My SLAP Journey...

[Brittany Miller]

Originally Posted by Michael Dries

Popping and clicking sometimes can be tendons snapping over bones but if it hurts constantly I'd get thee to a qualified shoulder specialist. Many of those symptoms match the pain I and many others have had with slap tairs.


Good luck.

After reading this thread, I'm making an appointment ASAP!!! I never really thought about it being serious!! Guess I didnt really want to consider what would be next if it was. I really hate knowing I couldn't continue crossfit.

[Jared Paiva]

Hi All.

Ok so had my post op with surgeon two weeks ago.

He is extremely happy with progress, at the time he said for someone who is 4 weeks post op, I have done very well and well on way to full recovery.

He said he had to do alot of work and repair, I was in surgery for over 3 hours, bearing mind it was a RT cuff repair, SLAP repair and bicep tendonesis. WHat he did mention was that most ppl tear labrum at 6 0 clock, but mine was at 10 o clock, which is quite bad.

He definately reckons that the Pre hab program I did with my PT attributed alot to my quick success, perhaps also my level of fitness pre op and age have also contributed.

I am now at 5 weeks and 4 days and I feel great! lying flat on my back and i can lift my arm to 90 degress, havent tried other movements. Been really religious with my home program and I start PT next week. By next week I will be able to drive again. I can do more simple things like brush my teeth etc.

I am not being stupid and I am taking everyones advice on this thread too. THis week I started cycling on stationery bike and then did some squats and lunges, body weight, with slight pain but by the next session it was gone.

Still cannot lift my arm in front all way to 90, prob about 80 degrees, can lift it to the side (side lat raise) to about 65 degrees. One thing that i"m struggling with, but has gotten better is my ext rotation, still pretty tight!

My arm does feel quite loose though....

All in all healing well and being patient.

Keep posting guys, this thread has been so helpful!

Cheers.

Jared

[Will Nuse]

Originally Posted by Gravel Brown

7 Month Update:

Prognosis: my PT and surgeon have said that i can do pretty much anything in the gym apart from heavy overhead stuff, snatches etc, as this is where the shoulder is most vulnerable. Suits me fine though, i plan on just sticking to flat bench, deadlifts etc so alls looking good.

Gravel,

Thanks for posting your experience here - I read the entire thread a few weeks back and have been checking in since. I was diagnosed with a SLAP tear of my left shoulder via MRI with injection almost two months ago and finally got a ortho consult approved. I've been CFing more regularly now than in recent memory, just avoiding anything that irritates my shoulder.

I'm curious about what your PT and doc said here that you can do anything but the overhead stuff. I recognize that you don't mind this restriction, but are the doc and PT saying to avoid those movement just for now, or that this is a permanent recommendation, even after you're fully healed? Just want to get a sense for what to expect if the doc decides he wants to cut on me.

Thanks, and all the best.

[Gravel Brown]

Originally Posted by Brittany Miller

After reading this thread, I'm making an appointment ASAP!!! I never really thought about it being serious!! Guess I didnt really want to consider what would be next if it was. I really hate knowing I couldn't continue crossfit.

Hey Brittany,

If i were you id at least get it checked out (possible MRI) by a professional, then at least you know what youre dealing with. I recall my pain felt somewhat similar, a dull ache most times also with that burning sensation, both of which felt they were deep inside of the joint. If you get it checked at least you know what it is... then comes the decision of surgery or not. On a positive note though it may just be chronic inflammation / tendonitis.

Michael and Jarad sounds like you guys are flying along, great to hear. I managed 3 sets of 10 reps at 70kg on the flat bench press yesterday with no pain today whatsoever. Its so good to be back in the gym. The hardest part is putting the handbrake on myself and telling myself i still have to take it slow. Im doing the following at the moment every second day just to slowly gain some strength back:

Bench press: 3 sets of 10 reps at 60-70kg
Seated row: 3 sets of 12 reps at moderate weight
Standing preacher curls: 3 sets of 10 reps at 30kg
5km run

The plan is to keep this up for the next month and slowly increase the weight as i go. My PB bench before this injury was 140kg so i hope to at least be back to benching 100kg x 10 reps within a the next few months.

[Michael Dries]

Originally Posted by Gravel Brown

Hey Brittany,

If i were you id at least get it checked out (possible MRI) by a professional, then at least you know what youre dealing with. I recall my pain felt somewhat similar, a dull ache most times also with that burning sensation, both of which felt they were deep inside of the joint. If you get it checked at least you know what it is... then comes the decision of surgery or not. On a positive note though it may just be chronic inflammation / tendonitis.

Michael and Jarad sounds like you guys are flying along, great to hear. I managed 3 sets of 10 reps at 70kg on the flat bench press yesterday with no pain today whatsoever. Its so good to be back in the gym. The hardest part is putting the handbrake on myself and telling myself i still have to take it slow. Im doing the following at the moment every second day just to slowly gain some strength back:

Bench press: 3 sets of 10 reps at 60-70kg
Seated row: 3 sets of 12 reps at moderate weight
Standing preacher curls: 3 sets of 10 reps at 30kg
5km run

The plan is to keep this up for the next month and slowly increase the weight as i go. My PB bench before this injury was 140kg so i hope to at least be back to benching 100kg x 10 reps within a the next few months.

