Less than two weeks to go.

I am having shoulder surgery the 29th, I am anxious to get it done and hopefully get rid of the pain, but frustrated that I will not be able to do the things I want for several months.

I will have right arm in sling for at least a month, no wrenching or lifting. I had to get someone to help me cut up firewood this weekend, not able to swing saw.

Good luck Dave, hopin things go well for ya!

About four years ago I tore the rotary cuff in my left shoulder. Couldn't even lift my hand above my head. I don't think the surgery was as painful as the injury. After two or three weeks recovery time there was about two months of therapy twice a week. I still can't quite do what I used to when It means lifting something above my head, but the Dr. said that 90% recovery was about as good as it will get. I do hope all goes well for you.

David, Had both Shoulders, Total Joint Replacement in 08. 1 in March, the other in Dec. My Doc knew I was in Ag and still did a lot of outside activities. Took me over a yr to get comfortable doing things. To this day /I still do not drive T-post or dig post holes or use a Stud bar to break up rocks. I can throw a Baseball it my Rt shoulder still feels funky throwing. I have No pain. since the replacements. Prior to.... Pain meter needle buried plum out of sight off the the side of the scale! It took 5, 800mg Ibuprofen to break through the pain there in the end. Now I do not need any pain meds unless I have a sinus headache
Do what the doctor Says!!!!!!! Follow it to the letter!! Hopefully you did your research on this Dr and you are comfortable with, and around him!
If you get cute and screw up your shoulder while it is mending you do nothing but set yourself back more time before you are healed up. Take care! Hope this helps!
Later,
John A.

Had both rotator cuffs done in the past. First one turned out better than before I tore it. I had a large calcium deposit in there that was painful at times. I can move it where ever I want pain free. Had like a six pack cooler under my arm for a couple weeks and then the sling. Did all my own therapy at home. Therapist showed me what to do and as long as I did it and gained movement I could do it myself. Took probably 3 months before I felt save really moving it. The second one seemed to go easier at first but thought I wasn't going to gain full movement. Did something one day and it felt like I popped it again. Hurt like heck. After about an hour it felt like it was as good as new. I had all my motion back again and no pain. Doc thought there was some scare tissue that I tore that gave my movement back. A later xray for something else showed he had put 4 screws in it to hold it in place. The first doc took 1 1/2 hours to do it. Said it was the worst tear he had ever fixed. The second doc did it in 45 minutes. Nurse said that is all the time he allows to do one. I still have a lot of grinding sounds in it when I move it but I can scratch my back with either one. Good luck with yours and don't rush anything.

hope all goes well Dave

Don't feel bad I broke my finger and thats keeping me from doing a lot of things I wanted to get done. Take your time getting back to it.

Good luck with it David.
We are blessed to be living in modern times when they can fix things like that.
I think of all the people who lived in centuries past who had to live with deflicted limbs and joints and there was no cure for it.

I appreciate all the support. It has been a tough few years, lost both my parents after extended illness, second surgery and have aunt and uncle in hospice right now. They have no children, so I am it. I had to clean out there condo so it could get sold. The nursing home has burned up all their money.

My tractor work keeps me sane. I pulled the head back off the MH44 last night. I am trying to get as much done before I can't do anything.

(quoted from post at 22:27:42 01/16/13) David, Had both Shoulders, Total Joint Replacement in 08. 1 in March, the other in Dec. My Doc knew I was in Ag and still did a lot of outside activities. Took me over a yr to get comfortable doing things. To this day /I still do not drive T-post or dig post holes or use a Stud bar to break up rocks. I can throw a Baseball it my Rt shoulder still feels funky throwing. I have No pain. since the replacements. Prior to.... Pain meter needle buried plum out of sight off the the side of the scale! It took 5, 800mg Ibuprofen to break through the pain there in the end. Now I do not need any pain meds unless I have a sinus headache
Do what the doctor Says!!!!!!! Follow it to the letter!! Hopefully you did your research on this Dr and you are comfortable with, and around him!
If you get cute and screw up your shoulder while it is mending you do nothing but set yourself back more time before you are healed up. Take care! Hope this helps!
Later,
John A.

Click to expand...

John, I used to get sinus headaches but rarely anymore since I started 2x a day sinus irrigation with saline. Now when I feel one coming on I go and irrigate an extra time and in ten minutes head ache is gone.

Showcrop, Thanks, I will try that! I usually do that with just warm water no salt, am & pm . Do you buy this saline solution or just make your own, say 1/2 tsp in a cup of warm water? Thanks again.
Later,
John A.

