Any Practical Shoulder Surgery Tips?

Kerrie Freeborn

Yay - they are finally fixing my separated shoulder and possible torn labrum.  Prior ortho surgery, but never shoulder.  Recognize I'm going to run into some challenges, particularly when I'm back to the office and able to use the trainer but not yet able to use my arm.  Dominant hand and I live alone, so I'd love to hear anything you have to suggest about clothes, food, whatever...  Thanks!  Kerrie

Coach Rich

Posted By Kerrie Freeborn on 03 Dec 2014 10:50 AM


Yay - they are finally fixing my separated shoulder and possible torn labrum.  Prior ortho surgery, but never shoulder.  Recognize I'm going to run into some challenges, particularly when I'm back to the office and able to use the trainer but not yet able to use my arm.  Dominant hand and I live alone, so I'd love to hear anything you have to suggest about clothes, food, whatever...  Thanks!  Kerrie

I have some experience with this:

• Ask the doc for sleeping pills, in addition to the vicodan or whatever they are going to give you.
• Starting hitting the vicodan right when you get home. You want to get a head start on it before the nerve block wears off. You are in for a world of hurt if you're not pre-medicated before the block wears off. Ask me how I know .
• Then...just sleep. Basically, you want to be unconscious as much as possible during that first ~48hrs .
• Then get off the hard stuff and switch to OTC Tylenol, etc. IOW, doing ^this^ will have you asleep for most of the hard stuff and then, after 48hrs, go to the OTC stuff vs the hard core drugs because those will jack you up worse: upset stomach, constipation, etc. 
• Your goal then is to only use about 2 days worth of the 7+ days of drugs they give you. After a few surgeries you'll be able to open your own street corner pharmacy 
• Clothes = very loose fitting button shirts that you can just drape over you. 

I don't recall needing much help from Joanne (or rather, no more than I usually ask for ) after a few days. You'll figure out how to make due with the sling they will give you, etc. Doc prescribed me 6wks in the sling (torn/displaced biceps tendon) but I was mostly out of it after about 4wks, but just really careful with what I did. 

GMAN 19030

Posted By Kerrie Freeborn on 03 Dec 2014 10:50 AM


 able to use the trainer but not yet able to use my arm.  

Go to the gym and use a recumbent bike until you're able to use both arms.  Putting all the load bearing onto one shoulder/arm will not be an enjoyable thing to do.

Peter Noyes

I have been through this as well, torn Bicep's tendon.

I had this really cool ice machine hooked up to a special sling that pumped cold liquid around my shoulder, I recommend that thing if they will give it to you.

- I would plan on sleeping in a recliner
- Have them show you how to take on/off the sling before the surgery. If I remember mine was a a bit complicated and I was so out of it when they gave me instructions after the surgery that I had to go back in to learn how to use the sling properly.
- If you are on vicodin make sure you plan to not be constipated, either lots of prunes or a mild laxative or something. I vividly remember the worst experience of my life which was sitting on the crapper a few days after surgery for over an hour completely drenched in sweat trying unsuccessfully to take a dump.
- Do your physical therapy!!!

Coach Rich

Posted By Peter Noyes on 03 Dec 2014 01:11 PM




- I would plan on sleeping in a recliner

Good call.

Get this, now. PnI each have our own 

rlh2000

Never had surgery myself, but walked many patients through it as well as my mom after a total shoulder replacement last January. Definitely yes for the loose clothes and sleeping in a recliner. Also think of setup for your home, especially kitchen. Amazing how much you use two hands for with cooking or even washing dishes. Having made ahead meals in the freezer that you just need to thaw will be a whole lot easier than trying to lift pots and pans or wash them. Good luck!

As for the extra good drugs Rich referred to... be smarter than my patient that was busted for selling her oxy outside the hospital pharmacy...

Kerrie Freeborn

Great advice.  Thanks!  

rlh2000

Kerrie, I just saw you are in DC, may I ask who your surgeon is? My mom had her shoulder replacement in the DC area.

Kerrie Freeborn

Rachel - My surgeon is Joaquin Sanchez-Sotelo at the Mayo Clinic.  Wasn't satisfied with the "top doc" shoulder surgeon PCP referred me to (ignored significant symptoms, wrote diagnosis in chart but wouldn't tell me), and none of the athletes with shoulder injuries I spoke to was happy with the respective surgeon.  Dr. Sanchez previously gave me back full function in my elbow when other specialists thought not possible, so I thought it was worth calling Mayo to talk to a shoulder surgeon.  Turns out Dr. Sanchez also fixes shoulders.  I'm sure there are qualified local surgeons, but I couldn't find one I was comfortable with.  

Who did your mom use?  Was she happy?

rlh2000

My mom used Dr. Nagda at the Anderson Clinic. She LOVED him at her first appointment, hated him (left crying) at her second, but still did surgery with him. She is extremely happy with the results of surgery. Her conclusion is he is a jerk but a darn good surgeon. She is going back to him to have her other shoulder replaced next month.

Keith Shireman

I just saw your post Kerrie. I'm an athletic trainer that deals with sports medicine injuries. What Coach Rich mentioned in his post is correct. I might also add that when you stop taking the pain and are having trouble sleeping, you may need some Lunesta to get back on your regular sleeping cycle to allow your body to rest. Make sure you do your physical therapy. It's going to hurt (sorry) the first few visits you attend. This is also a good opportunity to use your mental focus from racing Ironman's to help with your focus on blocking out the pain from this surgery. Good luck your surgery and keep us updated here.

Kerrie Freeborn

I used all the suggestions (except the sleeping pill/Lunesta idea, which I forgot every time I saw the doctor). The ideas made the experience much better & demonstrated once again how great this team is. Thanks to all!