Hey all,
Looking for some perspective from people who’ve dealt with shoulder issues or coached athletes through them.
Onset of a rather uncomfortable pain in my right shoulder following a dodgeball game emerged, prompting an MRI scan, which revealed cartilage damage on top of the humeral head (about 7x7.5mm in size; Grade III chondromalacia), a degenerative Bankart labrum tear (front-lower region), and joint inflammation with loose fragments floating in the joint.
Right now, I have minimal stability issues, am able to do most movements in their full ROM, and only get mild, position-specific pain (like deep chest stretches or when flaring elbows). There’s occasional clicking and discomfort, but I can mostly train around it at high exertion without issues.
The surgeon’s verdict was that an elective arthroscopic surgery is likely necessary in the not-so-distant future (ideally within <6 months, but “not tragic” to do later) to ensure long-term health of the shoulder joint. The scariest part about it is that the recovery process is exceptionally long, with palpable chances of me being able to return to ‘intense’ lifting in no less than 10-12 months.
For someone who’s bodybuilding-focused, currently symptom-stable, and training within tolerable levels of discomfort in most movements, is going through surgery now worthwhile? Or does it make more sense to keep lifting while staying alert re: the symptoms and revisit surgery only if they worsen?
For context, I am a 25-year-old male. No major physical activity aside from lifting.
Appreciate any input from coaches or lifters who’ve been through this decision.