Wishes for successful surgery and a speedy recovery. I know from seeing others go through this, it isn't a walk in the park, but with your hard work, you will see a major improvement in the months ahead.

Two words that should precede Percoset: stool softeners.

See what you've started here Oakley!!!! ;-) ;-) ;-)

Faron

Donna, I hope your surgery and recovery go well.

Yes, stool softeners, maximum dose!! That's for any pain med. Forgot about that advice!

Hello, all! Surgery went fine yesterday. The doc told my DH it was the worst he'd seen in a long time! I'm such an over-achiever.

Now I guess I have pins or screws. Doc said PT needs to go slow. The block is wearing off now so I'll see how it feels. I'm supposed to have NO movement for several days.

I'll keep y'all posted! Thank so much for the warm thoughts.

Donna

I'm so glad to hear that surgery went well! Take it easy and follow doc orders.

Wow! I'm amazed you updated us so quick! Best wishes for a speedy and as easy recovery as possible. Take care!!

Donna - coming in a little late here, but just wanted to send my best wishes for a very speedy recovery. I'm sure you're relieved that the surgery is behind you, and I'm so glad it went well.

Donna, thanks for checking in! Not sure if you've changed shirts yet but when you do let me know how you get your arm through the sleeve. Are you sleeping in a chair? Most of all, once the block completely wears off, tell me about the pain. I sure hope the pain meds help.

REST! Well, I guess you have no choice. :)

Donna, glad your surgery is behind you and that you're doing well. Don't 'overachieve' too much! Get good rest these next few days and do what the specialists and therapists tell you!!

Oakley you are worried about those clothes LOL!!

Oakley, I am wearing a huge papery shirt they put on me at the surgery center. It's big enough to go around me, sling and all. They said not to try putting clothes on till the block wore off. Tomorrow morning I think DH and I will try to slip on a button shirt. Doctors office said that was okay if we're very gentle.

i think the block has mostly worn off...my hand isn't numb any more. So far ibuprofen is keeping pain at bay. I'm afraid of talking the Percocet! I'll probably need it tomorrow.

Donna

Good luck with your surgery.

PT is a huge commitment and hopefully your employer can work with you as far as giving you flexibility in your schedule to accommodate your appointments.

The recliner is a great idea. I've had patients buy one just for the surgery post op. Be prepared to be more upright than flat at first.

The best advice I can give is to optimize your pain meds, accept any and all help you can get, don't over-schedule yourself or expect to keep up with the usual house chores.

Expect to start being happy that you got the surgery at around 3 months post-op, and at around the 6-month mark, you will start to realize that you're not thinking about your shoulder all day, every day.

msmeow

Hello, all! Surgery went fine yesterday. The doc told my DH it was the worst he'd seen in a long time! I'm such an over-achiever.

Now I guess I have pins or screws. Doc said PT needs to go slow. The block is wearing off now so I'll see how it feels. I'm supposed to have NO movement for several days.

*****

Did this tear involve your bicep, too?

Yaaaaaaayyy!

You're in the "Pins & needles club" now too?! ;-)

SO glad it went well! I do hope you don't get too painful now. Don't let the pain get ahead of you!!! Hope the PT goes ok, without TOO much "Uffda"!

(this is a PERFECT situation for an "Uffda"!!) ;-)

Faron

Tina, I am! That's because right now I can't wear most of my tops because of my shoulder. If they're pullovers I can get the shirt on, but I can't get it off. So I had to buy several long sleeve extra large tee's just to wear around the house. When I go somewhere I wear peasant style tops, or button up which I don't have too many of those.

If and when I have surgery I'm freaked about having the arm in a sling and not moving it. I think I'll get a mumu. hee. Actually I have two of those, my late MIL bought me two house dresses after I had the hysterectomy because I couldn't wear anything around the waist. I lived in those two dresses for weeks!

Mimi, the bicep was the only one not affected.

i took one Percocet last night. After about an hour the room started spinning, I was sweating all over and felt sick. My wonderful DH helped me into the bathroom. I didn't get sick, but I did pee on the floor! No more Percocet for me. Fortunately the episode only lasted about 10 minutes. And fortunately ibuprofen helps a lot. The doc said I can take up to 800 mg.

