What To Know Before You Go~~Under The Knife~Shoulder, Rotator Cuff Surgery~Ouch!
Sep 07 '07
The Bottom Line Ask questions of your doctor, be persistent about knowing all you will need to know about your recovery time and what to expect.
What they don't tell you…
I'm writing this not for sympathy but to convey my experience with the recent surgery I had for a torn rotator cuff in my right shoulder….damn, I didn't expect this.
For years I've had some pain in my shoulder, but I could live with it, at least until this last year. About 15 years ago when I complained about it to my general physician he told me I probably had Bursitis and gave me cortisone shots in my shoulder, which helped for a while…over the years it got progressively worse.
In October, when I had arthroscopic knee surgery, I mentioned the pain in my shoulder to my surgeon and he told me that they have found many people who were diagnosed with bursitis years ago turn up later with torn rotator cuff injuries, which it probably was from the beginning, but just a small tear …eventually they grow and with the advent of the popularity of weight training and excessive exercise that so many people do, and I was one of them, the tears grow and get much worse…..I remember there was always one arm machine I couldn't do due to the pain it caused and I, like a dummy, would do it anyway..
He said if it got really worse I should come back and he would have an MRI done…In December I had another back surgery, (spinal fusion), and spent a lot of time in bed afterwards…I found then that it was very difficult to lie on my right side, as the pain in my shoulder intensified…..but when I recovered from that ordeal and was up and about I felt quite a lot better not being in bed so much…Until the last 3 months. It got to a point that I could hardly do anything with my right arm or hold anything heavy and that I couldn't sleep on my right side, forget about putting my arm under my head to sleep, my favorite position… not only that, but even when I would lie on my back I felt a pulling sensation from my shoulder that was just awful.
So back to my orthopedist I went…and of course another MRI was in order. The results came in a few days later…I had a severe tear in that rotator cuff and without surgery I could lose the use of my right arm altogether he said….But the good news was that MOST LIKELY, it could be fixed arthroscopically. This would be the best way since it's not as invasive as when they have to cut!….I agreed to the surgery because I just didn't want to deal with the pain anymore and I didn't go for a second opinion since this Doctor is the one who did my knee arthroscopic surgery in Oct with good success….Did I make a mistake? I don't know. I asked the doctor what the down time would be afterwards and what I should be prepared for…His answer was a bit vague, now that I think about it, since he said it all depended on what he found with his scope, but that that it's usually about 6- 8 weeks recovery and that I would have to wear a sling for at least 2 weeks…even in my sleep…yikes, I had been able to remove my back brace when I slept after those surgeries.
What I do know is that the day of the surgery I was really ready for it, positive thoughts in my head, I had stopped taking all my blood thinning vitamins and herbs, (this is very important), and checked-in for what was supposed to be an out- patient procedure. The IV was put in with some difficulty since I have what they call floating veins or something like that, all I know is giving blood is usually an ordeal for me. And it was no different this time so the IV had to be put into the top of my hand…I hate that!
Anyway, soon the anesthesiologist came by and it was la la land for me…
When I came to and saw my Doctor he told me I had a much more serious tear and that he had to "CUT", that my shoulder had to be actually reattached…I was so full of drugs I didn't quite get the implications but he wanted me to stay in the hospital at least for one night. I must say that night I really was out of it, at first they gave me morphine then shots of Delaudid which made me hallucinate, so then on to Percocets, two at time every 3 hours….so I was pretty much out of it and they controlled my pain for the most part…great nurses, they never made me wait.
The real trouble started when I got home…I really didn't know what to expect…I had this sling on my arm that was terribly uncomfortable which I couldn't take off except for showering and an ice pack they told me to use all the time, 20 mins on and 20 mins off. So I tried to get into bed which proved really uncomfortable, my arm had no support and pulled down therefore my shoulder felt like it was on falling off. Thankfully I have a friend that recently had her shoulder operated on and she told she found sleeping on the couch much more comfortable since she could prop her arm on a pillow that leaned against the back of the sofa…Luckily I have a new couch with thick cushions on the back, the arm rests and the seat cushions as well. I'm still sleeping there. But hopefully I will be able to get back in bed with my hubby soon….sleeping on my back for the last 4 weeks is not the best way to get a good nights sleep but it's better then having that pulling sensation….So that is number one, of the things my doctor didn't tell me.
Number Two: was that I would feel so much pain and feel so much like an invalid…Not being able to do so many things that we take for granted on a daily basis with both arms….I had absolutely no use of my right arm.
Number Three: Personal care….I did know what I would need another person to take care of me at least the first week or two… But I didn't know how much. My husband took the week off and literally was like a nurse to me. I couldn't shower without him standing there waiting to wrap me up in a towel when I got out…though I was able to shower alone with the use of a hand held shower and a long back/body brush, those are vital if you have to have this surgery. Washing my hair was one of the most difficult things to do with one hand he did help me with that..After the first week he came home every day to help me shower, luckily he works near home. Think about trying to dry yourself with one hand. I don't even want to mention a few private personal matters that are nearly impossible to do with your left hand…just use your imagination. But somehow you learn….
