Shoulder Surgery Advice

[Lynxie]

I'm going in tomorrow morning to have a bit of surgery done on my shoulder. I've had a couple minor opperations in the past, but nothing like this. I was wondering if anyone had any good tips for staying comfortable afterwards... I've already stocked up on pillows so I can prop myself up to sleep, but any other suggestions (especially from anyone who's had their shoulders or arms operated on before) would be most appreciated. I know it's silly to be worried - I've had chronic pain for over 4 years now, yet I'm nervous as hell about the pain after the surgery. My hubby keeps reminding me how good I'll feel down the road, but the pessimist in me won't quit. Thanks in advance for the comfort ideas

 

[wicked woman]

Actually I didn't have any pain from the surgery afterwards...was more being sick from the anesthetics that was a pain, but not much you can do about it.

Good luck...hope your surgery goes well.

 

[Vixandra]

I've never had shoulder surgury but I do work on an AF Medical/Surgical floor in the hospital on my base. Do everything a civie EMT-B can do plus most of LPN stuff.

That said- pillows are good.
I'd advise having lots of bendy straws to stick in drinks to make drinking while you're lieing down easier.
Have a bucket or pan nearby just in case you throw up. Buckets A LOT easier to clean up.
Take your meds as said the first couple of days then start weaning off of them. Be VERY careful of narcotics, they're very addictable.

DO NOT let them send you home before your ready after surgury. Be a pain.
And, afterward, if the nursing staff on the floor or in the OR was great, send them a not and a letter to the hospital saying so. We always appreciate things like that and they only take five min to do it.

Good luck and quick recovery.

 

[Lynxie]

I've never had shoulder surgury but I do work on an AF Medical/Surgical floor in the hospital on my base. Do everything a civie EMT-B can do plus most of LPN stuff.

That said- pillows are good.
I'd advise having lots of bendy straws to stick in drinks to make drinking while you're lieing down easier.
Have a bucket or pan nearby just in case you throw up. Buckets A LOT easier to clean up.
Take your meds as said the first couple of days then start weaning off of them. Be VERY careful of narcotics, they're very addictable.

DO NOT let them send you home before your ready after surgury. Be a pain.
And, afterward, if the nursing staff on the floor or in the OR was great, send them a not and a letter to the hospital saying so. We always appreciate things like that and they only take five min to do it.

Good luck and quick recovery.

Thanks Vix - I already know not to screw around with narcotics...I've been on them off and on for my pain in the past. Bendy straws are an ingenious idea - I'll have to ship the hubby out this afternoon for some I'm a huge fan of thank-you's myself, so it's likely I'll be sending one, as long as they're nice to me. Anywho, I'm off for the hospital...thanks again girls!

 

[Vixandra]

Thanks Vix - I already know not to screw around with narcotics...I've been on them off and on for my pain in the past. Bendy straws are an ingenious idea - I'll have to ship the hubby out this afternoon for some I'm a huge fan of thank-you's myself, so it's likely I'll be sending one, as long as they're nice to me. Anywho, I'm off for the hospital...thanks again girls!

We use the bendy straws on our unit and they make life soo much easier.
Good luck.

 

[bigredboston]

I'm going in tomorrow morning to have a bit of surgery done on my shoulder. I've had a couple minor opperations in the past, but nothing like this. I was wondering if anyone had any good tips for staying comfortable afterwards... I've already stocked up on pillows so I can prop myself up to sleep, but any other suggestions (especially from anyone who's had their shoulders or arms operated on before) would be most appreciated. I know it's silly to be worried - I've had chronic pain for over 4 years now, yet I'm nervous as hell about the pain after the surgery. My hubby keeps reminding me how good I'll feel down the road, but the pessimist in me won't quit. Thanks in advance for the comfort ideas

I hope you are felling better now, What kind of surgery was it? I have had a problem with one of my shoulders for a couple of years now. Doctor thinks it is tendinitas, I am not so sure...Hope you are recovering OK!

 

[Lynxie]

Re: Re: Shoulder Surgery Advice

I hope you are felling better now, What kind of surgery was it? I have had a problem with one of my shoulders for a couple of years now. Doctor thinks it is tendinitas, I am not so sure...Hope you are recovering OK!

Thanks bigred - I'm doing alright, as long as I stay on top of my pain meds. I was born with loose joints, and my left shoulder routinely slips from its socket, just a little bit. Over time, I developed tendonitis and bursitis - the irritation caused a lot of pain, and eventually my shoulder froze up on me. For the past year, I haven't been able to lift my left arm at all.

Physical therapy and medications weren't helping, so I opted to have surgery. The procedure was really a two-step process. First, the doc did some aggressive stretching while I was under anesthesia, to try and free up the frozen joint. Then he went in with a scope and tightened up my ligaments (sewed them over on themselves) - we're hoping this resolves my laxity issue, which we think is the root of the problem. It'll be a long time yet before I know how successful the surgery was...the doctor says it could be up to 6 months (possibly more) of physical theraphy to get things back in working order, and there's a good chance this could reoccur down the road, since my ligaments have a natural tendency to be stretchy. I'm just praying that it was all worth it - hopefully I'll heal up fine and can get back to a normal, pain-free life.