Oakley, try bending over and letting gravity help with getting your shirt off. That helped me a lot pre-surgery. I decided to wear my paper shirt one more day before trying to put on real clothes.

Donna

Wow, Donna, what a reaction to the Percocet!

Years ago, I fractured my wrist and was given Percocet. I'd never taken it before and since I was living alone, with a dog, and no help, I decided to bite the bullet and only take Advil.

I was really afraid was having a reaction like yours, and being all alone.

I'm glad you have help!

Hang in there.

Awww Donna - sorry you had such a reaction. I haven't taken many pain meds, but I do have a problem with them making me sick. Glad the ibuprofen is helping!

Oakley, I think if you have the surgery the sling will probably not bother you as much as you think. You will probably be happy NOT to move the arm for a while. Peeps I know who have had the surgery recently have the sling/straps thingy that has the ball/knob you can hold with your hand. Your husband will be there to help you out - don't worry about it.

You will probably be happy for your sling, for the support and feeling of safety it will give you.

Also, be sure not to take too much OTC medication. I once was prescribed too much rx Motrin and had ankle swelling! Quite scary.

Oh no, Donna! I'm so sorry about the Percocet reaction. I'm glad you get relief from the ibuprofen, that has always been my drug of choice. :-)

Donna, the anesthesia stays in your body for three days and after that if the pain gets really bad, take another percocet with food. Anesthesia can make you feel nauseated and the two together could have caused the reaction.

I hate how I feel for a few days after surgery because of the lingering anesthesia. Lightheaded and feeling dopey but not in a good way. :)

Day 3 post-op. Feeling pretty good overall, except for a cold. This morning DH helped me wash my hair and put on a normal shirt (with the sling on the outside LOL). Now I feel like a normal person! I might even go outside for a bit.

It was scary taking off the sling for the first time!

I haven't had any ibuprofen since 10 last night. The arm is aching a bit, but not bad.

Donna

Donna, you are doing so great! Sorry to hear you have a cold.

Donna, you are doing great! I know it's scary to disconnect from the sling at first, but know that your repair is sturdy and that little bit of motion probably helped a bit!

It's good to start feeling human again. Feel better!

Hello, all! Thought I'd give you another update. I've been dealing with this stupid cold on top of recovery, and I'm ready to be done with it!

I'm typing on the PC this morning. I plan to return to work tomorrow, so I'm making sure I can type. :)

I posted that Thursday I got my hair washed and put on a normal shirt. We also made a brief trip to the grocery store. It felt good to be outside!

Then Friday I freaked out when we were changing my shirt. The though of getting ready for work and driving all the way there (20 miles) overwhelmed me. I spent a lot of the day napping on the sofa.

Yesterday I woke up with renewed optimism! I got a shower (hallelujah!) and we put on a bra and a shirt! We went and rented a car for me (can't drive the stick shift!) and met DH's family for lunch and a visit. I drove quite a bit; it's awkward with the sling but manageable.

I was tired when we got home, but overall felt pretty good. And typing this post hasn't taken that long, so I'm doing okay with the typing.

I probably won't last the full 8 hours tomorrow, but it will be good to get back to some semblance of normal. My post-op appointment is Friday afternoon. Then I'll find out about PT and what I can and can't do.

I haven't had much pain in the arm the last couple of days, though it's all black and blue.

Donna

Keep the positivity flowing, Donna! This is a marathon, not a sprint, and your outlook will help get you through the ups, downs and even the levels!

Well, it's been almost a week since my last update. Overall, not much pain. I can definitely tell if I move the shoulder a bit, though!

I went back to work on Monday and stayed seven hours. I probably overdid it, because I didn't sleep well Monday night and Tuesday I only lasted four hours! But I worked eight hours on Wednesday and 8-1/2 on Thursday. I only had seven hours yesterday but that's b/c I had to go to my post-op appointment.

Yesterday the doc removed the huge bandage and the stitches, so that feels a lot better! I am allowed (at home ONLY) to take the sling off and move around a bit - flexing the elbow and moving my hand and wrist. Still NO shoulder movement.

I have orders for PT 2 -3 times a week for 6 weeks. This first round will be only passive range-of-motion (where the therapist moves my arm around gently) just to keep the shoulder from freezing up. I see the doc again in a month and then he'll decide if he wants me to start active ROM therapy.

