I am hoping Sharon is around to respond to the following. If anyone else has had same experience I would love some input.

In PT yesterday my external rotation has regressed a bit. I have been diligent with home exercises. I was at 56 last Monday and now am at 50 and it is just SO very painful both when PT is stretching me and of course my at-home exercises. I did miss one PT last week (I go twice a week) due to being out of town for Thanksgiving. All of my other PROM goals have improved except for the ext rotation. I had a slight fall a couple of weeks ago where I stretched out the arm as I fell backwards. Could this slight regression be from something I did when I fell or just because I missed PT? Is scar tissue possible? Is this even anything to worry about? PT said that they worry when they see regression and when we are not sleeping through the night pain-free. Is it really realistic to not have pain while sleeping at 7 weeks PO? The night-time pain is better now that I am icing before bed but I still wake up in pain. I can usually repostion and fall back to sleep until around 4 or 5am when I get the sharp stabbing pains in top/front of shoulder and down into bicep. From then I sort of just doze and try to prop up the arm.

I don't see OS until 12/12. I am trying to stay positive and will ask PT to re-evaluate the ext rotation on Friday when I go again.

Today my shoulder and upper arm have been very achy and I have had shooting pains in my bicep. I have also had pins and needles off and on in my hand. I assume that this is all due to the stretching in PT yesterday. It felt like she stretched me more than usual. The pain during PT yesterday was intense. I have been at work all day and am getting ready to ice it now.

Sorry so long, I am frustrated and a bit concerned. One of my biggest fears going into this surgery was that I would be worse off after. I hope this is just a bump in the recovery road! We leave for a family trip to Disneyworld in 2 weeks and I really hoped I would be in better shape than I am now.

Hi Tinks,
I know that when I was sick with the flu and didn't do PT for 5 days boy did it hurt when I went back. Wed it will be 8 weeks for me. I still have pain if I wear a bra strap on that shoulder.....guess one girl is will be longer then the other for a while oh well it's better then pain. Have fun on your trip but bring your sling!!! It may help around people and if your arm is down to long.

I just wrote the longest post and it evaporated, that has been my day. So Tinks a few things, don't worry about getting ER.
If all your other motions were regressing, I would be concerned about the dreaded frozen shoulder, but you are just fine. It is probably just protective spasms and scar tissue, especially the biceps. Here are my suggestions.

Get yourself to a pool and jacuzzi. At nearly 6 weeks I took a trip to Florida and discovered water therapy. After a poor night sleeping(imagine only 2 flat pillows) I made my way at 4:00am to the beach. Although I did not swim then, when the sun came up, I was in the water. I water walked, submerged my body and let my arms move like fish fins, I did this everyday and by the time I returned home I was a new person. Since then I spend at least 3 days a weeks at the pool and jacuzzi at my club. Eventually at week 8 I was doing the breast stroke and just last week actually can do the crawl for a few laps.

Ice is helpful, but I think overated. As you move out of the inflammation phase water and heat can go a long way to help range and strength gains. Another land stretch I discovered in Florida is as follows. Kneel on floor with butt back on heels and forehead on floor, grasp hands behind your back(elbows bent) as best you can. Let shoulders fall forward with gravity then pinch shoulder blade hold and release. This is great for helping to release tightness in the ant shoulder area. I also massage with my hand or use a hand held massager on all tight muscles in the front side and back of my shoulder frequently.in the early days massaging towards the incision is the safest as you will not tug on the new sutures. The more you can allow the body and shoulder to let go often, the easier rehab will be. Sorry for the long post, I hope you can get to a club with water and can use some of these suggestions. sharon

Thank-you Terrilyn! Maybe PT won't be as bad on Friday. Your comment about your one girl cracked me up! I have been wearing a front closure sports bra. The straps are wide and I have found it to be very comfortable. Of course, I do not have much that has to be supported, LOL!


Sharon- Thanks so much for your post. I have a jacuzzi tub at home so I will try getting in that and moving the shoulder around. Hopefully when I am in Florida in 2 weeks it will be warm enough that I can get into the pool there. I think I will also try and pack at least one of my own pillows!

We have had this trip planned for a year and I scheduled surgery in October thinking that by mid-December I would be well on the road to recovery. I think I was expecting maybe some weakness and tightness in the shoulder but not so much pain still. I appreciate your encouragement and sharing your own experience. I feel like I have my own personal PT! You ROCK!