Surgery went well yesterday, though about two hours behind schedule. We got home about 5:00pm.
I had a total nerve block on the right shoulder from neck to finger tips. My arm was literally like a numb, wet noodle, just lying there in the sling. The greatest force of concentration could not get the slightest motion from finger, wrist or elbow.
I slept pretty well in a recliner. The doctor warned me to take pain pills before I went to bed in case the block wore off in the night. It didn’t. This morning when I got up it was still numb, but I was able to move the fingers slightly.
By mid-day full feeling was pretty much back, and it hurt. Two 7.5 Percocets cut the edge, but it was still there.
Now this evening it feels quite a bit better, but I think it’s about time for another pain pill.
Here’s an x-ray taken while I was still in the OR.
Doc says about 4 weeks in the sling and about 12 weeks to resume sports. There may be some physical therapy in there to ensure I maintain full range of motion and don’t lose strength.
I asked him if the plate on top of my collarbone is going to bother me when backpacking. He said for some it does, for others not. But if it does it’s a simple procedure to remove the plate once the bone has set. We’ll see.
5 responses so far ↓
1 Donna // Aug 6, 2014 at 9:04 pm
That looks… painful. But nicely installed. Your doctor is quite handy with a screw driver.
2 Mom // Aug 6, 2014 at 9:22 pm
It’s all over but the shouting, and I imagine you feel like doing that at times. Probably Dale’s was less painful, because it wasn’t in such a bad separation, I don’t want to call you, so let someone know frequently. Donna said she did call me this AM; sorry I thought it was last night. Take your medication when you are supposed to,
3 Richard // Aug 6, 2014 at 10:48 pm
That arm had to be a weird feeling. Glad you are on the mend.
4 Dale // Aug 7, 2014 at 6:19 am
Glad everything went well. Was it like when you fall asleep on your arm or like it wasn’t even there?
5 Daryl // Aug 7, 2014 at 6:09 pm
Feeling much better today. Off the pain pills, I think — I’ll see how I feel at bedtime.
Took off the bandage, doesn’t look bad underneath, no more bruised than it was going in.
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