So much progress

[bill_schubert]

This morning is the first I've taken only Tylenol for pain.  It's a bit of a victory.  I've been very careful with my left arm movement (and not typing much) to let everything calm down and let the tendons and ligaments get used to their new arrangement.  Most of the time my arm is in a sling but occasionally, like today, it is out for a while to be in a different position.  I'm allowed to dangle it and bend it from the elbow only.  I can feel day by day it getting better. 

The surgery is so advanced even over the past few years.  I don't have any stitches but, according to my physical therapist, the wound is glued together (sounds a bit like things we've learned from the most recent combat).  It has some clear tape over it that she says should come off next week when I see my doc.  Then is is just PT visits and work.

Right now my PT comes to the house.  We've had two visits during which she has taken my arm and moved it up to 90 degrees and back and gently massaged the area to release some of the bruising.  It actually feels really good when she does that.  Like a really nice stretch.  

Next week she gives me exercises and we go from there.  This is nothing like my knee.  The knee was pretty serious pain.  This is more like and ache with an occasional twinge of something worse.  It took me over a month before I was able to stop taking hydrocodone nearly full time with my knee.  I'm way beyond that now.  

All in all it  was a good decision. Going from listening to my shoulder scrape bone on bone to this was worth the difficulties.  Now is strength building over time.  My PT says I'm a couple of months before being much weight bearing, which is when I can ride a bike again.  I've been walking Zoe around the block but think I'll take her down our usual path here this morning.  It is coolish out and she is chomping at the bit to do SOMETHING, Dad!

Then back to being still with an ice pack for a while, let things calm down.

Comments

[mollywheezy.livejournal.com]

Glad to hear you are doing so well! :)

[stainsteelrat.livejournal.com]

Based on the "bone on bone" comment, was it a joint issue?

[bill-schubert.livejournal.com]

Oh, yeah. I've had the cartilage deteriorate in hip, knee and now, shoulder. Hopefully that's all. I'd do a plank or push up and it was like a rusty hinge, creak, creak, grind. And, apparently, I had a couple of chips floating around in there. One time about 10 or so years ago I did a climbing wall as part of a ropes course. I got pretty far up and lost my footing so I was doing one of those hanging from my fingers things. One arm. I got back up there and was OK until I got home and could not move my shoulder. It took me a long time to get it back but I suspect that's when I loosened some bone pieces.
Anyway, that's all gone now and I've got a brand new shoulder.

[stainsteelrat.livejournal.com]

Metal joint?

[anais-pf.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad you are doing so well.

[bill-schubert.livejournal.com]

Thx. Me too.

[zoefruitcake.livejournal.com]

You’re doing so well

[bill-schubert.livejournal.com]

Yeah. It amazes me. So fortunate.

[bill-schubert.livejournal.com]

Hanging in. 🙂

[bill-schubert.livejournal.com]

Titanium. The airports love me. Hip, knee, and now shoulder.

[msconduct.livejournal.com]

So great to hear all that good news! Heal on!

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

What absolutely terrific news! So happy for your progress!