Thread: Surgery next week on 2nd shoulder: HAGL + Bankart, et al.

I'm almost 4 months post-op an arthroscopic repair of a 360-degree labral tear. Almost back to full range of motion (I got started on PT about a month late due to my own scheduling issues - would not recommend).

I now have surgery scheduled for next week on my other shoulder. Looks like I have an anterior (Bankart?) labral tear as well as a HAGL tear, which means something has also torn off my humerus. I'm told this will be an open repair. Anyone had anything similar, and can tell me what to expect?

I'm almost getting to a year of not having normal shoulder(s) - 1st shoulder injury was right before Memorial Day 2007.

only a year? not bad. i've had shoulder issues for almost 20 yrs and just got my first one fixed a few weeks back. may or may not do the other in the fall.

i just had an open bankart that went pretty well. i am out of my sling after three weeks (though my doc doesnt know he wanted me to use the sling for 6 weeks). PT is going well, range of motion is coming back, still a few things i can't/shouldn't do, but progressing nicely. you probably know everything i would recommend: sleep in a recliner the first few nights, keep up on pain meds (i set an alarm to wake me up at night and take more), and ice lots. Love your PT.

im hoping that in a week or two i will be able to ride my motorcycle. we'll see.

Good Luck!

Don't be suprized it your told that either the Bankart or the HAGL didn't turn out. Usually is one or the other.

Dr. Mark, I had a contrast MRI done that showed at least a partial labral tear and capsule torn off humerus (the HAGL part). I can feel the HAGL part of it quite clearly when I move my arm in ways that used to be pain free. It grinds and chunks around.

fez, when I was saying "a year since normal shoulders" I guess it's all relative! I've had 20-ish years of shoulder pain and minor shoulder injuries from water polo and skiing, too, but this past year has been the worst. First dislocation May 2007 -and while I have played some water polo (October 2007), and skiied some (through December 2007, when I dislocated both shoulders), it's not been anything like it has been in the 19-ish years before. I do know from the last arthroscopy on the other shoulder that I HAVE to stay ahead of the pain. It's not going to be pretty.

3 anchors reattaching capsule to humerus (hagl)
2 anchors reattaching labrum to glenoid
1 day post-op
ugh

my mri results will be in my shoulder surgeon's next talk.

the pain meds are making me sick this time.

Kboo,

I feel you on the pain med sickness - puking while in unrelenting excruciating pain was the worst. If I did it all over again, I would have taken tylenol to supplement the oxycodone, instead of more oxycodone. I also would have put a pillow behind my lower back in the recliner. I figured that out towards the end of the nightmare that was Day 2, and it seemed to be the only thing that provided relief - can't tell you why, but it worked for me. Did you have a nerve block for this one?

yeah, I had a nerve block for both, but this 2nd time the anesthesia wore off MUCH faster. the open surgery in general was just more painful and my arm/shoulder feels SO fragile. even though i've been through similar just a few months ago it's still hard to get accustomed to. have been sleeping without the sling for a few days now, and spent a total of 9 days on percocet, slowly weaning myself off the last few days.

The lowest was the morning after surgery, when dr. kboo took the dog for a walk and i was parked on the couch. i couldn't make it 15 feet to the bathroom, and ended up crawling to the edge of the rug to puke on the hardwood floor. hubby walked in on me on hands and knees leaning over a puddle of puke. hot.

after that, i realized that if i could keep the pain under a 6 and not puke, it would be a success.

Looking forward to stitches out next week. Hubby's going out of town 4 weeks post-op; I'll have to be able to handle the 100-lb dog and dress by myself.

Any of you live alone and go through this? What did you do for bathing and dressing?

I don't live alone, but I was fairly self sufficient throughout the entire process. I only had real help the first 5-6 days and after that I was on my own. I was pretty shocked how much I could get done with only one arm, you become extremely resourceful when circumstances call for it. Bathing wasn't rocket science (I'm sure the dressing is more critical with open), let the arm hang out of the sling and wash as best you can with the opposite hand. I found it helped to put my foot on the rim of the tub and brace my elbow with that so I didn't have to let the arm hang too much. I did that less and less as it became stronger. Just be careful you don't slip and fall. The only thing I couldn't wash was my shoulder on my good arm, everything else was reachable. Dressing was harder than bathing. I just made sure to give myself plenty of time to get dressed in the morning. Button down shirts were hard, so I stuck with sweaters and polos when possible. Everything could be done with one hand given enough time though. I don't think I'm telling you anything you don't already know having been through it once before. You should be fine on your own at 4 weeks - just be patient, give yourself plenty of time and everything will work out.