Last week,  Wednesday, I removed my sling for a few hours.  I was feeling real good and wanted some freedom.  After around four hours of moving around, I was exhausted and my arm felt dead.  It was a mistake.  Last Thursday, I had to attend a Town function, I am involved in Municipal Government as an elected official and a Gentleman. who I have known all my life hugged me and slapped me hard on my shoulder.  I previously removed my sling for photo's, and he knew I had surgery but thought it was on my elbow.  I stayed at the meeting for another forty minutes as my shoulder started to swell, then went home to Ice my shoulder.  At my PT session on Friday, my shoulder was too inflammed to do anything other than heat, ice and electric stimulation.

I was also in pain for the weekend, it truley was a set back.

I had a PT session yesterday , Monday, and the Therapist REALLY pushed me.  I feared she forgot who I was and thought I was another patient who had more healing time.  I admit it was a painfull session, I felt like vomitting and, I think, I created new curse words.  I took some pain meds, and iced  through the day and slept well last night.

Today is Tuesday, nearly four weeks post op and I finally feel like I did before last Wednesday.

Listen to what the PT and Ortho tell you and don't break the rules.

Just stay positive, it does get better.

Kevin

What a week so far.  Monday at Dr. for first post op visit.  Tuesday was first PT, went well, simple range of motion workout.  Wednesday was second PT visit, OUCH.  The therapist moved my hand above my head, and added a few extra home workouts.  Wednesday night was the first bad sleeping experience in the last two weeks.  I was sore form PT and tried to sleep in my bed for the first time in two weeks.  That worked out for an hour, kept trying to readjust my position, never got to sleep.  Back to the couch with the back support, but was so tender form PT, I slept an hour, went back to the office chair.  Thursday I seem to be in a funk, sore and , I think, a tension headache.  First bad day, going to take it easy.  I'll take one bad day for every two weeks......Back to PT tomorrow, Friday.

 Will see the ortho in five weeks.  Also, ortho insists the sling for another five weeks. 

Just stay positive, it will get better

Kevin

Vist was fantastic.  I had stitches removed and discussed issues with Dr.  He did not test ROM but I am moving my arm  from pointing at my toes to saluting my forehead pain free.  I am allowed to remove my sling when watching Television or eating but have to rely on it, anywhere else, for Five more weeks.   I start PT tomorrow with light ROM exercises 3 times a week for twelve weeks,  then a determination will be made from there as to how to progress.

 It's been eleven days since surgery, I have basically stopped pain meds, I'm sure I'll need some for PT.  I have had some slight pain, cramping in the last few days but it is( I like the sound of this) healing pain.

I have progressed from sleeping in a chair to a couch.  I fell there is better back support with a couch over a bed, less of a chance of rolling back.  I also recommend some form of a back scratcher, I have a 12 inch wood ruler that satifies my unreacheable parts.  It's the little things that count sometimes.

Just stay positive, it does get better

Kevin

4 days post op and just asked doctor perrmission to stop vicoden es and subsitute motrin.  II'll use pain meds to sleep and I know I'll need them when I start PT, which will be determined after my first dr. visit on the 7th of Jan.

I found my best sleep arraingement was in my home office chair.  It has excellent lumbar support and a good head rest.  I set it to recline and at the shortest distance to the floor.  Then I used some couch pillows to prop my feet back.  I have slept in my home office since I had surgery.  It has a computer, tv, I am near a bathroom and kitchen.  I can close the door to signal my kids to keep it quite while I sleep.

Finding a spot like this during anyones recovery should be mandatory.

I'll post after my doctor visit.

Happy New Year

Kevin

Hi all,

A little background.  I'm a 45 yr old male, active, non smoker, married with four kids.  Live 10 miles out of Manhatten.  I damaged my right shoulder twenty five years ago and lived with pain thru tennis, hockey, football (irish) and a few (lost)bar fights.  I also coach wrestling, which I wll continue to oversee.

I hade my surgery 48 hours ago, and it went textbook.  I had rotator cuff repair, slap tear repair at (10 o'clock to 2 o'clock), bone spur removal and decompression. 

 It's been painful but I expected that.  The reason why I chose to do this now is I have an eleven year old that loves to play baseball, pretty talented and playes all year long.  I can not throw a ball to him, so my mantra has been "I want to have a catch with Connor".  That Mantra has gotten me through the MRI and other tests and got me to where I am, post surgery.