Yay - I have now graduated to PT!!! After deftly (not) coloring my hair one-handed last night, I was ready to face the world. I did figure out last week that, if I unbuckled the waist strap on the sling, I could raise the arm enough to get the seat belt on and then buckle the sling. It's not something I could have done from the start but works now.
Definitely a new era - upon entering, my temperature was taken and I was asked the magic Covid screening questions. I was then required to either use hand sanitizer or wash my hands before they would even give me the paperwork to fill out. Everyone with masks but small shop so it was me, PT and receptionist. One patient left as I was coming in and another came in as I was leaving.
After some basic info and status of injury questions, PT did some ROM measurements on good side and a couple on surgical. Then did a number of passive stretches before we moved on to some stretches I can do on my own. Homework for today/tomorrow:
3 sessions per day of "active" pendulum circles
1-2 sessions per day of:
-foam roller extensions (arms on foam roller on table) and move it forward (2 sets of 15)
-side stretch of neck (away from surgical) (1 set of 4 reps with 10 second hold)
-stretch neck with head down and to side away from surgical side) (same)
-scapula stretches - squeeze shoulder blades (2 sets of 15)
On all, need to make concerted effort to keep good posture and not let the surgical shoulder ride up. He was glad to see I could lay flat on solid surface without significant pain. It takes some patients a few more weeks to do that. I did also try putting my hand on my head and was able to do that. I can also lift my arm at the side about 75% of the way to shoulder height.
Other than a slight over stretch sensation, no pain at the time. I just did the second session for the day. I was a little sore before but not much and about same after. We'll see how it feels in am.
So glad to feel like I'm moving forward. I'll be able to ditch the sling Thursday (although I'll probably still use it at night for awhile). I do understand, though, that this wouldn't have been possible earlier. Every day of being in the sling was a day of healing and improvement in strength and range of motion that made today the way it was. Different surgeon's use different rules on the sling but, one way or another, you can't skip the steps!