Yeah I didn't know how critical the sling is/was. I remember with a pec surgery I stopped using it in a day or so but made sure I kept the arm as if in a sling. Then when you go show the docs during follow ups they can be a little harsh when extending the arm and so on. I wondered how they determined how far along the recovery process I was as he can't see the tendon. Like I wrote sometime before, my bicep surgeon told me I was lifting too light 12 weeks out, I should have been lifting at 100% already, "we don't want you functional, we aim to have you 100% back at previous strength." I have mentioned my friend who after a complete bicep tear was back 100%, according to him and the doc, in about 6-8 weeks iirc. I was curling 10 or 15lbs 12 weeks out. I have heard movement with some load is important very quickly to ensure "correct" healing patterns. And article on Elitefts on hamstring tears said it was imperative to wrap the thigh hard the first few days to stop bleeding and excessive pooling and the wrapping would expedite recovery by maybe 2-3 months and then to immediately start moving and slightly loading the leg full range. Or start pressing a broom immediately following a pec tear and then increasing loads. Talking about tears not requiring surgery. Krankenstein would know if these 'dumb' powerlifters have a point. Another thing I'm not clear on is use of NSAIDs and perhaps icing fteah injuries as I've read that both actually hinder recovery but some say it's important to reduce "runaway inflammation." If I'm not mistaken an NSAID is usually taken prior to surgery so it's already circulating.
1) They are best served for 4 - 6 weeks whenever the shoulder / shoulder area are involved to allow the surgical correction to take hold. You are limiting the weight of the arm pulling against the attachment (be it bicep or pec or rotator tendon)
2) The can determine how the healing in based on your subjective feedback of pain and range of motion. The day after my rotator repair you start with pendulum and no weight bicep curls. Those fucking curls felt like my bicep tendon was going to rupture. I didn't even have the tenodesis procedure.
3) You could wrap the leg, but its unlikely you will stop the bleeding. Even so, you do want SOME of that to happen so that the area is infiltrated with satellite cells. Not sure how they came up with 2 - 3 months. Blood is going to pool in the area and then start to migrate down the leg simply due to gravity. I do agree with the moving it, but not loading after that injury. Start with more passive, then work active.
4) The old RICE thing with ice is outdated. In general, for say a grade 1 - 2 strain...ice is recommended for 3 - 5 days post injury (provided it is just an acute one and not chronically injured). From there start to do contrast (heat then ice). I love using kinesio tape in areas that are bruised to help get rid of the bruising. See below for the sample.
5) Inflammation is not necessarily a bad thing. Too much will hinder macrophages and fibroblasts. Thats why with any grade 2+ ankle sprain should use crutches. None of this bullshit "just walk the pain off". Great way of getting scar tissue to form in that ATF ligament.
