Retirement and surgery

[Bugsinrugs]

I’m officially retired. My last day was Friday. I get to celebrate with rotator cuff surgery on Monday. Rehab is going to drive me batty. I’m pretty active and very hands on. Looks like my projects will have to be done one handed for a while.
Any words to the wise from those that have recovered from shoulder surgery?

[wdfifteen]

I wish I could be more help.
I helped my dad with his RC surgery - took him to the doc and to rehab. It seems like it was a couple of months before he was finished with everything, but it was confusing. My mom was a prescription painkiller addict and my dad was in the early stages of alzheimers. Dad seemed to me to be doing fine, but every time I would pick him up to take him for a follow up with the surgeon mom would remind him of how much pain he was in and to be sure and remember the darvoset. It wasn't until about the 3rd follow up that the doc said, "I'm not sure what's wrong, you shouldn't be in so much pain at this stage" that I put 2 and 2 together. I talked to the doc, he withheld the pain meds, and dad was fine. We went to 4 or 5 pt sessions and he was 100% normal. As I said, as I recall the whole thing took a couple of months (but I may be wrong).
I retired in July 2017. Had foot surgery in Jan 2018, again in Oct 18, again in Jan 19, then elbow surgery in March 19. Seems like I've been in recovery my whole retirement and I'm frustrated as hell.

Sorry to step on your thread. Good luck with the RC surgery, recover fast, and start enjoying your retirement! What do you have planned?

[pavulon]

take the interscalene block and ask if a nerve sheath catheter is reasonable.

[Chocaholic]

Originally Posted by Bugsinrugs

I’m officially retired. My last day was Friday. I get to celebrate with rotator cuff surgery on Monday. Rehab is going to drive me batty. I’m pretty active and very hands on. Looks like my projects will have to be done one handed for a while.
Any words to the wise from those that have recovered from shoulder surgery?

Some things are better done one handed.

[Crowbob]

Originally Posted by Chocaholic

Some things are better done one handed.

If possible.

[Bugsinrugs]

Originally Posted by Chocaholic

Some things are better done one handed.

Wife takes goog and I mean good care of me🤗🤗

[Bugsinrugs]

I’ve have tons of deferred maintanence on my house planned. Some traveling and paying attention to my wife and dog.

[SiberianDVM]

I'm retiring in 2 weeks, mostly because my 2 spinal surgeries have not gone as well as I hoped, and I am still in constant pain. Makes going in to 12 hour days very discouraging. Partly because the management at the Agency I work for sucks.

Good luck to you.

[sammyg2]

Originally Posted by Bugsinrugs

I’m officially retired. My last day was Friday. I get to celebrate with rotator cuff surgery on Monday. Rehab is going to drive me batty. I’m pretty active and very hands on. Looks like my projects will have to be done one handed for a while.
Any words to the wise from those that have recovered from shoulder surgery?

Wait ... you are having surgery AFTER you retired?
IOW AFTER you doan get sick time no mo, you are calling in sick?

We gotta talk .........

I have two friends who had that surgery in the past coupla years. Get a good recliner that;s comfy because you will not be able to sleep lying down for a while.
And how you do the rehab will decide if you are better in 6 weeks or 6 years, up to you.
But the rehab is worse than the surgery.

[Bugsinrugs]

Originally Posted by sammyg2

Wait ... you are having surgery AFTER you retired?
IOW AFTER you doan get sick time no mo, you are calling in sick?

We gotta talk .........

I have two friends who had that surgery in the past coupla years. Get a good recliner that;s comfy because you will not be able to sleep lying down for a while.
And how you do the rehab will decide if you are better in 6 weeks or 6 years, up to you.
But the rehab is worse than the surgery.

I was self employed for 40 years. No sick leave ever.
Family friend is a physical therapist. She will work me until I hate her...or so she says.

[smadsen]

For my replacement, 10 years ago, I took a few days off work and then returned to work. Beats sitting around the house watching daytime TV. Didn't hurt much as I recall, so long as I was moving around. Worked in a bank, developed one handed typing skill.

Used to hurt (numbness) when laying in bed. Recall sleeping semi-sitting for a few weeks. Percocet can be your friend, just be careful with it. I found a 325/10 at bedtime worked well for a couple weeks. Didn't miss it when I quit.

[Tobra]

Originally Posted by pavulon

take the interscalene block and ask if a nerve sheath catheter is reasonable.

listen to this guy


Get the gel cold pack thing that is specifically for shoulders. Ice is generally your friend post operatively, application can be a challenge on shoulders awkward.

Pay attention to your nutrition for an adequate period pre-operatively, and throughout your recovery. You want plenty of protein

Do the physical therapy stuff diligently, continue with it after you "have healed" to maintain function. If you are getting surgery, may already have the pulley setup where you can passively move it using the other arm, handy item for sure.

