Jump to content

Shoulder and hip injuries


cabalumnidrummer

Recommended Posts

I am facing arthroscopic surgery on my right shoulder next week. I suspect hanging a drum with a sling on it for 50+ years has somethng to do with it. My question is, has anyone on here had that surgery, and can I expect to be able to carry a drum on it again, once healed?

As if that weren't enough, once the shoulder heals, I need (left) hip replacment surgery. Again, pushing a drum with that leg may have contributed to my problems! If anyone has had that surgery, I'd be curious to know if wearing a drum with a sling and leg rest will be possible? Will I be able to march and play once again, or will I be forever consigned to a stand from now on?

Any information or advice from my fellow drummers will be appreciated!

Thanks in advance, and Happy Holidays to all!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I am facing arthroscopic surgery on my right shoulder next week. I suspect hanging a drum with a sling on it for 50+ years has somethng to do with it. My question is, has anyone on here had that surgery, and can I expect to be able to carry a drum on it again, once healed?

As if that weren't enough, once the shoulder heals, I need (left) hip replacment surgery. Again, pushing a drum with that leg may have contributed to my problems! If anyone has had that surgery, I'd be curious to know if wearing a drum with a sling and leg rest will be possible? Will I be able to march and play once again, or will I be forever consigned to a stand from now on?

Any information or advice from my fellow drummers will be appreciated!

Thanks in advance, and Happy Holidays to all!

John,

Can't help you with the hip surgery from personal experience, but I did undergo surgery for a torn rotator cuff in the right shoulder some years back. Was in for the surgery at 6AM and was home having lunch around 11:30. First week is the tough one with all the "can't do s" but it got better soon after. Rehab started almost immediately and I had sticks in my hands after about 3 weeks. Was drumming on a pad at rehearsal for about 4 or 5 months before daring to sling on the drum, since that's the shoulder the sling goes over. About 6 months or so after the surgery, I was pretty much back to a normal routine but without the pain from the tear.

As for the hip surgery, Harry Kaestner, one of the guys in BS had it done some years back and said he wished he had done it sooner. He said he was as agile as he was in his teens. Of course he was a sop, not a drummer and just a tad lighter than either of us. I think he was/is around 145 pounds, soaking wet! I really don't think you will be relegated to a stand from now on, but I'm not your surgeon. I would ask him after filling him in on your extra-curricular activity.

Good luck with the surgery and get well as soon as possible!

Ray

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I am facing arthroscopic surgery on my right shoulder next week. I suspect hanging a drum with a sling on it for 50+ years has somethng to do with it. My question is, has anyone on here had that surgery, and can I expect to be able to carry a drum on it again, once healed?

As if that weren't enough, once the shoulder heals, I need (left) hip replacment surgery. Again, pushing a drum with that leg may have contributed to my problems! If anyone has had that surgery, I'd be curious to know if wearing a drum with a sling and leg rest will be possible? Will I be able to march and play once again, or will I be forever consigned to a stand from now on?

Any information or advice from my fellow drummers will be appreciated!

Thanks in advance, and Happy Holidays to all!

This may be too late, but please be certain that you have the right surgeon. My daughter had a-scope surgery to tighten up her shoulder ligaments. The first guy was a local orthopod. 18 months later she was still in pain. We then did a lot of research and came up with a shoulder specalist. He fixed it.

There are only few shoulder specialists around. If isn't too late, ask your guy how many he does a week. If it's less than four, think about it. Ask him if he knows Craig Morgan. If he doesn't, I would really think about it. Morgan is the guy that worked on my daughter. And Curt Shilling, among others. Arrogant as all get out, but he got the job done.

As to recovery time, My daughter's first surgery was 8 weeks until she picked up tha bassoon again. (Most of the instruments' weight is on the left side. The one operated on.) The second surgery was the same recovery time. And full strength didn't come back until months after that.

I suspect you're a little older than my daughter. Don't expect to be playing for a while.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I am facing arthroscopic surgery on my right shoulder next week. I suspect hanging a drum with a sling on it for 50+ years has somethng to do with it. My question is, has anyone on here had that surgery, and can I expect to be able to carry a drum on it again, once healed?

As if that weren't enough, once the shoulder heals, I need (left) hip replacment surgery. Again, pushing a drum with that leg may have contributed to my problems! If anyone has had that surgery, I'd be curious to know if wearing a drum with a sling and leg rest will be possible? Will I be able to march and play once again, or will I be forever consigned to a stand from now on?

Any information or advice from my fellow drummers will be appreciated!

Thanks in advance, and Happy Holidays to all!

Hello John,

My name is Rick Tabor and member of the Bridgemen bassline for the past 6 years. I recently (oct13) went thru shoulder surgery for 2 bone spurs and a frayed rotator cuff. I made it thru this past season after being shot up twice with a 50/50 cortizone/and a numbing agent.... Surgery went well (they give you enough happy juice so you dont care)......its after you start PT thats when it hurts..... im still out of work because im in the well drilling business but i would say if you have an office job you can be back to work in a few weeks.....

Now with both of us being drummers its really important to get our range of motion back and brother does it hurt so get ready...... now i heard for a hip there isnt any PT involved i guess you would just have to walk and build yourself up again.....I tried playing on a pad like 3 weeks after surgery and all the easy stuff went without a hitch...but when i started doing roll exercises and getting faster and faster thats when i felt it..... My Dr said it would take between 3 and 9 months to feel 100% with an outside chance of a year.....

So with all this being said....im out for the 2011 season....with the Bridgemen having split bass parts I dont want to be a burden on the line....no weight on my left shoulder for awhile.... Maybe we can sit together at some shows and watch our corps out there sweating while we have a nice cold one and enjoy the shows !!!!!

I hope this helps a little and bottom line is that your going to be fine

GOOD LUCK

Rick Tabor

Edited by Hydrodrill
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi Rick,

Thanks for the information. I suspect my 2011 season will be on the sidelines as well. I actually began seeing the orthopedist initially for the hip. It was only after two visits when I mentioned my shoulder also was sore that he examined it, took X-rays and ordered an MRI which confirmed his suspicions. I too have a frayed rotator cuff and arthitic bone material pressing on the tendon. Four to six weeks in a sling is his most optimistic estimate for recovery, and it could be much more, depending on how much damage he sees when he goes in. We haven't really discussed when I might consider putting the weight of a drum on it with a sling. Tuesday is my surgery on the shoulder.

The hip is another story. I started physical therapy to strengthen the leg muscles prior to surgery, and have talked pretty extensively with the therapist about what to expect for the shoulder p-t as well as the post-surgery therapy for the hip. Before that can happen, the shoulder has to be healed and strong enough to be able to use crutches. I had back surgery 13 years ago, so I know a little about what to expect with the hospital stay and the therapy. Of course, that doesn't make it any easier to face, but I will have to make the best of it. Barring a miraculous recovery for the shoulder, I can't see the hip surgery happening before the end of February at best, and more likely mid-to-late March.

Good luck to you in your recovery. See you on the sidelines or in the stands.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...