Hope you feel better. Had bronchitis earlier this month. Sucks to be sick.

use Sea Salt or Kosher Salt
has no iodine in it
start out light on the salt
your nose will let you know when you have too much salt mixed in

One year ago yesterday I had my right shoulder done aftr having 5 bypasses the previous June. Know what it is like to be laid up.

Had both shoulders replaced, right 2000, left 2005, glad I did, follow the physical therapist's rules and you will be glad you went ahead.

I am into my 6th week after Rt shoulder surgery and am not to move it until I see he Dr the 21st of Jan..
Been a long slow passing of time..!!

Get as much ready as you can ahead of time..
Stupid things, like Sweat-Pants with elastic at the ankles keeps them from getting under-foot..
You can benefit from such things as pre-folding supplies for the bathroom, etc..
ONE aggravation I have had is that ALL Men's fly's are RT-Handed..really awkward to work Left-Handed..!!!
Practice brushing your teeth Left-Handed...(it aint easy)..!!!
Get your tennis shoes pre-tied, so you can get them ON and off without needing to tie and un-tie them..
Driving:....Rt-Shoulder surgery, you cannot reach to put the KEYS in the switch (unless you are Double-jointed), cannot reach the shifter, Radio OR Heater controls...
Takes about Twice as long to do about everything and tempting to DO things you shouldn't .
Setting up, on a Couch is difficult, unless you can get a good grasp with your Left Hand, to help pull you up..Try it, to see how you will Manage that...
Showering is a tedious, slow process too.!!
The swelling and associated pain went down after about 2 1/2 weeks, and I have felt a slow, daily improvement..but can tell the Doc was correct..it will be another few days before it will be ready to move and stress it..
GOOD LUCK with yous and Best Wishes, for a Complete Recovery.!!!!!

Ron...

David,
Everything Bushogpapa says is true. I wished I would have thought about all that BEFORE my finger surgery. Had surgery on my left finger/hand tendons. My hand was fully immobilized for two weeks. Luckily I was right handed which helped a lot. You don't realize how much you miss something until you cant use it.

Good luck and follow rehab,
Rick

My SO had her right shoulder (dominate side) rotator cuff repaired 12/20/12. As her at home care giver here is what I can tell you:
1. It hurts like he11 - pain meds were not all that effective. First 10 days were awful!
2. In sling for 4 weeks 24 x 7.
3. Not allowed to put any weight (e.g. lifting) or use her own muscles to move her arm for 6 weeks.
4. Needs loads of ice (we go through a 10lb bag a day). Ice machine to power a shoulder pad has been a godsend.
5. Physical therapy is painful - but - necessary. Your home care person will probably have to move your arm with controlled motions every day. Remember you are not allowed to use your own muscles to move the arm. And the process is painful.
6. You probably will be sleeping in an upright position for quite some time.
7. You will learn to do many things left-handed. Some will be harder than others! Even more problematic is that you will not be able to use your other hand to steady things etc. Very challenging!

Today is the first day my SO is not required to use her sling. And I can tell you I can't wait for the sixth week when she is allowed to start using her own musclea to move her arm. And further for her to be able to drive safely - 6 weeks plus.

Good luck!

I had my left shoulder done (rotater cuff) in 2005 (I think) and I am left handed. The advice I can give is ....Practice wiping your backside with the other hand. My right hand did not know how, and it was slow to learn. Good luck on your surgery. Dale

You guys are indicating this is gonna be a long road, thanks for the honesty.

I used Ice for the 1st 2 weeks and often Doubled-up on the Hydrocodone often for the 1st week and a half...(Plus judicious amounts of Echo Spring..!!).

I have had experience with pain in the past and didn't think the pain was really all that bad..

But then, I have been through Major, prolonged waiting, with a Ruptured Disc..several times..for days....the kind that makes you require 45 minutes and much screaming, just to get from the couch, to the Floor, to sleep..( and that was with 24 Percocets a Day..

Plus..when we were kids, they did not administer Novacaine for drilling teeth....you just tried to pull the arms off the dentist's Chair, as he drill away...

Ron..

Dave, I had mine done a yr ago on my dominate arm. Had a torn tendon and bone spur. Ortho scopic surgery was done 3 small incisions, and you would think it would be less painful. Not true. Do everything the therapist tells you to do and stick to it. You will have a problem shaving, pulling up your pants, tying shoes, eating with silverware, going to bathroon, going fishing !!!!!be sure to use cold packs. My arm is back to about 85% after a yr. Good luck ,Larry