Arthritis & Despair

[woodzie264]

This morning I have the first of possibly two surgeries this year - based on the literature, today's procedure is unlikely to yield any great results, but it's a prerequisite for a bigger procedure to come that will hopefully provide good and lasting relief. I should gain some internal and external rotation from today that will hopefully lengthen my swing so I'm looking forward to that...I may even gain 3-5yds off the tee 

[boogielicious]

47 minutes ago, woodzie264 said:

This morning I have the first of possibly two surgeries this year - based on the literature, today's procedure is unlikely to yield any great results, but it's a prerequisite for a bigger procedure to come that will hopefully provide good and lasting relief. I should gain some internal and external rotation from today that will hopefully lengthen my swing so I'm looking forward to that...I may even gain 3-5yds off the tee 

Good luck and keep us posted.

[RandallT]

We will stay tuned. Will look forward to your chipping photos from your office real soon in the practice thread.

[cipher]

1 hour ago, woodzie264 said:

This morning I have the first of possibly two surgeries this year - based on the literature, today's procedure is unlikely to yield any great results, but it's a prerequisite for a bigger procedure to come that will hopefully provide good and lasting relief. I should gain some internal and external rotation from today that will hopefully lengthen my swing so I'm looking forward to that...I may even gain 3-5yds off the tee 

Hope all goes well and good luck to you.

[bkuehn1952]

On 12/16/2016 at 9:48 AM, GolfLug said:

You didn't mention anything about your right shoulder so I am assuming the condition doesn't affect it. And since you are mentioning something as drastic as possibly losing all things golf for the remainder of your days then consider playing with your right hand only. If you manage your expectations the you will be surprised how good you can get with practice. Inject yourself with a large dose of 'survival' mentality and you can still come out ahead. Like REALLY ahead.

 

 

On 12/16/2016 at 10:07 AM, woodzie264 said:

@GolfLug, Thanks man! I would have never considered that! That's certainly something I'd be willing to try

My sister-in-law's father lost his left arm on Normandy Beach in WWII.  He played golf quite successfully with one arm.

I also second the idea of disc golf.  It is fun in a group and one can also "play against par" if one is solo.

[woodzie264]

Update - 10 days after surgery and pain level is same as preop...the good news is that I do have about 45* of additional External rotation of the left arm...the bad news is that it doesn't really help my swing nor make it more tolerable. But it's still early and will keep faith. Worse comes to worse, I move on to the next procedure. 

[woodzie264]

Update - offering hope to others in my situation:

I'm 7wks s/p partial shoulder replacement with a future total replacement to come down the road where they just resurface the glenoid. My motion is much improved. Played two rounds and, with an abbreviated swing, I've played some of the best golf I've ever played....not because of the surgery, but because my swing is more controlled (in my opinion). I plan to return to my 5min Challenge routine starting next week and work on that swing, one day earning the coveted Stupid Money award 

Edited September 27, 2017 by woodzie264

[dennyjones]

Congratulations.   It's encouraging to see your progress.  

[JCrane]

On 12/16/2016 at 1:50 AM, woodzie264 said:

I am a 39 year old male with a left shoulder that has glenohumeral joint arthritis (DJD) that exceeds all but 1 patient of mine over my ten year career as an orthopedic provider. While I have always had range of motion limitations since a second shoulder surgey as a 22 year old, the pain was mild for most daily activities including golf. However, over the past 2-3 months things have rapidly deteriorated wherein I cannot take swings without having moderate to severe discomfort, making 18 holes rather miserable by completion. Non-operative options to include oral anti-inflammatories, steroid injections (GH joint, subacromial space, and suprascapualr nerve blocks) and viscoelastic supplementation series all at one point provided mild to moderate relief over the years, but at this point are ineffective, thereby exhausting non-operative treatments.

Having the benefit of doing what I do, I have many orthopedic surgeon friends/colleagues and have consulted 7-8 of them, with 4 of them being well-respected shoulder specialists. At 39, the typical surgical options for my shoulder are reserved for a less active older population, leaving me only experimental and far less successful options which offer little to no hope based on current literature. By undergoing a  hemiarthroplasty (partial shoulder replacement), I will likely achieve mild/moderate pain relief for a period of time (which is great), but in doing so this will predictably have deleterious effects on my glenoid (socket), making future conversion to a total shoulder replacement more complicated and less predictable in providing pain relief & function for the remainder of my days.

