G.Vig

If you have a couple of hours to spare, you might like to read my "New shoulder joint required" thread. Both enlightening and entertaining at the same time! Best of luck on your upcoming surgery!

LEE

I do have some extra time I just dopped the Wing off for a 30,000 check up I will get it back next week and put her up until after my surgery. I am going in before thanksgiving. I will be laid up for eight weeks. Then I will be back on the bike....providing PT goes well...

M.G.Vig

Physiotherapy is the key. Painfull but essential! For best results, do exactly as told!