I had a bone spur that ended up causing a total frozen shoulder before it was diagnosed. I did 2 months of PT and 2 cortisone shots but it kept getting worse so they finally sent me for MRI which showed the bone spur digging into the RC tendons. It wasn't torn but very close. I couldn't schedule the surgery fast enough.

I am now almost 16 weeks post surgery (open A/C decompression), am still in PT 3x/week but have made tremendous progress, and almost have full use of my arm now. It's been a very hard process to "thaw" out the frozen shoulder. In addition to the PT, I've done almost the full program of exercises and stretches EVERY DAY for 6 months, an hour a day. If I weren't seeing progress I probably would be skipping days but I want it totally healed so I make the time to do it.

Ultimately it will be all better, and hopefully before the other one starts to go bad. The good part is that my orthopedic surgeon, his PA, and my PT are all cyclists, so they understand.

My advice is to try to move the surgery up if at all possible. Take the drugs - they give them to you for a reason. And do the PT and home exercises. And see if they recommend you do any exercises to strengthen your shoulders and arms BEFORE the surgery. You will be glad you did (if you can).

I was in a sling for about a week, and icepacks on/off several times a day for several weeks. I was able to drive in a week or so but it was not easy one-handed. Nothing was easy the first month or so after surgery, and even though they manipulated my shoulder, and removed the spur, it wasn't until I got the 3rd cortisone shot a month after the surgery before I started to make any improvement.

Fill up the freezer with easy to nuke meals - cooking was very hard for that first month, as was washing and drying my hair and a host of so many other little things that we just never even think about. Oh, and sleeping was brutal for the 2 months or so both before and after the surgery. My recliner chair became my best friend. If you don't already have one, you might try to borrow or buy one. I slept many many nights (and afternoons) in the recliner.

My last real bike rides were in October. Since then I've ridden about 26 miles. Just as I was approaching being able to support my weight on the bike the weather went crazy and it's been nothing but rain, snow, wind, cold, or floods. Hoping to get back into this properly next week when daylight savings time begins.

Good luck, and let us know how you make out.

Martha