My Surfing Days Might Be Over

Just lay off for a bit, let it heal really good, and then try going out again. Im no doctor, trust me, but ive known a couple of guys who have had similiar shoulder injuries and bounced back...good luck, hope you get better.

 

Doctors can't surf.

 

Don't worry to much. If it makes you feel any better, I had shoulder surgery in October. I totally tore my labia from the bone, I was back in the water.3 mOnths later. Sore as hell afterwards but whatev.
Basically, do what makes you happy until youre not happy than get the surgery.

 

EFF THAT NOISE!

Docs in America want to do two things: pills & cut you. Or, vice versa. Bottom line, he knows what he knows & I'd bet your left nut that he's a cutter. These guys are like car mechanics: "well, we won't really know until we open up the hood (that would be your body, amigo) and poke around a bit."

Tell Doctor Kildare to chill out. See other docs, guys whose job it is to get pro athletes back in action. Most of all: locate an incredible PT. Private PT with amazing reviews & references. Not that factory med crap PT. Sports-related PT only. Spend some money on PT. You're worth it, surfing is worth it & you gotta get this one right.

Been down this road so many times. Be very, very skeptical of the cutters.

And know this: once they cut, you're not ever going to be the same & you may not even be improved once they are done with you.

Buena suerte.

 

I injured my shoulder lifting wights back in early 2010, resulting in a deltoid bursitis. It hurt to pop up (amongst other activities) and was getting progressively worse. Had corrective surgery that December, and was back in the water 3 months later. After 9 months was back to 100%, and haven't' looked back since. Surgery isn't the end of life, especially if you have a good Dr. working on you. Go talk to an orthopedist and get a good idea of what you are looking at (if you haven't already).

 

my brothers shoulder pops out from time to time and hes in excrutiating pain.i wouldn't mess with it.if ur shoulder pops out in the ocean,it wont be good

 

Cep's got a good point. My Pops has the same issue; he's tough as nails and I've seen him debilitated by the pain. But that doesn't mean Onelove can't surf.... surfing isn't necessarily carving a potato chip on OH days, is it?

Consider what Yankee said. Some guys have had good surgical experiences, but they're a small data sample. Get multiple opinions. Take your time. I had a double hernia surgery; I was told that it's a simple and routine procedure, and that I shouldn't be concerned about it at all. But it's still painful at times.

Surgery or no surgery, you can still have time in the water. How often does it get big enough that you NEED both arms to swim anyway? Sponge on small days, bodysurf, do what you gotta do. Now you've got an excuse to make a freak asymmetrical board that paddles better with one arm.

You're still breathing, still typing, and you could still be surfing. It ain't over till it's over.

...If Wayne's sharkbitten spiritual sister can do it, so can you.



(Keep your chin up. Don't be such a p*ssy).

 

(Keep your chin up. Don't be such a p*ssy).
+1
yolo!

 

Listen to Yank. SO many musculoskeletal injuries prompt docs to immediately tell you that you can never do x, y, or z again. I was VERY close to starting medical school back in 1996 and backed off for this reason (among others), that many doctors, not all mind you, but many, give up their whole lives to pursue medicine, because it can take that much out of your life to do so (in my case, not being the sharpest among the University of Maryland School of Medicine's entrants at that point in time, I'm certain this would have been the case for me) and in the meantime, lose all sight of what it is like to want to remain physically active, and start doling out advice like that....hurt your knee, quit golfing for good. This advice is almost always bull****. The body responds to physical activity by releasing more growth hormone, which boosts protein production, and thus healing. Physical therapists are more aware of this and take advantage of it. Find a good one, go to them, and get back to it. You very likely do not have to quit. Depression is far worse than shoulder pain, trust me.

 

Don't write it off yet. As has been brought up here, get multiple opinions, see sports medicine specialists, including PT. There are many examples of folks overcoming all sorts of odds, injuries and handicaps much worse than your situation. Keep your chin and attitude up. Take things slow and easy at first.
Be careful getting into and out of your wetsuit. Depending on the type of suit, fit, and recent injuries, one might possibly get re-injured from that alone.
Best of luck.

