My very independent husband had surgery on his right hand. No real home prep as it was an emergency. He didn't like me helping him, but did request easy food he could tackle alone during the day (left-handed). When I had surgery, I did stock the house with plenty of paper plates, made-ahead meals in the freezer, and very easy to prepare meals. And plenty of batteries for all the remotes. :)

Agree that a recliner would be very helpful. My DH has had RC surgeries on both shoulders. I actually rented an adjustable hospital bed for the second because propping pillows in the bed just doesn't cut it. A recliner would have been even better. I don't know how anyone could get through RC recovery on their own. I hope you have someone to help you out!

I had a broken right wrist two weeks after having carpel tunnel and two trigger finger surgeries. My sister, a nurse, told my husband to order this right away in order to make the recovery easier. When I saw it, I thought "no way" but he ordered it anyway and installed it. He installed it in my private br and it saved the day. A little off topic but it made a difference in my recovery.Tushy

Faron, I've been sleeping sitting up surrounded by a pile of pillows on my daybed. We have sofas with reclining sections, but there isn't anything on the sides to prop me up. :)

Do you live alone? If I didn't have my DH to help me I would have needed in-home care. My surgery was Feb. 6 and just today I was able to dress myself! I did manage to feed myself the week of the surgery, but the first couple of weeks I needed help with lots of stuff - washing my hair, showering, dressing, even putting in my contact lenses.

Driving is a real issue, too. I'm driving a rented Toyota Yaris (our car is a stick shift). The Yaris is very small but it's still awkward cranking it, and reaching the shifter and parking brake, and fastening the seat belt are difficult. Also, when you're driving with only one hand you can't do anything else - put on your sunglasses, flip down the visor, adjust the a/c - nothing.

My doctor wants me to wear the sling all the time (except at PT and at home) at least until I see him again on 3/15 - that's five weeks after surgery.

Donna

As you probably already know, two years ago I spent months recovering from two hand surgeries on my right hand and, in between, a cast for 6 weeks on my left hand for a break. The advice you've gotten here so far is great. Mine:

*You are screwed if you have to drive a stick shift (Just saying). I hope you don't, because you can't safely. And, as Donna mentioned, even with an automatic, you won't have the option to do anything else but drive.

* Shirts: Zippered are the easiest to get on and off, but you'll still need help. Same with snap front, and button down shirts. Pullover anything is out for weeks after your surgery.

* Pants: elastic waist sweat pants, soft and loose, are a godsend. Trust me on that one!

*Shoes: slip-on loafers. There is no way that I could tie a shoe, and even if DH tied them before he headed to work, if one came untied, I had to pull them both off and walk around in my socks until DH got home from work.

* You probably won't need this, but I found that my poultry shears worked like a dream for me. Being right-handed, I could NOT manage regular scissors. {*edited to add that poultry shears can work as a knife, too}

* Practice signing your name with your left hand. I actually got so good at it, by the end of my first 6 weeks, I could write as good as any kindergartner (LOL). Actually, most places will let you just sign with a squiggle.

* start practicing now eating with just your left hand. I stabbed myself in the face a number of times right after my surgery. And, when you're feeling crummy to start with, you just want to eat as normally as possible. DH had to cut up everything for me, too.

*Take your meds as directed. My DH gets so frustrated with patients that want to tough it out, and then end up miserable . . . and call him up whining about how crummy they feel.

*And speaking of drugs/meds, stay very aware that they can make you woozy, which can lead to falls.

* Be careful of tripping hazards, as you don't have that other arm to help catch you. That's how I broke my left hand . . . tripping over my little dog.

*Don't try and do too much, at first. You can damage your just fixed up shoulder. When I first started feeling great after I broke my foot, I did too much too soon, and ended up damaging it. That led to a lot of complications, which were not fun!

Great info, Lynn! I've been wearing pull-on pants or skirts and button-up shirts, and flat shoes. I don't want to chance losing my balance on even small heels! And my hubby has been cutting up anything I can't cut with a fork. I can use my hand, though, so if I stand up I can manage to cut meat using both hands.

