20 y/o spirit, 40 y/o body...

[mdnewf]

Jim:
I’ve torn both rotator cuffs did the left one about 1985 while in a bump skiing competition at Killington, and the right one about 7 years ago in a ski race at Snowshoe. Elected not to have surgery on the left side. Shoulder rehab was done by lots of physical therapy and exercises. 17 years later left side still hurts every now and than if I over do it working around the farm, weight lifting or if it’s real cold out. Never got full range of motion back with my left shoulder but that was because I thought I knew better than the Doctors, and continued to ski/race that season, climbed Tuckerman’s Ravine in pain a couple of times that spring with my buddies thus never letting it fully heal up. The right side had surgery done by a top shoulder guy (He’s the orthopdo for Washington Redskins) that was followed by 6 months of physical therapy. Will not say it’s as good as new but I have full range of motion and no real pain. One thing I did lean is perform the exercises and go to the physical therapy. My right side should have been fully recovered in less time but I was doing so well in therapy and with the exercises the shoulder was feeling so good I started back racing and bump skiing to soon. You know how that competitive sprite is at times.
Don

 

[Egon]

I'd love to have my 40 year old body back again!!

Egon

 

[RichZ]

Jim, I tore my rotator cuff 4 years ago (at age 44). I have broken bones and torn ligaments, in the past, none of those injuries was as painful as when I torn the rotator cuff. I almost fainted from the pain.

In my case, I had my arm immobolized in a sling for about six weeks (maybe more). Then I had physical therapy exercises to do, which were mainly walking my hand up a wall to stretch out my shoulder. The exercises were painful...very painful. And as the shoulder healed, each time I stretched it, I had to tear the scar tissue. You could hear it pop and tear. My wife couldn't stay in the room while I did my exercises, because she couldn't stand the sound. But I did the exercises as many times of the day as I was required to. And I did them longer everyday. In the end, I regained 100% range of motion in my shoulder.

Do the exercises!! Yeah, they sure do hurt, but "No pain, no gain!"!! You can make close to a full recovery with the proper physical therapy!

 

[Mosey]

"stupid tubes" is right. Skiing is fun, but I never thought those tubes were any fun. All they do is beat you to death! Might as well jump inside a giant cloths dryer.

 

[8NTX]

When I was a lot younger, we used to go to the feed store and get a tractor tire tube, tie a rope around it and drag it behind the boat. Cost about 5 bucks and lasted all summer. The last tube we bought cost about 70 bucks - hope it lasts longer. Saw one the other day that goes airborne! We spent labor day dragging our kids and grandkids around the lake. The wife even got on it for a while. But I grew out of that a few years ago. My wife is still complaining about how sore she is. Now I get more kicks driving an old tractor around.

 

[hazmat]

<font color=blue> The last tube we bought cost about 70 bucks - hope it lasts longer. </font color=blue>

Store it out of the sun, it makes a big difference. The tube makes boating that much more fun, especially for the young ones & the guests. No frustration trying to "get up" on the waterskis. Don't worry about growing old, even at 27, the thing makes me sore. Oh to be 16 again (well maybe 21).

 

[HeliMark]

Being around the same age...

I can do everything that I did as a 20 y/o. It just hurts twice as much now..

And I am just a bit wiser (some of the time) to not do the things that I know are going to hurt later.

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

I've had both rotator cuffs repaired as well as seven knee surgeries and have to echo what Richard says about rehab. If anything, I'll go a step further and say I think it's absolutely MORE IMPORTANT than the surgery. I've known other people who didn't follow the rehab schedule and paid a high price. Work that harder than anything you've ever done. Remember, the results of what you do or don't do there will truly last a lifetime-good or bad.