6 weeks post op

Feeling pretty good today. Am noticing a significant increase in range of movement with my shoulder, and I am developing much greater stamina in general. Still doing the same exercises as I haven't reached normal range of movement yet so still worth doing. Am also walking twice a day and using a stationary bike three times a week for 15 minutes at a time.

Shoulder/arm does still ache quite a lot of the time. Two sorts of ache - in my arm muscles, presumably due to starting to use them again, and at the top of the tendon where the tendon is now reattached to the bone. This later ache is very different - more like a sharp pain at a very specific point and I have my suspicions that it due to the tendon itself still healing/anchoring.

Am now sleeping in a bed again, although this does mean that I am not sleeping so well as I keep waking up with my arm hurting. Sometimes I take a paracetamol and codeine either before going to sleep or in the middle of the night. Other times I just push through it.

Decided a few days ago to aim to run a 10k on 1st February. Gives me a target to work towards. Physio seems to think it's possible although she did say that it would be quite a challenge to get me ready in time. But I feel up for a challenge :-)

One other bit of news - I can now wear trousers with a zip and button :-)

Posted with Blogsy

5 weeks post op

Having a bit of a bumpy ride. On the one hand, I am able to do a lot more with my shoulder/arm which makes me feel good. For example I can cook, eat, write, potter around doing bits and pieces etc. On the other hand, because I am doing more and using the sling less my shoulder is aching most of the time. That makes me feel miserable and is quite draining.

I came across the following slide on the internet, and I am now clinging to it like no tomorrow....

Thank you to 'jamesclear.com' whoever you are!

In terms of exercises I am doing the same exercises as last week and they are still quite difficult to do, but I think that there is just a little improvement in range of motion. But I can see that it is going to take a while before I am anywhere near back to normal. I have to just keep reminding myself of the above slide.

 

Posted with Blogsy

4 weeks post op

So I am now four weeks postop. Here's where I am at....

- shoulder much more robust to general movement. At home I usually have the sling off - usually only comes on when I am tired or my neck/shoulder is hurting. I do keep it on when I leave the house, as recommended by the surgeon.

- A few days ago I fell over whilst crossing the road. Although my shoulder hurt for that day and following day quite badly, because I was wearing my sling at the time I am very lucky that I could not put my hand out to stop my fall. This means that I did no serious damage to my shoulder.

- my physio says that my range of motion is pretty good for someone at four weeks, but to me it seems like I can't move it at all!

- Am still somewhat limited as to what I can do with my hand. Any attempt to put pressure or strength through my hand/arm just results in pain in my shoulder.

- In terms of exercise, I am now going for at least two walks a day of 30 minutes each. Today I also started a little stationary bike riding for 10 minutes. I desperately want to do some cardio exercise but anything which jolts my shoulder just causes pain for a while afterwards, so I am trying to wait until the six weeks period for tendons to heal is over.

- For shoulder exercises I am doing pendulum swings, shoulder shrugs and walking my fingers up the wall. My physio gave me some more exercises today to do as follows...

- lying on back using my good hand to take my poor arm up towards my ear

- lying on my back with elbows at my side holding a stick in both hands and moving it side to side gently

- lying on my back trying to raise both arms upwards along the floor as if making a snow angel

- trying to place my hands on my back, which in reality means putting them on my bum!

With all of these exercises the physio says I should be just dipping into pain, not working through pain. And I should apply ice to my shoulder after any exercises if it is aching.

My shoulder muscles are also very very tight, and the physio suggested applying heat packs to try and relax the muscles are little. And to try and keep my posture good.

Last weekend I tried sleeping in a normal bed, but I found that I kept rolling onto my shoulder and so I did not sleep much during the night and I woke up with a very painful shoulder. So unfortunately I am back to sleeping on the sofa which I am very fed up with.

Overall I really can't wait for my shoulder to heal, but I know that I have to be patient even if that is very difficult at times.

Posted with Blogsy

3 weeks post op

9 am

Just got back from my first post op physiotherapy appointment. Not surprisingly, my neck and upper back muscles are all very tight. She therefore worked on trying to release them a little bit. I do have a headache now as a consequence :-(

Generally the last few days have been much much better. My shoulder is a lot less sensitive to movement, and although I can still not do much with my arm I can move around the house much more easily than before. I feel that my shoulder is beginning to heal! I don't generally have any pain in my shoulder unless I make an awkward movement or move out of range.

9 pm

I also had my three week check up with the surgeon. He seemed pleased with my progress and now wants me to focus on improving my range of movement. He stressed not to be concerned with strength at this stage - improve mobility first and strength later.

Posted with Blogsy