 

[bigredboston]

Re: Re: Re: Shoulder Surgery Advice

Thanks bigred - I'm doing alright, as long as I stay on top of my pain meds. I was born with loose joints, and my left shoulder routinely slips from its socket, just a little bit. Over time, I developed tendonitis and bursitis - the irritation caused a lot of pain, and eventually my shoulder froze up on me. For the past year, I haven't been able to lift my left arm at all.

Physical therapy and medications weren't helping, so I opted to have surgery. The procedure was really a two-step process. First, the doc did some aggressive stretching while I was under anesthesia, to try and free up the frozen joint. Then he went in with a scope and tightened up my ligaments (sewed them over on themselves) - we're hoping this resolves my laxity issue, which we think is the root of the problem. It'll be a long time yet before I know how successful the surgery was...the doctor says it could be up to 6 months (possibly more) of physical theraphy to get things back in working order, and there's a good chance this could reoccur down the road, since my ligaments have a natural tendency to be stretchy. I'm just praying that it was all worth it - hopefully I'll heal up fine and can get back to a normal, pain-free life.

Well I hope you will do well and fell better soon, my next door neighbor had rotator cuff surgery on his left arm, he is much older but it was an old injury from his pitching days playing baseball. For him is was nice since he himself is a surgeon and knows all the best surgeons in the State. He knows the Red Sox surgeon and when he takes his step kids to the ball games he has the doctor bring them in the locker room to meet the players. Nice perk for his step kids.

 

[christiessecret]

I'm sure you're back home now, but I have had 4 "Left Shoulder" surgeries, the first three were arthroscopic, so no major incisions, yet still painful recovery. The last was total reconstruction.
You should have been given a cooler with a circultory pump which feeds ice cold water to a wrap which goes around the shoulder. Use it as much as possible to get the swelling down. Swelling=Pain. Make sure you don't try to increase range of motion too soon. If they used corrugated staples in the socket to tighten the joint, be cautious when having sex-they can pull out of the joint. Then you're back to OR to have them removed-floating staples in the joint=pain. And lastly, Ibuprofen:800mg 4 times daily for the first 5 days after surgery. Use your Vicodin sparingly and send the rest to the following address:
(Just kidding!!)

Wishing you a comfortable recovery. I've been through it all with shoulder and joint degeneration and I'm in my late 30's but very active, physically. Write me if I can be of any further help. Godspeed!

 

[Lynxie]

Thanks C - I just sent ya a PM.

Another thing they neglected to warn me about was how difficult clothing would be. I can't move my arm out and away from my side, so putting on shirts is really a challenge. They let me keep my hospital johnny, which has sleeves that snap open at the shoulders. But I can't wear that all the time. I ended up taking an old t-shirt yesterday and cutting the left sleeve open along the top, then safety-pinned it over my shoulder. But I really don't want to ruin more shirts like that. I have plans to go see a friend in a play tomorrow night, so I'll have to figure out the clothing thing by then. If anyone knows any tips or secrets for putting on clothes when you can't move one arm, let me know!

 

[justphil]

have had shoulder surgery

I've had shoulder surgey. You'll be more comfortable on your back, and put pillows on both sides so you don't turn over. Wear your arm brace tight but loose, and expect that the pain will wake you up most nights. Expect 6-8 weeks therapy with a physical terrorist.

Do your exercises and you'll get most range of motion back and also your strength.

Best wishes.

justphil

 

[Lynxie]

Re: have had shoulder surgery

I've had shoulder surgey. You'll be more comfortable on your back, and put pillows on both sides so you don't turn over. Wear your arm brace tight but loose, and expect that the pain will wake you up most nights. Expect 6-8 weeks therapy with a physical terrorist.

Do your exercises and you'll get most range of motion back and also your strength.

Best wishes.

justphil

LOL Physical Terrorists. I love it.

Yep, I've got more pillows than I know what to do with - I've actually been sleeping fairly well at night, only waking up an average of once each night for my pills. I won't be starting therapy til next week at the earliest, but I have been taking my sling off daily to stretch out my elbow and let my arm swing a bit.

I think I've solved my clothing issue - I had been trying to put on shirts with my left arm bent, like it would be if I had my sling on. I figured out that keeping it straight makes things much easier. Sounds obvious...but sometimes I'm slow

Yesterday afternoon, I noticed my feet started swelling up. I'm not a skinny girl, but my feet were definitely bloated. They were better this morning, but then it happened again this afternoon. They're actually sore to the touch. Could this be from inactivity? I've tried sitting with them up, and having my husband rub them - no luck. I'm a little worried about it - has anyone ever had this problem?

 

[Vixandra]

To solve the clothing issue- try sleeveless button up shirts.
Slip over the hurt arm first then the healthy arm. Once you're good with that, go onto short sleeved things and then to long sleeved.
Wraps are your friend.

 

[Lynxie]

Good plan Vix - I'm going out tonight and I've got a sweater poncho that'll work perfectly. It'll be nice to put on something besides pj's for a change.

As for my feet swelling - they got really bad during the night, but now they're pretty much back to normal. Just a little swollen, but nothing compared to last night. I don't get it - I normally don't retain fluids or anything weird, and this is the first time anything like this has ever happened to me.

 

[Lynxie]

Woohoo! I just successfully put on a real sweater! I'm feeling better already