Shoulder Surgery

[MLBob]

Best wishes for a good surgery and complete recovery, Neal!

 

[WaltW]

Neal, My wife has had many joint surgeries and her left shoulder cuff and reattaching bicep tendon was done 8 years ago. Her recovery, eliminating the arm sling, took about 5 weeks and the PT lasted about 13 weeks. She regained 90% function, within 6 months, and has not had any issues since. She had the surgery done at age 65. She was given Opioids for pain and only used it for the first two nights.
She has also had both knees done, a double mastectomy and a heal/ankle fusing. I wish you a quick and complete recovery!

 

[RBSinTo]

My right rotator cuff is torn in three places

Reminds me of an old Henny Youngman joke:
"I told the doctor my rotator cuff was torn in three places".
"The doctor told me not to go back to those three places."
RBSinTo

 

[chazmo]

My right rotator cuff is torn in three places, in addition to my bicep tendon. Guitar playing, and anything else requiring a functional right arm, has become increasingly difficult. I tried rehab, but it was not successful. I am left with a choice: surgery and its aftermath, or limited use of my right arm for the rest of my life.

The choice is easy. I go under the knife tomorrow. I have an excellent surgeon, who has already fixed one bicep tear, three trigger fingers, and both carpal tunnels.

Has anyone else had rotator cuff surgery on LTG, and if so, how long until I can strum a few chords again?

Neal, my fondest and best wishes for good results from your surgery today. Hang tough!

 

[Uke]

"It doesn't hurt so I don't need pain meds"

Very important point. I had a surgery about 12 years ago. I was prescribed pain meds, which I decided I didn't need. BIG delusion. I finally took the pain meds!

 

[davismanLV]

Very important point. I had a surgery about 12 years ago. I was prescribed pain meds, which I decided I didn't need. BIG delusion. I finally took the pain meds!

This right here ^^^ and also what GAD said!! The pain meds are for a reason. Nerve blocks work really well for a short time. After that, there is pain. I know the whole world is nuts about opioid addiction, and it is an actual thing. But for what they give you for one surgery? Guarding the shoulder/knee/hip, whichever part they fix is not good and controlling pain allows you to move and complete your PT and live your life in relative peace. You're not going to become a raging Fenanyl addict from one surgery. They'll likely give you Percocet. Even after 4 replacement surgeries in a row (knee, hip, knee, hip) over a 2 year 3 month period, it was fine. Now on the last one they did have to increase the dose, because your body builds up a tolerance. But even then, at the end, I just did a slow tapering dose and then done. Pain will slow down your rehab and healing.

 

[Rich Cohen]

I have been wondering why you haven't been playing at the The Local open mics. Best of luck for the surgery and heal up quick!

 

[Neal]

Thanks, everyone!

The surgery went well. It got a little dicey last night once the nerve block wore off, despite having taken an oxycodone and two ibuprofen tablets beforehand.

I finally abandoned the recliner about 4 am after getting zero sleep, and found relief lying on my good side on the couch with a large pillow propping up my repaired arm just so.

Now I have a good plan in place that will allow for some reliable sleep!

 

[davismanLV]

The first night is always rough. Sounds like you made it through, Neal!! Good job. It'll only get better from here!!

 

[Opsimath]

Thanks, everyone!

The surgery went well. It got a little dicey last night once the nerve block wore off, despite having taken an oxycodone and two ibuprofen tablets beforehand.

I finally abandoned the recliner about 4 am after getting zero sleep, and found relief lying on my good side on the couch with a large pillow propping up my repaired arm just so.

Now I have a good plan in place that will allow for some reliable sleep!

Very glad it went well! Hoping your total recovery will be speedy.

Our farrier had his shoulder done some years back. His recovery was pretty extended. At one point he said he was tired of sleeping in a recliner. Glad you found a comfortable alternative.

Here's hoping it will be short term!

 

[Brick]

Thanks, everyone!

The surgery went well. It got a little dicey last night once the nerve block wore off, despite having taken an oxycodone and two ibuprofen tablets beforehand.

I finally abandoned the recliner about 4 am after getting zero sleep, and found relief lying on my good side on the couch with a large pillow propping up my repaired arm just so.

Now I have a good plan in place that will allow for some reliable sleep!

Good to hear it went well. Yeah, sleeping is kind of a puzzle for a while, but it sounds like you have that sorted. Recovery will take a while, but you will literally get out of it what you put into it. Once you get cleared to start doing PT, you can really start to track your progress, its slow, but measurable. Hang in there!

 

[Neal]

Got a great night’s sleep and awoke to almost no pain whatsoever. I’m now off the opioids and taking only Tylenol, alternating with doses with ibuprofen.

 

[Opsimath]

Fabulous! Glad it's going so well!

 

[Uke]

I've posted this before, but here goes again. I worked in a hospital and developed a rule of thumb: Post hip replacements -- pretty happy patients; Post knee replacements -- a little grouchy; Post shoulder surgery -- stay the hell away from them! Mend fast!

 

[GAD]

Got a great night’s sleep and awoke to almost no pain whatsoever. I’m now off the opioids and taking only Tylenol, alternating with doses with ibuprofen.

Hooray!

 

[davismanLV]

I've posted this before, but here goes again. I worked in a hospital and developed a rule of thumb: Post hip replacements -- pretty happy patients; Post knee replacements -- a little grouchy; Post shoulder surgery -- stay the hell away from them! Mend fast!

This is exactly true. And don't give the opioids away yet. Once you start PT they may help you to push yourself, which is how you get the most benefit. And who wants to suffer? Good job!!

 

[AcornHouse]

Got a great night’s sleep and awoke to almost no pain whatsoever. I’m now off the opioids and taking only Tylenol, alternating with doses with ibuprofen.

Good news! Just be very careful while it heals. Follow instructions to the letter, and even be over cautious.

 

[RBSinTo]

I've posted this before, but here goes again. I worked in a hospital and developed a rule of thumb: Post hip replacements -- pretty happy patients; Post knee replacements -- a little grouchy; Post shoulder surgery -- stay the hell away from them! Mend fast!

Uke,
Based on personal experience, I agree with your observation on the hip replacement surgery. I awoke without pain, and was walking around hospital corridors within an hour. I was given serious prescription medication (chocolate-flavoured heroin, peppermint cocaine or somesuch) when I left the hospital, but never took any, both because I never had pain severe enough to need them, and also because of an addictive personality, I had a fear of becoming dependent.
As for the knee replacement, a close friend who had it done recently, was in considerable pain for weeks post-surgery, and used the pain meds he was prescribed.
RBSinTo

 

[RBSinTo]

Got a great night’s sleep and awoke to almost no pain whatsoever. I’m now off the opioids and taking only Tylenol, alternating with doses with ibuprofen.

Neal,
Good to hear you're getting along well.
RBSinTo

 

[RBSinTo]

Neal,
It just occurred to me that if you have any cats or dogs, you should try some furry medicine to help you feel better.
RBSinTo