I explain all of this to say, I am at a  loss and expect golf will soon become a thing of the past for me over the next year or so unless I undergo a questionable surgery, with marginal results at best, which may only may things worse off in the long run than if I do nothing. 

Golf is the only thing I do for my personal enjoyment and so I fear depression if I have to give it up. Aside from my best bud, you guys are the only people that I know who will understand this and so I'm taking an opportunity to vent to the only group of folks who can empathize. I expect in time I will choose to have the more experimental procedure done in hopes to maintain the ability to play golf, but for now I'm praying about it and going to get a 9th or 10th opinion at this point. Thanks for providing me a place to vent...thanks for listening. Not looking for a pity party, just putting things down in writing.

 

 

On 12/16/2016 at 1:50 AM, woodzie264 said:

I am a 39 year old male with a left shoulder that has glenohumeral joint arthritis (DJD) that exceeds all but 1 patient of mine over my ten year career as an orthopedic provider. While I have always had range of motion limitations since a second shoulder surgey as a 22 year old, the pain was mild for most daily activities including golf. However, over the past 2-3 months things have rapidly deteriorated wherein I cannot take swings without having moderate to severe discomfort, making 18 holes rather miserable by completion. Non-operative options to include oral anti-inflammatories, steroid injections (GH joint, subacromial space, and suprascapualr nerve blocks) and viscoelastic supplementation series all at one point provided mild to moderate relief over the years, but at this point are ineffective, thereby exhausting non-operative treatments.

Having the benefit of doing what I do, I have many orthopedic surgeon friends/colleagues and have consulted 7-8 of them, with 4 of them being well-respected shoulder specialists. At 39, the typical surgical options for my shoulder are reserved for a less active older population, leaving me only experimental and far less successful options which offer little to no hope based on current literature. By undergoing a  hemiarthroplasty (partial shoulder replacement), I will likely achieve mild/moderate pain relief for a period of time (which is great), but in doing so this will predictably have deleterious effects on my glenoid (socket), making future conversion to a total shoulder replacement more complicated and less predictable in providing pain relief & function for the remainder of my days.

I explain all of this to say, I am at a  loss and expect golf will soon become a thing of the past for me over the next year or so unless I undergo a questionable surgery, with marginal results at best, which may only may things worse off in the long run than if I do nothing. 

Golf is the only thing I do for my personal enjoyment and so I fear depression if I have to give it up. Aside from my best bud, you guys are the only people that I know who will understand this and so I'm taking an opportunity to vent to the only group of folks who can empathize. I expect in time I will choose to have the more experimental procedure done in hopes to maintain the ability to play golf, but for now I'm praying about it and going to get a 9th or 10th opinion at this point. Thanks for providing me a place to vent...thanks for listening. Not looking for a pity party, just putting things down in writing.

 

It sounds to me like you are answering your own question. You do not want to go with the surgery. I recommend you look else ware. 25 years ago I faced surgery for a herniated disk and a pinched nerve. I looked for alternative ways of curing myself and after 5 years I found it. It was Yoga and Inversion therapy. I have not looked back. No problems in 20 years. I am not saying you should do those things, but I am saying look for other alternatives other then Medical. check out John Bergman on youtube. He has a lot to say. The surgeons will always be there. 

[woodzie264]

13 hours ago, JCrane said:

 

It sounds to me like you are answering your own question. You do not want to go with the surgery. I recommend you look else ware. 25 years ago I faced surgery for a herniated disk and a pinched nerve. I looked for alternative ways of curing myself and after 5 years I found it. It was Yoga and Inversion therapy. I have not looked back. No problems in 20 years. I am not saying you should do those things, but I am saying look for other alternatives other then Medical. check out John Bergman on youtube. He has a lot to say. The surgeons will always be there. 

Thank you for response. You're a bit late. I spoke with the country's two leading and most published surgeons dealing with cartilage resurfacing and they both suggested doing a total replacement, albeit I'm young for that procedure. Because this is what I do for a living (I'm an orthopedic PA), and knowing the propensity for the glenoid component loosening over time, I elected to have the Hemi done understanding that I will not be pain-free (still having the bald glenoid), but that I would be better off than I was.

