After several months of "ignore it and it will go away", I finally went to doctor. Yep, he thinks its a torn rotator, going for mri to have a better idea. Shatered that shoulder in a head on car wreck in 1980. Collar bone was removed then, not sure what kind of mess is in there. Worked fine for near 40 years. Lifted something I should not have. Mind thinks I'm 20 but body says not so fast buster.
If I get it fixed, I'll be good, I promise. Hurts like being stuck with ice pick (but thats another story)
Hoping for good repair.
I've had 3 repairs and am trying to ignore it again, I swear this is my next to the last roof. It is hard to keep that 20 year old down :D. They say inside every old man there is a young man wondering what in the heck happened. Be good to yourself but do what the pain and torture people say. Good luck, keep us posted on how the MRI goes.
I gave up and got a shot Thursday. Right shoulder was non stop throbbing and keeping me up all night.
Got MRIs on both shoulders and left knee a couple months ago. Both torn rotators, arthritis, bone spurs. Right shoulder is the worst.
Left knee has torn miniscus and acl.
Tried to get through it but gave up finally. Got the cortisone shot and some prescription antiinflamitories last Thursday in the right shoulder.
Hated to do it but finally called it quits.
Not great but better.
Figure to spend 2020 sedated and in rehabilitation not to mention putting a Ortho guys kid thought college.
Looking forward to the golden years...
My shoulder is having to wait it's turn. Knee has to be done first because I have to have my arms/shoulders to support my weight during knee surgery recovery. I am OK straight down, just not out to the side. :-X
I understand your logic MM. Knee that I ran saw through a few years ago is slowly getting worse, need to wait til the upper bod can drag us around before doing anything for it. Just got a tractor with hydrashift, much easer on the knee than clutch on last one. Still keeping the straight drive truck. Can't wait to see what part of bod goes bad or falls of next. Aging is definately an adventure.
This twenty year old may have to have ta face da fact dat his 65 year old body is just plumb wore out. One back surgery, two new knees, one rotator, and yesterday rotator on other shoulder. maybe it's time ta slow down. Then again, with a total rebuild I should be good ta go. :D
Seems like every time I put in a new head gasket the main bearings are soon to follow :D. I feel for ya it's no pick-a-nick. Happily the rental agency doesn't dock for scratchin the paint. Be good to yourself.
There's absolutely no point in returning a perfectly good body back to the maker. I firmly believe that we are supposed to wear it out. That being said it's hard to stop the 23 year old me that sees this gray haired fellow in the mirror in the morning (anyone else wonder sometimes how it happened?) from lifting, climbing (most gates have latches doc) and jumping(jumping is bad anymore) . Oh well I intend to keep having a good time wearing it out but first time to start today and do my yoga. Yes yoga it's made a big difference.
Follow up: had MRI, there are 2 detached tendons with 1 inch tears. No wonder it hurts, having surgery on Jan 10.
Doc says it has to be in sling and minimal use for 3 months, says old bodies heal slower. No kidding doc :D
I have a week off over holiday to get deck finished, (getting good left handed).
Hope it will be good as new if I behave.
It won't be good as new but it'll sure be better than it is. Don't be discouraged it can take awhile for those big tears to calm down and then rebuild to get as good as they will get. I'll never be able to hold much weight out away from me but the range of motion is back. I just realized you said something I did the first time. Cool it if you can, you're already done till after surgery. When he got inside he said there was fresh blood, I was still tearing it worse trying to get stuff done beforehand. That stuff can wait, you'll be better off doing less damage and bouncing back quicker. Good luck and keep us posted on how your doing.
Had both of mine done back in the 90s when I was just a pup in my 60s
Right one gone again and I dont know how I did it.
Doc says no fix this time
They both do the rice crispies thing when I raise and lower my arms but better than nothing.
You should be OK as mine have gone on for about 20 years since then
Thanks Don P. I had not considered that. Sure not looking forward to being a one winged curmudgeon (grump old bugger) for several weeks. Hoping to be good to go in spring....
Found out last Thursday that the Ortho guy that was going to do my shoulders and knee no longer takes my insurance so I'm back to square 1.
Bummer Bill
Hope it works out for you finding a new surgeon
Rotator Cuff FWIW: Mine was a full tear and got a fix 11/2014, I'm now 76 and it still works OK but has the rice crispies thing like mentioned above. The doc reminded me the arthritis doesn't go away just cause it's back together. Mine was sewn back plus 4 titanium screws with a titanium cable wound in a square with an X in the middle.
I slept in a recliner nearly 4 months and worked my butt of to gain FROM! A good therapist helps but the personal aspect of hard work is essential. The partial tear people I watched in PT were done in half the time as a full tear.