 

Sounds like BS to me. Find a doc who was an athlete and who treats athletes. They have a much different viewpoint than some doc who thinks if something hurts a little that you shouldn't use it. I mean even if you might need surgery down the line its not that big of deal. Use it until you lose it then get the surgery and start up again when you can. I know people that are surfing after having knee replacement surgery and thats a serious surgery. Also with the advances in science and medicine who's to say that a surgery that is complicated and serious now might not be simple and quick in 5 or 10 years. Look at how far ACL & 'tommy john' surgery have come in recent years. Those surgeries used to be career enders for athletes, now people can actually come back stronger from them than they were before they were injured.. Point being, don't give up! Don't ever give up!

 

Let it rest and heal for a long long time if you want to avoid surgury - like a good year... Go out only on the small longboard days to get you thru. Take some of vitamins - glucosamine and condriotan

 

I have separated my left shoulder 25-28 times since I was 18, I am now 30. Sometimes will come out sleeping, not fun waking up with your shoulder dislocated. Overtime you will learn what your limits are and what movements to avoid. Been surfing with no problems.

 

So he said "somewhere down the road"? Sounds good, surf until you need surgery (if ever) until then strengthen the shoulders.
A guy I have surfed with for about 30 years had his right shoulder rebuilt over 20 years ago - took about 3-6 months but he came back 100% - he just got back from Hawaii.
Good luck !!

 

as a Doc myself, suggest you get another opinion. Strongly agree with people who recommended physical therapy.
Sniffer..your statement that Doctors can't surf is supported by the frequency that I wipe out

 

I keep trying to write this and page refreshing on its own. Weird things SI server does at night.

Basically, listen to and use the good advice and support guys are offering here. I dislocated my shoulder several years ago and subluxed (partial dislocate) it repeatedly over the next 5 years. Really affected my athletic career but pushed through it. Once you've done enough damage in there, you're already hurt so it's either deal with pain and wait til it fully tears through or just get the surgery to repair and deal with long recovery (though scope is pretty good and easy these days). I wouldn't set aside 6+ months of immobilization for surgical recovery so just dealt with the pain that was constant.

Started surfing most days of the week over a year ago and miraculously, my shoulder is near full health now. Paddling and moving in the water have been the ultimate rehab implement for the whole joint. To the point where I go all out surfing and skating and have certainly taken many spills yet it's so durable and reinforced by the dynamic resistance training of surfing that is impact-free. Can't guarantee the same for anyone else, especially since it may be relative to the portions of the joint I'd injured, but take it for what it's worth. No surgery for me and full-time charging brought my shoulder back to full health.

Keep your head up brah. Drop me or one of the other supportive ones a PM if you need to. You will surf again if you're intent is expressed through active commitment to the comeback trail. Stay positive and get a logical action plan in progress.

 

THIS^

Physician training has become so specialized that all the advanced/specialized ones are pretty much One Trick Ponies. That, and surgeons only make $$$ when they have a knife in their hand.

Have you seen a Sports Med doc yet? IMO, that is where you should be going for a second opinion. Definitely get in with a sports-related PT. If you walk into a PT's office and it looks like God's Waiting Room.... Leave!

I must also add my Chiro has done wonders for my old rotator injury... or maybe it's just the Voodoo he practices in his spare time (j/k).

Above all, try like hell to find docs, PT's and such WHO SURF. I bet your doc only chases little white balls with a bag full of sticks for "fun."

 

And this^.

Atrophy is your worst enemy. I experience the exact same thing as well--the less active I am the more my old injuries surface.

 

There ya go! Welcome to the forum Doc!
Succinct, solid advice and a good sport to boot.... Even I can't find a way to haze you on your first post. Well played, well played.