MD Becoming a surgeon with mild shoulder arthritis?

[Kaarage]

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I am a current MS1 who has mild shoulder arthritis from a sports injury years back. It really doesn't bother me too much, maybe 2 out of 10 pain on a bad day. My injured shoulder is on the side of my non-dominant hand. Most days I don't notice it, but sometimes it acts up especially if I'm carrying heavy things.

I've taken an interest in surgery and am thinking about pursuing it. However, I fear that my shoulder might get worse as I age, and that may impact my procedural skills one day.

My question is, do any of you know surgeons with (mild) handicaps or injuries who are still able to practice? Is surgery still a viable option for me?

 

[NYCdude]

One of the surgery residents would be able to provide a good answer. As a med student, I sometimes thought my arm was going to fall off holding a retractor for 40 minutes at a time without moving position but residents are free to move around as they see fit lol.

 

[OrthoTraumaMD]

It’s alright, we can always scope you later. 😉


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[Instatewaiter]

I am a current MS1 who has mild shoulder arthritis from a sports injury years back. It really doesn't bother me too much, maybe 2 out of 10 pain on a bad day. My injured shoulder is on the side of my non-dominant hand. Most days I don't notice it, but sometimes it acts up especially if I'm carrying heavy things.

I've taken an interest in surgery and am thinking about pursuing it. However, I fear that my shoulder might get worse as I age, and that may impact my procedural skills one day.

My question is, do any of you know surgeons with (mild) handicaps or injuries who are still able to practice? Is surgery still a viable option for me?

Well Ortho is out. I mean how are you supposed to Max out your bench and deadlift?

 

[TheIllusionist]

Well Ortho is out. I mean how are you supposed to Max out your bench and deadlift?

Most orthos I see can't even bench 225 paused off the chest or deadlift 315 without going into "scared cat mode." This stereotype about them all being muscle men is hilarious. The ones that are actually strong are the naturally big boned guys or the ones that were athletes their entire lives in sports that require brute power like football or sprinting. Ortho has a disproportionate number of them, but they still seem to be the minority, from what I've seen. Actually, I would be shocked if even half our ortho attendings could even bench 185 touch and go.

When you live in the hospital and have to work as hard as them, you don't actually have the time to cultivate the physique you probably aspire to because that requires a lot of sleeping and eating properly. The exceptions are guys that already came in strong and try for dear life not to lose too much too quickly or people that use drugs. I know a few orthos that take roids. Interesting stuff.

 

[nimbus]

Most orthos I see can't even bench 225 paused off the chest or deadlift 315 without going into "scared cat mode." This stereotype about them all being muscle men is hilarious. The ones that are actually strong are the naturally big boned guys or the ones that were athletes their entire lives in sports that require brute power like football or sprinting. Ortho has a disproportionate number of them, but they still seem to be the minority, from what I've seen. Actually, I would be shocked if even half our ortho attendings could even bench 185 touch and go.

When you live in the hospital and have to work as hard as them, you don't actually have the time to cultivate the physique you probably aspire to because that requires a lot of sleeping and eating properly. The exceptions are guys that already came in strong and try for dear life not to lose too much too quickly or people that use drugs. I know a few orthos that take roids. Interesting stuff.

Synthes ortho rep is definitely out. Average deadlift for those guys is probably 500.

 

[TheIllusionist]

Ortho reps (synthes in particular) actually have the best physiques. Average deadlift for those guys is probably 500.

Reps in general for all fields look better rested, better fed, better looking, and stronger than the doctors that work in those fields. Their performance depends more on their appearance, so it is a bigger part of the hiring process and they have more an incentive to maintain it. Also, they just work fewer hours, so it allows them to actually have time to do what needs to be done to get the best physique they can get.

 

[nimbus]

Reps in general for all fields look better rested, better fed, better looking, and stronger than the doctors that work in those fields. Their performance depends more on their appearance, so it is a bigger part of the hiring process and they have more an incentive to maintain it. Also, they just work fewer hours, so it allows them to actually have time to do what needs to be done to get the best physique they can get.

They don’t always work fewer hours. I’ve seen the trauma reps literally live at the hospital. No work hours restrictions for them.

 

[TheIllusionist]

They don’t always work fewer hours. I’ve seen them live at the hospital.

Yeah sometimes. But they are from a more physically genetically blessed stock on average.

 

[nimbus]

One thing OP should consider is the ability to get disability insurance as a surgeon with a potentially career shortening condition.

