Scheduled for shoulder surgery

[Scuba]

I decided to move forward with shoulder surgery first since the pain I’m experiencing in my shoulder is much worse than my hip. It’s set for 6/29. In the meantime, I’m:
- Practicing doing some basic functions with my left hand
- Buying some shirts that button instead of pullovers
- Buying a machine for icing my shoulder post surgery
- Planning and buying some meals that will be easy to eat

DH can drive again following his quadruple bypass so that is a big help.

Any other tips on how to prepare or recover ASAP?

 

[Bamaman]

I was talking to my wife's physical therapist, and I asked what their most dreaded injury is? He said shoulders because the therapy is painful, and many patients (especially older) are hesitant to work through the pain in order to get better. It can take a full year to get over shoulder injuries.

So I say find yourself a really good physical therapist you feel comfortable with.

 

[Lewis Clark]

I've had two shoulder surgeries. I cannot stress enough how vital it is to do the physical therapy once you are allowed to do so after the surgery.

 

[Marita40]

I had shoulder surgery two years ago. It was particularly difficult because I live alone and it was my right arm (I'm right handed). If you have the help of your husband, you will be fine. I couldn't do things like open cans, vacuum, clean the cat litter box, cut the grass, drive my manual car, rake leaves, etc. for some months. If your husband can't do any of the household chores, hire help. Also, sleeping is very difficult for many post-surgery. I had to sleep in a recliner for at least two months due to the pain of lying down, even lying down propped up on pillows. So get a good recliner--maybe borrow one if you don't have one. I actually had little to no "pain" except for the first day or two when the block wore off. However, I had about 6-8 months of soreness. On the first day you realize you haven't thought about your shoulder all day, you will rejoice! As mentioned above, a good physical therapist is vital. The exercises are monumentally boring and frustrating at times--you literally have to learn to use your arm all over again--but completely necessary. Expect to have low points around weeks 3-4 (I did, and my therapist said this was common) but then it will get incrementally--slowly--better week by week. Good luck! You made a good decision.

 

[Aerides]

In the meantime, I’m:
- Practicing doing some basic functions with my left hand
- Buying some shirts that button instead of pullovers
- Buying a machine for icing my shoulder post surgery
- Planning and buying some meals that will be easy to eat

DH can drive again following his quadruple bypass so that is a big help.

Any other tips on how to prepare or recover ASAP?

Don't worry too much about left hand practice. It will "learn" when you have no choice far better than when you don't.

There are some specialty shirts that remove at the shoulder to look at, and, if you need one regularly, think about front closing bras. Make a list of your daily chores and things you'll want DH to do, and make sure he knows so he's not asking you all the time "where's the detergent?" etc., when you're in the early stages of healing.

 

[Time2]

Years ago a friend had shoulder surgery, he told the doc that he would not take any pills for pain. The doc scolded him and said needs to take them because, if he didn't he would not be able to do the physical therapy needed to get the shoulder back into good usable condition. So there is that. Physical therapy is very important.

 

[Marita40]

Also--I could shower by about the 3rd day after surgery. You have to take your arm out of the sling and just let it dangle. This is a bit scary at first. Two things helped me a lot: a shower chair and a cheap CVS sling (about $10.00). I took the arm out of the big sling and put it in the cheap sling to shower--it felt much more protected and safe, and the cheap sling dries easy. Don't invest in any specialty T-shirts: just grab some old ones from your hubby and cut open one edge, or shop at Goodwill for a couple cheap big ones. You won't be able to manage a bra unless you have help. A tube one can be used or just go without. I managed to wash my hair one handed although could not use a hair dryer/brush combo, of course, as it takes too hands. Buy a hat and lower your standards

 

[Octogirl]

shoulder surgery

My DH had right shoulder surgery on May 17th of this year for rotator cuff tears.
He's in good health and thought "No big deal"

Sleeping is the WORST ! He can't get comfortable with the large sling that has to be worn, even in bed for 6 weeks.
So sleep loss has been the worst for him.

He's learned that PT - he's still on passive ROM- is painful.
After PT he takes a nap, goes to bed early.

FYI- one friend of his who had same surgery, rented a hospital bed so he could adjust head and sleep. Others sleep in recliners

Best wishes.
Most everyone will tell you they are glad they had surgery....4-6 months later.

 

[pacergal]

Both shoulders have had surgery.
ICE machine was a life saver.
DH had to go buy bags of ice, as our refridgerator could not produce the amount we needed for the machine, as often as we needed it.
Figure how to use the machine before you leave the hospital, my nurse showed me how, or actually DH how, as I was out of it. Keep a small towel around the hose connectors, they may leak a bit when you connect and disconnect.

I slept in the recliner the first several nights, ease of using ice machine plus better pain control.
Use the pain meds, they are there for a reason. Over use, no.
Start PT as soon as Dr says too, and do it judiciously. It is something I continue to do and will need to do for my lifetime.

Best Wishes for a speedy recovery!

