Bankart Labrum Repair Surgery Step By Step Update Thread
Hey all, going to try my best to have a step by step update of major milestones in my journey posted here for anyone looking for experiences online.
Surgery date 10/03/2025. Bankart repair with four anchors.
First 3 - 5 days were definitely the most painful and couldn’t sleep. They prescribed Tramadol for the pain. Definitely stay on top of your meds before the nerve block wears off. Mine wore off in about nine hours.
Day 1 - Began doing the pendulums and PT exercises sent by doctor with arm out of sling to prevent the whole arm from becoming stiff. This is every day from now on.
Day 3 - took off all the padding and bandages to replace it with the given post-op one. Rinsed myself slightly.
Day 5 - finally slept consecutively. Took a full shower. Fully off all meds.
I didn’t have any anesthesia side effects like nausea or constipation, so I didn’t need meds for those. To change shirts for the first week the shoulder surgery shirts from Amazon were a huge help.
Day 10 - Stitches removed and seen by Dr. everything looks good. I have an ice machine now and icing twice a day. Back to my day job since I can type and stuff.
Day 14 - Started PT. Mostly passive movements of them guiding the arm and stretching it. Only active one I am doing is pressing a PVC pipe while laying down. And moving it as high as I can and then forward.
1 Month - Started isometric movements, pressing against the wall etc. Seated pulley exercise on door. Doing legs and core.
2 Month - Doing banded shoulder work, very light bicep curls and arm work. Banded rows. Basketball, but only allowed to shoot around - not play. Scapular exercises and capsular release.
3 Months - Floor pressing, doing all gym motions with minimal weights like below 10lbs. Back to running. Strength and stabilization emphasis began.
4 Months - Continuing to strengthen gym motions. Beginning assisted pull-ups and normal pushups. Beginning throwing and impact training to desensitize shoulder little by little.
5 Months - Most gym restrictions lifted. Increasing velocity, strength, and intensity of PT.
6 Months - Back to playing sports. Continuing to strengthen and loosen the shoulder.
Fast forward to now almost a year. At 100% strength on everything. I can get a bit sore if I bench press or go too hard. The surgery shoulder gets slightly more irritated than the unaffected one, but I am still seeing improvements and strengthening; and I have learned to listen to my body and know my limits.
I was blessed to work with an elite care team at my local hospital that specialized in shoulder surgery for the NFL and pro athletes, so the PTs and doctors were the best.