At this point, the major pain is markedly better although I still have chronic pain. But I can live with this. And no offense, but as a former CSCS, and current ATC, I am familiar with lots of non-operative alternatives to include exercises, stretching, yoga etc...but nothing short of resurfacing can fix two articulating bald bones if steroid and HA injections have failed.

I've played some of the best golf in my life over these past few weeks and while I know a TSA is in my future, I don't regret my decision at this point.

I do appreciate your response and support in wanting to help me avoid a procedure that I wasn't looking forward to having. I think after putting it off for more than a decade with all of the non-operative options, it was time.

[JCrane]

5 hours ago, woodzie264 said:

Thank you for response. You're a bit late. I spoke with the country's two leading and most published surgeons dealing with cartilage resurfacing and they both suggested doing a total replacement, albeit I'm young for that procedure. Because this is what I do for a living (I'm an orthopedic PA), and knowing the propensity for the glenoid component loosening over time, I elected to have the Hemi done understanding that I will not be pain-free (still having the bald glenoid), but that I would be better off than I was.

At this point, the major pain is markedly better although I still have chronic pain. But I can live with this. And no offense, but as a former CSCS, and current ATC, I am familiar with lots of non-operative alternatives to include exercises, stretching, yoga etc...but nothing short of resurfacing can fix two articulating bald bones if steroid and HA injections have failed.

I've played some of the best golf in my life over these past few weeks and while I know a TSA is in my future, I don't regret my decision at this point.

I do appreciate your response and support in wanting to help me avoid a procedure that I wasn't looking forward to having. I think after putting it off for more than a decade with all of the non-operative options, it was time.

yes, after I sent my reply I did notice the date on the post, but thanks for the update. I certainly did not want to give the impression that surgery was never the answer only that it may not be the only answer. It sounds like you worked it out as best you could and got plenty of other opinions to support your decision and you are able to play golf. Best of Luck to you going forward

[woodzie264]

33 minutes ago, JCrane said:

yes, after I sent my reply I did notice the date on the post, but thanks for the update. I certainly did not want to give the impression that surgery was never the answer only that it may not be the only answer. It sounds like you worked it out as best you could and got plenty of other opinions to support your decision and you are able to play golf. Best of Luck to you going forward

[Buckeyebowman]

On 12/16/2016 at 9:48 AM, GolfLug said:

You didn't mention anything about your right shoulder so I am assuming the condition doesn't affect it. And since you are mentioning something as drastic as possibly losing all things golf for the remainder of your days then consider playing with your right hand only. If you manage your expectations the you will be surprised how good you can get with practice. Inject yourself with a large dose of 'survival' mentality and you can still come out ahead. Like REALLY ahead.

 

Dang dude, you read my mind! The instant I read this post I thought about one handed golf.

I had to give up archery because of my shoulders, but I can still play golf pain free. Well, except for my knees! Which are because of football and basketball.

Heard on sports talk radio recently that while orthopedists have pretty much figured out knees, hips, ankles, and every other joint, shoulders remain a mystery region! Don't know why that would be, since they are so important to our functioning.

[Hacker James]

I live off Glucosamine and Chondroitin/MSM Complex.

[woodzie264]

16 minutes ago, Hacker James said:

I live off Glucosamine and Chondroitin/MSM Complex.

I often will offer that to patients, and it can definitely be a game changer for some...unfortunately without chondrocytes, at least in theory, it won't help much. But yes, I have several patients that love that stuff!

[Hacker James]

1 hour ago, woodzie264 said:

I often will offer that to patients, and it can definitely be a game changer for some...unfortunately without chondrocytes, at least in theory, it won't help much. But yes, I have several patients that love that stuff!

I used to get severe spasms about 3 times a year. Diagnosed with arthritis in the back, sent out to therapy to no avail. I was in severe pain that just stepping off a curb sent white hot stabs of pain, nothing seemed to work. Then started taking OTC Glucosimine an Chondroitin and have not had much problems for nearly 8 years save for sometimes moderate back pain, but then go back on the supplements for a day or two and its gone.  Placebo effect?  Perhaps, but whatever......it works.  Same goes for Echonasia (sp), Airborne, at first sign of a cold.  I have not had any real colds for years, don't get flu shots. Push comes to shove. my friend Jack Daniels works. That and Patron...  75 years and counting.....