I know exactly what you mean about the handbrake. My gym has a safety squat bar so I've been doing that for a few months now and after the initial squat session I feel indestructible, so I dabble is stuff I probably shouldn't yet. i.e. trying hang power snatch with a 15lb bar. I haven't HURT anything yet but my shoulder will remind me it's not ready the next morning.

My workout routine looks like the following.
squat up to 210lbs for 3x5 now
deadlift (twice a week) up 170lbs
standing press 20lbsx3x5
bench 15x3x5 (still hurts a bit in the bottom position)
push ups 6x10
pull ups with assistance band 3x8
parallel bar supports 3 sets of 20seconds each
pull up bar hangs 3 sets of 20 seconds each
then I do some sort of conditioning for 15 minutes or less. either run at a 6m/mile pace or kettlebell swings (eye height) or box jumps or tabada front squats. (those suck).

I do the above 3 days a week and so far I've been putting muscle on again.

MY PT protocol is the following
curls 3x10
triceps push down 3x10
standing scaption raises 3x10
push ups 3x10
band external rotation 3x10
band front raises facing the band source and facing away 3x10 each
slide board work (These suck)
ladder walks on hands in plank position
y and t movements
lots of manual stretching with the PT.

[Gravel Brown]

Originally Posted by Will Nuse

Gravel,

Thanks for posting your experience here - I read the entire thread a few weeks back and have been checking in since. I was diagnosed with a SLAP tear of my left shoulder via MRI with injection almost two months ago and finally got a ortho consult approved. I've been CFing more regularly now than in recent memory, just avoiding anything that irritates my shoulder.

I'm curious about what your PT and doc said here that you can do anything but the overhead stuff. I recognize that you don't mind this restriction, but are the doc and PT saying to avoid those movement just for now, or that this is a permanent recommendation, even after you're fully healed? Just want to get a sense for what to expect if the doc decides he wants to cut on me.

Thanks, and all the best.

Hey Will,

In relation to the overhead stuff theyve told me that its a definite no-no during the first 12 months. Then further suggested that if i can stay away from lifting heavy overhead then this would be best practice. The reason they said was that when the shoulder is loaded with weight above the head it is in its most vulnerable position, ie simply supporting itself rather than being assisted by other surrounding muscles.

So my plan is to steer clear of it pretty much all together. Id hate to try to snatch or similar and re-tear after going through all this.

Its a personal thing though, ive read stacks of reports about people getting back to full olympic style lifting after a SLAP tear so i think a lot of the time it depends how bad the tear was.

In relation to the surgery mate, if you do need it then id strongly suggest that you get it done. I tossed up for ages re whether to go under the knife or not and now that im here at 7 months i can safely say that it was the best decision.

Pre-op my shoulder was pretty bad and prevented me from doing so many things in the gym, no bench, no pushups, pretty much no pushing movements at all. Now that ive recovered its so good to be able to do all the exercises that i love again... so in short mate, the surgery is well worth it in the long run, it just sucks for the first few months thats all.

Keep us posted on how youre going.

[Will Nuse]

Originally Posted by Gravel Brown

Hey Will,

In relation to the overhead stuff theyve told me that its a definite no-no during the first 12 months. Then further suggested that if i can stay away from lifting heavy overhead then this would be best practice. The reason they said was that when the shoulder is loaded with weight above the head it is in its most vulnerable position, ie simply supporting itself rather than being assisted by other surrounding muscles.

So my plan is to steer clear of it pretty much all together. Id hate to try to snatch or similar and re-tear after going through all this.

Its a personal thing though, ive read stacks of reports about people getting back to full olympic style lifting after a SLAP tear so i think a lot of the time it depends how bad the tear was.

In relation to the surgery mate, if you do need it then id strongly suggest that you get it done. I tossed up for ages re whether to go under the knife or not and now that im here at 7 months i can safely say that it was the best decision.

Pre-op my shoulder was pretty bad and prevented me from doing so many things in the gym, no bench, no pushups, pretty much no pushing movements at all. Now that ive recovered its so good to be able to do all the exercises that i love again... so in short mate, the surgery is well worth it in the long run, it just sucks for the first few months thats all.

Keep us posted on how youre going.

Gravel and all,

I met with the ortho a few days ago. He explained the results of the MRI to me (first time anyone has been able to do so other than just reading the results the radiologist included in the CD they gave me). Apparently I don't have a classic "SLAP" tear - it might better be termed an armpit labrum tear. The bottom half has torn free from the from to back through my armpit. I told my sister the same thing later (she's doing her residency in ortho surgery in the Army) and she was impressed; said that was a lot of damage.

