I hurt my shoulder lifting, the injury was from a long time ago.

Last week it really started to hurt, and yesterday I went to the doc.

Looking at it with ultrasound - it looks like I didn't tear my rotator cuff...

However he thinks there may be cartilage damage where my arm connects to the shoulder socket.

He actually said I can "keep lifting" but I'd need to do really light weights and watch my form - i.e. not hyper extend my arms when moving my shoulders, such as NOT letting the barbell touch my chest when benching.

If I get surgery he said I'd probably be back in the gym within 6 months... However without surgery - if it's cartilage damage - it will never heal on its own.

I'm getting an MRI done on tuesday on my shoulder to fully diagnose the problem. If it really looks like I need surgery I'm gonna go it - it's best just to take care of it.

Anyone have any experience with this type of surgery and rehab?

If so - when you returned to lifting, were you able to fully extend move your shoulders back and forth, when lifting, allowing full range of motion such as with letting the barbell touch your chest when you bench?