10weekupdate

[@nelly_8888]

Hi, I can totally relate to the shoulder feeling like it’s going to pop out to the socket. I just said this to my PT last night when he was flexing me further than I could handle 😮. I can’t wait for this scar tissue to be broken up. I’m 7 weeks post op now and your 6 week and this vid have helped me immensely. It’s allowed me to gauge my own progress so thank you so much!!!! I had the same exact injury/repair so you’re my guide in this journey 🙏🏽. It’s encouraging to know that there is hope. At times I have some serious doubts as to my future normalcy but seeing your progress keeps me going 🙌🏽.

[@StephanieRolfer]

Scott you rock! Thanks for your bicep slap videos they saved my mental health !I want to get back to muay thai as well ! I am 11 weeks myself man this is a tuff and long recovery ! I just want to lift and hit that heavy bag again !

[@davegray1364]

Good series of videos I’m currently at the 6 week post op stage same bicep surgery plus an AC excision this helps me realise I’m on track. The biggest issue now is doing too much. Thanks appreciate the insights into your recovery.

[@javierguzman7477]

I’m in the same stage, and still have a little pain, it happens to you?

[@daxallredable]

How do you feel now and does your bicep look normal? My doctor has recommended the same surgery. Thank you in advance!

[@scottabergermd]

Thank you again for doing these. Gives me hope that it will all be ok.

[@brianchojnowski5989]

Another great video man! My dog also tries to play with me while I'm doing my exercises and I totally steal her ball for massage. Also glad to hear I'm not the only one losing sleep thinking I mess stuff up periodically.

[@dianataylor8939]

Thank you! Very helpful. You should make PT video's for a living. You explain so well. Thank you

[@Wavelight2020]

Great videos! Thanks for taking the time to share your experiences, Scott. How are you these days? Any regrets? I was diagnosed with a Type 2 SLAP tear and am followed by a shoulder specialist. He told me I can delay surgery for as long as I can tolerate the day to day impact of the injury (discomfort when I overdo it with my left arm). I'd like to ultimately be "pain free", but admit to being nervous going the surgical route... What kind of injury did you have, how did you get it and how did it limit you? What made you decide to undergo surgery? Sorry if these questions were asked before in your prior videos... Hope all is well.

[@ScottCopenhaver]

Hey there, I just posted an update ! Did you get surgery? How's everything going?

[@etsmith176]

Very helpful video!

[@goddessedge6518]

Hey, I don’t know if I’ll get a response but, I am just now 6 weeks post op from my bicep tenodesis + subacromial decompression etc. I am finally out of the sling, haven’t been doing much outside of my exercises from PT, but I am in quite a bit of pain, and I’m unsure if this is normal. I did nap earlier (first day out of sling) and was lying down on my surgical side. About how long until you were able to comfortably sleep on your surgical arm?

[@ashleapope5758]

Oh wow. I’m 3 months post op from my slap repair and 90 degrees is extremely difficult and very painful for me. Can’t even reach into my back pocket or was my hair.

[@jonheber2474]

I’m currently at this stage, exactly the same. How you getting on now 8/9 months in?

[@ashleapope5758]

Jon Heber I ended up having to get a MUA. Doing better now. Still in physical therapy.

[@PaintDryLifting]

I'm almost at 10 weeks, subpectoral. My ROM is great but I'm paranoid about tearing the attachment so strength is extremely poor. My surgeon butchered me first time and I needed a revision a couple of weeks after with a different surgeon so my healing has been slowed down a little sadly

[@ryanstevens1855]

Hey man how you doing long term? I just had right shoulder arthroscopic subacromial decompression, distal clavicle resection and biceps tenodesis surgery 2 wks ago. Feels pretty good and it really has not hurt at all post op. My dr said my bicep might appear slightly different after healing. How does yours look long term? I'm afraid my arm is gonna look shitty and I like to lift weights so I'm worried about it.

[@bradiverson7616]

I'm just under 6 weeks post op for that exact same surgery. My bicep definitely looks different also (aside from being atrophied). My surgeon had me out of the sling after the 1st week to help keep everything from getting tight. PT started just after the first week as well. I had a real bad scare once where I put my hand in my pocket and I had a real intense pain in my entire arm and I was convinced I'd ripped my bicep tendon out of the anchor. This happened probably about week four. So I called my doc to tell them what happened and they asked if I had hear a pop or a click and if my arm had the "Popeye" deformity. I didn't know what that looked like so of course i Googled. This was also about the first time I really paid any attention to what my arm looked like. So i sort of held my arm away from the side and bent my elbow and my bicep definitely looked all droopy and silly. So of course I freaked and assumed I'd undone the anchor. They said to go to PT the next day anyway and I told my PT what happened. She checked it out and assured me that it was still anchored and the odd look is probably 2 things. 1) The atrophy on the bicep is part of the problem and 2) That the surgeon probably left a little extra tendon exposed so there wouldn't be a chance I'd have not enough tendon and not be able to straighten my arm. Then I saw the surgeon's PA the next day and she too assured me that it hadn't detached. She said if it had you'd be able to tell just standing normally. Anyway....She said that my bicep my likely never look symmetrical again but I should have a fully functional and full strength bicep. Which is all I care about, as long as I can lift and shoot archery like I did before, I'm okay with it looking a bit goofy :)

[@jonheber2474]

Brad Iverson what a story man haha, we’re all in this together! 3 months deep and in pain myself but hopeful it won’t last. Golf ball arm life 💪🏼

[@sharpetravel5941]

Hey Ryan, how is your arm feeling and looking now? I just had a bicep tenodesis 3 weeks ago. I unfortunately have somewhat of a popeye going on and my arm looks different than my other arm. My surgeon has offered to redo it next week and tighten the slack. If you were me would you go for it or just live with the difference? Thanks man!

