Left Shoulder is Fucked

[ThE SiCkNeSs]

So I’m 42, been doing construction for 17 years and working out pretty steady for 15 years. I started getting some pretty bad pain in my left shoulder a few years ago and it is only getting worse. Went to an orthopedic surgeon and he said I need a shoulder replacement. He said I could do cortisone shots and try PRP to push it off but eventually I would need it replaced. I was told There is mild degenerative spurring of the left acromioclavicular joint and moderate degenerative spurring of the left glenohumeral joint. He called it a goats beard bone spur.
The pain is pretty bad and it has highly been impacting my workouts. I can’t do any overhead movements at work or the gym and even most bench in any shoulder related workouts cause pain. I do have most of my mobility as of now.

I was just wondering what anyone who has dealt with this or is dealing with it may advise me to do. Has anyone had luck with PRP? I’ve been doing daily injections of BPC157, TB 500 and GHK – CU for two months now and have not seen any improvement. I also have been doing some physical therapy (my good friend is a “doctor” of physical therapy).

 

[Ghoul]

So I’m 42, been doing construction for 17 years and working out pretty steady for 15 years. I started getting some pretty bad pain in my left shoulder a few years ago and it is only getting worse. Went to an orthopedic surgeon and he said I need a shoulder replacement. He said I could do cortisone shots and try PRP to push it off but eventually I would need it replaced. I was told There is mild degenerative spurring of the left acromioclavicular joint and moderate degenerative spurring of the left glenohumeral joint. He called it a goats beard bone spur.
The pain is pretty bad and it has highly been impacting my workouts. I can’t do any overhead movements at work or the gym and even most bench in any shoulder related workouts cause pain. I do have most of my mobility as of now.

I was just wondering what anyone who has dealt with this or is dealing with it may advise me to do. Has anyone had luck with PRP? I’ve been doing daily injections of BPC157, TB 500 and GHK – CU for two months now and have not seen any improvement. I also have been doing some physical therapy (my good friend is a “doctor” of physical therapy). View attachment 326055

First, no injectable or miracle drug will spare your shoulder from requiring physical repair any more than a quart of "engine saver" will restore a blown motor.

Secondly, don't despair, with todays tech and the right procedure, you can restore 100% of painless function with no restrictions whatsoever, as if this never happened.

I cannot emphasize this enough.

Do whatever you have to get to a second opinion from an orthopedic surgeon at a university affiliated hospital. The reason for this is that the likelihood of them being up to date with the latest procedures will be much higher than a non-university affiliated provider. Surgeons at university hospitals are continuously being exposed to presentations, working on studies. approached by companies making the latest devices, and teaching other surgeons. Private surgeons are not in the same environment. This can make all the difference. Do this so you don't find out a year down the road there was a much better alternative that you weren't offered because your surgeon simply wasn't qualified to implant that device. No surgeon will say "There is a better option but I don't offer it, so please take your business to another guy.". At the end of the day, you're a boat payment,

You must be a "noisy" patient, Just being clear and assertive can get you better results than placing yourself in the "loving" hands of surgeon. Doctors will acknowledge this themselves in moments of candor.
Use a phrase like this: "I want to fix this using whatever will restore full function back to the greatest degree possible."

If you DM me your approximate location, I'll tell you who I'd see for this if I were in your position.

 

[ThE SiCkNeSs]

First, no injectable or miracle drug will spare your shoulder from requiring physical repair any more than a quart of "engine saver" will restore a blown motor.

Secondly, don't despair, with todays tech and the right procedure, you can restore 100% of painless function with no restrictions whatsoever, as if this never happened.

I cannot emphasize this enough.

Do whatever you have to get to a second opinion from an orthopedic surgeon at a university affiliated hospital. The reason for this is that the likelihood of them being up to date with the latest procedures will be much higher than a non-university affiliated provider. Surgeons at university hospitals are continuously being exposed to presentations, working on studies. approached by companies making the latest devices, and teaching other surgeons. Private surgeons are not in the same environment. This can make all the difference. Do this so you don't find out a year down the road there was a much better alternative that you weren't offered because your surgeon simply wasn't qualified to implant that device. No surgeon will say "There is a better option but I don't offer it, so please take your business to another guy.". At the end of the day, you're a boat payment,

You must be a "noisy" patient, Just being clear and assertive can get you better results than a placing yourself in the hands of surgeon. Doctors will acknowledge this themselves in moments of candor.
Use a phrase like this: "I want to fix this using whatever will restore full function back to the greatest degree possible."

