[Firebeef]

Berg Heil!

I had similar surgery to your's bro.
Thanksgiving day '96, Anavarza, Turkey. We were climbing, really a pretty simple pitch, top roped, and about 2/3 of the way up felt like someone stabbed my r bicep and shoulder with a cigar as I reached for my next handhold.

Luckily, the orotho surgeon at Incirlik was top notch, and was able to fit me in for surgery 48 hours before our bird was outbound. Turned out to be a training op for my team medic, he intubated me and got to make the first incision, and Lord only knows what else while they were inside.

I don't remember much of the flight(s) home, except I supposedly had a great time at RAF Mildenhall, ....something about Tyloxx and english ale...

anyways...back at Carson the rehab began. I followed the PT's every word, and I admit, it took a lot of self control to NOT go too fast or too far. There were good days and bad ones, but slowly over time it improved. They started me with just the weight of my hands, and after a couple weeks went to surgical tubing. What sucked most was sitting out WET, and as a bonus I got to attend the EO/HR NCO course. By late winter I was able to run again, and slowly worked to small hand weights. It's quite humbling to be curling a lime green hand weight, that didn't weigh as much as the collars on the weights I used to throw around. But don't get discouraged, keep goin....and DON'T overdo it, don't get crazy before you're ready. I was fit to deploy by April, and slowly, it all started coming back. I lifted regularly with my team and they all were really supportive of me (along with the usual crip jokes and what not) I remember the day sometime in July I did 6 pull-ups in a gym in Livno, BiH and it felt like I had conquered Denali!!

Nearly 10 years later I'm retired and a Fireman. I might not be able to bench or military press what I usetacould, but I do alright for a guy pushin 50, and the young-uns still are tryin to catch me. I still get some pain in the shoulder occasionally, although my left one had been acting up lately.... ugh!! If you follow your PT's advice and take your time, I don't see any reason you can't be 99.9999% of what your strength, flexibilities and capabilities to be on a mountain or any other team once was. You're young, go slow... work hard and work smart.... NEVER QUIT!!