Sounds like you are doing great @Steve North and that shoulder is coming along just fine too. I'm really happy to read your good reports.
I am now typing with both hands.. I have undone the sling to allow the arm to dangle for a few hours every day, but only in the house, not outside..
UPDATE !!!! I went for my physio secession today and I have some news to report.. NO MORE SLING unless I am going out to a restaurant or food shopping as it will give me some extra help that I won't be banged into or slapped on the shoulder by an acquaintance or something else like being in a crowd and being shoved.. When in the house, don't wear the sling any more.. I CAN START DRIVING the car.. Start by going around the village streets to get used to driving and then.... go for it.. I CAN USE THE TRACTOR but just keep the right arm from lifting, twisting, or straining.. If I feel strain, stop ... I CAN NOW SLEEP ON MY LEFT SIDE without a support pillow under my arm.. I CAN NOW START COOKING AGAIN but be careful lifting those heavy pots and pans.. As I am typing this post, I have no sling and I am back to using the computer as before.. I MUST continue doing my special exercises that was given to me and they are to loosen up the joint.. Strength exercises will come later after the joint isn't as stiff as it is now.. I haven't taken a pain killer in several weeks and I don't think I will need them again.. Just thought you would like the latest update.................................
Today I drove the car for the first time since my operation.. NO PROBLEM at all and actually I enjoyed it.. Our car is fun to drive and very easy.. It handles extremely well and is a pleasure to drive..
We had our son here for the week-end and I cooked up a storm for both him and us.. I didn't pick up any heavy cast iron skillets with my right hand as they are way too heavy, but I still managed to do lots of cooking.. No pain at all and in many cases, I overdid it with chopping, stirring, lifting, washing of the pots, strain, and different movements, still I was OK... Back to physiotherapy on Monday and Friday every week for a while except next Monday.. I have a doctor's appointment on Monday in Sault Ste.Marie to see my orthopedic specialist.. Its been 8 weeks and he wants X-Rays as well as to see my progress.. He saw me after 3 weeks by Teleconferencing.. That was just great and he was pleased then..
I had my physio on Monday and now I know why they call it ..................... Physiotorture.. I was introduced to a few new exercises to get the stiffness out and now I am in a bit of PAIN !!!! I overdid it on some, and the shoulder is letting me know about it, however at least I know where the limit is and how far I can stretch the arm.. Too soon to push it but too late now.. I just took some pain killers which is the first time in about 3 weeks.. I mustn't let up on the stretching exercises but I will not do that one for now, just the others.. Back on Friday for another secession.. Every Monday and Friday except next week because next Monday I have an appointment with my doctor in Sault Ste. Marie for the 8 week check-up.. Tuesday and Friday next week......
You're doing great @Steve North ...thanks for giving us a glimpse into what surgery is like. Don't think it will be an option for me though living alone. I have an MRI this Friday of my shoulder and Saturday of my lower spine...decided to split it up because it would have been too long for me in one appointment. I'm more interested in the results on my shoulder anyway...that's been hurting more than my back.
Chrissy.. I cannot be with you physically, but I can be with you morally.. I know it is quite the challenge when you live alone.. Depends what has to be done to your shoulder..
I have NO idea why I am up at this hour.. It is now 3:15am and it is raining extremely hard with violent winds and for some unknown reason I have developed a pain in my shoulder bad enough to wake me up and take a pain killer.. Today (Friday) I have physiotorture like I do every Monday and Friday.. How I will cope is something else to be seen.. Perhaps the pain will be gone by then.. My physio is at 2:00pm and it lasts for just over one hour.. We then go to MacDonald's for a coffee after, to just calm down.. We generally go to the supermarket to do some food shopping after that.. Grocery store, general store, and whatever other shopping we have to do including taking gas for the car.. By then it is close to 6:00pm supper time so we often go out for supper, somewhere, rather than go home, unload, unpack, make supper, and by then it is almost 7:30 and I am totally pooped......... Grab a bite out and get it done.. Besides it is like a break for me not to cook for one supper.. PS..... The pain is just starting to go after about 35 minutes since I took my pain killer pill.. The pain killer I take is Oxycodone which is a fast acting pain killer..
Well, I survived the day of torture.. They started a new set of exercises this session which means the shoulder was moved in different positions, and that means a bit of pain because of the stiffness.. Not that bad, now that a few hours have past.. I didn't take a pain pill, so it isn't all that bad, even if there is a bit of tenderness.. Coffee was well appreciated after, along with a bit of a rest at our local Macdonald's.. Food shopping wasn't that bad as we are going away for a few days to see my doctor, so it was a smaller order.. Gas I didn't take, which means I will take some in our village on Saturday instead.. It is a wee bit more expensive but who cares, considering the small amount my car takes.. We are leaving early on Sunday morning and returning later on in the day on Monday.. I will be gone from here for the 2 days.....