I feel my same side detached bicep was a factor plus that I've had several obvious self heal partial cuff tears over the years. At least I'm not a couch potato, ha! Hard work gets you this stuff. The people that really suffer are those who need their body to feed others, I'm lucky to have gone back to school at age 30 and avoided skilled trades stoppages from these body repairs.
I get nerve impingement from the shoulder so my senior sleeping habits now mean right side only, such is life...
I have a followup visit with my knee surgeon on the 10th. At that time I hope to find out when I can proceed with getting my shoulder fixed. I am hoping to get both the knee and shoulder fixed this Winter so I will be ready for sawing as quickly as possible.
I think I may have the record for shoulder surgeries here at 5. 3 on one side 2 on the other.
One side musta been an earthquake, or was that you waking up?? :o
Quote from: Jeff on December 31, 2019, 05:04:23 PM
I think I may have the record for shoulder surgeries here at 5.
3 on one side 2 on the other.
:D I liked it better the misunderstanding way. ;D
My senior years are much like driving a beater car, fix and drive, fix and drive... :D
I don't have depression to deal with but it does wear on one's mind to have these interruptions!
I have planned my life away while laid up and I'm at that point I want to finish the last project I planned after a THR/hip surgery, a remote cabin back up the holler on our place.
Beats the alternative by leaps and bounds, that's a fact.
I went to a very large high school and had over 700 kids in my war baby, record sized class, and about 10% are already gone at this point. Somewhat grim reminder of being one of the lucky ones.
Today is the day, getting the shoulder operated on today. Going in at noon. Aprehensive but hopful for improved function. Will have to work on my left handed typing, awkward at best.
Good Luck - hope it works out well for you.. OH and have a nice snooze, at least for a while. You'll be busy when you wake up!
I wish you the very best with your shoulder surgery my friend.
I have what I hope to be my final and discharge visit with my knee surgeon this morning. I have ordered a shoulder brace which will be delivered Tuesday and am hoping to be able to delay the inevitable with my shoulder. I hope to be able to saw for a few months to get rid of this backlog. I have patient customers waiting.
Quote from: Magicman on January 10, 2020, 08:09:36 AM
I wish you the very best with your shoulder surgery my friend.
I have what I hope to be my final and discharge visit with my knee surgeon this morning. I have ordered a shoulder brace which will be delivered Tuesday and am hoping to be able to delay the inevitable with my shoulder. I hope to be able to saw for a few months to get rid of this backlog. I have patient customers waiting.
What brace did you get?
Is there a trick to icing shoulders? I can't seem to be able to get a ice bag to stay put.
I ordered one like this: Shoulder Brace (https://www.ebay.com/itm/303340547493)
Here is an example of a hot/cold shoulder brace: Hot/Cold Shoulder Brace (https://www.amazon.com/Shoulder-Reusable-Arthritis-Dislocated-TherX/dp/B079TLH7FZ/ref=pd_sbs_121_t_2/139-3067964-2657165?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B079TLH7FZ&pd_rd_r=cbdf718d-1624-4e75-8165-e8c8fba27671&pd_rd_w=2TjJQ&pd_rd_wg=C7fAV&pf_rd_p=5cfcfe89-300f-47d2-b1ad-a4e27203a02a&pf_rd_r=YCPWS5AP3DMN4Q27VZAZ&psc=1&refRID=YCPWS5AP3DMN4Q27VZAZ)
Quote from: Magicman on January 10, 2020, 08:28:12 AM
Here is an example of a hot/cold shoulder brace: Hot/Cold Shoulder Brace (https://www.amazon.com/Shoulder-Reusable-Arthritis-Dislocated-TherX/dp/B079TLH7FZ/ref=pd_sbs_121_t_2/139-3067964-2657165?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B079TLH7FZ&pd_rd_r=cbdf718d-1624-4e75-8165-e8c8fba27671&pd_rd_w=2TjJQ&pd_rd_wg=C7fAV&pf_rd_p=5cfcfe89-300f-47d2-b1ad-a4e27203a02a&pf_rd_r=YCPWS5AP3DMN4Q27VZAZ&psc=1&refRID=YCPWS5AP3DMN4Q27VZAZ)
Magic, if dat's you in dat brace you been workin' out big time. ;D
I totally admit every surgeon has a different take on how to address post operative situations and it is always best to follow whatever advice is offered, obviously to maintain a good relationship with your doc (along with proper healing which should go without having to be said).
In my own experience after 2 cuff repairs - one with significantly greater damage than the other, I found a great amount to relief from the throbbing achiness by just letting my arm hang straight downward in comparison to having it cramped and bent across my chest up in a sling..
I discovered this immediately after the first instances of ditching my sling to shower after incisions had headed well enough to allow it - and I found it improved the 'pain situation' all through my daily recovery from that point forward immensely.
