When I had my accident, I knew I'd damaged my shoulder but thought I could just live with it. (I had surgery on the other shoulder ~6 years ago, and it was a tough recovery that I didn't want to go through again.) I did 5-6 months of ortho PT for my neck and shoulder, then was transferred to a neuro/vestibular PT for another 6 mo after my concussion was diagnosed.

At the 1-year point, I guess I was ready to know what I was dealing with and had an MRI that showed a torn labrum. I did some more PT and continue to work with a PT privately. I finally saw a surgeon a few weeks ago because I'm accepting that it's not going to get any better on its own.

My main motivation is that I still haven't given up on returning to triathlon, hopefully long-course distances. But with the head injury issues I'm not sure that even if my body is fixed that my head will let me go along with my plan (or maybe I should say my wishes). I've been having trouble with my heart rate climbing when I exercise - at this point I can jog 3-4 slow miles before I'm "maxed out." I don't know how much better this will get.

I think I'll still benefit in terms of day-to-day living, like being able to do house- and yard-work, sleep, or carry groceries, without shoulder pain. My neck is slowly improving, which will also help. I've analyzed and talked this out with my PT, and I think that if I don't go for it, I'll regret it.

So... sorry for the long post, but writing it out helps me organize my thoughts. Any suggestions for getting the best possible outcome with the fewest side effects from surgery? I had sinus surgery a few months ago and was extremely dizzy the first day and then had a pretty nasty headache for a few weeks. I've been following most of the suggestions in the vitamin thread, trying to eat healthy, and getting a moderate amount of exercise.

I'm starting to feel a sense of peace about my decision but would still love to hear from anyone who wants to share tips, experiences, faith, or prayers!