Fortunately I injured my non-dominant shoulder. If I ever hurt my left shoulder I'm screwed. :)

Donna

My gosh guys....this is fantastic info!!!!

Yes, I'm lucky to have my DW with me!! Her & DD would take me to Knee-PT, etc. No stickshift either! I can drive them easily.....I grew up with manuals. They hold no special attraction for me tho'. Like many cars, my center-console has the Automatic shifter. Maybe I should practice shifting with the L arm now?! That'll be tricky, lol!

Faron

Wait till you're trying to reach it around a sling! Mine has a fat pillow attached to it. I'm going to try taking the pillow off around the house this weekend and see how it goes. It can really be in the way.

Donna

My advice based on a break of the wrist on my dominant hand: get these things for your shoes that tie: Lock Laces

And if your surgery involves a cast, see if they make a plastic cover type thing so you can take a shower.

I was pleasantly surprised at how much I could do with my non-dominant hand. My signature became just my first name in large, loopie letters. I was able to sit on the ground and pull weeds from the garden. The most frustrating things were not being able cut my food at the dinner table - had to ask someone to do it - and using my keyboard mouse with the left hand.

I just had a weird thought.....we like spaghetti!! I'm messy enough with my RIGHT hand! ;-)

I'm doomed! :-0

Faron

Faron, you're too funny! You can cut up spaghetti with one hand - I have personal experience! :)

I know this is a bit personal but you're absolutely going to need some help in the bathroom. You can spend $700 to $800+ on an electric bidet seat that does everything short of buttering your toast and pouring your morning cup of coffee! Total luxury :) Or, for $50 you can buy a non-electric option that do the basic functions and do them quite well. We have both. DH wouldn't let me spend the money for the posh model for his bathroom remodel. When we bought our first one (2007) mom was about to have shoulder surgery. She asked me to get one for her too. It was a life saver! And she continues to tell me how it "saved the day" for one aliment or another. But if you don't *think* you need a toasty toilet seat, a deodorizer, various spray nozzles and more, then the $50 option will still get the job done :) The pain meds can be constipating. Both versions have enema features and that's ALL I'm sayin' about that! :o Best of luck to you!

Lol Msmeow!!

Although....back in HS, I did make 7 outta 10 free-throws with my LEFT hand! Ahhhhh yes.....reveling in past glories to deflect attention from present-day pressures.......

Wait.....WHAT?!?!??!

;-)

Faron

I agree on the recliner, BUT, I am a rightie, too, and my RC surgery was on my right shoulder. I could NOT find a recliner that didn't have the control on the right side.

I started looking on Craigslist for one of those electric 'lift chairs' with the hand held control. I found one that was almost brand new, and it was $50!!! Plus, they offered to deliver and set it up in my home office for an extra $10. I didn't think I'd be using it for long....HA!! I didn't use it because I NEEDED it long, as I only had to sleep upright for a few days. But that thing was SO comfy, that it stayed in here LONG after I needed it. I kept it covered with a sheet, as my canine kids often enjoyed it when I wasn't in it. This is one of my favorite pictures of Riley. I was back to work at this point, and glanced toward the chair, and was glad I keep a camera handy. You don't see much of him, but that is one comfy dog!

Damn that's a funny/cute pic!!! I was gonna say you must've let shaving your legs slide a little..................................... ;-)

Faron (hee-hee!)

So cute. My cat loves my recovery chair and sleeps like that too.

I like the long and short sleeved Tshirts that have the snaps. Help is required but the shirt makes it easier...There are Velcro clothing enclosure Ts, pants and blouses too. I don't know any of the shops I linked but I'm sure they're sold elsewhere.

My DH tor all four tendons completely off right shoulder and broke the Rt wrist. After one terrible night we rented an electric lift chair.

My3dogs, I think you're correct about recliners! Our sofas have 'reclining' sections on each end, but as I mentioned I couldn't find a way to prop myself up on the sofa so I didn't fall over.

