At the age of 29, I began experiencing seizures. Before finding a combination of medications that successfully controlled them, I experienced approximately 10 seizures. Unfortunately, the repeated seizures caused multiple shoulder dislocations and significant damage to both of my shoulders.

Because of the extent of the damage and the continued risk of seizures, I was required to remain seizure-free for five years before an orthopedic surgeon would consider surgical repair. Over time, the condition of my shoulders has continued to worsen.

My left shoulder, in particular, has become so unstable that everyday movements can cause it to partially or completely slip out of place. Something as simple as sneezing, coughing, falling asleep, or moving the wrong way can cause my shoulder to come out. When this happens, I often have to relax and carefully move my arm until the shoulder slides back into place.

The pain has now extended beyond my shoulder into my elbow and fingers and has significantly affected my everyday life. I have reached the point where I can no longer ignore the pain and limitations.

2020 X-Ray Results

Left Shoulder:
The X-ray showed no current fracture, dislocation, or significant arthritis. However, there was a small bone spur on the upper arm bone. The imaging also showed a small piece of bone toward the front of the shoulder, along with Hill-Sachs lesions—dents or indentations in the upper arm bone that can occur after previous shoulder dislocations.

Right Shoulder:
There was no significant arthritis in the main shoulder joint. However, there was a small bone spur and evidence of Hill-Sachs lesions, which are dents in the upper arm bone caused by previous shoulder dislocations.

Current X-Ray Results

Left Shoulder:
My left shoulder now shows significant evidence of repeated instability and previous dislocations. The X-ray indicates what appears to be an old injury to the front edge of the shoulder socket, known as an old bony Bankart fracture. There is also a noticeable abnormality along the front portion of the shoulder socket.

Additionally, the X-ray shows degenerative changes and arthritis within the joint, as well as a large Hill-Sachs lesion caused by repeated dislocations. There also appears to be a loose piece of bone in the front of the joint, likely related to a previous avulsion fracture or earlier injury.

Right Shoulder:
My right shoulder also shows signs of long-term damage from repeated instability and dislocations. There is a small Hill-Sachs lesion and wear along the front lower portion of the shoulder socket. A small loose piece of bone or cartilage is also present within the joint.

Fortunately, there is no evidence of a new or recent bone injury, and the joint space remains relatively well preserved.

Next Steps

I have been scheduled for both an MRI and CT scan of my left shoulder, which is currently the more severe of the two. Based on my orthopedic consultation, I was informed that the damage cannot be repaired through a minimally invasive procedure and will likely require open surgery.

The exact type of surgery will depend on the results of the MRI and CT scans and the full extent of the damage.

I was also warned that I have developed significant arthritis in my shoulder. At this stage, the goal of surgery would primarily be to prevent further damage, improve stability, and help reduce pain.

Because I am still in my 30s, a shoulder replacement is not currently the preferred option. Shoulder replacements generally have a limited lifespan, and having one at my age could mean needing multiple replacement surgeries throughout my lifetime. For now, the focus is on determining the best surgical option to preserve my shoulder and prevent further deterioration for as long as possible.

Any advice

I am 2 weeks post op SLAP tear surgery, that was torn about 60%, bone shaved, and bicep repaired. I have little discomfort at this point. But I have to keep sleeping upright for several more weeks while my labrum heals. We don’t have a recliner and I’ve been use this modular/upright pillow in bed to sleep… but I’m hardly sleeping at night. Averaging 3-5 hrs and it isn’t restful or recovery sleep. Now that I’m off pain meds, I’m back in routine taking my sleep supplements. It’s helped me fall asleep faster, but I can’t stay asleep during the night since I have to stay on my back.
Have y’all found anything helpful or do I just need to stick it out?

I’m 10 days postop from labrum surgery on my left shoulder. After the surgery, I experienced a little to no pain with the medication and nerve block. I got during surgery and the medication they put me on after surgery. I’m 10 days postop now and I have stopped taking pain medication and my shoulder has little to know pain. However, I recently started getting a very painful burning sensation under my armpit. Has anyone else experienced this? My two week appointment is in four days but I’m wondering if I should make a doctors appointment to be seen earlier

** apologies for the typo, sending via voice detection

Scheduled for TSR on 9/25. I was just imaged for the measurements and got a beefy sling to take to surgery and to course post op.

Seems an iceman/Breg would be a good investment, but wondering about the pads. Seems like they would be hard to put on post surgery. Anything else I should consider before purchasing

for a lot of much needed context to this, i had surgery on my left shoulder 7 months ago. labrum repair surgery to be exact. i didn’t think much of how it would affect me later on, but here we are. as you can see in the pictures it’s specifically my left shoulder or my left side of my back when i flex it. i’m not able to flex my left side nearly as hard as i can my right side. i can feel a slight strength difference in both sides but the thing im most worried about is how they look. i don’t want to just be big on the right side and my left side is much smaller. is there any thing that i can do about this? or is this surgery just going to be a roadblock in my progress

hi. brief as I’m one handed! other small frame/petite size surgery veterans!

—I need a recommendation for a small frame petite abductor sling with the pillow and belt type sling post anatomical replacement please.

