Replying to Bankart Repair - My Tale of Recovery

I figured I would post this up as both a resource to anyone who is staring down the barrel at a bankart repair as well as a way to put my experience to "paper" and ramble on about my triumphs and tribulations. Feel free to add your own insight and comments!

After 6 years of recurrent dislocations, including a grand total of 6 ER visits to have my shoulder reduced as I was unable to reduce it myself, I bit the bullet and had surgery. I was diagnosed with a torn glenoid labrum in my right shoulder that was the leading cause of the instability and recurring dislocations. While I suffered from dislocations, it took a force to dislodge my joint and my instability was not overtly bad in day to day life. Honestly, if I wasn't active as a skier and mountain biker and finding myself in situations where it was only a matter of time before I took a spill, I wouldn't have pulled the trigger; alas, that is not who I am.

I was on a streak of once every 6 months essentially. One dislocation a winter during skiing, and once during the summer months. However, I had been good and avoided one since May 2011 when I erred in judgement and foolishly thought that partaking in the high-intensity sport of racquetball was a good choice. One overhanded power shot done while jumping later, I was on my way to the ortho clinic to have it reduced.

I had a arthroscopic bankart repair done last Thursday, May 3. I had a nerve block done prior to the general anesthetic and woke up from the operation with no feeling in my right arm. This made the day of surgery recovery a breeze. I went home by 2:00 p.m. that afternoon. The nerve block began wearing off that evening. While I was prepared for excruciating pain, nothing prepared me for the total lack of pain that I experienced. It appears that every case is different, but I hit the jackpot with mine. The most I had at any point was discomfort. Maybe a 3 on the 1-10 pain scale. This was a pleasant surprise after the countless 12's I had logged on the pain scale during previous dislocations. I was weaning off the Percocet by Saturday and using them for sleeptime only. By Sunday, I was done with them altogether and just taking Ibuprofen for any slight soreness.

I was directed to flex my elbow while keeping my elbow at my side and not moving my upper arm at all. And to work my forearm muscles by using a stress ball. I did these and was rewarded with an elbow that never got stiff and more comfort through and through. I removed the bandages on Saturday (this was actually the most painful part of the entire surgery). Pro-tip, have your significant other do it while you're in the shower. The warm water really helps loosen the adhesive they use for that sucker. Slow and steady wins the race here.

I had my first post-op appointment on Wednesday, May 9, 6 days removed from surgery. The stitches were removed and I talked with the surgeon. He looked it over, said things seemed to look good and rehashed what I can and can't do for the next 3 weeks. No active movement on the upper arm. No external rotation of the arm. I can work with it directly in front of my though, such as cutting things on a cutting board, but that elbow needs to remain at my side and my hands directly in front of me. I was given my PT referral at this time with a limit of 40 degrees external passive rotation fro the next 3 weeks.

I started my PT the same day Wednesday. I only had a whopping 15 degrees of passive external rotation and was assigned passive range of external rotation exercises as well as pendulum exercises to do multiple times daily. Went back in today (Thursday, May 11) and I was up to 35 degrees of passive external rotation. Drastic improvement in two days which makes me happy but it also means that I've hit the wall of progress for the next few weeks until I am allowed to begin doing further exercises.

I had prepared myself for physical pain. I did not however, realize just HOW hard it is on you mentally when it is not painful. Knowing that you can't do jack-shit while not hurting at all is extremely difficult. I found solace in going to the gym yesterday and spending 45 minutes on the recumbent bike. Make sure you have a plan in place to stay active somehow or else you will go insane. Additionally, the less time you need to take off from work, the better. I am on vacation through the end of May (unrelated to the surgery) and I wish I was at work now as it would be something to keep me busy and help the time pass by.

Lastly, I've been focusing on the small victories that come up. Especially since my progress is going to be halted until I am further out from the surgery, it is going to be the small victories that will keep me going.

I am still somewhat shocked by how little pain there has been throughout it all and how quickly my range of motion came back once I started with the passive exercises.

I'll keep updating this as I go along with the process and follow it through to recovery. Hopefully the information can be helpful to someone else!