mtcoothaman Loc: Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

I am in week 2 after having shoulder surgery in my left, non dominant, arm ( Rotator cuff ). I understand conditions vary enormously with individual's age,physique, extent of surgery etc and I have a reasonable understanding of the 3-6 months of rehab I will have to restore function.

I also know that many Hogers are around my age, 71, and that some are likely to have had similar surgery. I am interested to hear of experiences of those who have had surgery, particularly wrt ability to handhold a DSLR steady. I shoot Pentax with a variety of lenses generally up to 70mm - middle weight range I guess.

I look forward to any input I get- hopefully to cheer me up a bit as one armed, non driving lifestyle is already a bit tedious! If I am likely to have problems I may consider buying some lighter gear ( Sony a6000 ?) in the Xmas sale.

Thanks in anticipation.

Photocraig

Hi mt,
I had shoulder surgery a number of years ago when I was a mere 45 year old. Our shoulders are very sensitive to all of our motions. I just recently had occasion to get lighter gear in the Canon line and ended up with a 19 oz body. That's not a lot heavier (3 0z.) than the A6000. For the purposes you suggest, I don't think that will make a significant difference for you. By the time your shoulder has recovered enough to hold a SONY or other ML, you should be able to support your Pentax. I think I'd try a monopod to help hold the camera in place without supporting it with your left hand holding the camera/pod combo and the right hand controlling the camera. Keep the body lens combination light and build up as you heal and regain strength.

In the meanwhile, it might be time for you to master your phone camera. My i phone confounds my efforts to make photographs vs. take snaps. If you're the same, this is a good excuse and motivation to buckle down and learn it and you'll have a good back up camera when you're back to normal. Lots of You Tube help. If you're already there, then I suggest you keep active by stretching the limits of the phone and and build up a shot list that demands more camera so you can come back and complete the job.

Good luck, and keep the shoulder moving as much as you can. They want to freeze up with inactivity and advancing age.

Craig

Jay Pat Loc: Round Rock, Texas, USA

There have been several posts in the past for adapting to use a camera.
If you end up with a special need, post about.
The group will jump right in to help you.
Be sure and follow rehab. If things aren't coming along as you think they should ask rehab about it.
Pat

krl48 Loc: NY, PA now SC

My experience after rotator cuff surgery at 65 yo was that pain was still present even 3 to 4 months after physical therapy ended. Somewhere in the 5th month or so, the pain just sort of disappeared. It's been 4 years and I manage to handle my D7100/18-200 mm combo just fine.

As others have said, keep it moving and you'll make progress. Best of luck to you.

HOT Texas Loc: From the Heart of Texas

I fell one time and did a lot of damage to my Rotator cuff, the best rehab I found was swimming and oh yes I do shoot a Sony a6000, you will find all my other camera's in a camera bag and up on a shelf, every now and then I pull one down and back to the shelf it will go.

mtcoothaman Loc: Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Thanks all- I am encouraged but I felt that the surgeon was a bit downbeat and I had bleed and haematoma-scary. He said that 6 months would be needed. That would mean I would be fit for trip to Portugal and Spain next year and allow coverage for travel insurance. It was a 50/50 decision to have surgery but I took a longer term view. I had done 3 months of physio to strengthen support muscles so that may stand me in good stead. I intend to be diligent re rehab as I am keen to continue to travel, golf, photograph and carry my latest grandchild who is Solid.

The reality is that old age catches up.

rayr

might be a good time to take a look at all the great micro 4/3 cameras out there, smaller and lighter than DSLR and the image quality is really good.

Don W-37 Loc: Bangkok, Thailand

I'm 80 and had left rotator cuff surgery 3 years ago. Sling 24/7 for 6 weeks and very careful for 6 months. After that, no problems. Can hand hold my D750 with a Tamron 150 - 600 for an hour or so. Rest 15 min then go again. Just follow your doctor's instructions to a tee. Don't rush it. Good luck.

mtcoothaman Loc: Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Thanks Don. I feel encouraged by your experience

mtcoothaman Loc: Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

That is one option I may need to consider but I have a concern because I have quite large hands and my friends Oly OM something felt a bit small.

home brewer Loc: Fort Wayne, Indiana

I am 67 had left rotator cuff repair on 1 September. I was in good shape until the damage that occurred when I pitched forward while hiking on a steep gravel hill in France when I protected the D500 and the 18 to 300 lens; the impact of my forearm with the ground. I saved the camera. I have had PT twice a week since and next week I will start on the strengthening next week. I still due not have full motion. My deltoid and pec are stiff and shortened due to the six weeks in the immobilizer.
Using the camera was nearly impossible for about 4 weeks until I could get the hand up in front of my face. During that time I set the zoom before I raised the camera; shot at smaller apertures, high shutter speeds and higher ISO to compensate for the increase in camera shake since the lens was not supported.

Good luck

lrry

I'm 74. Have full-tendon tears in both shoulders. I also have (almost) full range of motion. Obviously post-op is very painful initially and it will decrease over time. For me, the key to recovery was physical therapy - which i was obsessive about and still are obsessive about exercise. I don't have any problems with my Nikon 810 and a long lens.

John_F Loc: Minneapolis, MN

You might find a monopod or tripod useful. Luck on the recovery.

rdgreenwood Loc: Kennett Square, Pennsylvania

I'm 75 and about 18 months post surgery on my left shoulder--I find it curious that so many of us in this discussion had our left shoulders worked on--and still have days where I experience pain. To your question, however, aside from being careful to carry my equipment with my left hand, I've not found that the surgery had much impact on my photography. I shoot mostly landscape and garden photographs with a Nikon D800E and a Sony A6000, but my shoulder has nothing to do with my choice on any given occasion. People heal at different rates, so keep doing what you're doing; it certainly sounds like you're using good judgment. Good luck.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Three word hint: Micro Four Thirds

Two more hints: Panasonic and Olympus

Final hint: The weight of most camera systems is in the lenses. Here are two lenses with the same angle of view range:

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED Lens ($1800) weight 900 grams (Works on full frame FX or APS-C DX cameras)

Panasonic Lumix G X Vario 12-35mm f/2.8 II ASPH. POWER O.I.S. Lens ($898) 305 grams (Works on Panasonic and Olympus Micro 4/3 bodies)

Same coverage, same maximum aperture, about 1/3 the weight.

You gain two stops of effective depth of field at a given aperture and focal length, compared to full frame/FX.

You gain one stop of effective depth of field at a given aperture and focal length, compared to APS-C/DX.

You lose two stops of low light performance, on average, compared to full frame/FX, OR you lose one stop of low light performance, on average, compared to APS-C/DX.

AND you lose half to two thirds of the overall system weight and half the cost.