Surgery was two weeks ago. I'm surprised how quickly recovery begins! Doc says I will eventually be as good as new; I'm just not sure how soon I will be able to push myself and really stress my joints. I started PT this week, and will undergo 12 sessions over the next month. Doc says I should gain "normal" usage of my left shoulder and elbow within six weeks. Of course, that's not bench pressing 300 pounds! Also, I need the same repair work done on my right AC joint and maybe my right elbow. And, I don't know how soon THAT can be undertaken. I don't want to recover my left side and begin training only to have to stop and step backwards again as I go through another surgery and recovery. It seems like it would take forever get anywhere that way!

Therefore, I don't expect to start serious training again until I've had my second surgery and am fully recovered from THAT. I'm hoping I can do the second surgery later this fall or early winter. That should allow full recovery by early next spring. So, it might be around my 67th birthday in May that sees me back in the gym full time. Hopefully that will give me time to hit a few competitions next fall, although I don’t know how weak I’ve gotten, nor how long it will take to gain back my strength. Luckily, I have good muscle memory and can usually come back pretty quickly. We shall see….