 

[TheIllusionist]

One thing OP should consider is the ability to get disability insurance as a surgeon with a potentially career shortening condition.

hopefully it isn't recorded anywhere yet so he can pay a lower premium

 

[Instatewaiter]

Most orthos I see can't even bench 225 paused off the chest or deadlift 315 without going into "scared cat mode." This stereotype about them all being muscle men is hilarious. The ones that are actually strong are the naturally big boned guys or the ones that were athletes their entire lives in sports that require brute power like football or sprinting. Ortho has a disproportionate number of them, but they still seem to be the minority, from what I've seen. Actually, I would be shocked if even half our ortho attendings could even bench 185 touch and go.

When you live in the hospital and have to work as hard as them, you don't actually have the time to cultivate the physique you probably aspire to because that requires a lot of sleeping and eating properly. The exceptions are guys that already came in strong and try for dear life not to lose too much too quickly or people that use drugs. I know a few orthos that take roids. Interesting stuff.

Thank you for ruining the joke

 

[Kaarage]

Well Ortho is out. I mean how are you supposed to Max out your bench and deadlift?

Well, joking aside, the reason I have this injury is from a weightlifting accident! I am thinking about ortho and do still lift heavy on a regular basis... My max has dropped quite a bit due to the injury though.

 

[OrthoTraumaMD]

Well, joking aside, the reason I have this injury is from a weightlifting accident! I am thinking about ortho and do still lift heavy on a regular basis... My max has dropped quite a bit due to the injury though.

Relax. Ortho is not out of the game for you. Just focus on your grades.
One of the toughest ortho residents I’ve met had hip dysplasia with a chronic limp, and was an absolute beast.


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[liveonthewater]

I'm going into EM. Different, but still requires an ability to perform procedures, etc. I worked a blue collar job for 10+ years before med-school (super non-traditional) which has left me with lots of nagging injuries. I also wrestled in high school and college. I'm now in my late 30s and despite my daily aches and pains, I'm still able to do everything I need to without issues. You'll be fine.

 

[VincentAdultman]

A variation of this question is always asked and the answer is always the same.

 

[VincentAdultman]

Most orthos I see can't even bench 225 paused off the chest or deadlift 315 without going into "scared cat mode." This stereotype about them all being muscle men is hilarious. The ones that are actually strong are the naturally big boned guys or the ones that were athletes their entire lives in sports that require brute power like football or sprinting. Ortho has a disproportionate number of them, but they still seem to be the minority, from what I've seen. Actually, I would be shocked if even half our ortho attendings could even bench 185 touch and go.

When you live in the hospital and have to work as hard as them, you don't actually have the time to cultivate the physique you probably aspire to because that requires a lot of sleeping and eating properly. The exceptions are guys that already came in strong and try for dear life not to lose too much too quickly or people that use drugs. I know a few orthos that take roids. Interesting stuff.

It was a joke. He was making a joke.

 

[doc05]

I am a current MS1 who has mild shoulder arthritis from a sports injury years back. It really doesn't bother me too much, maybe 2 out of 10 pain on a bad day. My injured shoulder is on the side of my non-dominant hand. Most days I don't notice it, but sometimes it acts up especially if I'm carrying heavy things.

I've taken an interest in surgery and am thinking about pursuing it. However, I fear that my shoulder might get worse as I age, and that may impact my procedural skills one day.

My question is, do any of you know surgeons with (mild) handicaps or injuries who are still able to practice? Is surgery still a viable option for me?

General surgery could be out. keep in mind the laparoscopy puts your arms/ shoulders in awkward positions and may aggravate your injury.

 

[RecumbentChair]

Most orthos I see can't even bench 225 paused off the chest or deadlift 315 without going into "scared cat mode." This stereotype about them all being muscle men is hilarious. The ones that are actually strong are the naturally big boned guys or the ones that were athletes their entire lives in sports that require brute power like football or sprinting. Ortho has a disproportionate number of them, but they still seem to be the minority, from what I've seen. Actually, I would be shocked if even half our ortho attendings could even bench 185 touch and go.

When you live in the hospital and have to work as hard as them, you don't actually have the time to cultivate the physique you probably aspire to because that requires a lot of sleeping and eating properly. The exceptions are guys that already came in strong and try for dear life not to lose too much too quickly or people that use drugs. I know a few orthos that take roids. Interesting stuff.

😀 interesting. I suppose that makes sense.