I asked my doctor who did the surgery if this was fine in her eyes to which she added - that if it improved the pain it was good it meant things were good.. as long as I made sure not to use or swing it around, or in any way shape or form attempt to move or lift items for the first few weeks of recovery and even then, only as the PT recommended.
I'm not saying every or all surgeons would agree, but the impression from my own was that she considered it a much more preferable and natural position for the arm and shoulder to reside at - so it may be a question to ask your own surgeon about prior to or shortly after surgery.
I do know it almost immediately saved me from a lot of the nagging achiness that I found was brought on by use of a sling!
Hope it went well today, Take it easy, especially till the blocker wears off then don't forget the stool softener and drink lots, easy to forget when you're laid up. Wish I could say the worst is over but really you're just committed now, things will improve, the main thing is keep your spirits up.
You are right Don P, I'm cmmitted now. Nerve block is wearing off but have a pump injecting meds into nerve, lasts for 2-3days.
L hand typing is tough. Weird how one hand is a star and the other is like a spastic cousin. Now we wait. Hope go back to work Tuesday. I do CAD design so long as I can move from. Elbow down I can do somethings. We will see. Department of 1, so I cant be out too long.
I hope that all turns out good for you and your shoulder.
It's good to get that report from you this (early) morning. Please continue to keep us updated as often as you can. :P
Edit: My shoulder strap/brace came today. I have it on but I have no idea yet whether it will be of any value. I do know that it will not replace the inevitable surgery.
The shoulder brace came in, but it is not going to be a substitute for a usable shoulder. I made an appointment with a shoulder surgeon for January 23rd. I modified my "Knee" topic to continue my journey there.
I wish you the best tree-farmer and will continue to follow your updates here.
I've got an appointment tomorrow morning with a surgeon. We'll see what he says.
Hope he's got a better personality than the last guy.
After my full tear rotator cuff surgery I did two things to allow me to replicate the twice a week PT sessions that were a 50 mile RT for me. One was to install an overhead pulley slung from a short rope loop on an overhead tie beam log in our dining room and two hand grips on a rope to do pulley exercises with. it's an essential exercise of the shoulders!
The other was to cut off an old push broom handle for use in on your back double arm extensions. It's a very "gritty experience" to say the least!
Sleeping in a bed was nigh on impossible no matter the position for about 3-4 months, based on pain level alone. Have a recliner in mind to sleep in!!!
Hands on PT where-in the shoulder is manipulated by a skilled therapist was, I found, to be a very important aspect of PT, unlike my hips where I could do it all once I knew the exercise. After a few trips I told the PT people who I would use for that aspect as my only choice. A couple of therpists sort of flopped it around and moved on, no carefully done movements like the best ones. In college athletics I learned what makes a good trainer from those manipulations!
They can "feel" the joint and muscles and know just how much movement to push for and encourage the gain of ROM, the overall objective in the end. The full tears vs. the partial tears sort of separate the "men from the boys" so to speak. I saw lots of young people who had "loose shoulder joints" not a surgical repair, just PT to tighten the joint. Always the young on that one, never the old folks who were torn up.
All of my recliners have the lever on the right side which is the side I need to have repaired. How do you work around that?
i am going tomorrow for a right shoulder replacement what I have is a recliner that is electrical driven it will extend and raise and lower with a control. Works pretty good but not comfortable just have to put a lot of padding on it to sleep. Hope all goes well for you Mr. Bill I have had great success from the replacement on the left shoulder.
I wish you the best bwstout.
Hopefully we will soon hear from tree-farmer.
Quote from: bwstout on January 15, 2020, 09:53:44 AM
i am going tomorrow for a right shoulder replacement what I have is a recliner that is electrical driven it will extend and raise and lower with a control. Works pretty good but not comfortable just have to put a lot of padding on it to sleep. Hope all goes well for you Mr. Bill I have had great success from the replacement on the left shoulder.
I've looked at the electric recliners and you are right they do not seem to be very comfortable. I have 4 recliners already, hate to get another.
I laughed when my Dad got one. Now my Son is laughing at me..
thank you MM glad you are doing well
To Raider Bill: When I had my torn rotator cuff done in '09, flipped the recliner over and made a right hand operated out of it. Got me thru it. Now it is the wife's chair as i have graduated to an electric one which I needed after having 16 vert. fused the last couple of years. Going Mon. to see about having it done again. I said never again, but never finally got here. Best of luck to ya.
I now have an elec recliner but wish I'd rebuilt the guts in my old JC Penny recliner. With the electric ones you feel like your in a nursing home when the phone rings are every time getting up comers along! Mines OK but less comfy that the one I slept in for shoulder!!! I also used a small pillow as my main buddy to support the broken wing!
I remember asking my doc if i could still do the backstroke and he laughed. it sounds like popcorn in there to this day. I guess it's the magic titanium cable wrapped around the 4 titanium screws?
