Just a brief update to demonstrate recovery time. My DI outfielder son had labrum and rotator cuff repair on July 30, '08. He has rehabbed since then without complication. Yesterday, the surgeon gave him clearance to begin throwing lightly --- 5 months post surgery.
He was told to ease into a throwing routine over a few weeks, but not to throw at full effort until April --- 8 months post surgery. He will redshirt in the '09 college season and hopes to play summer ball starting June, roughly 10 months after surgery.
So, it's a slow process. The surgeon says the repair should be strong and that my son should be able to return to pre-injury form for the '10 season.
My son is fine mentally, but I'm a wreck worried about surviving my first no-baseball Spring in 12 years!
To those players facing the surgery, keep up the spirits and perseverance. For their parents, there's always something to do in the Spring --- knitting, planting begonias, watching paint dry.