Water Ski Injury/Rehab

[nmriordan]

I've been very appreciative of the feedback/knowledge that is exchanged on this site. Just reading other member posts and the corresponding replies has been extremely helpful. Thank you to all the regular posters - you've saved me quite a bit in shop labor fees as well as headaches.

I apologize in advance for a somewhat odd/non-Tige question... this is directed at the skiers and boarders patrolling the forum. I took a particularly nasty fall during my last slalom set of the week about 10 days ago (wish i could blame bad water, but I was at Table Rock Lake so that surely wasn't the case... poor form was the true culprit). An MRI recently confirmed a posterior labrum tear caused by a partial/quick shoulder dislocation. I'm left with the decision to attempt a non-surgical recovery or dive in for the arthoscopic procedure. My physician claims 90% require surgery for full recovery; he's an experienced and well-respected surgeon.

I'm curious if any others have experienced a similar injury (water sport-related or otherwise) and - if so - if they can share their experience. I'm specifically interested to know if anyone has sustained the same injury and succesfully rehabed without surgery and been able to return to aggressive water sports without apprehension, shoulder instability, or pain. Also, for anyone that has undergone the surgery, how long until you were skiing/boarding full speed? I recognize that every injury and patient recovery experience is unique, but i'm looking for some general feedback.

A few notes: (1) i've had other surgeries so the procedure itself and the related recovery is something i'm willing to accept/undertake, (2) I'm not willing to give up skiing or any other sport to cope with my problem; I need to ensure this is fixed, and (3) I won't bore you with details, but if i'm going to have the surgery, I need to schedule it in 2013 for health insurance reasons (I also don't want to lose any more of the ski season in 2014 that i absolutely have to).

Thank you in advance for any insight or feedback.

[Duncan]

I had a partial dislocation on my snowboard in January 2013. Medium posterior labral tear, slight anterior labral tear, and a damaged (not torn) rotator cuff. My ortho said to try PT for 6 weeks and if there is improvement, no need for surgery.

I did PT for a solid 8 weeks and continued exercises after that. Now 8 months later and the shoulder still somewhat holds me back (but continues to improve). I have about 90% strength and 80% flexibility back. The issue though is once the shoulder reaches its limit, there is massive nerve pain and I lose most all strength for many minutes (e.g., using the arm to save a near fall after wake to wake). It also aches usually. I think the issue is scar tissue that needs to be loosened up.

I expect it will be a year or two to get back to full capacity. I had an MCL tear many seasons ago and it was a full 3 years before I had full flexibility and power.

Good luck!

[kx250frider617]

I didn't tear anything but two years ago I broke my Femur wakeboarding. Dumb tantrum in choppy water. It took me a year to fully heal but my muscles still aren't what they used to be. I basically had a spiral fracture but was not a compound thankfully. I was in surgery for 4-5 hours and had a metal pin hammered down the center of the bone with some screws. I actually have a screw up close to the hip and it bothers me like crazy now. I have been back on the board for awhile but i feel that I have lost all my drive to get better. It's all the fear of getting hurt again, feeling the pain again, going through surgery etc that has killed my progression. It is just a physiological thing for me I guess, coming of an injury that can be life threatening. I still board, but not nearly as long as I used to. I can only do about 15 minute sessions at a time then my leg just become weak. I just really don't want to ever see my leg dangling like it did.

I would definitely have the surgery. In my case, it was mandatory but you definitely want to come back 100%. I hear with tears, if not fixed properly, you'll have to rely on other muscles and tendons, which can be injured easier etc.

[lfh]

I had a partially torn labrum and rotator at the age of 22 from playing competitive volleyball. Dealt with this for 5 years using pain killers and beer to cope with the pain during my tournaments. Definitely not the smartest thing to do. First surgery my shoulder felt brand new and rushed into playing. This caused me to have a second one exactly a year later. The shoulder pain would go on and off until recently I found the right program to alleviate almost all pain. Very simple band exercises. The trick is to beef up the rear of your shoulder to slow the arm down after swinging just like a pitcher. Trust me, this works for throwing sports. Not sure for skiing but it should help.

I think you should have the surgery and do PT before and after the surgery. Sounds like you did some crazy stuff to the shoulder. The thing with the labrum is that it will feel great for a while and then boom it kills from playing or riding.

Anyone reading this, PM me about the exercises. I can't promise anything but I have a friends trying these exercises and each one's shoulder is feeling much better. On a side not, DO NOT do straight bar bench or military presses and no upright rows.

[Bruizza]

I broke my glenoid bone in my shoulder (what all that stuff connect to). Without realizing it was broken I was sent to PT etc. nothing helped. Had surgery to fix it and it made a HUGE difference. I vote for the surgery. Best decision I ever made.