Knackered Shoulder

[EcclesCake]

I have spondylosis with facet syndrome and impingement affecting my shoulder/arm.

A series of steroid injections do not seem to be helping and surgery looks like a probable next step.

Can anyone advise what the surgery may entail and what the recovery period may be?

[bednobs]

yes, your surgeon

[EcclesCake]

Thank you Bednobs for a not entirely helpful answer! Seeing a surgeon will be the next step and I am trying to get an understanding of what may be proposed.

I am curious to know what is involved, in broad handfuls, mindful of the fact that every case is different.

Is it a bone grinding approach, or is it nerve or muscle? I appreciate that recovery is very much a 'how long is a piece of string?' but there are (presumably) a limited number of surgical approaches?

[bednobs]

it doesn't seem all that helpful to me to know how other people fared, or what surgery they had, because what surgery you are having and how long you are likely to take to recover is more important to you.
i do get the general advice though so my answer was a bit tongue in cheek, sorry :)

[Jumbo747]

Try Googling 'arthroscopic subacromial decompression'

[EcclesCake]

Thank you Jumbo.

May I ask why you recommended that link, personal or professional knowledge?

[Sqad]

I assume that we are dealing with cervical spondylosis....this is the commonest situation, but if I am wrong, then ignore my post.

I think that subacromial decompression would not be a consideration with your situation......something more than a decompressive procedure.

The cervical discs are "knackered" as you rightly say and then end result will be a bone graft.......however in certain centres destroying the nerve endings may be an option.

In your situation, the facets and disc spaces

[EcclesCake]

Thank you Sqad, I too assume it's cervical.

I might be missing something but you seemed to finish mid-sentence!?!

[Sqad]

Eccles...forget it.....old age kicked in. LOL

[EcclesCake]

LOL Sqad.

What, and where from, might a bone graft involve?

Apart from numbness what would the consequence of deadening the nerve endings be?

[Sqad]

Bone could be taken from many places, but the favourite would be the iliac crest (hip area). recovery would depend upon complications or their absence, but one would be looking a ta week in hospital and depending upon one's occupation, then anything from 6 weeks to 3 months.

Nerve destruction would involve both pain fibres and sensation but you would need to discuss that with the surgeon......I think that is called cervical rhizotomy.....but i am not sure.

[EcclesCake]

Hmmm, food for thought. Thank you Sqad.