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Before reading this - a few tips: be prepared to answer the same questions over and over again (last food/drink, allergies, what are e operating on?) etc... it's annoying but understandable why they ask. good luck! Here is my story: Surgery day - arrived at the hospital at 7am. Verified my info at check in area then was taken to a waiting room with my family. they were given two vouchers for meals in the cafeteria and a "coaster-type" paging device (Outback or TGI Fridays style) so they could be paged anywhere within the hospital when my surgery was over, that way they weren't confined to the waiting area. Again, two pretty cool things I'd never experienced in a hospital before. Very "customer friendly." I was taken back to get into the gown and hospital robe and stored my clothes in a locker that was provided. I then went to a preop area where they verified some info, I signed some consent forms, and they took my vitals. At about 8:00 I was taken upstairs to be prepped for surgery. This was actually the recovery room and a few of the early birds were brought in post-op, groggy and mumbling :) In this area, I had a nice nurse who put an IV line in my hand, took my vitals, and asked more of the same questions. I then met the anestesiologist who explained my pain control options (nerve block) and also examined my mouth/neck (that's for the intubation/breathing tube that will be required). My Ortho Surgeon and OR nurse stopped by, asked me some questions, quickly reviewed what he'd be doing, and marked my shoulder with a marker (and jokingly wrote the word "No" on my left shoulder - funny, but you'd be surprised how much crap you read about people having the wrong joint operated on.
The anestesiolgist came back and he then brought an intern or med student over to assist with the nerve block. They locate an area of your neck , numb the area with a small needle, then hook up another needle to an electrode monitoring device, then the "fun" begins. They use the electricity to locate the nerve so you feel some interesting tingling sensations in your arm (or in your stomach if the needle is too deep, which can happen with a med student in control - I have patience though). Once they find the nerve your shoulder starts moving on its own, kind of creepy but they dial down the electricity once they locate it - again, it's a simple procedure and not painful at all. They then inject the medication to the site and in about 10 mins, your arm starts to get very heavy and eventually numb. I was already in the OR so I never really felt that transition. After the block was completed, I was wheeled to the OR by the anesthesiologist and someone else just before 9am. Once in the OR, I was moved to the table which is shaped like a stick figure. it's very narrow. My head was rested on this foam pillow for support. and my arm layed flat and outward so it could be prepped after I was out, and I was given an oxygen mask and told to take several deep breaths (as deep as i could go). I tihnk they do this to calibrate the ventilator for proper breathing. I was then told to breathe normally into the mask and was told i'd be given some medicine in my hand and feel a warm sensation and that i'd be asleep in about 20 seconds. I remember counting to myself and last recall hitting about # 15, so it was quick. I was officially out. Next thing I remember was I was being wheeled into the recovery room. I was not awake when the breathing tube went in or came out - which was a fear of mine, so i'm glad!!! When I started to wake up, I was very groggy, said some funny stuff apparently (asked everyone i saw "how I did?".and told everyone how beautiful my kids were.) i briefly recall the surgeon telling me everything went well and saying something about 2 tears - a small one at the top and a pretty big on in the back. That's the last I remember of him until my 2 day post-op visit :) I remember my throat being very sore and the nurses asking me some questions to get me talking - wife's name, phone #, etc.. After about 15 mins, I started to come to. My arm was in a sling and totally numb from the nerve block. I was monitored in the recovery room and the anestesiologist came by one more time to check on me. Once i was coherent and my vitals were taken a few times I was taken back downstairs where I started my day. At this point it was about 12:30. Surgery was about 2 hours and recovery room time was about 1 hour. My family was then able to come see me and i was given a soda, saltines, and graham crackers. My throat hurt (and still does today 5 days post-op, but apparetnly that's normal when you have a breathing tube). I was a little wobbly on my feet at first but after some food and drink, i was getting dressed and on my way home by 2pm or so.
Once home I relaxed in an upright position, drank the biggest milkshake i could get my hands on and tried to relax as much as i could. the nerve block is a wierd feeling. Your arm is pretty much paralyzed so it's sort of creepy, but as the day goes on it starts to wear off. Fingertips first, shoulder last. so for a few hours it feels like your arm is asleep - tingly feeling, but not bad. Stay ahead of your pain meds. that was my best success. They were due every 4 hours but I hit them about 20 mins early and that way they never wore off. So I minimized my initial pain. Also took motrin for the swelling. That helped. Expect your incisions sites to be swollen, even bruised, and they will drain - so when dressing is removed use bandaids for a day or two so you don't ruin your clothes. Sleeping is difficult and i set myself up with lots of pillows and slept "upright" in a chair for the first 2 nights. I was able to get atleast 4 - 5 hours each night which is good from what i hear. Use your ice as directed (even overuse it b/c dressing is so thick you can't really feel it anyway). it becomes more effective once the dressing is off. I was told I'd only need it for 48 hours but I used it into the fourth day. it is comforting.
Good luck! I'm about 5 days into recovery. i'm right handed and they fixed my right shoulder so use the sling religously. i found myslef grabbing stuff with my hand even in a sling - it's just habit. So if you remove it - who knows what would happen? Take it off to do exercises and or when just watching tv to get some rest from it. But be careful. I stopped my pain meds on Day 4 but may take one at night to sleep more comfortably. The bed is still challenging and not so comfortable. PT starts in about 2 weeks and goes for 2 months, then we'll see where we're at. Discuss this article on the forums. (0 posts) |
