August will be seven  months since surgery.

I'm constantly amazed at how far I've come.  The shoulder has only minor discomfort, and that's only when I move it in some fashion it's not happy with.

I continue with strengthening by working out with hand weights.  The shoulder does fatigue easily when, for instance, fishing for long periods of time.  But the fatigue without pain feels good.  I even did something requiring hammering recently.  I was careful, but I felt no discomfort at all.

I've got six more PT appointments that insurance will cover.  However, I'm now in COBRA transition due to a job layoff, so until insurance is reactivated, I'm being the good patient and working out every day on my own.  Same with an appt with my ortho which I'll reschedule at a later date.

I test drove my truck for the first time today (stick shift and no power steering) and I didn't even feel a flinch of discomfort.  So I'm good to go there.

My doc was pleased with progress thus far.  Continue PT, come back in a month.  He asked me to raise my arm up,  holding out to the side.  When asked if this was all I could do, I said seemed so.  He then asked me to give him my arm, then proceeded to very slowly raise it even higher.  His comment was you can raise it, you just don't have the strength to do so.  He said if we turned you upside down,  your arm would go over your head.  Had to laugh at that one.  He did say it could take six or more months to be back to full motion.  (Of course thanks to this group and my research, I already knew that.)

I've decided to change PT to 2x per week so that in the end I'll have had more time, per se, to work with my therapist.  On Monday afer working out, then heat and electric stim, she manually manipulated the shoulder, very gently pushing and stretching.  That felt just wonderful!  I was a tad sore the next day but my shoulder felt different - much less tight, as if it has progressed to a different level.  Even last night while doing my hour home work-out, I was able to stretch farther than before with no discomfort.  Pretty cool.

Today will be my fifth PT session.  So far so good.  Yes there are moments when I'm uncomfortable afterwards, but all it all, it's better by the day.

Protocol for me at present is:  5 min at the pully stretching, 5 minutes on the exercise ball stretching forward, 5 minutes on the ball for internal and external rotation.  Then to the cane - lying on my back with cane in both hands palms up raising it up and above my head, holding 3 seconds with pressing slightly, back down.  Then with the cane tip in the palm of my repaired arm, elbow at my side, swinging the entire arm out and upwards, returning full motion with elbow at the side.  Finally with my elbow locked at my side and cane tip in palm of hand pressing outwards (external rotation).  20 reps each, then repeat once more for total of 40 each.  Yesterday was added shrugging shoulders 20 times (small movement but I can feel it).  They lying face down on the mat with arms at my side, shoulders in relaxed position towards the mat, palms up, very slight lifting of the palms upward.  I mean like 6 inches, for count of 20. 

Had my first PT session last night.  After a meeting and evaluation, I worked out a couple of exercises using a big exercise ball.  Stretching forward, then rotation left and right.  Followed by 15 minutes of heat.

I didn't ask the numbers which I'll do tomorrow.  Therapist seemed surprised that doc didn't have me even doing pendulum for my six weeks (even though I did them myself at five).  My shoulder joint is very tight.  I can move here and there, but what I didn't realize is that I've been lifting my shoulder to do so, therefore not really working the joint much.  I have to concentrate on that.

Sleeping last night was almost pointless.  Muscles are very sore today.  No pain, just soreness.

Next appt is tomorrow, then I begin 3X per week for the next four weeks. 

Therapist said be patient, things will improve.  She is going to speak with my doc today to find out just what he wants her to work on.  His written orders didn't give her a lot of specifics.  I'm a little concerned there.

 Until next time.

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Just back from my 6 week post op doc appt.  I'm ready for PT and have my first appt Wednesday next week. Four weeks 3x per week.   I mentioned to the doc I've slept without the sling for the past two nights and it was a horrible experience.  I asked if it would be counterproductive to PT if I slept with the brace.  He said by all means sleep with it if it's what I need, and that eventually I won't need it.   Have to test that theory.  All I know is that I can't function at work all day without sleeping much at night.

I asked about pain management through PT.  He said PT will help with that.  Didn't say anything about pain meds in conjunction with PT.  He did tell me not to let the therapist push me to severe pain level.  Trust me, I'll be speaking up. 

Although shy of 6 weeks, I decided to ditch the sling for sleeping.  I'm sure I'll lose it when I see my doc this week anyway.  Sleeping without the sling is going to be more challenging than sleeping with it.  I'm tucking the little sling pillow part between my arm and body to sleep on my side, and that's comfortable.  Sleeping on my back needs major tweaking - finding just the right something to slip under my shoulder and arm.  And back to tylenol PM I'm afraid....

I've taken it upon myself to do pendulum exercises, and they actually feel great.  I'm not pushing anything, but some range of motion is delightful to see.  There are things I can do that I couldn't before. 

Was scheduled to see my doc this week but appt was postponed until next week.

At 5 weeks post op, I feel very positive and really good.  I'm only wearing the sling/pillow to sleep at night, because quite frankly my shoulder feels better not in the sling.  I'm dutifully mindful of what I'm doing with the arm, keeping it protected when need be.

Although surgery was performed on my dominant arm, I'm surprised at just how much I can do with it.  Other than lifting the arm towards the shoulder or back, it has some good movement.  At the end of the day's work (I'm an administrative assistant), the bicep muscle is sore.  The feeling is like a muscle cramp rather than a soreness from overworking it.  Nothing ibuprofen and a little icing doesn't relieve.