Hello everyone! Thank you all for your responses.
I had my arthroscopic surgery last Tuesday as an outpatient. Everything went well.
I received a nerve block pre-operatively. They gave some meds IV before the doctor did the block. (I laughed because I go for epidural steroid injections into my neck and low back a few times a year without any calming medications.) I was told that it would work for 8 to 24 hours. Mine lasted 26 hours. I had oral meds in me so the pain didn't go from zero to 10 in minutes.
Surgery was done in an elevated beach chair type table. Scooting over was a hoot. My surgical arm was totally dead, IV in the other and happy meds on board. Felt like it took an hour to scoot over.
My DH was told my surgery would last an hour. It lasted 2 hours. They found 2 types of SLAP tears, a bone spur and a torn rotator cuff. I guess I always have to be the patient who goes the extra mile and has more wrong with her than originally thought.
Recovery room was great. Since I had the block, I felt nothing. They applied a cryo cuff to my shoulder. That is a type of ice pack that is strapped onto the patient and gets filled with ice water to decrease inflammation. I love that little gizmo. I have that and the abduction sling to use at home.
I do not like the sling. It interferes with everything. Pulling undies up after using the bathroom is a big challenge. I have to wear the sling at all times except for showering for a total of 6 weeks.
Having my husband here has been a big help. I am more independent than the doctors led us to believe. Its the little things like getting out of bed, changing clothes or showering/shaving that he has been most helpful with. He even learned how to expel the proper amount of Lovenox from the syringes before my injections. Lovenox is a blood thinner that needed to be given every 12 hours until I was able to resume coumadin and get to a therapeutic level. I did all but 1 injection myself. My neighbor did the injection when I came home. No, DH didnt do any injections. He was grossed out.
Our dogs have also been great. The bouncy one has been extra cautious with me. He has followed me everywhere. I think he is checking on me.
I ordered 2 wedge foam bolsters from amazon that keep me propped up in bed. It is more comfortable to sleep propped up vs flat.
I am still having pain, but that is to be expected. I use the cryo cuff multiple times a day and take pain meds every 8 to 12 hours. Other than that darned sling, everything is going well.
Hope all of you are doing well.
Blogs & Forums
