I underwent rotator cuff surgery in May. My physical therapy is coming along well. How can I convince my ortho doc that sailing is not too strenuous of an activity? Just bought an O'Day 23 and am dying to get out and put her through her paces.
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- Thread starter Sailor Sam20806
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I don't know that you will.
Sailing can produce strain on the rotator cuff so I am not sure you will convince your doctor that you are fine until you actually are fine. I know the itch to sail can be very very VERY enticing but you don't want to re-injure yourself and, at the very least, lengthen the time in physical therapy. Talk it over with your doctor and let him know your goal and he will let you know when it is safe to return to the water. You will be sailing in no time.
Sailing can produce strain on the rotator cuff so I am not sure you will convince your doctor that you are fine until you actually are fine. I know the itch to sail can be very very VERY enticing but you don't want to re-injure yourself and, at the very least, lengthen the time in physical therapy. Talk it over with your doctor and let him know your goal and he will let you know when it is safe to return to the water. You will be sailing in no time.
P T
bEWARE OF PULLING SOMETHING LOOSE THAT'S NOT FULLY HEALED. dO YOUR PT ON BOTH SHOULDERS TO KEEP FROM TEARING THE OTHER SIDE. USE THE UN OP SIDE TO WINCH, START OUTBOARD ETC. RE OPS ARE TOUGH SO OBEY THE DOC.
bEWARE OF PULLING SOMETHING LOOSE THAT'S NOT FULLY HEALED. dO YOUR PT ON BOTH SHOULDERS TO KEEP FROM TEARING THE OTHER SIDE. USE THE UN OP SIDE TO WINCH, START OUTBOARD ETC. RE OPS ARE TOUGH SO OBEY THE DOC.
Take your time - Sailor Sam
I had the same operation last January and had therapy until the middle of May. I've been sailing since April without any problems. I have a series of movements for the shoulder I do 3-4 times a week. Figure by this coming January the shoulder will be 90%, which I can live with. Before the operation it hurt just to look at. Do the therapy - Do the exercise - it will get better. BTW - the surgeon owes a H33 - he felt my pain... Good Luck Jim S/V Java
I had the same operation last January and had therapy until the middle of May. I've been sailing since April without any problems. I have a series of movements for the shoulder I do 3-4 times a week. Figure by this coming January the shoulder will be 90%, which I can live with. Before the operation it hurt just to look at. Do the therapy - Do the exercise - it will get better. BTW - the surgeon owes a H33 - he felt my pain... Good Luck Jim S/V Java
I, too, feel your pain
I had rotator surgery in June 06. Couldn't sail our Laser all that summer. I used my lousy summer (and the money we saved because we couldn't go on vacation) to convince my wife that I needed to replace the Laser with an O'Day 25. Rehab went pretty well until the shoulder started acting up during the winter. It seems my doc accidently left a couple of tools in there. Had to get the rotator fixed again in March 07. We were able to launch the O'Day last June, provided someone else pulled all the strings and it wasn't blowing hard. Even cranking a winch wouldn't have been a good idea. But the boat didn't have much of a weather helm, so the tiller took a pretty light touch -- more importantly, I could curl anything cold of twelve ounces or less. Take it from me -- you don't want to go through it twice. I'd wait until your doc clears you before you push or pull anything under load or over your head. Be religious about the rehab exercises, use a lot of ice. Even with someone else raising and working the sails, I'd be circumspect under 16 weeks out. Good luck.
I had rotator surgery in June 06. Couldn't sail our Laser all that summer. I used my lousy summer (and the money we saved because we couldn't go on vacation) to convince my wife that I needed to replace the Laser with an O'Day 25. Rehab went pretty well until the shoulder started acting up during the winter. It seems my doc accidently left a couple of tools in there. Had to get the rotator fixed again in March 07. We were able to launch the O'Day last June, provided someone else pulled all the strings and it wasn't blowing hard. Even cranking a winch wouldn't have been a good idea. But the boat didn't have much of a weather helm, so the tiller took a pretty light touch -- more importantly, I could curl anything cold of twelve ounces or less. Take it from me -- you don't want to go through it twice. I'd wait until your doc clears you before you push or pull anything under load or over your head. Be religious about the rehab exercises, use a lot of ice. Even with someone else raising and working the sails, I'd be circumspect under 16 weeks out. Good luck.
Don't rush
I'm a Family doc, rural practice for 30 years, retiring soon. I've referred many bad shoulders for surgery. Have picked up a few insights. The orthopods know a lot about orthopedic surgery. Listen to him/her. The physical therapist knows a lot about recovery from surgery and injury. Listen to him/her. You have pain for a reason. Your body is trying to tell you something. Listen to it. ("No pain no gain." is macho speak for "See how nicely I can destroy my body?".) We were all created with common sense. Use it. You'll be fine. Geoff
I'm a Family doc, rural practice for 30 years, retiring soon. I've referred many bad shoulders for surgery. Have picked up a few insights. The orthopods know a lot about orthopedic surgery. Listen to him/her. The physical therapist knows a lot about recovery from surgery and injury. Listen to him/her. You have pain for a reason. Your body is trying to tell you something. Listen to it. ("No pain no gain." is macho speak for "See how nicely I can destroy my body?".) We were all created with common sense. Use it. You'll be fine. Geoff
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