I had R-shoulder surgery a couple weeks ago to repair rotator cuff, labrum and torn bicep tendon. Feeling no pain with the meds and it will be another week before PT. Doctor’s instructions are no movement and indicators are at least 3-4 weeks in a sling.
I do not anticipate being able to try to practice for quite some time and definitely no lifting. PT indicated that resistance bands will come into play around week 6.
I am wondering if any guitar players have undergone shoulder surgery and how stepping back into it went? I am thinking that when I am able to, to get into a position where I don’t pluck (plucking hand is the R-shoulder) , but I use the good side fretting hand to just “finger-place” as a form of practice.
I can’t push it, but I know at some point I will be able to position my hand into position to replicate proper positioning…
…looking for some feedback if anyone has been in this situation.
sorry to hear about that frank. have you checked out D’Addario VariGrip Hand Exerciser or anything like that to keep the strength in your fingers? I havent had an injury (knock on wood) so I’m not sure if it would help.
Take the time to heal an brush up on your music theory or read a good book checkout standing in the shadows of Motown great read and a ton of Jamersons bass lines! good luck with the rehab, you’ll be rocking in no time !
I didn’t have surgery but I did break my shoulder 2022 about a year before I took up bass. Certainly couldn’t have played to start with; I was in a slink and with the arm strapped to my body 2h hours, day and night, for the first few weeks and for the first couple I wasn’t allowed to move it at all, otherwise they’d end up having to go in with screws. Had I been playing at that time I doubt I could have played a bass for several months.
I stuck religiously to what the physio told me to do which was mostly working on my range of movement and small dumbbells for building strength. I also did a lot of work with a rope through a pulley attached to the top of a door or similar. Seesawing it with both arms; again this was all about movement. It’s now almost perfect; very slight loss of range of movement but that’s it. The biggest risk was a frozen shoulder and I believe that’s the biggest risk with damaged rotator cuff. I treated my physio like a cross between God and a feared colour sergeant!
Whatever you plan to use to rebuild strength put it past your physio first is my recommendation. I did nothing I wasn’t told to do!
So, I got the D’Addario VariGrip today and I can most certainly tell a difference in it over and above that basic one in the image that I posted above. Props to @jeff_the_bassplayer for the recommendation.
I can really “feel” how it causes the brain to trigger the motion for each individual finger. More “thought” has to go into activating the proper digit instead of that “global” hand exerciser… especially for distinguishing the middle and ring fingers properly. I also got that Fiddilinky thingy… not sure what to make of it, but it was only a dollar more.
I am getting along OK, I guess. I had PT today and the only motions that are happening are passive movment of the arm by the therapist. No moving allowed by me. Am feeling no real pain except a sort of achy- ness in the pec muscles. Doc informed me that when they went in via the assumed (and performed) arthroscopic method that he found more damage. To repair the newfound injury they had to cut into the shoulder… I have a scar from under the armpit, in front, to just atop the should top. I am thinking that that the achy pec is from this incision.
I have to be patient ‘cause I sorta’ get anxious to want to use the arm. I know I cant (and I won’t) but I want to do basic stuff like wash a pan after cooking. I am getting pretty good at mousing left handed on the keyboard. I think this new finger exercising apparatus will help- both physically and as a mental distraction… who knows, after using this exerciser I might take up the 4-valve trumpet…LOL.
That’s great to hear, shipmate. I’m glad to hear there’s minimal pain at this point (and chicks dig scars btw). Don’t use the arm, listen to the Doc. You’l be shredding again in no time.
Another little bonus to the varigrip, if you get a wild hair up your butt and decide to start playing guitar, take the pad off the bottom, flip upside down and you can use it to build those calluses on your fingertips that you’ll need to play chords that you absolutely do not get playing bass.
Hi, Frank, I had the exact same issue. Torn rotator cuff, complete labral tears and bicep tendon tear. Put me back together with cadaver grafts. It was done arthroscopically and the doc gave me pics from inside the shoulder from the scope. Pretty wicked.
Definately do whatever the doc says. You don’t want to mess anything up.
I used a D’Addario vari grip for my wrist and fingers. It sucks not being able to play, but will suck worse if you push it and do any damage. It didn’t take any time at all to get back into shape. It will come. Good luck
I had surgery to repair a torn labrum in my right shoulder when I was around 20 years old and it took me a very long time to recover…I think it was around 8 months before I was able to confidently go back to construction work. Please listen to your doctor and physical therapist and don’t get ahead of yourself!
On the plus side you’ll get to learn how to do all kinds of things left handed! I remember that brushing my teeth was super annoying, I would pull the brush all the way out of my mouth and end up brushing my face
Well, it and the long hair are a real PIA keeping it in order with only 1 arm hand. I usually keep the hair in a pony tail but I cannot get the elastics in. I am brushing it several times a day to keep from knotting up. No amount of conditioner can keep up.
I am seriously considering cutting it all off- hair AND beard… the high & tight from back in my military days was the most hassle-free head I’ve ever had. I have been to my barber once already to do it and he talked me off the “shave it all off” ledge.
The “entire area proceeds to get entangled” quite easily …LOL.
( I’m jealous of the beard, when I try and grow one, lets just say I cant pull it off)