So, it's going to be a long road. He also said something along the lines of "we want to restore as much range of motion as possible," so it sounds like I may not be 100% again. But, you do what you can, right?

The doc said he suspects I've had a pretty significant tear for years and that the "acute event" on Jan. 9 was the last straw. He described it as a "massive" tear and said the tendons and ligaments were shrunk far away from the joint.

I just read Faron's post about now having trouble with his second shoulder, and I'm living in fear of injuring my left shoulder while the right one is healing!

Donna

You are doing great, Donna! It really is a long road. Your dr seems impressed with your progress, especially since your injury was so extensive. You have the surgery behind you and you are well on the road to recovery.

Great that you're able to work... although rest is good for healing too. :)

I like this youtube video about choosing to do something and working through it despite the pain. Maybe when the shoulder has healed you will have better results by choosing the physio pain for longer and longer..., ouch!

...training your mind...

WTG, Donna! Especially not having the bad pain I kept reading about. I did read during all of my "research" on RT tear's, that there is a good chance the other shoulder cuff will also tear. I know I use my good arm a lot more now to protect the cuff.

I agree with your doctor about how you probably already had a tear then made it bad in January. That's how mine began..and ended.

We just need to hire a maid, huh? :) Please take it slow, okay?

Oh! Did anyone watch NBC News last night? They did a story about how rotator cuff tears are the most common surgeries now and how there are out patient surgery centers popping up just for the shoulder. They focused on OKC. These hospitals don't take insurance, cash only, but apparently it saves the patient money because they already have high deductibles.

DS had his labrum fixed at an Ortho surgery center years ago, and thank goodness they took insurance. I have to say, that was one of the best "hospitals" I've ever experienced. He stayed overnight though, the surgery was more involved than a tear.

I meant to ask you, the shot they gave you to deaden the area...block?"...was it a long needle? I have a reason for asking. :)

Wow Donna! A massive tear and look how great you are doing! So happy you are doing so well!

Well, Oakley, when the anesthesiologist was preparing to administer the block he told me to turn my head away from him (I was planning to anyway!) and they must have turned on the general anesthesia then, too, b/c the next thing I remember was my DH giving me a drink of water in the recovery area! So I can't really answer your question. :)

I had my surgery at an outpatient center, too. My health coverage must be very good; all I had to pay was $100. That included the pre-op and post-op doctor visits, too.

I pay a $20 co-pay for a specialist, and my company medical center visits are a $5 co-pay. Many of our prescriptions are $0 at Walmart (the Percocet was free LOL). ER visits are $75 and urgent care visits are $35.

I have clarinet choir rehearsal tonight. I plan to go, even though I probably won't be able to play the whole time. I also play in a handbell choir, and I was going to go back as soon as the doctor says okay, but the more I think about it I think I'll plan to wait and go back in the fall. That forward motion is the one the doctor is most concerned about, and I don't want to push it and either extend my recovery time or risk re-injuring the shoulder. The doctor said it can't be fixed again. If I have another injury it means shoulder replacement.

Donna

Msmeow-

Oh my there Woman....you'd better take care for a while!! No bells 'til Fall for you! ;-)

How is the sleeping & pain mgmt going?!

Faron

Yes, Faron, I officially dropped out of handbells till fall. DH thinks that was a wise decision, too! I decided not to go to clarinet choir yesterday, either. I will go next week. The main reason I didn't go was the thought of driving all the way downtown, and then home in the dark. Next week DH will be available to drive me. :)

Pain is not bad at all. I haven't taken any ibuprofen since last week. I'm still mostly sleeping sitting up, though I can lie flat on my back and sleep for a while. I tried lying on the sofa on my side and leaning against the back to support my arm, but it was really uncomfortable.

Donna

It's been another week so I thought I'd give an update.

It's been a good week! I started PT. Tuesday's session was mostly evaluation then Wednesday was an hour of working. It's passive PT for now, so I'm doing exercises/movements that don't engage the muscles. For example, I let the arm hang and use my feet to rock my body which causes the arm to swing. I can feel the tightness in the joint! I'm also doing shoulder blade squeezes to strengthen my upper back, and a few things to work my hand and elbow. Those exercises increase blood flow which helps healing. I also put my arms up on the kitchen table and lean to slide them forward; I do this from the side, too.