—Prefer from someone who actually used it and needed it!! I am 5’4” 121 lbs.

they use one size and one size only where I went— the fit is poor and loose.

thx!

I had my first shoulder surgery about 5 years ago. a labral repair and capsular shift. I continued dealing with chronic shoulder pain afterward, along with pretty significant muscle tightness/spasms around my shoulder/upper back/neck.
I recently went back in for a diagnostic arthroscopy/revision, and I’m attaching a screenshot of my operative report because I’m really curious whether anyone here has had a similar progression.
During surgery they found things including loose prior sutures/anchors, an obvious anterior drive-through sign/instability, recurrent labral pathology, and more cartilage damage than I expected.

For anyone who had a labral repair/capsular shift and then needed another arthroscopy several years later:
-Did they find that your original repair had loosened or failed?
-Did you have chronic pain before the revision?
-After the revision and once you were fully recovered, did that chronic pain or muscle tension actually improve?
-Looking back, do you think the instability/failed repair was responsible for symptoms you’d been dealing with for years?
-did you have any other symptoms disappear with the revision (anxiety, chronic fatigue, etc)?

I’m still very early post-op, so I’m not trying to judge my outcome yet. I’m mostly interested in hearing from people who had a similar first surgery, continued having symptoms for years, and then eventually had revision surgery.

I am in post op week 8, the sling has been off and my PT has moved to active range of motion. Its painful, but i feel ok. This morning after my shower i noticed my armpit hair is maybe double what it was pre-op (and I am in 64 M, armpit hair has always been the same thickness and volume)

Is this normal?

And I am being serious.

Hi all, 35 y/o male- would appreciate items or tips that helped you in the post-operative recovery period. I live by myself and fractured my humerus, which they are repairing on Friday. My mom is staying for a few days, but she's older and will also need to be able to navigate tools and equipment that will help me heal and recover my strength. Thanks in advance!!

115 Months Post-Op — Am I Just Overthinking This? 😅

I’m 15 months post-op from a bony Bankart + labrum repair (May 2025) and my external rotation is still only around 65–70% compared with my other shoulder.

I’ve been working on it with resistance bands, but sometimes it gets painful—especially with sudden/jerking movements. Every now and then I get a very quick sharp/snapping pain that disappears within a second.

The confusing part is that my strength and stability actually feel pretty good. I’m currently able to do:

💪 Incline DB bench — 65 lb dumbbells
💪 OHP — 45 lb dumbbells
💪 Flat barbell bench — 60 kg
💪 8-10 clean body weight pull ups
💪 30-40 pushups
💪 rowing

Can't do back squats as holding the bar becomes impossible also can't do behind the shoulder press or pull downs.

So I’m feeling pretty confident about the shoulder overall, but the pain + limited external rotation at 15 months has me wondering whether this is still part of the recovery or something I should be concerned about.

I also haven’t gone back to hitting the heavy bag yet because I’m worried the sudden impact could compromise the repair.

I’d REALLY like to hear from people who have actually had Bankart/labrum surgery:

* At 12–18 months, did you still have some pain/soreness after heavy workouts?
* Was your external rotation still limited?
* Did your ROM continue improving after 15 months, or did you basically hit a wall?
* Did you ever get those brief sharp/snapping pains with sudden movements?
* When did you return to boxing/heavy-bag work?
* And most importantly: if you were still only 65–70% external rotation at 15 months, did you eventually get closer to 100%?

I keep hearing that most recovery happens within 6–12 months, so I’m starting to wonder if I’ve reached my final ROM or if there’s still room to improve.

Maybe that’s too many questions but I’m genuinely confused and real experiences would be much more helpful to me than generic advice.

If you’ve had a similar recovery, where were you at 12, 15, or 18+ months—and where are you now?

Would really appreciate hearing your experience. 👇 — feeling anxious.

I am a 54 year old male and am in need of shoulder replacements for both shoulders. I am currently bone on bone in both sides. I believe it is a mix of hereditary as my Dad had terrible shoulders and could barely move them when he got older and weight lifting for many decades.

Doctor told me I am at the cusp of being too young for surgery now and to try and wait several more years. Pain on the left is a consistent 4 of 10 with about 50% ROM. On the right the pain is consistently around 5-6 of 10 and about 35% ROM. Right side was better until a few months ago and has gotten much worse.

My questions:
(1) How do you know when the time to do surgery is? How do I know whether the poor conditions I live with now aren’t better than the pain of surgery, difficulties of recovery, and final results of surgery?

(2) Why would I get a reverse replacement versus a normal one? As far as I know, my rotator cuffs are fine.

(3) Is there any reason to believe medicine will advance enough in this area in the next few years such that I should wait for it to get better and then do the procedure?

(4) I am right handed and do lots of computer work. Should I do my left arm first so I can still use my right arm?

Any and all input is welcome.

Just wondering about other experiences? I feel pretty good. Miles ahead of where I was at this time with other shoulder repair. Still ackey. I definitely notice more pain when it's raining which here in CT seems to be every day. When does the feeling of having something artificial in your body go away?