If you DM me your approximate location, I'll tell you who I'd see for this if ai were in your position.

P.m. sent. The orthopedic surgeon I saw is a pretty big practice and they have really good reviews online like over 1000 5.0 reviews. But that is a good idea because I don’t know how up to date they are in the latest surgical technology and I was thinking about getting a second opinion. I still have pretty good spacing in my joint so it’s not bone bone but it’s definitely looking beat up and weathered.

 

[Ghoul]

P.m. sent. The orthopedic surgeon I saw is a pretty big practice and they have really good reviews online like over 1000 5.0 reviews. But that is a good idea because I don’t know how up to date they are in the latest surgical technology and I was thinking about getting a second opinion. I still have pretty good spacing in my joint so it’s not bone bone but it’s definitely looking beat up and weathered.

I can't say for certain, as my advice comes from dealing with my own "life altering" spine injury and how I saved myself from being crippled for life by avoiding the procedure I was told was the "only option" by two top surgeons, but usually more
options are available when there's less preexisting damage.

You want this done once, for life. In my case I ended up with a procedure that was still in FDA clinical trials for the US, and the outcome was infinitely better than if i just went along with what the first 2 surgeons tried to get me to do. My rose colored glasses about surgeons immediately fell off after I realized what those other two would've done to me had I let them. They even mocked the proposed procedure (two level disc replacement) I ended up getting as a "gimmick", but is now the gold standard.

 

[ThE SiCkNeSs]

I can't say for certain, as my advice comes from dealing with my own "life altering" spine injury and how I saved myself from being crippled for life by avoiding the procedure I was told was the "only option" by two top surgeons, but usually more
options are available when there's less preexisting damage.

You want this done once, for life. In my case I ended up with a procedure that was still in FDA clinical trials for the US, and the outcome was infinitely better than if i just went along with what the first 2 surgeons tried to get me to do. My rose colored glasses about surgeons immediately fell off after I realized what those other two would've done to me had I let them. They even mocked the proposed procedure (two level disc replacement) I ended up getting as a "gimmick", but is now the gold standard.

Yeah man, I’m kind of terrified about all this. My business and working out is basically my life. I haven’t done a cycle in 5 years. I was really hoping to get back into it because I’ve never felt better but obviously that’s being pushed so far away right now because I can’t deal with the extra pain that would come with that. The doctor told me the kind of damage I have is rare for someone of my age is usually seen in his 80-year-old patients. I think it’s a combination of me not really knowing how to work out for the first six or seven years of my weightlifting hobby and just all the awkward overhead work I do in my business.

 

[Ghoul]

Yeah man, I’m kind of terrified about all this. My business and working out is basically my life. I haven’t done a cycle in 5 years. I was really hoping to get back into it because I’ve never felt better but obviously that’s being pushed so far away right now because I can’t deal with the extra pain that would come with that. The doctor told me the kind of damage I have is rare for someone of my age is usually seen in his 80-year-old patients. I think it’s a combination of me not really knowing how to work out for the first six or seven years of my weightlifting hobby and just all the awkward overhead work I do in my business.

I know how an injury, the uncertainty of whether you'll ever get back to where you were, and wondering if you've suddenly been robbed of the next 40 years of a life worth living can be traumatic and extremely depressing.

I assure you, you're actually fortunate to be alive at a time when things like this can be completely fixed and restore you to 100%, vs the men that came before you in a similar situation, who really were screwed for life.

This wasn't the case even 25 years ago.

Just put your head down like any other unpleasant task that's best dealt with asap, put behind you, and forgotten about.

Tell your surgeon lifting is central to your life, and you want to get back to that, I'm sure he'll reassure you it can be done.

