Shoulder Surgery for Cartilage Lesion

[xbrando7]

In the early summer, I was practicing my serve (with a motion that later turned out to be quite destructive), and suddenly I felt a pop in my shoulder that sent pain surging throughout my arm. After lots of physical therapy and rest periods, the pain after playing persisted for months. I underwent an MRI, and my orthopedist discovered a cartilage defect in my shoulder joint. He said that this was a very strange injury for me, a tennis player. He said that this kind of injury could not have been caused by tennis, but a direct blow to my shoulder. In any event, the defect had to be repaired with surgery, as it could not heal by itself, and could develop shoulder arthritis. I received an arthroscopic operation called a microfracture. This technique creates small holes in the cartilage defect, which bleed, and form a blood clot. The blood clot will eventually become durable cartilage, which will allow my arm to function normally again, if all goes well. My doctor has said that I should be able to play tennis again. So far, my arm is feeling looser, but I still feel a little cracking in the shoulder every once in a while. I'm assuming this is normal, as the cartilage is still healing. In a few weeks, I will begin physical therapy again to rebuild my shoulder's strength post-surgery, and after that is completed, I will try playing tennis again. Does anybody have any advice for me?

 

[xbrando7]

I guess I should point out that i'm only 16.

 

[kelkat]

I am curious as to how you are doing now, a few months later.
I have a "small pothole" in my knee cartilage, plus a meniscus tear.
Surgery is an option.... sewing up the tear, plus microfracture to plug up the pothole. The bummer is being on crutches for 3 months, plus 3 month rehab.
Unfortunately I do not have youth on my side as a 51yo. Weighing all the options....

 

[Say Chi Sin Lo]

Microfracture sounds like a 50/50 procedure for me. All the success stories I've heard are of professional athletes, and they don't really recover until the 2nd year after.

Not to mention these are professional athletes, that's what they do for a living, they can rehab 24/7 if they wanted to. I don't know if recreational athletes have that in them... Also the age factor...