 

[pacergal]

Also, follow Dr advice about lifting/using shoulders and how much weight you can lift, and when it is safe to do so.
My ortho doc was adamant that I not lift my shoulders/arms up until PT had worked with me and no lifting above a certain weight.
I went back for my final check at about 6 months. I had felt terrific and had helped a child move (but no heavy lifting of furniture, just some smaller boxes). Thought my Doc was going to have a stroke when I told him. Boy, did I get a lecture!
But no harm done and my shoulders do fine as long as I continue with exercises to this day.
(surgeries were done in 2004, 2008, so things may have changed)

 

[thod]

I had shoulder surgery about 25 years ago. I was younger, but the recovery is difficult as others have described.

I am a computer programmer and when I returned to work with my arm in a sling, I switched my mouse over to a left-handed mouse. Took a while to get used to it, but I ended up leaving it that way for the rest of my career. I found it useful to use the mouse with my left hand and write with my right hand at the same time.

 

[ivinsfan]

Yikes if I was scuba I'd be rethinking this entire idea..I feel for all of you it sounds awful.

 

[RockyMtn]

two weeks ago I had rotator cuff and bicep tendon repaired. All went well. Minimal pain first day after the block wore off. Nothing since. First PT was Thursday.

Some suggestions:

1. Buy or rent a recliner. Much easier to sleep in.
2. Ice machine is your friend first week and after physical therapy sessions.
3. Follow the range of motion exercises. Keeps the shoulder loose.
4. Buy a mesh sling on Amazon that you can wear in the shower. Slings with bumpers don't shower well.
5. PT is essential!
6. Read #5!

Good luck!

 

[W2R]

I never had shoulder surgery, but I had total knee replacement surgery three years ago. Extrapolating from that, I'd say that RockyMtn's suggestions in the post above this one, sound excellent.

(Well, except PT didn't help me much after the first few weeks, but I think my case was an exception.)

See if you can find a forum for shoulder surgery patients, to find out the best type of ice machine and any other tips they may have. For me, the ice machine was so important, for both pain reduction and minimizing swelling. I had this one, with the knee pad but you'll need the shoulder pad. I used a couple of 8-oz frozen water bottles in it instead of ice - - much easier.

I loved having a fairly new Laz-y-Boy recliner. I slept in it through recovery and it kept me from rolling over and hurting the surgical area. I would imagine a recliner might be equally helpful after shoulder surgery, for the same reasons. If you can't get a new recliner delivered before your surgery due to supply chain issues, maybe you can rent one or get a used one somewhere.

I prepared and froze about 3 weeks worth of meals, so that I didn't have to cook. It's not that I couldn't, but I really didn't want to.

Wish I knew of more tips for you! Anyway, good luck and let us know how it goes (once you can post online again).

 

[Lewis Clark]

I didn't use an ice machine. But I did invest in a couple of very large cold packs (like 1.5 feet by 2.5 feet or so, not at home to measure them) that I bought from the physical therapist. For me, that was enough.

 

[ivinsfan]

I didn't use an ice machine. But I did invest in a couple of very large cold packs (like 1.5 feet by 2.5 feet or so, not at home to measure them) that I bought from the physical therapist. For me, that was enough.

Scuba is getting a hip later down the road. I'd totally buy an ice machine... I saw my friend using one in inpatient rehab after a complicated knee replacement she loved it.

 

[harllee]

Regarding the ice machine. When DH had his knee replacement surgery he used an ice machine about 24/7 for the first couple of weeks, a life saver. Instead of buying bags of ice we froze 8 bottles of water and used 4 of them in the ice machine at a time. The ice bottles would last about 6 hours before being changed. I got up in the night the first couple of weeks and changed out the ice bottles.

DH did not have to buy an ice machine--the hospital provided him one and Medicare paid for it.

 

[Ian S]

Had both shoulders done within about a year of each other 2017 and 2018. First was my right (dominant) arm so learning to do some basic things with the left was critical - especially going to the toilet! I found that ice packs worked fine for me but many swear by ice machines. I found the facebook group "Rotator Cuff and Related Shoulder Injuries and Surgery" to have a lot of good info. I ended up sleeping in a Stressless recliner along with one of those airplane neck pillows for nearly two months: I just couldn't get comfortable in bed. Your surgeon's office should give you some detailed instructions both pre and post surgery. I bought a few cheap tee shirts Xl to make it easier to get dressed. You probably will wake up after surgery in your special sling and will be in it for up to six weeks after surgery; the length of time depends on your surgeon - mine had me in the sling for the full six weeks - and probably extent of repair. It wasn't until after the six weeks that serious PT started for me. But the doctor had me start earlier with a few easy to do motions. Most docs will at some point have you doing "finger walks" up a wall with your repaired arm. You will absolutely detest that exercise at first but it does get better and is a good indicator of how you are progressing!

