UKC

So I had a bad mountain bike crash last September which resulted in me and a very large tree getting to know each other.
Initially broken ribs, stitches in leg, massive bruising and a very sore shoulder. Everything healed up in about two months leaving the sore shoulder.
I've been back and forth to the docs and a shoulder specialist and have been doing physio for it. It is now much better, I can climb (not well but I never could), I can kayak, windsurf, sail, bike and it doesn't hurt whilst doing them. I can't bench press or do press ups which is a bit depressing because I've always done gym work to complement my sports.
Today I got the results of an MRI scan and it turns out I have a full tear of my supraspinatus tendon and the consultant recommends I have keyhole surgery to reattach it.
If I do that I'll be back to square one with no physical stuff for probably 6 months.

I really thought he was going to say " it's all healing well and there's nothing wrong" but he hasn't and he says it will never heal on its own.

Any shoulder experts here? If I don't have the op will I regret it in a few years? If I do have the op will I get back to being able to bench press and gym work again?

In reply to WaterMonkey:

Not personally, but it is a reasonably common injury in my main sport, judo. So IMO, you would in the long run regret not having the OP. Shoulder stability will not get better with age. On a positive note, I personally know people who, with the operation and proper rehab (six months sounds roughly right), have returned to full judo competition activity including gym work. I would go for the OP,

CB

In reply to cb294:

Thanks CB, good advice. I'd not thought about the stabilisation issue in a few years time. I was mainly thinking of arthritis but you're right. My physio has me doing stabilisation exercises now because he thought the tendons were stretched, it's never going to get better doing the exercises if it's torn.
Not looking forward to 6 months inactivity at all though!

In reply to WaterMonkey:
I had my supraspinatus tendon torn a few years ago during a climbing trip in Spain. I was able to carry on climbing but awkwardly as some mobility had gone. Back home I had it reattached with a cool titanium screw by keyhole surgery. It took months (can't remember exactly) of exercises with a physiotherapist to regain full mobility, and I will have to do some of these exercises the rest of my active life to prevent my shoulder blade "winging". I do them happily before climbing sessions as everything feels nice and tight afterwards.

In reply to WaterMonkey:

I'm waiting for surgery on mine and the achromion.

Please let it be successful and recovery time swift and easy.

In reply to Dave B:
I also had torn rotator cuff tendons including supraspinatus. I had keyhole surgery which was totally successful. The subsequent rehabilitation was
time consuming and demanding, taking four or five months of intensive physio. Three years on my shoulder is as good as
new and I am able to climb F6a+, indoors, and weight train regularly. I am now aged 79. My advice is to go for surgery and be prepared to put the hard graft in.
Good luck!
John Brown

In reply to WaterMonkey:

6 months is the blink of an eye. I have had 2 issues that took me out for 4 years apiece.

In reply to johnbrown:

Thanks. Its going to be done, as I can't do much at the moment.
It's good to hear success stories, though I know they do occasionally go wrong.

In reply to WaterMonkey:
I had a supra spinatous tear after a fall on Hellvelyn, and had surgery ( not keyhole). It took 22 months before I could climb again. A friend with a milder tear had key hole surgery and was back in just over 4 months.
The best advice I can give is that you have to be religious with the physio and keep doing it.
Good luck and get it done asap hanging around will not help.

In reply to all

Thanks for the replies everyone. I'm definitely going to have it done and I'll do the physio religiously as I have been for the last 8 months.
Going to Florida in august so it won't be until after that unfortunately. I'll be out of action over winter only hopefully!

In reply to WaterMonkey:

I was diagnosed with a partial (8x5x2mm) Supraspinatus tear & bursa today. I've had it for a year and it's not really got any better - it's very easy to aggravate . Got to sort out a consultation with a shoulder specialist surgeon, my doctor recommended a chap call Professor Ofer Levy at the Reading shoulder unit, does anyone know of him?