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Standard Shoulder Replacement My TSR recovery journey

Hip4life

Staff member since January 6, 2022
BoneSmart Staff
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Mar 27, 2019
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67
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Nebraska
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It’s hard to believe it’s been 10 days already. All of the advisors and moderators here on the forum were right. This has been so much easier than the THR. I don’t know if it’s because I didn’t wait as long to do surgery or it’s not a weight bearing joint or both but except for the bandage, sling, and a few sore places, it’s hard to believe I actually had anything done. I’m not complaining! Lol.

I stayed overnight to manage pain but my nerve block lasted until later the next morning. I felt nothing in the arm which was really strange. I had to learn to grab it before it went flapping off on its own, albeit in a sling. It was nice, though, that my husband didn’t have to get up every couple of hours and make sure I got to the bathroom okay. The nurses were already doing the Tylenol every six hours so it wasn’t hard to add an Oxy when the pain began to set in. It was kind of comical to have occupational therapy try and teach me my home exercises when I still couldn’t move some of my fingers and hand yet. I still passed.

Restrictions were pretty straight forward: keep bandage dry, no lifting more than a pound, stay in sling except for exercise and shower, no lifting the arm above the chest and elbow close to body at all times except for dangling exercises, keep the arm from going too far backwards with pillows. They encouraged regular, scheduled pain meds, especially Tylenol, and plenty of icing. The Oxy I took that way for first couple of days then at morning and night, now, not at all.

The recliner has been wonderful. I get into position and except for an occasional bathroom trip, I wake up the same way I went to sleep. My husband has been very attentive but it’s nice he can sleep upstairs in our bed. He’s just a phone call away. Sleep can occasionally be illusive but not like with the THR. The brain fog and fatigue are still real but being mobile makes a huge difference in the mental/emotional aspect. It’s nice to be able to enjoy some of this beautiful autumn weather. The timing worked out very well.

I have my first post-op follow up this Tuesday. I guess I might get modified restrictions and a start on PT. The OS said 2 weeks in the sling. I’d be okay if that means a slow wean and wear at night. In any case, I’ll keep you guys updated.

For those of you worried about this surgery, if you’re hurting and restricting your activities, just get it done. It is amazing the techniques they have to give you new parts and how they can manage the post-op pain so well. Color me pleasantly surprised. Like so many times, my imagination was so much worse than reality.
 
@Hip4life Congratulations on your new shoulder! Sounds like you are getting on very well :cheers:
 
Welcome to BoneSmart, @Maynard!

Why don't you start a thread for yourself in the Shoulder Pre-Op Forum here and tell us more about yourself. That way we can share information and you can connect with others who are having are have had the surgery!
 
I had my first post-op Tuesday and all is well. Like I anticipated, I don’t have to use my sling as much-mostly off at rest. He still would like me to use it when active, which makes perfect sense. It’s my option if I wear it at night. I like the security and reminder of it for now. The incision looks good and I don’t have to dress it anymore, even in the shower. That frees my hubby up from that task of covering it. All in all, a great visit with the message of it’s okay to do some more things within reason as long as I don’t ignore those basic restrictions. See him again in 4 weeks. Slow and steady.
PT starts up in 2 weeks. I’m comfortable with the PT clinic and its PTs from my hip tendon repair. I’m able to drive if I feel confident to do so (one handed) and off narcotics. I’m not quite there yet. I did take an Oxy last night with the added urging of my hubby. After 45 years together, he can read me pretty well. I didn’t realize how much I was hurting (it had been a busy day) until after the pain meds kicked in. Love that man.

I made sure the surgeon and his team knew what a great experience I had and am having. This is as good as I could ever have imagined it. Onward and upward.
 
Great update!!!!
(I laughed at you calling your husband!
Sound travels strangely in our one story house built around a courtyard, so when one of us is ill or postop we communicate by text!)
Slow and steady does it.
 
Good to read it's been a tolerable experience for you! Sounds like you have a loving and supportive caregiver in hubby...as it should be. Glad you're doing well. Best Wishes, Pat!
@Hip4life
 
Saw my OS for 6 week follow up today. All is looking good. I can get rid of my sling and start doing more active tasks as tolerated. PT will start in earnest now. But as my PT said (I had an appointment with him right after) “you’re really just starting the real rehab-it’ll be a while before you’re ready for a lot.” He thought how funny it seems that for the longest time you have to be so careful and then the doctors go from 0 to 60 in 2 seconds. Their part is okay and for the most part done. I still am not allowed to lift anything over 5 pounds, so still some cautionary advice. I have another appointment in 6 weeks. In an ironic twist: it’ll be on the same day as my hip tendon repair year follow up.

