Shoulder Surgery Day +4

Shoulder Surgery Day +4

Less soreness today and I finally got a bit more sleep last night.  I have begun doing a simple pendulum exercise with my left arm and shoulder.  Tomorrow, I go to the ohysical therapist for my first session there.

I will tell you, I am tired of having to be waited on hand and foot.  I am typing this using both hands.     It is a lot easier than with just one.

It dawned on me this morning, I should have waited a couple of weeks for this.  Yesterday (Saturday, February 4, was Joyce’s birthday.  She sure didn’t have very much fun taking care of me.   Not that I am an ungrateful wretch, it just isn’t the way one would normally choose to celebrate one’s 71st birthday.  I will have to make it up to her.

I don’t have very much to say tonight so I will end it .  Take care everyone.

Inside My Shoulder

Rotator Cuff Surgery Day +1

An update to the surgery from Wednesday to Day 1.

As you know I had surgery yesterday to repair a torn rotator cuff. I went back to the doctor today and he removed the dressing and replaced them with bandaids. There were three incisions…One about 2 inches long and two much smaller ones. He removed the bursa, repaired the rotator cuff and did an acromial decompression. (He made a little more room to cut down rubbing. He also trimmed a small bit off the clavicle (Shoulder blade). There were several spurs, one of which was sharp and significantly large. He removed those and the last thing was to remove some debris from arthritis damage. They used two anesthesia procedures: one as a regional (nerve block) and the other was a general.
The block numbed my shoulder, arm, hand and fingers. It wore off about 6:00AM this morning. And then it started to hurt and continues to do so. It should be better tomorrow. I have to wear a huge sling for two weeks. It has a wedge to keep my arm away from my body. I also can’t raise my arm above my head for 6 weeks. I will start physical torture errr therapy on Monday.

An interesting thing they do is take pictures through the arthroscope to show the patient. I am including a picture of 4 snapshots from inside my shoulder. Just what you always wanted to see, huh?

You guys take care…See you on down the road. We love you.

Hi Ho Hi Ho Off to surgery we go.

Hi Ho!  Hi Ho! Its Off To Surgery We Go!

It is about 8:45AM, Wednesday,  February 1, 2006, and in about an hour we will be leaving for the Sterling Ridge Day Surgery Center.  There, Dr. Jerry Hyatt will attempt to repair my torn rotator cuff via arthroscopic surgery.    This is the same surgery Joyce had before her trip to visit Nancy last fall.  When she had it, it was minor surgery.  When I have it, it will be Major.  I once read there is no minor surgery, only minor surgeons.  Dr. Hyatt has replaced both Joyce’s knees and repaired her shoulder, so I guess we can concede he is no minor surgeon, but listen to this…He is afraid of needles!!

I would imagine we will be home around 5 or 6 tonight.  The surgery center is about 20 to 25 miles from here.  I am hungry now since I couldn’t have anything to drink after midnight and I was asleep at midnight.  I will need to stop at What-A-Burger on the way home.

Right now, it is my plan to go back to work on Feb. 12.  I would like to not have to go back but we can use the cash.

You guys take care.  I love all of you and so ask for your prayers.