I know a man ~ 60 years old who got his shoulder joint repaired some years ago after a MC accident. I wonder if they wear out like the early hip joints did? My neighbor, a contractor is now on his 3rd hip from a repair done before the newest versions came around. My hips are new enough they really have no idea how long they'll last yet.
The world is designed for right handed folks, most for use with two hands. One week post op. Even tying boots is a ordeal.
Have a older honda crv automatic so I can drive to work. Going to start pt next Friday, it all gets better from here!
Looking forward to spring with a arm that works...
Glad to hear you're getting along, well, tolerably, tree-farmer. Yes I owe my wife bigtime for tying shoes, zipping zippers, and generally putting up with whining during recovery. We've got 2 older ~2000 CRV's... one thing I can say if you haven't done it is keep the valves adjusted, they are notorious for burning #4 exhaust, uh yeah, one of ours needs a new head.
Quote from: MikeZ on January 15, 2020, 11:11:19 PM
To Raider Bill: When I had my torn rotator cuff done in '09, flipped the recliner over and made a right hand operated out of it. Got me thru it. Now it is the wife's chair as i have graduated to an electric one which I needed after having 16 vert. fused the last couple of years. Going Mon. to see about having it done again. I said never again, but never finally got here. Best of luck to ya.
How did you flip the lever from one side to another? I looked at mine, doesn't look like that's a option.
Tree Farmer, How are you doing?
Yes,it does get better from here!!!
3 weeks post surgery,, going to pt 2 times a week. I think pt guy used to be collector for mafia, knows how to twist a arm :D
Kiddig aside it seems to be helping get range of motion back. Painful but hopefully worth it in long run.
Behaving and looking forward to spring.
Thank You for the update. I have an appointment with my surgeon Monday to find out the results of Thursday's MRI. I'll learn what the problem is and what will be done.
As you said, I too am ready to get this behind me.
Quote from: MikeZ on January 15, 2020, 11:11:19 PM
To Raider Bill: When I had my torn rotator cuff done in '09, flipped the recliner over and made a right hand operated out of it. Got me thru it. Now it is the wife's chair as i have graduated to an electric one which I needed after having 16 vert. fused the last couple of years. Going Mon. to see about having it done again. I said never again, but never finally got here. Best of luck to ya.
Thanks for the update.
I scheduled for surgery Feb 13th.
Glad to hear its coming along good tree farmer. Those first weeks of getting the range of motion back were the toughest on me, after that it was mostly building the strength back. Be good to yourself, I didn't know it until the last day of PT on the second one. I was in the middle of a job, they had a running bet that I was going to blow it out before it healed. Good luck MM and Raider Bill :)
Out of the sling 8). Came with caution about not lifting more than 3 lb, and more pt. Gets tired easy and range of motion is still limited. Far less pain than before surgery, I'll take it.
Thanks for all the feedback and comments while I been dealing with this.
Raider Bill, what did your new surgon have to say?
Thanks for your update tree-farmer, and Happy Birthday. :)
RB's surgery was scheduled for the 13th, but no word from him yet. I had mine yesterday. Pain meds today. I haven't forgiven Dr. Sawbones yet!! :-X
You have my complete empathy MM. First few days are the worst. Keep us posted on your progress, spring time and better day are coming.
Quote from: tree-farmer on February 22, 2020, 10:14:26 AM
Out of the sling 8). Came with caution about not lifting more than 3 lb, and more pt. Gets tired easy and range of motion is still limited. Far less pain than before surgery, I'll take it.
Thanks for all the feedback and comments while I been dealing with this.
Raider Bill, what did your new surgon have to say?
He stapled some muscles to the bone, stitched tendon to the muscle, scraped out bone spurs and arthritis, did a LOF and new plugs.
Get the stitches out this week. I'm over this sling already.
I've found that although I can take a great nap in my recliner sleeping all night in one is about impossible.
Quit the pain meds last Friday which would have been a week post op. I have no idea how people can get hooked on them. For me the side effects just wouldn't be worth it.
Happy you are doing well.
Quote from: Raider Bill on February 24, 2020, 07:46:09 AM
Quote from: tree-farmer on February 22, 2020, 10:14:26 AM
Out of the sling 8). Came with caution about not lifting more than 3 lb, and more pt. Gets tired easy and range of motion is still limited. Far less pain than before surgery, I'll take it.
Thanks for all the feedback and comments while I been dealing with this.
Raider Bill, what did your new surgon have to say?
He stapled some muscles to the bone, stitched tendon to the muscle, scraped out bone spurs and arthritis, did a LOF and new plugs.
Get the stitches out this week. I'm over this sling already.
I've found that although I can take a great nap in my recliner sleeping all night in one is about impossible.