Please follow your surgeon's instructions and ask questions. I was fortunate that I already had a great physical therapist and he did not disappoint. Not the flashiest of facilities but he knew his stuff. I'm not sure I'd want someone fresh out of training but maybe you know someone in your circle of friends who had the same surgery and can recommend a therapist. Your surgeon will also probably have someone he trusts. In any event you will have time to decide on the PT. The first few weeks of therapy will exhaust you on the day of your appointment. I found it best to just relax afterwards for the rest of the day.

Lastly, I would just say not to be afraid of the narcotics that you will likely be prescribed for post surgery. Take them as the doctor recommends - some patients wait until the pain becomes severe and then have difficulty controlling it. For me I took the narcotics as directed but both times I was able to dispense with them after a four or five days with quite a few pills left over. Best of luck! Both my shoulders got pretty much back to normal after 6-8 months but I could do most things after 3. Luckily being retired, I didn't have to worry about going back to a physical job. That Facebook groups has some sad stories of patients being forced back to work early by workman's comp docs.

 

[skyking1]

I had both shoulders done in 2019 after a bad fall. One was a massive tear that could be pulled back together but the other was really bad, and I have an allograft of donor tissue in there.
My doc was not a big fan of the icing machines, as too much of a good thing inhibits healing. With both surgeries I slept in a recliner for about 4 weeks. I was done with the ice packs in a few days in each case.
I also was proactive with the pain medicine as mentioned above ^.
Much better to err on the side of caution than to have an uncomfortable sleepless night in the early days. I was able to cut it out completely by ~day 4 and use tylenol and other non-prescription pain medications.

 

[Scuba]

The comments you’ve all posted are VERY helpful. Thank you!!

One question about sleeping in a recliner - we have a reclining love seat. Is that sufficient or is the idea to confine yourself to a chair so you can’t accidentally move the wrong way? I was thinking I’d sleep on our reclining love seat but maybe that doesn’t address the problem?

I’m definitely buying the icing machine. And I’ve been practicing doing things with my left hand. Toileting is challenging, eating is much easier than I thought it would be, and brushing teeth isn’t too bad since we have an electric toothbrush. I think I will need DH’s help to get dressed and also to wash my hair and shower. We have a shower chair and a cheap sling already. I just bought some bras called True Bra that have no hooks and you can slide them up from your hips. They’re very comfortable. And almost all of my shirts are pullovers so I ordered a few inexpensive oversized shirts that button down the front.

I’m a big believer in PT and plan to return to the facility I was going to before. I think they did a good job helping me and I have confidence they will help me get back to where I need to be after the surgery.

Luckily DH’s recovery from quadruple bypass surgery is going very well. He’s gearing up to do all the cooking since I won’t be able to for several weeks.

 

[Marita40]

Your reclining love seat, I think, would be fine. The issue is not so much moving around but keeping the shoulder upright. You can prop pillows up next to you as needed. That said, I recall from the Facebook forum I was on during the time that some people did manage to sleep in bed, so you will have to experiment. Good luck! Sounds like you are well prepared. Have things like books, media, etc to keep you occupied. It is pretty boring for long stretches. Walking once you are able to do so is a great help mentally and physically, although it is odd walking with one arm in a sling--you feel unbalanced. Oh, and I got one of those bras too that pull up from your hips. Worked just fine.

 

[skyking1]

+1 on pillows and reclining loveseat/sofa.
That is how i did it. I put the surgery arm inside on a stack of pillows till it took the sling weight off my collarbone, but wore the sling in case the stack falls apart for the first couple of nights.
As I got used to that, I took the sling off my neck once I was sure it was secure. It was pretty good sleep.
The first shoulder I was in the recliner a long time. The second and more complicated shoulder, I was able to get back to bed sooner based on the experiments from the first go-around.

 

[Scuba]

Oh good, I’m glad the furniture we already have will work. I’m really not looking forward to this but OTOH, I am hopeful that in time, I will no longer be in pain. Right now, every night the pain wakes me up multiple times. I can’t even pull the sheet over me with my right hand.

I do need to keep exercising my hip muscles so they don’t atrophy while I’m recovering from shoulder surgery. It will help me recover a lot faster from hip replacement surgery if my hips are in good shape before the surgery. I’ll have to ask my doctor how he recommends doing that. The exercises I’ve been doing such as walking in the pool won’t work for the first several weeks of shoulder recovery. Ugh.

 

[Scuba]

I just ordered the Breg Glacier ice machine with the wraparound shoulder pad. Should arrive well before my surgery.

 

[W2R]

I just ordered the Breg Glacier ice machine with the wraparound shoulder pad. Should arrive well before my surgery.

Good! That will give you a few days to familiarize yourself with it before surgery.

I’m really not looking forward to this but OTOH, I am hopeful that in time, I will no longer be in pain. Right now, every night the pain wakes me up multiple times. I can’t even pull the sheet over me with my right hand.

Given the amount of pain you are experiencing right now, your ice machine could possibly help a little bit even before surgery. People will say nope, but mine helped my knee pain to go from excruciating to only miserable before knee surgery. It's worth a try if/when you can't sleep.

I am so glad you don't have long to wait until your surgery date! Soon your extreme shoulder pain will be just a distant memory.