I had this surgery in September 2017. It hurt almost as much as my two knee replacements, but the PT was not too bad in comparison. Figure on about three months of radically reduced activity, but bear in mind that once it's done, things will be a lot better. You'll definitely be hating life for a bit, though.

Don't know how you are with pain pills, but I'll tell you what I tell everyone: do not get hooked. It's fine to use them for awhile, but get off them as soon as you can.

[LakeCleElum]

Originally Posted by Bugsinrugs

Any words to the wise from those that have recovered from shoulder surgery?

I had to sleep in a recliner for 7 weeks after my shoulder surgery. Doc said it was the worst injury he had been able to repair. Took 2 surgeries, 2 weeks apart. Good luck.

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by Bugsinrugs

Rehab is going to drive me batty. I’m pretty active and very hands on. Looks like my projects will have to be done one handed for a while.
Any words to the wise from those that have recovered from shoulder surgery?

Not shoulder surgery, but various others limbs and a few shoulder separations and dislocations.

Press the rehab to a point then let the PT guide you on how to relax and recover. I caused a lot of issues with my right should after the first dislocation because I wanted back to the team too quickly.

On my hip replacement I was able to accelerate the process a bit based on PT input - I honestly listened for a change.

This is one where you are going to need to learn how to chill just a bit

[fintstone]

Congratulations on the retirement! Sounds like you have earned a rest and some undistracted fun. Good luck with the surgery.

[Bugsinrugs]

Thanks all for the advice, congratulations and pity. I’ll report back after tomorrow.

[recycled sixtie]

All the best for the surgery. That is not the way you are supposed to start retirement but it is good to get the body looked after asap.
Cheers, Guy
Oh yes as the above says chill out after surgery or else the surgery will have to be redone.

[Zeke]

I'm 8 weeks in PT after sitting all of January out in a sling. Surgery was 1/4/19. I had a total reverse shoulder replacement because the rotator cuff was not repairable in their sense or opinion. IDK how that works but I'm beginning to believe that total shoulder replacement (TSR) is going to be the new way to achieve shoulder health. Of course the insurance companies won't go along with this because if you look at the total retail billing including PT for 12 weeks my bill will reach $250,000. $195,700 for the hospital alone including the surgery and a 2 day stay.

But, I've had no problems and no pain once I left the hospital. Didn't need pain killers either except to sleep. Yes, you need a recliner or an adjustable bed and lots of pillows to prop this way and that.

Once I was out of the sling (2/4/19) I was very stiff but no pain. They told me to wear the sling while out and about and I never did. I was driving a 6 weeks with both arms. Even the PT isn't all that bad except for the actual stretching of the muscles and tendons. The exercises are nothing and boring. But I do them.

The result? At this point I can mock throw a ball overhand about like you would imagine a school girl. I couldn't even do that for the last 10 years and the last year I couldn't raise my arm out to the side more than 10-15º.

The choice of surgeon I think is the principal consideration followed by the choice of PT. I can tell you that I spent months looking before making a decision.

I wish you the best for your recovery. Some seem to have a lot of trouble with this. Me, I'd do it again in a heartbeat. Good luck.

[Bugsinrugs]

Originally Posted by Zeke

I'm 8 weeks in PT after sitting all of January out in a sling. Surgery was 1/4/19. I had a total reverse shoulder replacement because the rotator cuff was not repairable in their sense or opinion. IDK how that works but I'm beginning to believe that total shoulder replacement (TSR) is going to be the new way to achieve shoulder health. Of course the insurance companies won't go along with this because if you look at the total retail billing including PT for 12 weeks my bill will reach $250,000. $195,700 for the hospital alone including the surgery and a 2 day stay.

But, I've had no problems and no pain once I left the hospital. Didn't need pain killers either except to sleep. Yes, you need a recliner or an adjustable bed and lots of pillows to prop this way and that.

Once I was out of the sling (2/4/19) I was very stiff but no pain. They told me to wear the sling while out and about and I never did. I was driving a 6 weeks with both arms. Even the PT isn't all that bad except for the actual stretching of the muscles and tendons. The exercises are nothing and boring. But I do them.

The result? At this point I can mock throw a ball overhand about like you would imagine a school girl. I couldn't even do that for the last 10 years and the last year I couldn't raise my arm out to the side more than 10-15º.

The choice of surgeon I think is the principal consideration followed by the choice of PT. I can tell you that I spent months looking before making a decision.

I wish you the best for your recovery. Some seem to have a lot of trouble with this. Me, I'd do it again in a heartbeat. Good luck.

Many thanks