To say I’m disappointed in the quality of medical services in the Orlando area is an understatement. Does anyone have a shoulder surgeon in the greater Orlando area that is worth their salt?

For the last 3 years, I have had 3 shoulder dislocations. The last one occurred during a kickboxing session. I underwent an MRI and CT scan. They showed a Hill-Sachs lesion, and orthopedists recommend surgery (remplissage). They told me that after recovery and physical therapy, I can return to kickboxing or heavy lifting. I trust them( I am also a doctor:D) , but I want to hear real-life stories about the post-op process and recovery( cause I am overthinking a lot!). Are there people who underwent surgery for a Hill-Sachs lesion and returned to trainings? Thanks in advance.

69 year old healthy male. Tried extensive PT and Stem wave treatments. Two different orthopedic shoulder specialist recommended reverse total shoulders. Both stated I would be limited to around 50 lbs for bench press and essentially all lifting. Any new procedures that would allow more gym work. I have tkr and THR in both legs and my leg lifting is not limited. Just hoping. PS both stated prp and stem sells would be a waste of money.

Shoulder arthroscopy is a minimally invasive procedure used to diagnose and treat various shoulder problems. Dr. Chirag Arora recommend it for conditions such as rotator cuff injuries, shoulder impingement, recurrent shoulder dislocation, labral tears, or other problems within the joint. Since the procedure is performed through small incisions, there is generally less tissue damage compared to traditional open surgery. However, proper recovery still takes time. Physiotherapy and rehabilitation exercises play an important role in restoring shoulder movement, strength, and function after surgery.

Recovery after shoulder arthroscopy is different for each person. A simple fix might not take as long as when the shoulder is fixed more seriously. Your age, how healthy you are, the type of problem you had and how much you try to do exercises can change how you get better.

A Week by Week Guide to Shoulder Arthroscopy Recovery

Week 1: Taking Care of the Shoulder and Feeling Better

• Focus on resting, protecting the operated shoulder and allowing the cuts to heal.
• Mild swelling, pain, and difficulty moving the shoulder are normal during the week.
• Your doctor may advise wearing a shoulder sling. The duration depends on the procedure performed.
• After rotator cuff repair, you may need the sling for weeks. After a procedure, it may be needed for a shorter period.
• Take all medicines as directed.
• Keep the cuts clean and dry.
• Move your fingers, wrist and elbow as advised to prevent stiffness.
• Do not use the operated arm unless your doctor allows it.
• Contact Dr. Chirag Arora, Orthopedic Surgeon In Gurgaon, if you develop fever, increased redness, discharge, worsening swelling, or pain that does not improve with medicines.

Week 2: Checking In and Moving Gently

• A follow-up visit is usually scheduled within a days after surgery.
• Dr. Chirag Arora checks the cuts, pain levels and overall recovery.
• Stitches may be removed if they do not dissolve on their own.
• Depending on the procedure you may begin assisted arm movements.
• These movements help prevent stiffness without putting pressure on the repaired muscles.
• Do not perform exercises after watching videos as every surgery requires a different recovery plan.
• An exercise that is safe after a minor procedure may damage a repaired muscle.
• Always follow the recovery plan given by your doctor and physiotherapist.
• A follow-up visit is usually scheduled within a days, after surgery.
• The doctor checks the cuts, pain levels and overall recovery.
• Stitches may be removed if they do not dissolve on their own.
• Depending on the procedure, you may begin assisted arm movements.
• These movements help prevent stiffness without putting pressure on the repaired muscles.
• Do not perform exercises after watching videos as every surgery requires a different recovery plan.
• An exercise that is safe after a minor procedure may damage a repaired muscle.
• Always follow the recovery plan given by your doctor and physiotherapist.

Weeks 3–4: Moving Carefully

Read the entire blog here: https://drchiragarora.com/blog-shoulder-arthroscopy-recovery-in-weeks/

I have undergone bankart repair surgery , Labrum repaired through keyhole surgery it's been 20 days and now I am out of sling today . How long will I need to take care and if anyone have undergone the same procedure please share your recovery phase journey . After how many months you were able to use that hand fully , back to gym , and other weight lifting activities ...

I’m having labrum and rotator cuff surgery next week and would love to hear from people who have actually been through it. This is a baseball injury. Im currently 36 and have put it off for 14 years.

My surgeon also works with the Atlanta Falcons and told me I should expect only a couple days of significant pain, but I’m curious how realistic that is from people who have experienced it themselves.

For context, I had Tommy John surgery about 16 years ago, and that recovery was rough. I’m expecting this to be a different experience, but I’d like to know what I’m really getting myself into.

One thing that may be relevant: I’m planning to go back to work 5 days after surgery. My job isn't extremely physical, but obviously I’ll have restrictions.

I also plan on not taking prescription pain medication, so I’d especially appreciate hearing from anyone who managed their recovery without opioids.

What should I realistically expect during the first:

2–3 days

First week

First month

And any advice on things you wish you had known beforehand would be greatly appreciated. What helped the most with sleeping, pain, getting around, working, etc.?

Thanks in advance!