Update on my shoulder

Posted on by 2lazy4gym in Uncategorized

Just an update. Things haven’t been going so great with my shoulder. My right shoulder is better since I went to bodyweight workouts but my left shoulder, after some improvement, went downhill again and is hurting worse than it ever did. (background–I had a torn rotator cuff in 2020 that surgery repaired–this pain is worse than that) My ortho did an MRI and it turns out my rotator cuff is torn again but this time in a different place (the original surgery site looks good) and almost completely torn through or off the bone, not sure which. It is 80% torn. So I need surgery again. I have completely stopped even body weight strength exercises with my upper body. I have also stopped rebounding since it turns out that the bouncing could make it continue to tear and now I am terrified of completing the tear since that would probably immobilize my arm/shoulder. The surgery has not yet been scheduled since I just saw my ortho last week and we have to wait for insurance approval.

What that means is there will likely be no reviews for a while longer. I also plan to permanently change how I workout. I have not stopped working out. I am still doing mobility and lower body strength work (bodyweight and booty band work), as well as walking workouts for cardio (mostly BurpeeGirl). Once my shoulder is healed and rehabbed I am not sure what I am going to do. No more Caroline Girvan, much as I love her. I believe my desire to lift heavier is what caused this. I tried to increase the weight I was lifting too quickly. I’m probably going to stick with lighter weights. I will probably limit myself to 25-30 pounds max (sticking with 8-20 pounds primarily) and modify any exercise with the potential to mess up my rotator cuffs. I did some research and the exercises I should avoid are shoulder presses with arms in goalpost (a favorite of Caroline Girvan); instead I should do hammer press, no more tricep dips and no more upright rows. I always hated upright rows anyway because they were uncomfortable which should have been a clue!

What does that mean for this blog? I’m not sure. When I am finally able to lift weights again, I plan to revisit workouts already reviewed here–Jessica Smith and Tracy Long, both of whom do great yet safer strength workouts using more moderate weights. But since I always want to change things up, I imagine I’ll be back to reviewing workouts again eventually.

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Published by 2lazy4gym

36 thoughts on “Update on my shoulder”

  1. You are an inspiration! I would really love if you do some more ranking of workouts. I enjoy reading back to the beginning and love personal opinions on best workouts. Maybe there could be an option for people voting? So many people are readers of this blog and it would be great to create some sort of community. Just a suggestion

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    1. Thank you Tess! I’m glad people are still reading it. I’m about to post an update about what’s going on. And a poll is a good idea. I’ll have to look into how to create something like that.

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  2. I’m hoping everything goes well for you and your surgery is a complete success! I’ve been relying on this blog for years and have always been so impressed with it. I completely understand your decision to avoid heavy weights – my hips are really starting to give me issues and I think it’s because of years (decades) of heavy weight. Thanks so much for everything and I’ll continue to use this blog as my source of truth lol!!!

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  3. Gutted for you. Fingers crossed the surgery happens soon, is successful and that your recovery is thorough.

    I will continue to use your website if you leave it up (but will be very cautious and mindful of recovery, listening to niggles and not pushing through pain. It feels so unfair because you have done everything right and really just followed the prevailing advice- lift heavy after before and menopause, fight sarcopenia and osteoporosis.

    Very longterm reader and I really hope you can update us on your progress when you can.

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    1. Thanks Sarah! The website is going nowhere. And my surgery was scheduled for October 13. So, it will likely be 12 weeks after that before I can do anything resembling a real workout even with light or no weights.

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  4. I am very sorry to hear about your shoulder. Knowing how much you love weight training, this must be torture. I hope you can heal quickly. I am currently doing Barlates for weight training, which I would haven’t ever known about if it wasn’t for you. Please keep us updated.

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    1. Thank you, Cara. It has been difficult, but I’ve come to terms with it. I have also returned to Barlates! Linda has some great bodyweight workouts that I had forgotten about.

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      1. I don’t know if you noticed, but she has another channel called Linda Active. Also, Linda does custom workout drawings every month or you can pay for a workout. Her barlates channel now has several membership options. It has been great for me as I can’t lift heavy weights. If you look into it, she did a custom “Jane Fonda” 80s style workout for me. Cardio, light upper body weights, floor mat glutes and abs, and cooldown. Trying to find fun workouts in this stage of life.

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  8. I hope that you get the surgery soon and heal well. I know you have had many challenges through the years, and I am amazed at how much you push through each one. I have to say I am really enjoying Jessica Smith’s all access pass as I rehab following major abdominal surgery three and a half months ago. I do think she has smart accessible workouts that will build and maintain strength. Take care of yourself.