Ladies, forget about doing your hair, or putting on any make-up and, one of the most important things, putting on a Bra…just envision that twist your arm does in the back to do those hooks…(actually this became very difficult for me to do before the surgery and one of the reasons I knew there was something really wrong with my shoulder in the first place) I guess it wouldn't matter too much if you are not well endowed but I've always been a big girl in that respect and I still can't wear one which really upsets me and I don't really want to go out…getting dressed or just putting on a nightgown is hard to do without lifting that arm through the sleeve…wide necklines are essential..even putting on underwear or the tights I need for therapy is painful, another thing my Doctor didn't tell me.
Number Four: Around the house….With 3 cats, taking care of them was very hard…Those dreaded litter boxes and feeding them is very hard with my left hand. Hubby did that for me the first 2 weeks, now I can manage but I do everything very slowly. And poor things I can't even pet them, since they always get on my right side…though they seem to be learning
Cleaning, well that had to be put by the wayside but thanks to my Swiffer collection of products I have managed to do a few things with my left hand…I even washed my floors the other day..And, I have that wonderful Eureka cordless vacuum cleaner which is lightweight and I can use with my left hand…By the way, my left arm seems to be getting stronger…
Shopping, Hubby has done all the food shopping for us and even went to the pet store to get the things I needed for the cats….my daughter had to go the vets office for me to pick up the special food they are on…I thought I had stocked up but somehow fell short, not realizing just how long I would be laid up.
Cooking, forget about it…luckily my hubby also likes to cook and he's been a true gem taking complete charge of those duties…I still can't reach into my microwave oven easily or my cabinets to get anything that is not on the lowest shelf. My daughter had a great suggestion and that was to use paper plates and disposable utensils…this turned out to be a Godsend, not having to worry about washing the dishes or putting them away from the dishwasher. I have to eat with my left hand also, tricky at first. Though I used my right hand last night and I think that ordeal is over.
Number Five: The computer…for some people this wouldn't be a problem but for me it was a big one… I just couldn't type with two hands…Reaching up for the back keys was a killer, even capitalizing couldn't be done, though I did manage to peck out a few e-mails and later a review or two with just my left hand…I have a wireless mouse on my laptop that I put on my left side but my fingers get confused when I have to right or left click…thank goodness for spell check! It's getting better now and I can type with both hands but my shoulder and arm get tired and when pain shoots down my arm after a short while, I have to stop.
The doctor didn't tell me any of those things, that to expect to be completely useless for so long. When I went to have my stitches removed he was out of town so his assistant did it…I haven't even seen him since the surgery, but I have an appointment next week…I have a lot to tell him! Though the good thing is I haven't had a problem getting my pain meds but I think that will change soon…
My birthday came and went, I didn't feel much like celebrating that day though both my daughters came over and that was a blessing, just to get a few of their hugs.
I'm in physical therapy now and have had 6 or 7 sessions with the same therapist I had in the past. It is very aggressive therapy and very painful, more so then I ever had before. He told me my arm had ZERO mobility as did my shoulder. That without really working it I could have had what they call frozen shoulder or lose the use of the right arm, so I'm very compliant and work very hard through the pain…I want to be able to have a full recovery, to be able to pick up my grandkids, to be able to swim again, to be able to have a normal life and even to wash and dry my hair without grimacing in pain…The Doctor didn't tell me how hard this therapy would be…at least I can drive now a bit and my hubby doesn't have to sit and watch me do these strange mobility exercises for all that time…and, I can get out of the house to run a few errands and get to Blockbuster so I can watch all the many movies I've been watching…most of them a blur.
All in all, I just wanted to warn anyone who has shoulder pain and been told they may need or are contemplating this surgery that there really is so much involved and so many things that you won't be able to do for a while, things you take for granted on a daily basis….You really have to prepare and have someone to take care of you…I don't want to sound like a woos, but this has really thrown me for a loop, I thought I knew what I was getting into, I thought, well, I've had two back surgeries and knee surgery, therefore I can endure anything but this was so much more than I expected and there was so much I wish my doctor had told me, not that it would have made much of a difference in my decision, but it would have been good to know…and also the recovery time is much longer then he told me, according to my therapist, it will take months and months before I will have full mobility in my arm, but right now, all I want for Christmas is to be able to wear my Bra!!
And, most important, I want to thank my dear husband, he has gone beyond the call of duty...that vow, "in sickness and in health", well, he certainly has answered that call…I haven't been the easiest person to live with this last month and, even after a hard day of dealing with the business of running a restaurant all day, he still comes home with a smile on his face and a good meal for me…with all the BS, I'm the luckiest person on earth the have him in my corner.
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