Shoulder Replacement Surgery

[dmccarty]

...
The pain wasn't an issue with me. By day two I was off of the pain killers and relying totally on the ice machine. If you do get the surgery and want to borrow the ice machine that is not an issue. Insurance doesn't cover it but it is the only way to recover in my book....

The wifey has had multiple shoulder surgeries. Thankfully, not a replacement, but the surgeries were mostly successful in that she has most of her use back but not 100%. Not sure 100% was possible given the damage but we went to a very competent sports medicine surgeon at Duke so I think we did as best we could. Very impressed with the doctor. :thumbsup: Anyhoo, insurance paid for all three ice machines and they do work. Amazing what a bit of cold water will do for pain relief. We would use ice but also the blue ice blocks in the ice machine. We have quite a few of the blue ice blocks so we would have plenty of those when the machine needed more "ice." The ice maker in the freezer would not always keep up with the wifey's demand for ice.

The pain stayed around after the med ball finished but the ice machine really helps. The ice machine can be a PTIA but it beats being in pain and/or taking the heavy pain killers.

PT is very important.

Later,
Dan

 

[Bird]

If you get the surgery and want to use the ice machine give me a call, you got my number.

I appreciate it, Harvey. I guess it'll be a little while before the doctor and I decide to do the surgery. I think he likes to try everything else first before surgery. Another doctor in the same office (Orthopedic Associates of Flower Mound) did my knee replacement, after trying every other possibility.

I haven't talked to you in awhile; hope you and Glenda are doing OK.

 

[wroughtn_harv]

I appreciate it, Harvey. I guess it'll be a little while before the doctor and I decide to do the surgery. I think he likes to try everything else first before surgery. Another doctor in the same office (Orthopedic Associates of Flower Mound) did my knee replacement, after trying every other possibility.

I haven't talked to you in awhile; hope you and Glenda are doing OK.

We're doing great. The Herceptin regemine had to be stopped because it was damaging the heart. But the latest tests show the heart to be bouncing back, a very good thing. We've been home a little over a week after five weeks in Arizona. I had a schedule of stuff to get done and life blew that to heck and back. Then two days ago I caught the worst case of strept that I can remember. 4 oclock this morning I was considering a visit to the doctor's office. Now five hours later I think I've turned the corner today will be a good work day.

Dan, five weeks of my rehab was spent in Haiti working on Ubuntublox. The therapist gave me some exercises to do when he realized I was going no matter what. Between the exercises and working I ended up lucky and there is no limitation in range of movement.

Can your lovely bride give you a heads up on weather? I swear I know when the fronts leave Asia headed for North America.

 

[dmccarty]

...

Dan, five weeks of my rehab was spent in Haiti working on Ubuntublox. The therapist gave me some exercises to do when he realized I was going no matter what. Between the exercises and working I ended up lucky and there is no limitation in range of movement.

Can your lovely bride give you a heads up on weather? I swear I know when the fronts leave Asia headed for North America.

I bet working/PT in Haiti was less painful than what the PT(Physical Tortures) they did to my wifey! :shocked: But the PT MUST be done. Pay now or pay later....

She can't tell a change of weather but my mother who had a knee replaced can tell.

Later,
Dan

 

[Bird]

I had the full right knee replacement done 8/30/2010. And now my right shoulder has been giving me lots of trouble and pain for a few years. So I finally went to the orthopedic shoulder specialist this morning; lots of x-rays, 2 shots of cortisone, and scheduled for an MRI tomorrow. But in showing me the x-rays, bone spurs, lack of cushion in the joint, etc., I think he's pretty well convinced that I'll soon need the right shoulder replaced. Needless to say, I am not looking forward to that. I guess I'm soon going to be made of spare parts.

After one visit to the orthopedic shoulder specialist, I had x-rays of the right shoulder made. Then I went for an MRI and back to the doctor a second time, during which we discussed the options available, and I think he and I both decided the major surgical shoulder replacement was most likely needed. So he had x-rays made of the other shoulder (for comparison purposes maybe?), and he sent me for a CT scan. When he got the results from that, he sent me to my primary care doctor for an EKG, blood and urine tests, general physical exam, etc. to decide whether I'm healthy enough for the surgery. Friday morning, one of the nurses called from the orthopedic doctor's office to schedule a "pre-op" appointment with the doctor on the 18th, then later in the day another of his nurses called to ask if I wanted to wait until I see the doctor again, of if I wanted to go ahead with scheduling the surgery with the hospital, so I told her we might as well get on with it. So now the surgery is scheduled for early the morning of the 24th. I sure hope it's a very short hospital stay.

