50 and switching from Iron to cable machines?

[Brett N]

That is fine but it wont save you, it is just putting a band-aid on and not adressing the reason you are where you are. Like I said, you need to understand the shoulder joint and your injurys and then make a plan to prevent further damage and a PT will only help a tiny bit.

I guess I'm not fully understanding what you are getting at?? I totally get the reason I am where I am, it started back in high school when I decided to smoke weed and not pay attention. I was a smart ass and thought I knew more than my teachers. I ended up joining the military instead of college and eventually entered a construction trade that I've spent 26 years tearing my body up. I have 26 invested into multiple pensions that I don't plan on dropping out of. The earliest I can leave is 55 with heavy penalties. Realistically, 59 is when I can retire with minimal penalties.

On any given day I lay about 3.5-4 tons of brick each day going by the weight of 7-8 pounds each. Thats not including mortar. It's all on my right shoulder. When I'm laying stone it's probably more but it also includes swinging a 3 pound stone hammer with a carbide chisel on the end to shape the stone. The stone gets lifted and turned multiple times to shape it to fit and then laid. They can weigh between 2 pounds and 80+ pounds that need to guys to lay them precisely.

I enjoy lifting but most of it is out of necessity to stay in shape for my career.

So, what do I change to avoid further injury that is a possibility?? If you say career change, point me in the direction of someone that's hiring someone with no education past HS that pays $75k+ with excellent insurance and retirement because my Dr. suggested the same thing.

[wango]

I guess I'm not fully understanding what you are getting at?? I totally get the reason I am where I am, it started back in high school when I decided to smoke weed and not pay attention. I was a smart ass and thought I knew more than my teachers. I ended up joining the military instead of college and eventually entered a construction trade that I've spent 26 years tearing my body up. I have 26 invested into multiple pensions that I don't plan on dropping out of. The earliest I can leave is 55 with heavy penalties. Realistically, 59 is when I can retire with minimal penalties.

On any given day I lay about 3.5-4 tons of brick each day going by the weight of 7-8 pounds each. Thats not including mortar. It's all on my right shoulder. When I'm laying stone it's probably more but it also includes swinging a 3 pound stone hammer with a carbide chisel on the end to shape the stone. The stone gets lifted and turned multiple times to shape it to fit and then laid. They can weigh between 2 pounds and 80+ pounds that need to guys to lay them precisely.

I enjoy lifting but most of it is out of necessity to stay in shape for my career.

So, what do I change to avoid further injury that is a possibility?? If you say career change, point me in the direction of someone that's hiring someone with no education past HS that pays $75k+ with excellent insurance and retirement because my Dr. suggested the same thing.

Once a person is fortunate enough to find a great craftsman like yourself (painter, carpenter, plumber, stone worker, electrician), you found a best friend for life. I have decades old relationships with all, and all, like yourself are suffering physically because of the tole you’re job takes on your body. I wish you all the best. Is there anything you can arrange with your employer to allow you time to adjust to your return from surgery? I just started enjoying that light at the end of the tunnel (retirement) and hope you get there. Can you cut your hours even a bit, to give you added recovery time?

As this is a steroid forum, how’s your testosterone levels? At 56 I started TRT and physically, it really gave me a boost.

BTW, really work at your scapular muscles, like rhomboids & middle, lower traps. Also, watch that posture and stretch, stretch, stretch.

Sorry, once a PT, always a PT. As you are aware, ice will be your friend. Also you might find the compression sleeve helpful for work.