I had a bad trip to a sports doctor today who says I need an MRI scan and Xray on my shoulder because he thinks i have either a Slap Lesion (cartlidge has delaminated) or a Rotatorcuff Tendon Tear... So it's either surgery or cortisone injections.

Does anyone have any experience with these injuries and if so how much time should I expect off the water?

Hopefully a load of drugs can get me to the end of the season!

I tore mine playing rugby and had it operated on. It depends how big the tear is. If it's small, non-steroidal anti-flams will do, bigger then cortisone (which is steroidal), if they don't work then surgery is the order of the day. I was back playing 6 weeks after surgery.

Forgot to mention that I have had this shoulder problem on and off for about 5 years. I can windsurf for months without a problem but then hurt it putting a t-shirt on. After a rest period of about 7 days I'm back out on the water... I thought I should finally get it checked out. Unfortunatley it looks like I'm not covered on the private health insurance as it would be classed a "pre-existing" injury. I'm also on a UK medicare card so get little to no assistance. Might have to move back to the UK, get it sorted, then come back out here....

Surgery or new kit it's a difficult choice!

Yeah I think I'm screwed. And I guess the flight cost might be the same as an op here.

hi Crash,
bugga with the shoulder.did my rotator cuff in '98.had surgury then 6 weeks in a sling/further 6 weeks light exercise then able(just!)to sail.took its time to heal/strengthen and still not 100% but still manage to sail ok nowmy advice take it slow,get some advice/treatment from a physio and be patient.

wish you a speedy recovery
ggf

p.s. crashed my mountain bike(again in '04)undid most of my "repair" but have managed to aviod another op for now with exercise but will need to go under the knife again to fix better,but thats after the knee,ankle and just recently the finger

Rev, good thinking. I was hoping that acupuncture could help.

Had my MRI's and X-rays yesterday so should find out soon. The worst thing is, $500 down and the shoulder feels 90% better! I haven't had any treatment other than rest!

Hey Crash Landing, if you are sydney-based and can get to North Sydney, there is a good Physio who works at Fitness First on Walker St. her name is Buzz. 0418 225 959. She's very experienced with shoulder injuries and might be able to give you a course of physio, stretches and exercises to do yourself to get on the mend quicker.

She's no windsurf or kitesurf expert but has years of experience as a kayak paddler and has seen all the rotator cuff injuries you can imagine. I did mine several months back and it is a slow steady process to recovery. But worth it. If you don't do the right thing, your body will compensate using other muscles around the rotator but this could lead to problems later on.

Good luck mate and I hope you stay on the water and don't have to go back to Blighty!

Yep, I have had that problem too. Physios see to be good at this stuff, more so that doctors.