Rotator Cuff Surgery & Riding

[Mick]

Had rotator cuff surgery 1 1/2 weeks ago. Full thickness tear (NOT due to accident). If anyone has had this surgery, how long was it before you were able to ride and how long was it before you were able do long distance, multi day rides with no problem?

BTW, I have an '00 VFR and ST1100, both with helibars if that's important.

[Tracker]

getting an MRI and cort injection on mine next week

[Manfred]

I had detached cartilage (about 70%) in my shoulder several years ago. Not the same injury as rotator cuff (which is muscle). I was about 3 or 4 months into my physical therapy before I even ventured on my bike.

[Ghost Rider]

It may depend on the type of riding you want to do. I'd think that weight forward on a set of clip-ons could be tough, while riding in a more relaxed position could come a bit quicker. Had my hip replaced, and though I was back to work in 13 days, it took a long time, before I could manage riding anything resembling a sport bike.

I think it will be the soreness from the surgical wound that will keep you off the bike rather than the repaired bits initially. Then it will be a matter of range of motion.

Rotator cuff, hip joint; definitely different parts, but I would expect similar challenges with respect to dealing with "tightness" after the docs have cut through the muscle, even if it is arthroscopic.

[shadow247]

My dad went through this about 2 years ago, he bought his V-strom about 3 days after the surgery while his arm was still in a sling, it sat at the dealer for another 3 or 4 weeks and then he rode it home, but then it sat again for another few weeks. I would not even THINK about getting back on a bike after surgery until I felt like I was at least back to 90% strength. One wrong move where some cager decides that he wants your lane more than you need it and you are done for, a hard jerk like that required to make a hard avoidance maneuver could be the end of your rotator cuff for good!

[MTKNZ]

I have worked with a lot of folks after surgery like this, some of them were riders.
I would expect 12 weeks minimum, with a good physical program for strength and flexibility.
This could be longer if there are any setbacks or strains along the way so be careful with it.

All the best with the recovery, be safe.
Mack

[jsb223]

Things like bridge expansion joints will all of sudden become a big deal...

[Mick]

Thanks everybody for your input. As it looks now, I think it will probably be late spring or early summer before I can ride again and maybe that's pushing it. We'll see.

All this has me wondering whether or not I should sell the two bikes I've got and just get one light weight one (under 500#) that sits more upright than the two I have (and thus be easier on my shoulders). Not sure what bike that would be but I may be investigating it soon. I wouldn't mind having something like a DL650a but I'm a shorty at 5' 8 1/2" and I know for a fact I can't flat foot it. We'll see.

[vfer]

I had mine repaired 3 weeks ago.Only a partial tear with a split labrum.I should be released to go back to work in early January,so I'll start riding again then.

[lddave]

Originally Posted by Mick

I wouldn't mind having something like a DL650a but I'm a shorty at 5' 8 1/2" and I know for a fact I can't flat foot it. We'll see.

I put lowering links on the DL650 when we had one. It was too short for me but just right the wife.
This means you will not make the BBQ RTE next month?

[Mick]

Originally Posted by lddave

I put lowering links on the DL650 when we had one. It was too short for me but just right the wife.
This means you will not make the BBQ RTE next month?

Yeah, won't be able to make it Dave. I was looking forward to it too. Maybe next year.

[woodsguy]

I had a major tear from a slip and fall. My surgery was a 2-3 inch incision. My tear was very big and for an old guy no promises were made. But it went well. 2 months of pt and home rehab.

I ride/race offroad, had surgery mid Jan and raced my first race in early May! Probably started riding in April. I asked my therapist in March if I could ride easy that w/e, she said not no but **** NO! But of course they probably don't want you on a bike anyway!

Word of caution, a lot of people rush this and have a 2nd surgery, do not push it as it is easy to tear again!

As far as long distance that might take longer as it takes a year to fully recover imo.

Good luck!

Pops

[Mick]

Originally Posted by woodsguy

As far as long distance that might take longer as it takes a year to fully recover imo.

