Jeff Benson at shoulder surgery follow-up visit with Dr. Jeffrey Klassen
As a pilot for North Memorial Health in the Brainerd area, Jeff Benson likes to stay fit with regular workouts. However, while working out with his 18-year-old son, he did a bench press weight lift that left him with a sore left shoulder, and ultimately an injury that needed surgical repair.
“I laid off working out for a few weeks, but then went back to going to the gym,” Jeff explained. “My shoulder was at about 70 percent, but then I reached up to grab a cup and felt sudden pain in my left shoulder.”
After seeking orthopaedic care, Jeff learned that he had a Superior Labrum Anterior and Posterior or SLAP tear, the ring of cartilage that surrounds the shoulder joint socket. He was going to need shoulder surgery to recover his full left arm use.
Dr. Don Hughes is the go-to physician for Jeff Benson’s flight physicals
“I went to see Dr. Don Hughes at Riverwood, who I absolutely trust for my medical care, for my annual flight physical. He advised me to get a second opinion from Dr. Jeffrey Klassen, who specializes in shoulder surgery.
I was able to meet with Dr. Klassen the same day and liked his bedside manner; I felt good about scheduling my surgery with him. He told me to choose a time that worked best for missing 8 to 12 weeks of work, so I chose mid-November after deer hunting.
My outpatient shoulder surgery was a pleasant experience overall. The Riverwood surgery staff, including the nurse anesthetist, kept me calm, explaining exactly what was going to happen. I got an upper shoulder nerve block, which can take 24 hours or more to wear off, and it’s important to learn how to manage an arm with absolutely no feeling for that amount of time.
Considering the outstanding care I received, I would highly recommend Riverwood for orthopaedic surgery anytime.”
Jeff returned to his pilot duties eight weeks following his surgery, able to work out once again without shoulder pain.