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    1. Thank you, Elizabeth! I have actually been looking into Jessica’s streaming site. Especially since I stopped using CGX (after paying for a whole year. 🤬) I get her emails and she discussed that she has a Jump Start program I could do once I can start lifting again but I don’t know how it compares to her Walks Strong and Walk On workouts which I already own. I guess I can sign up for the free week to check it out when the time comes.

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      1. I have been using her Jump Start program strength workouts as I rehab post surgery–I just have to modify the core work. It is two sets of everything, 16 reps per exercise. It moves slow but is thoughtful; I appreciate the band work for some accessory muscles. They are all 30-minute total body workouts. Her app-based strength work is very different than her Walk Strong and Walk On workouts. She is definitely moving away from compound moves/metabolic work. I have the app at the introductory price, but if you did a trial and then didn’t continue that might be offered to you. Good luck!

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      2. Thanks! I will probably try that–get the free week and see if I am offered a discount. I did her Feel Good Fusion/Fusion Strength DVD workout this morning and that type of workout is exactly what I am looking for right now. It worked me but feels good afterwards and is high rep/light weights. I’m hoping for more like that on her app.

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  10. I am so sorry about your shoulder. I love your blog and will continue to refer to your past reviews of workouts until you’re back. I hope your shoulder gets better soon!

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  11. I am so sorry you are going through this. You should know that you have truly been an inspiration to me and so many others…and I have no doubt you will continue to inspire and motivate us all. Thank you for the many ways you have helped me for years now. Sending you all the good wishes and prayers for healing and happiness!

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  12. Hi, I’m not really a follower of your work, full confession — I am just one of probably many many people who get overwhelmed, scattered, paralyzed by the number and variety of workouts available online. I just wanted to extend my sympathies first and foremost but also say that you really created an incredible resource with this site — it is absolutely amazing how much detail and useful information you include. Whenever I’m either feeling blah about my current program or tempted by someone in the algorithm I visit your pages and I’m always grateful that they exist. So thank you and know that this archive is already good enough to keep most people informed and occupied for the rest of their lives.

    I really hope you come out of this pain free and are able to do what you want with your body. Injuries suck.

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    1. Thank you so much! Heck–even my own blog overwhelms me sometimes! When I stopped lifting weights at the beginning of this injury, I went to the bodyweight workouts page and there were so many! Sometimes I can’t believe I did them all.

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  13. So sorry to hear what you are going through. I only wish that we, your fitness blog audience, could give even a tiny fraction of the inspiration and encouragement you have given to us back to you now, when you are facing this tough period. I hope you can take comfort that your high level of overall fitness and knowledge of body mechanics will serve you well through surgery and rehab. Thank you for letting us know.

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  14. I’m so sorry about your shoulder. That is tough news to get. I hope you can get the surgery scheduled soon so you don’t have to keep worrying about making it worse. I’ve been reading this blog through your other surgery and your cancer battle, and you always came back stronger. You will figure out how to do that again this time! I’m proud of you for continuing to move your body and not giving up completely. I hope you continue to post, even if it is just to update on your new journey.

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    1. Thank you! Though I’ve mostly been doing workouts that are already reviewed on my blog, I have done some new-to-me workouts, but I haven’t reviewed them. I’m out of the routine of doing it and found other things to fill the time I used to spend previewing workouts before I did them. I do want to get back to doing it because there is a big part of me that hates going into a workout without knowing the details.

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  15. This situation sounds rough! It really sucks to have to give up things you enjoy. If you come back and review workouts with lighter weights, that will actually match where I am, since my orthopedist told me to stop lifting heavy weights. And you have plenty of existing reviews already that help me change things up, even if you wind up not reviewing any more. In other words, you will remain an inspiration no matter what. I hope the surgery goes well. Thank you for updating us.

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    1. My orthopedist told me the same thing at our first appointment. That as you age, things have to change. He looks to be my age (55) or maybe a little older and he said he has had to change they way he works out due to injuries. He looks pretty fit. Though a part of me does feel sad to say good-bye to the heavy lifting (and eventually a lot of the equipment filling my home gym), I’m okay with it. There are a lot of workouts I enjoy and I am rediscovering a lot of them.

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    1. Thank you! I was telling my SIL about my shoulder and she said she has several friends who are weightlifters and they have all sustained injuries from lifting. I guess it’s part of the any ongoing fitness activity. Injuries happen.

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