[@ryanstevens1855]

@@sharpetravel5941 Honestly it feels great. I've been lifting weights since early May. I started with lighter weights, kinda babying it. Since July I have been lifting at full throttle with no issues. Arm and shoulder feel great. My right bicep might be slightly different looking but not a noticeable difference even to me. Just do the rehab and go easy on it for first 5 months so the anchor doesn't get screwed up for tendon.

[@ryanstevens1855]

The dr that did mine was great. He works on all the athletes from the local college. If it needs redone or you are having problems with it get a 2nd opinion from another surgeon before you let first one start cutting on you again.

[@abdulrazzaq6168]

was you in alot of pain week 8 after surgery? im 8 weeks into it and it hurts pretty bad for me still.

[@rerun8950]

Dude. I’m at 5 weeks and able to lift my own arm in any direction and doing full delt, trap, and bicep work out with 10lbs. I had surgery on my wrist and elbow as well as a slap tear that required 4 screws. Push yourself a little.

[@ScottCopenhaver]

Did you have a biceps tenodesis surgery? I doubt it if you're doing that kind of workout

[@rerun8950]

Scott Copenhaver if I could be so lucky. I had my extensor tendon reattached on my elbow, De Quervian surgery, and labrum repair with four screws installed.

[@javierguzman5261]

Does anyone know in which month the pain that caused the injury stops hurting, reason for which one has surgery? I had the surgery a month ago, I fully recovered movement but it still hurts :(

[@BIGGZ46]

Question, I’m 5 Weeks post biceps Tenodesis and labral debridement. My question for you is about external rotation. I am extremely stiff and am only seeing slight gains. How long did it take for you to progress on external rotation?

[@benjaminweinberg7676]

@BIGGZ46 - how did it go???

[@davidpforman7508]

Hey man. Thanks sooo much for these videos! I'm 40 and considering tenodesis surgery, and this has been so helpful. I have wo questions i wonder if you'd answer. 1) you mention in one of the comments that you were reluctant to let them "alter your bicep location". How come? and 2) I also have a SLAP tear, but my surgeon suggests just leaving it, and that the tenodesis should fix my problem. Did you consider that? Thanks so much!

[@ScottCopenhaver]

David P Forman I'm always scared to change my anatomy permanently. What if in 10 years they discover another reason for the biceps attachment to the labrum? I'm just a worrier by nature. 2. I wasn't given an option for my labrum. It's up to the surgeon once they're in there, to repair it or not. You're still young, only 2 years older than me. My guess is they should probably repair it! They'll also clean up whatever debris and arthritis they find.

[@davidpforman7508]

Thanks so much man. Saw the surgeon today, and not such great news. He says my shoulder stiffness (frozen shoulder) needs to go away before he can operate. Did you have full mobility of your arm pre-surgery?

[@ScottCopenhaver]

David P Forman I'm not a doctor, but it sounds strange that surgery is prevented by a lack of mobility. Maybe someone else can explain? I had almost full range of motion before my surgery, but everyone is different. What did they prescribe? Getting your mobility back first?

[@VhenInJapan]

Hey, thanks for these videos. Im deciding on the tenotomy or tenodesis right now. Are you happy with the tenodesis? Im having a tough time choosing.

[@ScottCopenhaver]

Robin Slovak I wasn't given tenotomy as an option. Being a relatively young (38), active individual, I think tenodesis is the preferred operation. Do you have a SLAP tear? Or are you just suffering from biceps tendinitis? I think it's too early for me to tell how this is gonna pan out for my biceps. I haven't even really started strengthening it yet... It was a hard decision for me to let them alter my biceps location. Fingers crossed!

[@VhenInJapan]

Scott Copenhaver they havent exactly diagnosed my issue. I am 23 and did calisthenics intensely in college. Im sure my problem started from too many weighted pullups and handstand pushups. I have pain in the front of my shoulder that runs into the biceps and into my forearm. Tons of cracking and popping in my shoulder when I move my arm in any direction. After two years of MRIS, nerve conduction tests, and several physical therapists, my surgeon recommends he just opens me up and looks. They doubt its a SLAP tear though and think its biceps tendonitis and my subscapularis is impinged. Hence why either tenodesis or tenotomy coupled with subcoracoid decopression are my surgical options. Seems really lame to not be sure about it, cut me open, have me take work off for a while, and it might not even be better. Do you have any thoughts or advice?

[@ScottCopenhaver]

Robin Slovak shoulders are really complicated for sure. You're very young. And it sounds like you're pretty active too. Personally if I was you, I'd keep exploring every possible therapy besides tenotomy or tenodesis. Maybe get a second surgical opinion? You'd be amazed how different the diagnosis can be if you find the right doctor. From what I've learned, tendons heal much better when you're under 25. Maybe PRP could help too.