...a DIFFERENT type of journal....

[Oros]

..I have a couple of weight training jounals on this site somewhere in history, but I thought I'd do this journal just a bit different.....

Weight training can take it's toll on you…especially as you get older…..strain injuries can happen to everyone at some point in their training career but, just seem to get more extreme & take longer to heal, or atleast subside to a tolerable level of discomfort to allow for continued training….theres been the ever-present tendonitis in both elbows, strained achilles tendon, rotor cuff strain….and now the woe-is-me-tale of the torn shoulder tendon at the Easter w/end!!!....yep…torn…no alternative other than dreaded open-you-up-surgery to fix….

...started this 09 year out pretty good…set my goals on competing at the Auckland Champs 40+ Class (jeez sux, I'm that old already!!)..!!! Weight reduced from 107kg (01.01.09) down to 96kg (Easter), well on track for even possibly doing the Manukau Champs as prep for Aucklands (hav'nt competed in 15yrs so need some "possum-in-the-headlights" stage practice)….all training weights were staying constant (as a basic measure with body weight at approx 100kg: Flat BB @ 185kg/4 reps, BB Clean & Press @ 85kg/6 reps, Deads just shy of 280kg/2 reps & Squats a lil off 200kg/2 reps)..........yep, all going well..... then disaster on Chest/Shoulder/Tri day on Easter w/end….a strange aching feeling in my right shoulder during the last set of Flat DB Press followed by instant, absolute agony during next exercise of DB Flyes!!!....could barely move my arm to do anything….driving home was quite an experience…(TF for an auto!!!!)

Between Easter & now, training has been a pretty half-hearted-sux-shit effort…..can barely do Flat BB @ 75kg/6 reps or BB Curls @ 40kg/6 reps…..cannot do any isolations for Chest or Biceps, absolutely no compounds or isolations for Shoulders & Tri's,..no "above head" exercises for Back…..weight creeping up to over 1/10th Ton again!!!...Had to learn to brush my teeth left handed too...a few weeks of ripped gums is no fun either!!

All that said, ACC has approved my Shoulder Surgery and all seems on track now for mid Jan 2010 (would have been 14 Dec 09, but I've too much work-load at present) Doc has informed me I'll be my own worst enemy as recovery/recuperation/ etc is going to take 6 mths or more….if I do anything stupid I'll f!!k the whole process & there are no second chances…

So in the interest of anyone else out there that is ever faced with this same situation of torn Shoulder Tendon Surgery, I'll be keeping a log of my experience, my healing development & back-to-training progress….

[teamfatboy]

Wow... different kind of journal indeed!

A mate of mine's probably facing a similar story.. but his surgery's before Xmas. Being of a similar vintage (yikes!) I shall be paying careful attention :shock:

[Oros]

"VINTAGE"........!!kcuf....

Going to try loose some weight before surgery so will stop being so half arsed at the gym.

30.11.09 (105kg)

5am - 45 min walk

7pm - weight training

Leg Press

10x240, 10x270, 10x300, 8x330, 8x350, 15x240

Leg Ext

10x48, 10x54, 8x66, 8x72

Leg Curls

3x12x66

Calf Press

3x10x270, 3x15x200

Some Tosser & Co using the Squat Rack for 10kg BB Curls.....

7:45pm - 45 min walk

[Oros]

01.12.09

5am - 45 min walk

7pm - weight training

Low Incline DB Press

27.5's x20, 32.5's x20, 37.5's x12x2, 40's x10, 40's x8

Seated Machine Chest Press

90x15x2, 90x10x2

DB Lateral Raises

10's x4x10

7:45pm - 45 min walk

02.12.09

5am - 45 min walk

7pm - weight training

Wide Grip Pulldowns (to front)

72x15x2, 84x10x2, 90x6x2

Wide Grip Machine Shrugs

110x16x3

Narrow Parallel Grip Pulldowns

84x10x2, 90x8, 90x6

7:45pm - walk

[teamfatboy]

Ooops - hit a nerve with that V-word? Lets hope the docs don't do likewise :grin:

We're not old, Oros, we're just really really experienced :nod:

[Gym rat]

I will also be paying close attention as well

[Glen.]

I had surgery to repair a torn anterior ligament/tendon on my left shoulder when I was 18. I was also told a six month recovery period was on the cards, but after three or four months it was sweet.

Strength is equal in both shoulders now, the only problem is a very slight reduction in flexibility.

[Oros]

Thanks for that Glen...good thing I'm not too concerned about being flexible...I just want to get back to some decent high volume/heavy weight training!!!..

Having said that, some of my strength/range of movement seems to be returning although following my old routines is still just not possible...some pain cannot be ignored...

03.12.09

5am - 45 min walk

7pm - weight training

DB Lunges

15's x12x4

Seated Leg Curls

48x20, 60x10x2, 66x8, 72x6, 60x12

Calf Press (on Leg Press machine)

270x15x2, 270x12, 300x10, 240x18 (just could'nt get to 20 reps!!)

BB Curls

40x10, 40x8x2, 40x6x2

Standing Alt DB Hammer Curls

17.5's x12x2, 22.5'sx8x2

.....followed by 45 min walk heading into a strong head-wind

[Luigi]

hi, how is this journal different?

