hi guys. hope you're all doing well!

I was wondering how you guys deal with the inevitable emotional ups and downs that come with recovery. I don't remember it being this bad after my first surgery. But I just feel really down and generally terrible almost all the time. I've been trying to find ways to distract myself but everything that I would normally do causes more pain which just perpetuates the pain/depression cycle I seem to be stuck in. i guess it's harder this time because after my last surgery i thought I was fixed and that there was a light at the end of the long journey of recovery...but now with a diagnosis of severe arthritis at the age of 28 and my OS basically telling me that i'm just going to keep getting worse until i get a replacement i feel like i'm fighting for nothing.....
anyone else feel this way? nobody in my life seems to understand the effects chronic pain can have on your mental health.


thanks for listening....i just needed to vent a little i think..

You are not fighting for nothing. It is hard and emotionally draining and there is nothing wrong with realizing there is a disability you will have to live with. Even a replacement is not the answer. It is painful, rehab can be more difficult than any other shoulder procedure, and if you do have one, another one is most likely in the future.

I try to cope by thinking that it could be worse in many ways. Don't hesitate to release the emotions, find someone who can understand, and then find what gives you joy and concentrate on that. Let it go, let it out, cry all you need to, then hang on to the beauty and good things that are out there.

It is my birthday today - at a conference in Chicago. Someone tripped me on the street. My husband and friend who I was with both grabbed me as I hit the ground- shoulder is on fire now. But I went on a long walk, river cruise, nice dinner, followed by pain meds and a good cry.

I read all these comments and feel just a little betrayed by my OS. He told me that in 8 weeks I'd be able to enjoy my previously scheduled vacation. Yes, sure, I'd be able to maybe just snorkel and walk, but I'd be able to enjoy myself.

I had my surgery two days before my birthday because I wanted to give myself time to be ready for vacation. It's very tempting to think that only the people who don't heal well post on these forums, but I guess that would be naive after what I've learned this week. There is some mild depression on my part, but mostly because I was not prepared for the outright inability to do anything remotely useful.

Well, if anyone out there had a miraculous recovery from tenodesis, spur removals, and labral repair I would love to hear about it. I am at 2.5 weeks and have no idea how bad the pain will be once I start active ROM exercises. Gee, now I can hardly wait.

Best to all!

YOu could feel better by 2 months- many do. It certainly is not a guarantee though, or sure bet. As someone else here said, they are surgeons, and surgeons like to do surgery. They aren't even all that sure every one is necessary, but hey, worth a try and money in the bank to them.

Please know that the feelings your are having are normal. We all go through this as part of the recovery. At some point, usually around week 8, you just want it to be over. What I did was focus on the little improvements I made each week instead of how far I had to go. I also set a long term goal...skiing in a year. Of course for me it took 4 years and 3 surgeries:ohmy: But now my shoulder is doing well. Only have mild pain before a thunder storm.

Lee, I don't think the OS every communicates how tough the recovery is. Just think, if they did no one would have it done. But then again everyone is different in healing so one person might not have pain with short recovery and another have intense pain with a long recovery.

Please hang in there and try to stay positive even though it is hard.

Karen

Its really normal to suffer from depression during surgery recovery - most of us do to some degree. If you are already prone to mild depression and anxiety like I am it can be even more difficult when you throw the drain of chronic pain into the equation. You are right that there is a very complex relationship between chronic pain and depression - they are linked in so many ways we don't really understand yet. Its very difficult to explain to people who have never suffered from chronic pain why you are depressed - everyone tends to judge and tell you to get over it and stop feeling sorry for yourself. It can be really infuriating!

Having been through two terribly difficult hip surgeries in the past I am more prepared for how much I am going to have to fight the depression with my upcoming shoulder scope in October - especially as the light starts to fade and the days get shorter. I really cannot risk a complete break down because I have a small baby and a husband and two dogs that need me to take care of my mental health. That is why I've insisted on staying on an anti-depressant through the surgery recovery - it can help more than you know. I don't want to go pushing pharmaceuticals on anyone but when our system is already really drained from the emotional and physical energy we are putting into the recovery it is definitely useful to have some support in the form of medication. There are also countless studies showing that anti-depressants can help manage chronic pain - in fact that is often what pain management specialists prescribe for patients who are suffering from chronic pain instead of more narcotics which often worsen the effects of anxiety and hormones.

Hang in there. It will get better. I remember a time in my life when I was so unbearably miserable recovering from my hip scope...and in many ways it was worse than the shoulder because I was unable to walk... on some level I really thought some part of me was dying - that is how depressed I was. But, I made it through and came out stronger on the other side.