Quit the pain meds last Friday which would have been a week post op. I have no idea how people can get hooked on them. For me the side effects just wouldn't be worth it.
I hear you on that, the last time I made it through one pill and said enuff of that. Glad to hear you are on the mend.
It's good to hear from you Bill and I agree about the pain meds. I am now 34 hours without anything other than Advil. Trying to prevent any more congestion/roadblocks at the "train depot". :o
Yesterday I had vertigo/dizziness/inner ear, or whatever that had me goofy. I took a Benadryl every 6 hours and today I seem OK.
I go back to the Dr. on March 2nd, so until then I just sit and wait. ::)
Got the stitches out today. Told the Doc my shoulder was feeling great and that I didn't think I needed the sling anymore. He said you got 6 more weeks in it so get used to it. If I pull out a staple or stitch before the muscles and tendon heal he'll have to go back in and he'd make sure I would be in more pain that the first time. Rehab in 2 weeks.
Lining up the knee replacement for mid April if all goes well with the rehab.
Thanks Bill. I was hoping to hear an update from you, but I'm sure that it was not what either of us wanted to hear.
I had a bicep tendon reattached so I may be in for more than I think. My follow up and stitch removal is Monday.
Quote from: Magicman on February 27, 2020, 02:18:35 PM
I had a bicep tendon reattached so I may be in for more than I think. My follow up and stitch removal is Monday.
That was my tendon too.
All my pain is pretty much gone which is why I figured I was cured. Course I'm not working it either.
PT hurts I am on week 5 for PT dread it this afternoon tomorrow will be a hard day. :'(
My last surgery was mainly the bicep tendon, that was the easiest one. It isn't bad and recovery is pretty quick. He knows me pretty well by now so he didn't prescribe pt. The bone shave is gonna smart for awhile and whatever he did up in the shoulder is where it takes more recovery/pt.
Welcome to the rotator cuff club. :)
I had my dominant shoulder arthroscopic surgery for complete rotator cuff tear and bicep tendon reattachment 15 months ago. Reading this thread brings back the questions and expectations for recovery I had last year.
I'll give you my experience in an attempt to help.
There are two schools of thought regarding post op range of motion protocols following surgery. First option —range of motion PT starting a couple weeks after surgery - PAINFUL 😣 ( I had two docs I fish with tell me how bad the recovery is).. second option for post op PT is to keep the shoulder immobile for 6-8 weeks before starting PT.
My doc prescribed option 2. I did not use the shoulder for 8 weeks and used the sling day and night (slept in a recliner). After that I went to PT 3x per week doing simple range of motion exercises following PT instructions through 3 phases. NO strength building during this time. This lasted for 8 weeks. I had expected to be at full strength by now and thought I was behind the curve.
At My 4 month follow up with the surgeon, he said I was right on track. He released me to start phase 4 and do what ever I could without pain. I resumed normal activities and SLOWLY increased strength. At 14 months I added machine weight training and was able to rapidly increase muscle to a level I was before tearing the rotator. I am now 15 months post op have full range of motion and can do most everything without pain.
I had very little pain through the whole process. It took a lot longer than I expected for recovery but looking back it wasn't so bad. This may not what you newbies want to hear but I hope it helps. I would be glad to answer any questions. Good luck, follow your PT instructions and be patient
Stan Welch
Thank you Stan for telling me everything that I really did not want to hear. :-X That plus I thought you were my friend. ::)
Now being honest, I was repeatedly told not to expect the progress with the shoulder that I had with the knee, but I just figured that surely everyone was wrong. ;D Now I knew that everyone was not wrong, but this sitting still and doing nothing crap is for the birds. :-\
BTW, I have not missed a single night sleeping in my bed and only with my normal pillow. smiley_sleeping
Magic — I am still your friend. Follow your PT instructions Grasshopper and you will do fine. Just remember if it hurts back off. Time flies at our age :)
Another good tip I got from another "club" member — ICE IS YOUR FRIEND. I was able to get off the oxy and other pain meds quickly by icing after PT sessions and home exercises. When ever pain started to creep in ice helped ALOT.
If you want to research, I found at fowlerkennedy.com "Rotator Cuff Protocals" information helpful to understand where the physical therapist was going. Before surgery I was planning to be back to full strength in a couple months. This helped me to reign in the horses.
Nearly all of my ortho ops were back in the darker ages, mid to late 90s and early to mid 2000s.
Consequently incisions were to say the least, pretty long.
I now have 2 foot long scars on the rear of my left hip from my total hip in 1999 and revision in 2006.
Same with my rotator cuff repairs, substantial scars.
Hope everyone here has good luck with their surgeries.
I used frozen peas for icing.
Stan, your Rotator Cuff info is dead on with my experience with the surgeries. I'm almost 3 months out after the the most recent one and "slowly" plugging along. It's a true test patience for a very active guy.