[Oros]

Yep, you're right, but that was'nt my initial intention...

Strangely, once I'd logged in again after so long visiting this site & nearly 8mths off training, I suddenly felt overwhelmingly inspired to ignor the ache and get some training/weight loss done before the op, so no,...not too different at the moment...other than very short, light/medium weight training routines...but it will be different once my op is done in mid Jan...then I'll be one-winged for a while....and then logging my recovery ordeal..

I had no idea there were any rules as to how/what to title Workout Journals...maybe you can advise as to what to change "subject title" to if you're feeling theres a mis-fit... :naughty:

[Luigi]

dont have to be a dick about it i was just asking a genuine question

[Oros]

Sincere apologies Luigi..I had no idea your query was genuine :pfft: ...most are not, especially if there is potential for a hidden agenda in the wording of the query (I'm suspicious by nature..possibly cos I work with patent attorneys & lawyers too much lately!!) as I said, it was supposed to be different, but is now pretty much same as every other journal I've done before...except I cant lift the heavy weights I want or do specific favourites...and am now waiting for surgery...& dreading the recovery period of "6 mnths"

07.12.09

5am: 45min walk

7pm: weight training

Leg Press

10x240, 10x300, 2x8x330, 2x8x350, 15x240

Leg Ext

10x48, 2x8x66, 8x77

Leg Curls

3x18x60

Calf Press

6x15x200, 2x8x300

45min walk

08.12.09

5am: 45min walk

7pm: weight training

Low Incline DB Press

27.5's x25, 32.5's x20, 2x40's x12, 2x40's x8

Flat BB Press

1x6x30 (should'nt have done this!!!!)

Seated Machine Chest Press

90x15x6

DB Lateral Raises

10's x4x10

Seated machine shoulder press

2x10x30 (should'nt have done this!!!)

7:45pm - 45 min walk

09.12.09

5am - 45 min walk

7pm - weight training

Wide Grip Pulldowns (behind head to neck)

60x15x2, 66x10x2, 84x6x2

Low Rows (narrow grip)

96x12x3, 116x6x2

Unilateral Supported T-bar rows

15x12x2, 20x8, 25x6

DB Hammer Curls

2x10x12.5, 2x10x17.5

no walk tonight

10.12.09

too lazy today!!

[Oros]

surgery was at 12pm on 18th Jan 2010.

What was originally assessed to be a shoulder tendon tear repair turned out to be a little more extensive. Yes, there was extensive shoulder tendon damage, but so too was the rotar cuff & bicep tendon.

Surgery day was very nerve racking made worse by nil water or food since midnite for surgery scheduled for 10am. Due to delays not fully explained, I was advised at 9am I had to wait a further 2 hrs.

The waiting around felt like an eternity, but once actually in the Operating Theatre time flew passed. The most painful & uncomfortable pre-op moments was the insertion of the Local Anesthetic micro tube into the right side of my neck. This had my right arm/hand tingling & twitching uncontrolably until the micro tube was withdrawn a fraction.

Damn, but that anaesthetic gas tastes crap but works quick. I remember commenting on the foul taste, vaguely hearing far off in the distance a response that they were working on a strawberry flavour, then...???

Approx 112 minutes later I woke demanding a "godamn fucken drink" from the poor, patiently attentive nurse (I wish I could recognise her to apologise). There was also an exceptionally uncomfortable, choking pressure against the left side of my thoat which turned out to be the shoulder support strap of the arm brace/sling.

Between wakey-wakey from the surgery till about 4pm I have fitful memories & don't remember much at all other than feeling uncomfortably warm & incredibly thirsty all the time.

From 5:30 onwards I seemed to have improved control over actually keeping my eyes open & staying awake, which corresponded well with dinner time.

One of the nurses explained that the residual local anaesthetic from the surgery would wear off at a very accelerated rate sometime around midnight & instructed me how to use the morphine pump (connected into the intravenus tube @ back of my left hand), advised me of the auto-pump supplying local anaesthetic to the shoulder (micro tube into the right side of my thoat) & explained there would also be intravenus antibiotics to combact any infection & additional high strength tablet pain medication @ 6hr intervals. To be honest I thought all this "pain relief" was a little OTT. How very wrong I turned out to be!!

I occasionally used the morphine pump through the evening on the reminders of the nurse. At 9pm came the 1st round of a tablets & intravenus antibiotics. I fell sound asleep by 9:30.

I woke with the first indications of low throbbing discomfort @ 11pm & by 12pm I was in absolute, gut wrenching agony that had me drenched in sweat & frantically using the morphine pump every time the indicator light turned green, but to no effect. I buzzed the nurse so many times I think she wore a path in the carpet, her only comment being to keep using the pump, next dose of high strength pain tabs & antibiotics being @ 3am!!

Fortunately I texted somebody, who knows somebody, who knows somebody who carries a little importance, who made a friendly phone call that had a few of the night staff actually trying to work out why I was in so much pain.

Turns out that at the 9pm administering of the intravenus antibiotic dose, the nurse had forgotten to remove the line block/lock applied to the morphine line. So regardless of how often I pushed the button on the morphine pump I was getting none!!!

tbc