I'm hearing roughly this same thing elsewhere. As much I hate to, looks like I may have to sell my long distance machine (ST1100). No sense in having a bike that just sits there for a year or more.

[Wayne Meuir]

I had a pretty serious rotator cuff tear repaired on July 16. They had to clean out some arthritis casued by breaking my shoulder over 20 years ago, smooth up the cartilage on the bottom of the joint and reattach the muscles that had torn away. Bicep muscles were not damaged. My Dr. specializes in sports medicine and he said it was a really bad tear. I have been riding my bikes for about a month now, but no long distance rides and I am being very, very cautious. I ride a Kaw Concours with Heli Bars, so I don't have a lot of weight on my shoulders.

I have been going to therapy three times a week since August 1, and it still hurts really bad to put my arm above my head. From shoulder level down, no problem, not very strong yet, but it does not hurt down low. Bicep atrophy is pretty bad, muscle is virtually non existant. I am doing bicep curls to try to get that back.

You best prepare yourself for the therapy. The first two weeks hurt so bad it would make me sick to the point I had to lie down to keep from passing out. It still hurts so bad when the therapist stretches me that it brings tears to my eyes, and that's 4 months later!!

I am 63 years old, so that does not help, AND, this damage was done in 1988 when I fell on some ice and broke my shoulder. I should have had it repaired then and I never even went to the doctor. Did not know that I had broken it until the MRI in July.

Good luck!

Wayne

[Mick]

Originally Posted by Wayne Meuir

I had a pretty serious rotator cuff tear repaired on July 16. <snip> I have been riding my bikes for about a month now,

That fits with what I've been hearing as to a time frame for getting back on the road.

Bicep atrophy is pretty bad, muscle is virtually non existant.

This is not something that my doc had mentioned but I've already experienced it to some degree. I was able to take my sling off the other day (9 days after the operation) just to do exercises and when I tried to lift my forearm from a vertical position it felt like it weighed 50 lbs! Weird sensation.

You best prepare yourself for the therapy. The first two weeks hurt so bad it would make me sick to the point I had to lie down to keep from passing out.

I'm a long way yet from being ready to do PT but have been doing simple range of motion exercises at home since Thursday. Even such simple exercises are more painful than I would have thought. Guess my shoulder didn't like being hacked on.

I am 63 years old, so that does not help,

Yeah, I'm 62. At our age, I suspect our bodies don't heal quite as fast as they would have 20 years ago.

Good luck with your PT!

[Mick]

Originally Posted by shadow247

My dad went through this about 2 years ago, he bought his V-strom about 3 days after the surgery while his arm was still in a sling,

Now there's an optimist for you!

[dfwscotty]

No rotator cuff here but some abdominal surgery. I could have been back on the bike but the little voice in the back of my head told me to rethink it. Some light riding would have been nice but having to stop quick and catch the weight of the bike hard on one leg or the other or heaven forbid I had to pick up the bike would have set me back even further. Patience is such a pain when the other voice is saying, "awww come on, just a trip to the store and back....what could go wrong??"

[Mick]

Originally Posted by woodsguy

Word of caution, a lot of people rush this and have a 2nd surgery, do not push it as it is easy to tear again!

As far as long distance that might take longer as it takes a year to fully recover imo.

Neither of these make for a pleasant thought.

[Morgan Buchanan]

I've had major rotator work. Rushed back to martial arts too early. Don't rush. Bad.

[schwartzkm]

I had surgery on my shoulder for a SLAP (Superior Labrum from Anterior to Posterior) tear. I ride a cruiser so I was back riding 5 weeks after my first shoulder surgery (had two!). To be honest, I couldn’t imagine doing so if I rode a bike with a forward-lean riding position. My therapist thought I was nuts for riding but did admit that riding would accelerate my healing…as long as I didn’t crash.

kevin...

btw, I am a VERY poor patient and would recommend that you follow your doctor's advice.