 

[Looking4new]

So now the surgery is scheduled for early the morning of the 24th. I sure hope it's a very short hospital stay.

So do I, for your own sanity. Get well soon.

 

[IslandTractor]

Hope the surgery goes very well and that you are back soon after. Also hope it doesn't involve your mouse control hand....who's going to to be the senior moderator if you are temporarily unable to wield your mouse??? I guess you still have a few weeks to train up the junior mods.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Bird, I hope it is smooth sailing, and you get well quickly. What has he told you about recovery?

 

[Bird]

What has he told you about recovery?

He mentioned "2 or 3 nights in the hospital". He thinks I might be able to drive in 2 weeks (I'm in the process of swapping my truck for a new Escape; supposed to get the new one day after tomorrow). When I asked how long before I can mow the yard, he said, "The standard answer is 6 months, but some do it sooner than that." Grandson says he'll come mow the yard.

And yep, I use the mouse with my right hand, but I CAN do it with my left one; just slower . . . much slower.:laughing:

 

[Bocephous]

I hope you recover quickly. If you don't have a comfy recliner get one before the surgery. Stay ahead of the pain with your meds, post surgery.

 

[IslandTractor]

I hope you recover quickly. If you don't have a comfy recliner get one before the surgery. Stay ahead of the pain with your meds, post surgery.

Careful, if he leans back in the Lazy Boy to take a nap he might never be able to pull the lever to right himself again when he has to pee! I believe all the recliners have the operating arm on the right and that's the shoulder he is having replaced. Mrs. Bird would not be happy with extra laundry or cleaning up the mess. :laughing:

 

[RSKY]

I hope all goes well and you are back better than normal in record time.

But please...follow all the doctor's and nurse's instructions. Have known people, in the family actually, who knew better than the doctors and screwed themselves up.

They do know what they are talking about.

RSKY

 

[Bird]

Mrs. Bird would not be happy with extra laundry or cleaning up the mess.

Nope.:laughing: So I'll have to get her to operate that recliner lever on the right.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Get one of those recliners that stand you up with servo motors​.

 

[Teachu2]

Well it sounds like you know what you are in for.

After my Bankhart(sp) repair on my shoulder the doctor said in 20 years you will need a replacement. If you can hold out longer the better off you will be. I know two people that had shoulder replacements there recovery time was more in the 6-10 month range. It is a big operation.

But they were in the same boat as you are in, pain all of the time, unable to sleep, unable to do much of anything. The two I know and others that I met in the waiting room all said as terrible as the surgery was it was worth it in the long run.

Good luck

steve

deleted.

 

[Bird]

I've got to be at the hospital at 5 a.m. Monday. The doctor thinks I might be able to go home Wednesday around noon. All indications are that it's going to be a miserable 3 to 5 days, and "recovery" in 6 to 18 months. So I won't be on TBN for a few days; just don't know for sure how many yet.

 

[turnkey4099]

I hope all goes well and you are back better than normal in record time.

But please...follow all the doctor's and nurse's instructions. Have known people, in the family actually, who knew better than the doctors and screwed themselves up.

They do know what they are talking about.

RSKY

+1 and follow the physical therapists orders! Those exercises are what makes for a successful recovery. I know people who didn't do them and the results were not pretty.

 

[IslandTractor]

We'll try to behave while you are incommunicado. Get well soon.

 

[Bird]

We'll try to behave while you are incommunicado. Get well soon.

:laughing::laughing::laughing:Thank you! I hope to be back soon, even if it is left handed.:laughing:

 

[Snobdds]

My dad had the reverser surgery on January 25 of this year. In one more week he will be done with the rehab portion and then a month of strength training. The first week sucked for him. By the end of two weeks he was driving and checking job sites, as he owns a construction company. He wore a sling for 3 weeks and that was it. He did do rehab every other day, which I think is key. He can now raise he hand above his head, and grab the gear shifter with no pain, which he couldn't before. He has to rebuild his strength, but he's so happy he did it.