I had X-rays done of my left shoulder as it’s been causing me issues. Good news: little arthritis and joint looks okay. He said an injection is always an option if it doesn’t calm down but thought it a good possibility it would behave once the right started taking over again. He did set me up with a hand specialist as my thumb joints have been screaming for a while and he could visually see effects of arthritis. And so it goes…

However, I am thrilled with how things are healing and progressing. I’m very blessed to have the caring professionals, friends, and family around me for their healing touch and support. Onward.
 
Eight weeks into recovery and I didn't think I could do it but I joined the ODIC (over did it club) yesterday. :groan:
I was wrapping presents and packing them to send to a friend in San Diego. I was going up and down stairs, gathering all the supplies, finding the right box, taping said box, printing labels, etc. I tried to keep it simple but you know, I could wrap just this one with the really pretty paper. And, oh, it could use a pretty ribbon. Well, by the time I got the shipping box taped and labeled, I was exhausted. My arm felt like it weighed 20lbs and I had done 50 pushups. What a reality check! Lesson learned. I whined via text to my husband who was at the office. Typical him, he kindly and gently answered with "Patience young grasshopper." Young? Awwww! He must be looking through the eyes of love. God bless him!
 
@Hip4life you are very fortunate to have such a wise, loving husband! Yup the eyes of love see truly!

Take it easy today ... the ODIC can be exhausting and achy! But it good you got all those gifts ready to send! :christmas-carols-smiley-emoticon:
 
You married a keeper!!!!
 
I had my 12 week (3 month) follow up today. All is progressing as it should. Had x-rays today and all good. I did learn that I have a stemless ball prosthesis. I guess I missed that small detail in all the shuffle. I mean I thought the former x-rays looked "different" but what do I know about what shoulder hardware was supposed to look like. I know the OS described the procedure and said the "stem" went into the humerus. I just didn't realize it was just a small projection. I'm too used to those big hip stems, I guess. Anyway, the doc lifted any restrictions and said to proceed as tolerated. He'll see me in another 3 months.

As a side note: last week, my shoulder was aching and got really sore/stiff. I'd been feeling a big knot behind my shoulder blade. Everything got so tight that I was getting a headache. My husband tried to massage it out and it helped. I told the PT about it and in 2 sessions this week he really got in there and massaged all those muscles. It was sore afterward (the muscles) but oh, my, I could move my shoulder with very little pain or stiffness. The achiness went away. I think I needed this a couple of weeks ago. You don't always connect the dots. My doc said thank goodness for PTs. I agree. Now I am really looking forward to getting on with my rehab. The only fly in the ointment is that I went back to the hand surgeon and I'm having left thumb arthroplasty, February 19th. My PT says that he's not too concerned because I'm doing so well with the shoulder that missing a couple of weeks shouldn't hurt anything. That's reassuring going forward.
 
Great news about your surgical check-up, @Hip4life. I'm sure it's a relief to have those restrictions lifted.

And great news about the massage, too!
 
Yay for massage!!!!
You best get any hitchhiking urges out of your system before February....
 
@Hip4life I had Ligament Reconstruction and Tendon Interposition on my left thumb 10/23. The worst part for me was having to wear a cast for several weeks. I didn't realize how claustrophobic it would feel. If I ever have to have the right thumb done, we will have to figure it out without a cast. Do you know what procedure you'll be having?
 
@Twinsanity It is a CMC arthroplasty with a suture brace. Basically, removing the trapezium and then using a braided suture to create a brace (a "hammock") for the metacarpal of the thumb to rest against so it doesn't shift towards the wrist. It's one small incision at the base of the thumb with a splint on afterward for 10 days. Then the OS removes the splint and off you go with occupational therapy. He said I would be able to do a lot of things right away, then the rest with rehab during the following 5 weeks and that's it. Definitely worth checking out if you're a candidate.
The shoulder is coming along. I've been in the pool for the last few weeks, slowly working my way back to normal laps. I'll get there just about the time to have to be back out of the pool with the thumbs. Such is life!
 
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