Pete, not all Cuff surgeries today get the bandaid size scars. Mine both look like they cut the arm off, then reattached it. ::)
I thought I was doing good at the 2 week mark yesterday but woke up this morning and my shoulder is throbbing worse than it has the past week. Must have slept wrong or something.
Back to ice bags today.
My goal is to be able to take a motorcycle ride up to Savannah Ga beginning of April just before I get my new Binford 5000 total knee replacement.
Quote from: Raider Bill on February 28, 2020, 08:52:42 AM
I thought I was doing good at the 2 week mark yesterday but woke up this morning and my shoulder is throbbing worse than it has the past week. Must have slept wrong or something.
Back to ice bags today.
My goal is to be able to take a motorcycle ride up to Savannah Ga beginning of April just before I get my new Binford 5000 total knee replacement.
Not ta be a downer, but a long trip may be a ways off. I found it was probably the "worst" thing for me afterward.
You are probably right Chet.This will be the longest I've been off a bike in over 30 years and I'm having withdrawal pains.
Bill,
Discretion is the better part of valor.
Bill. I think you can take that bike trip the first of April 2021 just fine :)
April 2020 I don't think you'll make it down the driveway :o
Bill, I think that this would be an appropriate time to "kill the messengers". :-X
:D :D :D :D Must be the meds talking ;D
I may have to flee to the glaciated North smiley_horserider
Bill if it's not your throttle arm, you got half a chance at a short ride come April. You can relax your rebuilt arm on yer lap once and awhile, which helps greatly. It's been a bunch of years since my right arm was done, and it still gets plenty achy and sore on lone rides. :'(
Of course it's my right arm..
Funny thing is as much as it hurt before the operation it didn't bother me riding the Road King. It did on the Shovelhead that has ape hangers.
Doing range of motion exercises now. Amuses the cat to see me in the floor pressing a stick . No weight allowed.
This has been a good chance to catch up on reading and plan a kitchen remodel and other projects for when I am able.
Hard being patient. To much invested to screw it up now.
Hang in there Raider Bill and MM, this to will pass....
Thanks for the update and please continue to keep us in the loop with your activities.
This boredom stinks!! :-X
Don't let the boredom press ya inta doing something ya probably shouldn't try one armed. I did and I did. :-\ My first attempt resulted in some smashed fingers :'( next days attempt at something else resulted in blood (nothing gauze and a bunch of bandades couldn't fix). :o Wife made me promise ta cool my heels after that. :(
My "sandbox" customer called this evening and I did not tell him no. I can't do anything anyway, no PT, no nothing, just sit here and I can saw one armed. ::)
Magic. No question you have the grit to saw one handed smiley_beady_eyes Biggest risk is doing something like catching yourself from a trip and fall and ripping the reattached tendons from the bone. Not good!! You would then be the One Armed Bandit - no longer Magicman. Just sayin.
At my first post op visit my doc said " yup looks good keep it in the sling and see ya in 6 weeks". What !! - I was planning to start PT. He was right
Lynn,
No. Don't try it. No. Stop. Don't try it.
No. Don't try it. No. Stop. Don't try it.
No. Don't try it. No. Stop. Don't try it.
No. Don't try it. No. Stop. Don't try it.
No. Don't try it. No. Stop. Don't try it.
No. Don't try it. No. Stop. Don't try it.
No. Don't try it. No. Stop. Don't try it.
No. Don't try it. No. Stop. Don't try it.
No. Don't try it. No. Stop. Don't try it.
No. Don't try it. No. Stop. Don't try it.
No. Don't try it. No. Stop. Don't try it.
No. Don't try it. No. Stop. Don't try it.
It's always that unanticipated thing, the trip and fall, etc. I took a faceplant off a ladder this week, not something I anticipated in the least. I've hit the ground hard with just an unseen root or even my big feet though.
Not long after one of my surgeries a coon got into the chickens. I grabbed the 12 ga and had it on the good shoulder and let fly, it dropped both of us ::).
Quote from: Don P on March 01, 2020, 09:30:00 AM
Not long after one of my surgeries a coon got into the chickens. I grabbed the 12 ga and had it on the good shoulder and let fly, it dropped both of us ::).
My shoulder hurts like heck just readin' dat :o
x2 what Danny said.
Quote from: chet on March 01, 2020, 04:21:34 PM
Quote from: Don P on March 01, 2020, 09:30:00 AM
Not long after one of my surgeries a coon got into the chickens. I grabbed the 12 ga and had it on the good shoulder and let fly, it dropped both of us ::).
My shoulder hurts like heck just readin' dat :o
My sister has threatened to get me a T shirt with a "slow children" sign on it :D
OK, I may be a chicken with a broken wing......