This week I am finally able to dress myself! Woohoo! And I've been doing some hand sewing.

I don't have much pain; mostly a dull ache that is easily knocked out with ibuprofen.

I have two PT sessions this week, then three for the next three weeks.

Donna

Awesome Donna!!! Following you especially close here!!!

(wait.....does that sound creepy....?!??! ;-))

I've been doing various shoulder-blade squeezes too for 6 weeks now. Some raises to the front at a couple angles too, while keeping shoulders low. Like I learned with my knee replacement, it's important to "go IN strong"!!

Faron

No, not creepy at all, Faron. Maybe you and I and Oakley should start our own shoulder forum! LOL

I know I have to work at it to get the arm as close to 100% as possible. And at my advanced age (hahaha) I don't heal as quickly as I used to!

Donna

Donna, I was thinking the same thing yesterday, about starting our own forum! lol. I looked on youtube and there are a lot of videos giving tips on how to do things when you get home from surgery. Like a chair in the shower, etc. I have that at least.

My dog did further damage to the shoulder the other night. He's a big and heavy dog, and he wanted out the front door when DH was leaving, something he never does. I was trying to close the door and use my leg to move him away and somehow I moved my arm in the wrong way, I'm not even sure how it happened. I screamed, "My shoulder!!" lol. My shoulder went into big pain all the way down to my elbow. I can tell a slight difference..worse...than before.

I had my regular checkup yesterday and the doctor asked how my shoulder was, and I got The Lecture again to get the MRI then get it fixed, or I'm looking at shoulder replacement. I told her I would once it starts progressively getting bad. :)

Also, everywhere I've read, even youtube, says to sleep in a recliner. We don't have one anymore and I'm not sure we have room for one, not even in the bedroom.

I did like one thing I heard about, not sure where to find one. It's a little portable Bidet to use. I can't imagine using my left hand. ;)

Do you know of any medical supply websites to buy things like that? I knew of a great one a long time ago when I bought the stool for the bathtub (for a bad sprain) but I can't remember where it was.

Ouch, Oakley! It does sound like you need to bite the bullet and get it fixed. My doctor told me the longer you wait the more difficult the surgery is for them to do, and the recovery is longer, due to the muscles shrinking away from where they are supposed to be attached. He said mine was the worst he'd seen in a long time, and that he thinks the majority of the damage happened several years ago.

Donna

Msmeow, you are a real champ! Hope your recovery continues to go well. PT they can probably get most of it back but I was advised not to do things over my head (you can skip the military press from now on, LOL). And Oakley.... I encourage you to get the MRI and bite the bullet if necessary. If left too long, it may not be fixable. good luck!

Oakley, this link was posted on one of Faron's threads, Not sure if it's what you're looking for or not. :)

Tushy Link

Oakley-there are toileting aids that can assist with reaching, and you might consider a hand-held shower to thoroughly clean the perineum.

I googled home health supplies and found a few good websites. They sell more than bidets.

Here's one of them: Medical Supply Depot

I am now one month post-surgery! Wow, hard to believe.

I had two PT sessions last week. I have 3 per week scheduled for the next three weeks. I'm also working on my own at home on the days I don't have PT. I'm keeping a log/journal. Mostly I'm just logging dates and times, but if there's anything of note, like my arm hurting or such, I note that, too.

Yesterday, with help from DH, I put on a T shirt for the first time! It was so nice to wear a soft, stretchy shirt! This morning I put on a T shirt by myself. :)

I see the doctor again on the 15th. My phys, therapist will give me a progress report for him. Hopefully he will be happy!

Donna

How could your doctor (and PT) not be happy with you as a patient?!

I'm glad you're enjoying some of life's little comforts!

I saw the doctor this afternoon. I gave him the report from my PT and he was very pleased! Range of motion has improved a LOT with only eight therapy sessions. It's been five weeks since the surgery.

I'm now cleared to be out of the sling a lot of the time (thank goodness!) and start active PT. My next appointment is in a month and he says I should be able to lift my arm quite high by then, provided I continue with the PT three times a week and working at home.

Donna

Great news! I bet he wishes all patients did as well as you.

Ooh, I tied my sneakers for the first time last night! :)