User Comments

1. 

   9/21/09

   Jaybetee

   Don't know anything about shoulders. My Dad had bone spurs in his heel though. he got cortizone injections into the bone (ouchy!!) for several years, but finally ended up getting it (or them) removed. I think wished he had done it sooner as he no longer has issues and no longer has to get painful shots.

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   1. 

      9/21/09

      LGramlich

      I already went through a cortisone shot. It helped immensely, but only for a month & a half. Unfortunately those shots cause damage to the tissues, so frequently repeated treatments are likely to prove more problematic (eventually,) than the surgery.
2. 

   9/21/09

   dbowles1017

   Shoulders are one of the hardest parts to heal. If you do elect surgery be sure you do the necessary rehab/pt

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   1. 

      9/21/09

      LGramlich

      I hear you. My mom never bothered with post-op physical therapies & she ended up bed ridden for the last 15 years of her life. I learned a valuable lesson from that, trust me.
3. 

   9/21/09

   DollinNYC

   I had a subacromial decompression (SAD) on my shoulder for the removal of a large bone spur and the bursa in October 2008. It was done as an outpatient procedure, and I was back to work in a week, with some limitations.
   I started physical therapy three days later, and went 2x a week for a few months. I still am doing exercises almost a year later, but she also told me that it sometimes takes that long to heal. Don't expect immediate results! The bone spurs are not going to go away so I would have them removed otherwise they will keep irritating the surrounding tissue. I have full range of motion now, which I didn't before the surgery.

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   1. 

      9/21/09

      LGramlich

      Thanks for the input! I know that full recovery will be a long, involved process, but I think it's worth it to regain use of my left arm. I've been a frustrated, hurting, right-handed lefty for too long now.
   2. 

      9/21/09

      DollinNYC

      I had problems with mine for about a year and then I had the surgery because it was getting worse and not better. I did PT and had cortisone as well. That's also probably why the recovery has been so long. This thing was a life saver - the doctors office had it sent to me and then I sent it back when I didn't need it anymore.
      www.buyaircast.com/product/12A.html
      I slept with it on for a few weeks too - it really helped.
   3. 

      9/21/09

      LGramlich

      Thanks for the tip. That looks like it'd help a lot!
4. 

   9/21/09

   NT77

   I had spurs on my right shoulder, and arthritis as well. I used to have a problem where my arm would sometimes lock if I tried to raise it all the way, and I would have to sort of jerk it to get it fully up . . . . . that doesn't sound too good, but I'll leave it anyway . . . .
   
   Then in 2001 I tore the rotator cuff. When they fixed the torn cuff, they removed the arthritis and the spur. I had physical therapy for over a year, and it was about 18 months before I could use it fully. But for the past 6 years its felt great.

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   1. 

      9/21/09

      LGramlich

      Thanks for the info. I think I'm going to go for it. I've been w/o use of my arm FARRR too long for someone who's only 41!
      
      BTW, I'm glad y'all are feeling better, too. Hopefully I'll join your ranks within a year.
5. 

   9/21/09

   DollinNYC

   wow- 18 months ! Glad it's better now.

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   1. 

      9/21/09

      NT77

      Thanks Doll
      
      
      I'm glad to hear you have full range of motion back in yours. I hope you'll be able to finish up with the exercises soon.
   2. 

      9/21/09

      DollinNYC

      Thanks! It just seems to tighten up at the end of the day so I continue with the exercises and stretching.