Today the doc went in and fixed my rotator cuff. They gave me a nerve block which should last 12-24 hours. I just responded to Fender Benders last post with 8 lines of text that must have taken me 10 or 11 minutes to type. I’m right handed and can only use my left for a while. This is proving more difficult than I thought it would be. It’s crazy how fast your off hand fingers tire. It is one thing to not be able to use an arm but it’s really weird when you have no feeling or control from your lower jaw to your fingertips.
If ever I’ve given you a reason to give me a piece of your mind, today would be perfect, my fingers aren’t up to a lengthy character defense! Happy Thursday friends!
Posts: 2717 | Location: Illinois | Registered: July 14, 2010
Good luck! I did that 10 or so years ago. You will be amazed at what you learn to do left handed. You will lose the left hand skill again after you get the right back, though.
Do exactly what they say with the sling, sleeping in a chair, not using it, etc, etc. Don't cheat.
I followed the instructions and got 100% mobility and 100% strength back after the full course of healing and rehab.
5 years later, I tore it again, and now I just live with it, but that is another story entirely.
"I vowed to myself to fight against evil more completely and more wholeheartedly than I ever did before. . . . That’s the only way to pay back part of that vast debt, to live up to and try to fulfill that tremendous obligation."
Alfred Hornik, Sunday, December 2, 1945 to his family, on his continuing duty to others for surviving WW II.
Posts: 13598 | Location: Florida, Northwest of the Mouse | Registered: November 02, 2008
Been through it. You need to ice that shoulder as much of the day as possible. And get a cheap TENS machine off Amazon and use that as well. You’ll be real far ahead when you go to PT once you get out of the 1/2 straight jacket.
What am I doing? I'm talking to an empty telephone
Posts: 14164 | Location: Down South | Registered: January 16, 2010
I had mine repaired on October 6 2025. PT lasted from October 8 until December 23. Last 6 weeks were only once per week. On January 7th I needed a steroid injection to alleviate the recurring pain. I am 79 next month and this recovery has been a long road.
Any dog can be a Guide Dog if you don't care where you're going.
NRA ENDOWMENT LIFE MEMBER
Posts: 8544 | Location: Arkansas | Registered: November 06, 2010
I had dominant hand rotator cuff surgery when I was 16. It was difficult at the time but nearly 40 years later and I'm still pretty ambidextrous.
quote:
Originally posted by CPD SIG: Just wait till ya gotta wipe your ass ;
^^ THIS ^^
And for bonus points try figuring out while at max dose of the opiate pain killer.
Speaking of opiate pain killers and BMs, the day before last fall's Achilles tendon surgery a surgical nurse gave me a great tip. Take 2 prunes for dessert every evening while on the opiate pain killers plus a couple more days. It was my 7th surgery with opiate pain killers and by far the easiest (no hauling ass to toilet for diarrhea, no constipation, no passing out on toilet, etc) as far as post surgery BMs.
Ego is the anesthesia that deadens the pain of stupidity
DISCLAIMER: These are the author's own personal views and do not represent the views of the author's employer.
Posts: 25527 | Location: Northern Suburbs of Houston | Registered: November 14, 2005
Best wishes for a speedy recovery. Do the PT and whatever else they tell you to do I was fortunate that mine was the non dominant side but do need to have the other side done at some point. I’ve had a hip and knee done and so far the rotator cuff was the hardest and most painful. Hoping you fair well and recover fast.
Posts: 558 | Location: Catawba Island Oh | Registered: January 05, 2020
400m - Get you one of these - best money you can spend. You can also use it on knees and ankles.
We took five - 2 quart Tupperware containers, filled with water, and froze. Drop one or two into this unit every two to three hours, and your shoulder will thank you.
It was about twelve hours after surgery when I got some feeling back in my pinky and once I could move it I got all giddy! That nerve blocker scared me, the thoughts of “what if this is permanent?” kept going through my mind.
-------------------------------------—————— ————————--Ignorance is a powerful tool if applied at the right time, even, usually, surpassing knowledge(E.J.Potter, A.K.A. The Michigan Madman)
Posts: 9165 | Location: Livingston County Michigan USA | Registered: August 11, 2002
I hope that you don’t live alone or that you at least have someone helping you. I recently had surgery for a distal bicep tear and live alone. It has been surprising how hard little things like getting set to take a shower or pulling your pants up can be without help. I’ve been eating a lot of microwave meals and fast food. I wish you well in your recovery.
I’m married. She is burning vacation time to take care of me at home. The selflessness of a woman is incredible. Surprisingly the pain is not nearly what I thought it was going to be. The nerve block was definitely making it difficult to take in full breaths. Thankfully that’s all gone now.
Posts: 2717 | Location: Illinois | Registered: July 14, 2010