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/20011/IMG_7152.JPG?easyrotate_cache=1583114530)
but I ain't running and I ain't skeered. :D
I've often said "Ain't skeered" has gotten me into all kinds of trouble :D
Quote from: Don P on March 01, 2020, 09:19:45 PM....has gotten me into all kinds of trouble.
I am very familiar with "trouble". The "Health/Safety" album in my Gallery has enough evidence to find me "Guilty" many times over.
Had a bit of a set back yesterday. Was pan frying a couple delmonicos in a big cast iron skillet. Grabbed it ytoo move off the stove and something popped in my shoulder it's pretty sore this morning.
Shame on u bill.
Hope you are ok
Got the stitches out today but when the groundhog surgeon saw his shadow he said that I will have to finish out my six weeks with the sling, which means that I will wear it day and night at least until March 30th. ::) He gave me a shoulder rope/pulley which I will use three times per day to start loosing the right shoulder.
He had no problem with me sawing, but I can not lift or push anything whatsoever with my right arm. It has to stay completely immobilized in the sling.
My plans now are to travel back to the "sand box" and start sawing beginning Thursday morning. :o
Magic. Sounds like you are on the right treatment track for recovery.
At least you have the best setup for sawing ONE handed with your seat, off bearer and hydraulics. Be careful and welcome to the lefty club!!
Guy at the pub I drink at just finished up with his shoulder rehab and was cleared to dump the sling so he gave it to me. This one is NICE! has a pillow to keep your arm in a more comfortable position and a strap that goes around the back to help hold things in place. Even has a ball so you can exercise your hand and a place for your cell phone.
Way better that the crappy one I was given which was one step under a plain triangle wrap.
A man needs a good sling.
A man needs a good bar/pub/friend.
You are right and I have some of the latter.
I am now 2 weeks past surgery. Still in the sling and will be until at least the 30th. I did very well sawing but then I had a many times tailgunner who has seen it all done and knows what to do. Since the shoulder does not hurt, I have to be very careful and not try to lift or do anything crazy. Of course the sling has the arm securely strapped down so I can not lift it at all. whiteflag_smiley
Me being impatient doesn't help. :-X I'll travel back to the sand box this evening. move_it
Quote from: WDH on March 05, 2020, 10:58:55 AM
A man needs a good sling.
My high tech sling used after full tear rotator cuff surgery was the commonly seen $7-800 version. it was my 'friend" for a couple months. I hung my rope & pulley from a tie log ceiling beam in the dining room. EVERYDAY for many days...
It's tough rehab IMO.
FWIW, I've seen it compared to knee replacements but a friend of mine in OH got one knee replaced in Jan and the other in February and was riding a bicycle on flat pavement a week later...
I am now three weeks past surgery and two ½ weeks until my next doctor's visit. I am doing 15 pulley pulls 3 times daily and obediently still in the sling. Sleeping is still no fun. :-X
I did saw 4 days, but my activity was very limited. My tailgunner has helped me many times, sometimes a couple of weeks at the time, so he knew the routine very well and also took very good care of me. At least we got my customer out of a jam with his need for timbers.
Glad you are taking care of that arm MM, I know it hard not to use it. I'm out of sling but still on short leash. I have been able to get on tractor and work on a area I'm leveling out for fire wood storage. Hydraulics are my friend. Using hatchet (left handed) on roots insted of ax or palaski like I normally would. Shoulder definately feels better than before surgery, do not want to screw that up after putting this much time into it.
Hope Raided Bills set back was not serious.
The Pulleys are your friends when I have done more than I should my shoulder is hurting I use the pulleys and give it relief.
I have my first rehab appointment Wednesday. I guess I'll see if I pulled something bad.
Had my 12 week check up with surgon. Ok to start strengh building, did not tell all of what I'd been doing (carefully mind you)
Still weak and tires easily, but getting better all the time. Much better than pre surgery.
Looking forward to summer projects.
How are you Raider Bill?
Thanks for the update. I am stretching and pulling, but no lifting (much anyway). ::)
I think I pulled something loose from my bicep. Pretty much all day pain again.
Making a apt today to see the Doc. next week.
Been going to PT. They say my range of motion is excellent unless my bicep is used then I have no strength.
If I try to do a curl it's like a ice pick has been rammed in the bicep.
Sorry to hear this. Does not sound good. You will have to do those 12 ounce curls using the other arm.
Quote from: WDH on April 09, 2020, 04:15:55 PM
Sorry to hear this. Does not sound good. You will have to do those 12 ounce curls using the other arm.
I haven't even been doing much of them. Almost being saintly.smiley_angel02_wings
It's been almost 9 weeks since my rotator cuff/bicep surgery and I made my follow-up visit today. There is still some slight stiffness but my reach now equals the other side.