 

[Ghoul]

I said "university affiliated", but to be clear, "Research hospital", or a facility having a department that specializes in your particular issue, rather than a general orthopedic department, is an equally good choice.

Another note, contrary to what some may think, world class speciality hospitals often accept every kind of insurance, even the most stingy, because they want to perform as many procedures as possible to support their education/research mission, unlike a private practice trying to maximize profit.

A little extra effort could yield better results you'll enjoy for the rest of your life.

For anyone who may find themselves in a similar situation, this is the place we came up with (posted with OPs permission) and a good example of what you should seek out if you ever need surgery:

Shoulder Service

Our shoulder specialists are global leaders in advanced clinical practice and research, bringing the latest treatments and applications to bear in their compassionate care for all patients experiencing shoulder pain and discomfort.

www.massgeneral.org

 

[buck]

I had tried many things before i had my shoulder replaced. They did little to nothing. Cortisone helped some in the short term but it can also accelerate the problem longer term. Getting the correct type of replacement is likely the really only long term solutions. There are many types of replacement and not every surgeon does them all. Get multiple opinions from sports medicine orthopedic surgeons is my best recommendation. I have had all my surgeries done at the University hospital close to me. I tend to find they are more up to date and still excited about their work.

 

[ThE SiCkNeSs]

I had tried many things before i had my shoulder replaced. They did little to nothing. Cortisone helped some in the short term but it can also accelerate the problem longer term. Getting the correct type of replacement is likely the really only long term solutions. There are many types of replacement and not every surgeon does them all. Get multiple opinions from sports medicine orthopedic surgeons is my best recommendation. I have had all my surgeries done at the University hospital close to me. I tend to find they are more up to date and still excited about their work.

How long was the down time for you? The main problem is, I don’t think I can work since my body is my main tool. Also, were you able to get back to where you were lifting wise or do you have to take it easy now with the replacement?

 

[buck]

I was a journeyman machinist. So i had to crank the occasional wrench or move 20-50 pounds which i could pretty much do with 1 hand but not contiguous manual labor there was more button pushing on the computer then physical work. I took pain meds for 5 days just to keep me from feeling like i wanted to do anything. Probably could have not takn any meds as i never lost a nights sleep in recovery. Was back to work in 2 weeks. Back in the gym training 3 appendages and torso the best i could with light weights to keep atrophy at bay and stimulate blood flow. I was back to using 100 pound dumbbells in 9 months. Not as heavy as when i was a kid in my 30's.
But i choose to have spinal surgery fusion and had a couple metal rods installed. 3 months after my shoulder surgery which kept me out of work and the gym for 1 week. So between the 2 surgeries it took me longer to get back to really good workouts. I was 52 when i had the surgeries. I am 65 now. I have no restrictions in my lifting other then what normally happens with age. Chest and back weights are in the low 200 pound range these days and mostly machines. A year after the replacement i was moving more weight then a year before the replacement. I never took any pain meds daily script or over the counter pre surgery as wearing out my internal organs faster was not in my game plan as they are tougher to replace. Once sleep was compromised i knew it was time for surgury as my health would only go down hill from there. I look long term in my plans.

 

[Tdeck81]

Hello. I have a similar issue with my left shoulder and years of labor work too. I was told it needs replacement but I'm currently too young, wait until 50. Truthfully I don't like the replacement option either. Cortisone and hyaluronic acid injections don't help. The prp injections helped reduce the inflammation for a few months but tbh I wasn't very active during that period. I'm debating giving it another go now that I'm in a steady workout routine. If you haven't done a prp try it once. There's no down time and you might be able to nurse it along until you find a better treatment option. My next step, like suggested above, is a second opinion with a more prestigious institution.

 

[beanonroids]

I know that PRP and injections may seem like a good solution at first, but sometimes physical therapy alone isn’t enough. I saw a good resource about shoulder arthroscopy on Dr. Kevin Kruse’s clinic website (the doc I went to with my shoulder problems), very helpful for anyone considering surgical options. If you’re in Texas, it’s definitely worth reaching out to them.