Shoulder Arthroscopy What can I expect?

[Cleatus]

Been having trouble with my left shoulder/bicep for the last couple years.
I get pain across the top of my bicep if I move my arm certain ways.

Had x-rays that showed nothing out of the ordinary.
Had an MRI which didn't show much except a bone spur at the top of my shoulder pointing downwards and some tendonitis.

Did physical therapy for several months with no improvement.
Doc did a cortisone shot on the back side of my shoulder but it didn't work.
I then got a fluoroscopic guided cortisone shot in the front side of my shoulder and that worked like a dream. Pain was gone the next day, but the relief faded after a few weeks and now I'm back where I started.

Doc is not 100% sure what's going on, but suspects bone spurs, some type of impingement/entrapment, partially torn labrum, something with the bicep tendon, or a combination.

So the doc suggested 3 different pathways:
1) do nothing and just live with it
2) more cortisone shots
3) investigative arthroscopic surgery

1) I don't think I want to live with it
2) the shots either don't work or wear off too fast
3) I'm leaning to the arthroscopic investigation/surgery

What can I expect from this surgery?
Will I lose strength in my shoulder and/or arm? Will I lose range of motion? Will I open myself up to easier injuries of that shoulder?
What's the recovery time? How long can't I drive for? Will I have to be out of work? If so, for how long?
How long won't I be able to drive a manual transmission car?

How were other people's experiences with this type of surgery?
How successful would people say this type of surgery is? 100%, 90%, 70%?

Did anyone's shoulders regress over time after the surgery? If yes, how long before it regressed.

For those that have had this type of surgery, would you recommend it?

Thanks.

 

[djklaugh]

@Cleatus The answers to your questions depend heavily on what actually is done during an investigative surgery. IF the problem is mostly the bone spur and that can be safely removed then you should heal fairly quickly and be back to regular activities. However if there is a torn labrum that may take longer to heal and might require some physical therapy to restrengthen the the area and muscles around it. The shoulder is a complex joint with many muscles, tendons, nerves, and blood vessels ... and pinpointing the area(s) of damage can be difficult.

With any surgery there is a period of recuperation and healing ... again how long that would be for you depends on what your surgeon finds and repairs during the procedure. If you are unsure .... ask your surgeon and/or seek a 2nd opinion from a shoulder surgeon not associated with your current one.

Best of luck to you. And do let us know what you decide.

 

[Jaycey]

@Cleatus The only person who can give you knowledgable answers to your questions is your surgeon. Since we don't know your medical history or the exact problem with your shoulder it is really not possible to advise you. Everyone reacts differently to surgery.

You can get some general information on shoulder surgery recovery in the recovery forum. I can say that many of our members were delighted with the results of their procedures.