I was discharged and told not to try to do anything that I thought that I should not try to do. ::) In other words, no restrictions but be careful and use my head. He said that my strength would come with time and not to be concerned about it.
Excellent report Magic!!
Good advice. I found ways to tear mine up when it was healthy, just imagine how many ways one can find to screw it up when it is still healing.
I know several of you have had torn rotator cuffs. For those of you who have had surgical repairs on them, how successful was the surgery? How long did you take to heal? I understand this can vary from one person to another. For those of you who run a sawmill, how long until you were able to operate your mill?
I ask these questions because I have a torn right rotator cuff among some other issues in that shoulder that I have been putting off for a few years now. I tried the physical therapy, but I don't think it helped much and at $50 a weekly visit and a lost afternoon of productivity, it did not seem to be a good use of my time and money.
The duration of the recuperation is important too as now that I retired, I try to make up the difference in my pension compared to my previous salary by sawing and guiding fishing trips. When fishing with live baits, which is what we are mostly doing now, I usually cast for the clients. I can cast left-handed, but my accuracy and distance is not as good as my dominant hand. I don't want to sound like a whiny baby, but it is difficult to sleep the way it is now, and I would really like to be able to throw a ball again (I don't think my plan of playing in an over 50 baseball league will come to fruition, but I'd like to be able to play catch with my grandson).
Thank you for sharing your experiences. I know some of you have had some rough roads regarding shoulders, but I'm just weighing my options. If I do get the surgery, I'd probably wait until summer when the fishing trips slow down.
I have had 5 shoulder operations 4 cuff repairs, 2 on each shoulder. They are better at it now then they were in 1989 when I had my first and worst. Every time for me it has taken a year to get back. What ever you do is don't skimp on your post surgery therapy. If it's effecting your sleep, you can't put it off at this point.
Get it done because it can/will not heal itself. PT will not help in any way.
I had my right shoulder rotator cuff repaired I guess 3-4 years ago. My arm was still in a sling but my surgeon let me go back to sawing in ~6 weeks. No lifting or anything like that but at the controls.
You cast with your elbow and wrist so I do not see an issue there. Just keep your elbow tucked tightly to your side.
I never even think about it or my knee replacement.
Thank you for your responses. I've put it off for so long dreading the recovery length. I considered getting the surgery while I was still teaching but with all of the obligations I had with my folks the past couple of years, I could not easily be without the use of my right arm for any length of time.
Pop passed away a year ago tomorrow and my mother is able to walk again after a dreadful summer of being mostly bedridden during 2023.
Kyle it is what it is. You will find ways to do things as you recover. The best advice I can give you, is if it's your butt wiping side, start practicing with the other hand. ;)
Very painful the first week after surgery. Have a good lazy boy recliner to sit/lay in.
Quote from: Ron Scott on December 17, 2024, 06:38:30 PMVery painful the first week after surgery. Have a good lazy boy recliner to sit/lay in.
And hope the raise/lower lever is on the other side.
It really is a tough first week, but with all these horror stories, probably everyone of us thinks it was worth it. Me 4 times plus a mumford procedure, which was nothin. I remember they just did a shoulder block and the drug trip they put me through was crazy. They then put me on some patch for nausea from the trippy anethesia I was having, and that produced demons riding merry go rounds trying to drag me on and giant spiders crawling down the wall and putting its foot on the shoulder of the nurse I'm complaining about the demons to.
I do all of my FF reading in my Lazyboy and yes, RaiderBill, the lever is on the right side. That is the shoulder that is in the most need of repair. I remember my Daddy saying many times that "getting old aint for sissies".
Thank you for sharing your experiences and advice.
I had my shoulder done right before Labor Day. Monday is my last PT day. Everything went great. As everybody has said do your PT. My doctor recommended I use
an ice therapy machine. It was about $250. I was off pain meds the day after surgery. I didn't want to be on those any longer than necessary.
I didn't have any problems with swelling or any other problems. I actually have better range now than my other shoulder. As Jeff said anything you do with that arm now better get used to doing it with your other arm. (warning your aim won't be as good ffcheesy .)
I am still working on the strength issue but they say it just takes time building the muscle strength back up.
We have a sofa that has a shallow seating depth. It really helped sleeping on my side as I could not turn over on my back with out starting to come off the seat. That
way I didn't end up turning onto my arm which I kept in the sling.
I can lift a propane cylinder up onto the forklift but am very careful. Using my elbows more than my shoulder for lifting. Good luck with your surgery.
Be careful towards the end doing pt..
I thought I was doing good until i slid a cast iron pan with a nice rib eye in it across the stove top.
Pop and burn, the anchor came out.
Back to square one.
Bill, did they use the helicoil type anchor in your surgery?
Quote from: LogPup on December 29, 2024, 03:21:48 PMBill, did they use the helicoil type anchor in your surgery?
I'm not sure.