Shoulder surgery number two and very nervous!

This forum was my go-to four years ago when I had open SAD & lateral end clavicle excised, along with a rotator cuff repair (which was undiagnosed previously from an ultrasound scan). Although it was painful and uncomfortable prior to surgery I was completely unprepared for the amount of pain experienced whilst recovering and decided a repeat would be something to avoid at all costs. Although I would say it took at least a year to feel close to normal, the surgery was very successful and I was able to return to full mobility of my left shoulder. I made a conscious effort to include weights into my exercise routines - although not heavy weights -definitely keeping strong. Unfortunately, complacency obviously set in and I did something extremely stupid, namely climbing on the arm of a patio chair last summer to reach an overhanging branch to trim. The inevitable happened, the chair slipped and I grabbed hold of the fence to save hitting the deck. I knew immediately that this was not good, and was actually the other shoulder this time. Whereas the first time I had persevered for a couple of years before surgery, which apparently could have contributed to the rotator cuff tear, I wanted to be pro-active this time. After a visit to a locum GP (pretty useless) and then a Physiotherapist, who thought there was mainly inflammation but no serious damage, I finally got referred to a shoulder specialist who organised a scan led cortisone injection. This was effective for around six weeks but the pain returned. He decided to try a further injection and I asked the radiographer his opinion at this one and he said he likened my collarbone to a knife rubbing on a rope and there was a fair bit of wear and tear, and this was likely to recur again. Sure enough, not even six weeks passed and I was back to disturbed nights, limited movement, especially external rotation. The physio deemed it pointless to give me any exercises because as I had continued with my Pilates classes as best I could, and obviously very limited exercises otherwise, I didn't really have a loss of strength, just pain and impingment which really hasn't improved, despite physio, exercise, rest, anti-inflammatories etc. Seven months on I am now on the waiting list for the SAD surgery on the second shoulder and whilst I am keen to get back to normal life, I know I have to go through a hellish time first. The physio assured me that the recovery for arthoscopy is much shorter than for open surgery, especially as there is no tear detected (they told me no tear last time!). Can anyone relate to this? I am 63 and in reasonable good shape otherwise.

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