Donna

I had RC repair about 10 years ago and second the advice to get a recliner to sleep in, needed that for months. If you use a hairdryer, apparently they make stands to hold them. A flat rubber exercise band is helpful to use in the shower to hold your arm (because once it's atrophied, feels like it's going to rip off withOut the sling). Good to practice *all* activities with the hand/arm you'll be using....and if you can afford massage, that is great in addition to PT (do your PT!).... all the other muscles in your back, other arm, etc. get pretty sore and most PT focuses on the shoulder and not all the rest of you. Good luck! My surgeon was conservative and I was in the sling for 3 months and then had nearly 9 months of PT to get 95% use back.

That 'lift chair' was a life saver, and 'we' all enjoyed it. I finally decided that I had to give it up, and a friend had told me about a woman who had only her wheelchair and her bed. She didn't qualify for $ to get herself a comfortable chair to spend her days in. I knew that she would truly enjoy that lift chair, and she certainly did. Her son and several others came one day in a pickup truck, loaded it in and took it to her. That made me feel great again - it going to a new home where it was needed. :-)

Oh wow Guys! So much good info I hadn't thought about!!

HB- 3
months in a sling?!??! Holy Moly! My TKR Surgeon seems to be on the
progressive side. I think I was in the "Knee-moving" device the same
day! Can't think of the name of it now....

Relatively speaking
HERE anyway, my RC-Tear(s) don't seem too bad?! I haven't seen any
Radiologist report on the 2/17 U/S yet tho'. Hopefully it's available
this week in my online chart. I'm getting curious..... Surgeon appt is
3/21.
Faron

Good luck Faron! (I had pretty much torn the whole cuff off, and had ignored it for about a year, think the surgeon really wanted to know it would stay attached. So by the time PT started, I was really working from zero. But I did go in to be assessed by the PT prior to surgery and that helped).

Good God HB!

No wonder Dr. had you "slinged" for that time! How could you possibly ignore it for that long?!?!? Mine isn't near that bad, & I've gotta be careful now what I do, or all kinds of aches start hitting!

Faron

;-) I was young(er) and stupid(er)

H B - my doctor thinks the majority of my tear happened several years ago, too. Funny how you can just keep going with something like that!

Donna

Just fyi guys! I remembered I'd better go back & read this thread even closer now!

I have to get some carpets cleaned again with my Bissell, & wash the outside windows. Maybe I can get some light raking done before the 4-20 surgery? Gotta make sure mower is ready for DW too! ;-)

Uffda! Lots to do!

Faron

Faron, your surgery is coming up soon, right? Sending good thoughts your way that all goes well.

My surgery was eight weeks ago today. I can pretty much do everything on my own now, but range of motion is still very limited and it's still really sore. PT is really starting to work it hard. I had a session this morning and she made me cry with the stretching! I know part of it is my instinct to "fight back" that actually makes it worse. If I can relax and breathe it's better.

Donna

Msmeow- Thank you for your gracious inquiry!

Gadz! The 20th is only 2.5 wks away! Sorry to hear of your tougher stretching!!!!! Do you still need pain meds? Yes, I imagine stretching & being relaxed will be tricky!

It's finally warmer here in Fargo. I'd better get the outside windows done, clay-barring the 3 cars, & then spraywaxing them. Spraywaxing is much easier on the shoulders! Hopefully I can do a "normal" waxing/removal by late summer?!??!!

Do you still have "night pain"? Dang, it kinda sucks sometimes!

Yep....Faron gets to be a "Lefty" for a while. Uffda!

Faron

Faron, I only take ibuprofen when I need it. Another thing she has me working on is moving the arm the "right" way - not popping my shoulder up toward my ear when reaching. Sounds like what your PT was teaching you!

I occasionally wake up with the arm aching, but it's not bad. I stopped sleeping propped up a couple of weeks ago (stopped wearing the sling around the same time, too). There's one spot that is still really sore and gives me sharp pain if I reach forward, but it's getting better.

I'm trying to use it as normally as possible and get out of the habit of holding it against me or doing things left handed that I would usually do right handed.

D

Good luck with surgery -- hope you fly through! And you'll be impressed what you can do as a lefty!