Had another physiotherapy session on Friday.. I go every Monday and Friday to physio for about a 90 minuet session.. They now have me doing the weights pulling from the wall.. According to my physiotherapist, I am doing very well and she suspects I will be there till at least the beginning of December if not longer.. Meanwhile, back at home, I am doing more and more every week..
It's good to hear you are making such good progress @Steve North. We're all cheering you on and are happy for you! Hope your wife had a great Birthday!
Thanks Babs.. She had a very interesting birthday this year.. My shoulder is improving every week as I progress in the physiotherapy ....
@Steve North How's the shoulder coming along, Steve? Still making progress? It seems you;ve had a time with it.
Thanks for asking Bill.. I really didn't have a hard time, I just have to accept that healing takes time.. The operation was 100% OK however the building up again takes time, but at least I have NO pain at all.. I am getting there slowly.. My movement ability is about 95% of what it should be and my strength is coming along just fine.. I am now using the pulley weights to strengthen the arm.. With my left arm, I can pick up a full tank of propane (about 40 pounds) and hold it for 2 minutes, no problem.. Like any major operation, it takes time to heal.. Implants are great, but again, it is the physiotherapy that helps you get to the top faster..
I wish I had more news to report, but everything is going OK... I am doing my exercises daily and trying to stay out of trouble, but that isn't easy.. Somehow, I always end up doing something I shouldn't, however I still haven't taken a pain killer in a very long time.. Totally painless !!!
Its Friday........ Off to physio again today.. I go twice a week to physio... Monday and Friday both at 2:00pm and it takes about 90 or so minutes for the session.. First they give me some heat, then stretching exercises, then weight strengthening equipment, then ice....... I go to the hospital in Espanola which has a physio department.. Espanola is a 35 minute drive from our house and while there, we do some food shopping and other stuff as well such as haircuts, coffee at MacDonald's, supper out, gas for the car, or whatever.. By the time we get home, I am totally POOPED !!!! I then have to unload the groceries and put them in the fridge, freezer, or pantry according to where they go.. If we don't eat supper out, I then make supper.. Something fast and simple usually like a BBQ and a salad..
From my past experience, hope you're not doing too much. To a point, I waited until my PT released me before I really started doing a lot with my shoulder. My wife has a girlfriend who had hip replacement done and way overdone things after surgery. She told us, "I felt good and so did the hip, so I started doing more and more things. She wound up going back "under the knife" again. She said "my surgeon told me what I can and can't do, but I didn't want to listen."
I am NOT doing too much, just doing what I can.. I don't force or strain my arm or lift anything too heavy.. however, I do use it and I do keep on exercising every day..
@Steve North Bottom line now, Steve. Worth it, or not? (the operation). Weighing your most worthwhile story here against my own predicament. Still take no pain killers. Wash my hair using only left hand, right won't go up that high, hurts too much. Am I forcing the demise of use of shoulders altogether, in your opinion? Frank
Frank.. As far as I am concerned, it is 100% worth the operation for me.. It is my second shoulder replacement as I had the left shoulder replaced in October of 2010 which is 7 years ago .. The left shoulder, I very rarely think about as I do almost everything in life I want to.. For example, I (with my left arm) pick up a full propane tank, which is about 40 pounds, and carry it across the street without any problems.. My right arm will be like that within some time.. Right now, I am rebuilding up the strength to be like it was before the replacement.. BOTTOM LINE......... As far as my right shoulder goes... No pain at all........................ EVER !!!!!!! Almost full movement of the arm.. Still some restrictions, but I am working on that at physio and it will soon be full movement.. Starting to lift objects, but not too heavy at this time.. So you ask me about the decision of the operation?? Without any hesitation would I go through it again if I had to..
Frank, get an MRI to see what is wrong. Steve had a total replacement done and I’ve had a rotator cuff surgery done on each shoulder. Like Steve, my surgeries/recoveries went fine, but, because of age, I have osteoarthritis in the left shoulder that has me taking a OTC pain med daily. However, I do have FROM (full range of motion) in both shoulders with mainly no pain.
Frank.. Your problem will never go away by itself.. it will eventually get worse.. If you had some medical advice, you would know what the problem is and it can be treated properly.. I had 2 shoulder replacements and feel just fine with both, although the last one is still getting stronger.. Cody also had some problems that were taken care of medically.. Full range today with no pain.. Without sounding like a broken record, GO AND GET PROPER HELP FOR YOUR PROBLEM... Once you know what the options are, then you can decide what you want to do about it...