The interesting thing is that he said if it were him, he wouldn't be sure what to do either. My stability is fine (it's not dislocating at all) and it really hasn't been causing me much pain (more on that in a second). Other than being unable to do some overhead stuff with my left arm, it hasn't been the end of the world, and the gym I'm going to is working with me to get strong in the right positions and to smartly work my left arm into the mix. I talked to some guys who have flown high performance aircraft, and they don't seem to think it will really bother me if it's not bothering me at ground level, so that takes work out of the equation as well. He also said he'd have to be working much closer to a blood supply in my armpit and the nerve bundle that controls my deltoid.

Painwise, though, I've just started to work on my left arm a little bit at the gym in the last few days, and there's a deep, throbbing ache, maybe a 2-3 out of 10, that's started just in the last few hours. Does not feel muscular, but like it's associated with the tear. Doesn't feel good, either - it's not anything I've felt before and I'm thinking I'm just overdoing it at the gym and will kick it back a notch or two. Hopefully I can get some NSAIDs going and it will take care of it enough that I can continue to train to some level.

[Sean Rockett]

Originally Posted by Will Nuse

Gravel and all,

I met with the ortho a few days ago. He explained the results of the MRI to me (first time anyone has been able to do so other than just reading the results the radiologist included in the CD they gave me). Apparently I don't have a classic "SLAP" tear - it might better be termed an armpit labrum tear. The bottom half has torn free from the from to back through my armpit. I told my sister the same thing later (she's doing her residency in ortho surgery in the Army) and she was impressed; said that was a lot of damage.

The interesting thing is that he said if it were him, he wouldn't be sure what to do either. My stability is fine (it's not dislocating at all) and it really hasn't been causing me much pain (more on that in a second). Other than being unable to do some overhead stuff with my left arm, it hasn't been the end of the world, and the gym I'm going to is working with me to get strong in the right positions and to smartly work my left arm into the mix. I talked to some guys who have flown high performance aircraft, and they don't seem to think it will really bother me if it's not bothering me at ground level, so that takes work out of the equation as well. He also said he'd have to be working much closer to a blood supply in my armpit and the nerve bundle that controls my deltoid.

Painwise, though, I've just started to work on my left arm a little bit at the gym in the last few days, and there's a deep, throbbing ache, maybe a 2-3 out of 10, that's started just in the last few hours. Does not feel muscular, but like it's associated with the tear. Doesn't feel good, either - it's not anything I've felt before and I'm thinking I'm just overdoing it at the gym and will kick it back a notch or two. Hopefully I can get some NSAIDs going and it will take care of it enough that I can continue to train to some level.

Hey Will, It sounds like you have a posterior labral tear, which does not typically cause instability but is more associated with pain. Good luck with it if it comes to surgery.

[Carline Saintilien]

Today is post day 17 for a Grade II SLAP tear. I am so grateful to you all for sharing your experiences.

I'm curious to know if Crossfit training similar to P90X?

Also, I'm due to go back to work in a week and a half. My doctor said that I can return to work within four weeks from the date of my surgery, but driving restrictions will be continuous due to very limited ROM.

I will start PT next week (3 times per week). Although, I have a desk job, does anyone think it will be wise for me to return to work so soon?

If I start work there is no way I can do PT 3 times per week.

I appreciate all advice and feedback.

[Ken Jackson]

I would like to thank all of you for posting updates on your slap repairs and recovery statuses. It really helped me cope with the anxiety about getting my shoulder cut and the long rehab period, not to mention how much of a setback it will be in trying to regain my current fitness level. I worked my butt off to get HERE. I can't remember who said it as I have read this whole thread but, the quote was loosely "live life around your injury or fix it and live like you want to". I think it was Gravel, sorry if I missed the direct quote and or the person who said it. Jared, I am 42 and I had the same injury as you, I had 5 anchors put in ( SURGERY 1-31-12). I also crossfitted like crazy right until the end going out with a final WOD of "ANGIE" at 14:50. Dock said that it was good for me to go right up to the end. 1 week p.o. visit and the dock said that I can begin therapy on Friday 2-10, it's like my own little wod. He also said that I should have full ROM in 3 months, mod wods for crossfit in 1 month, and back to sports and crossfit in 9-12 months. I will now focus more on intensity and strict form over heavier weight and not going Rx on wods. Current workout schedule is walking 2-4 miles a day with 50 walking lunges every half mile or biking 5-7 miles and a bunch of air squats. As for the surgery, I left the Hospital with a nerve block pain pump which was great until about 2am when I found out that it was leaking and I had to turn it up all the way just to keep my shoulder numb. Anyway, turning it up makes it pump faster and leak more so I ran out a day early, not cool. I don't think this is always the case, but it was with me. Definitely need to acquire a recliner as this will be the most comfortable spot for the first 4 days. I know everyone has different levels of injuries and heal at different rates, so, I will try to post here weekly for anyone that is about to embark on this journey. Thanks again to all who have previously posted throughout their journey. It helped me a lot and that is why I will post as much as I can. WEEK 2 started yesterday and I am still unable to move my arm above the chest by itself. There is so much more to say and a bunch that I forgot to put in here , so I will field any questions that come my way as soon as I can.