Shoulder surgery tomorrow, 9/14. I’m glad to be getting it done, but my right arm’s going to be in a sling for six weeks, so it’s going to be hard to write. Back when I can.
Update, typed with left hand only, Monday 7 pm: All done. Supine and resting at home, generously medicated and waiting for nerve-block to wear off. Thanks to all for your supportive comments, messages, and emails.
11 Comments
Sounds like you’re having a rotator cuff repair. Sorry to hear! Been there, done that. The 6 weeks in a sling is a real pain in the neck, but you’ll be able to use a keyboard before then (my work involves a lot of CAD-CAM-like activity, and I was able to return to this kind of work with my right arm after about 2 weeks). Good luck, and keep at your PT!
My left arm surgery for a complete tear of long head bicep tendon and muscle matrix and partial tears to several rotator cuff tendons was August 20. Threatened with California wildfire-related evacuation on the day before, but that was averted. Injury was July 26. I had 4 or 5 arthroscopic incisions on upper shoulder and one 2.5″ open incision along my bicep. I also had some tears in my elbow from the injury, but was told that would be addressed later with occupational therapy. I also was told six weeks in sling. I’m now in week 3 post surgery, and 2 weeks into OT on the elbow. Physical therapy on shoulder starts Sept 21. The sling is a two-part affair with lots of velcro adjusting straps. It was helpful for the first 2 weeks, despite it being a PITA, but I was an obedient patient (then). I ‘slept’ in my recliner for 2+ weeks. I love that chair! I took oxycodone for several days to stay ahead of pain, then quickly transitioned to Alleve for a week and have since had no need for pain meds. Also ice packs helped. The sling part that goes around my waist has been the first to go, very gradually at first. It just became a part of the problem, after the affected tissues and incision stabilized. Before that it was helpful. Still use the arm part of the sling, but only during part of the day. Don’t tell anyone. But I find passive movement and OT stretches I’ve been taught to be immensely helpful. I am making great strides in healing. I was told early on to get a wireless keypad, which has helped a lot with computer browsing, typing etc. Nutrition has been important, and I have been scarfing protein and veggies and anything else in sight. No alcohol or drugs during that initial time either. I hope your entire experience will be a seamless return to full functionality.
Thank you both! Not looking forward to it, but it will be good to be moving toward recovery rather than just waiting for the surgery (the injury was back in July, and for various reasons I didn’t want to leave Wellfleet for New York until now).
mharko, it sounds like your injury was quite a bit worse than mine, which AFAIK was just a couple of completely torn rotator-cuff tendons. (Did you fall off a bike or something?) We have only a small apartment in New York, and no recliner, so I suppose I will be figuring out some sort of arrangement with a wedge of pillows to prop up in bed for “sleeping”. (You were able to lie down flat after two weeks or so?)
I’ve also got an ice-compression gizmo coming for the first two weeks; I realize it might be overkill, but I want to give myself every possible advantage.
I thank you both again – it’s good to have these first-hand reports.
I was lifting a large and cumbersome window with a younger companion (I’m 68) and I let myself get distracted, there was a slip, and we almost lost it. After we got where we could put it down, and I was sitting, I felt a flutter like a curtain rolling up in my arm.
Yeah, without a recliner, I’d think you’ll want to experiment to find the right combo of pillows to prop up without torquing the arm/shoulder, and maybe something under the knees for back relief, and maybe a footboard or something to push up against, since gravity will want to sag you down if you’re propped up. I’m still negotiating with my regular bed to find a way to lie flat through the night, but the wife and I were getting too lonely being in separate rooms. I’m almost back to my regular pattern of sleeping flat on my back with a neck roll pillow. Last night 1/2 way through I was able to sleep on my opposite side as an alternative to flat on back. Napping during the day is working to take up the slack on lost sleep. I bought an ice water recirculating device similar to the one at your link, for $250, for the same reason, that i ended up not using at all. Just ice gel packs were sufficient for me, and the device was too complicated to wrap around and arrange. I did have a lot of swelling in my whole arm, and that was my main source of pain.
Good luck with the surgery tomorrow and get better quick. Your site is an oasis of reason in these terrible times…
Thanks, U.S..
Good luck Malcolm.
J.S.
Same here. Good luck.
Jeffery Hodges
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Malcolm, your left hand does fine work!;)
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Glad to hear the surgery s over and you are on the mend. Enjoy a pleasant convalescence, and mind your doctor if you can! :-)