I had my rotator cuff repaired yesterday in a 2-hour operation. I was home resting a couple of hours later.
They gave me a nerve block so my whole right arm was numb and paralyzed. It wore off in the middle of the night, and I had to start taking hydrocodone. I’m still on pain pills, so I may be less coherent than usual.
They drilled a hole into the bone and screwed a plastic screw into it to sew the tendon to. He said my bones are very hard and he broke a couple of screws before he got one in. I guess hard bones is good news.
My arm will stay in a sling for several weeks, though I have to take it out a couple of times a day to do some simple limbering exercises. I’m typing this from within the sling, actually easier than I expected though moving the mouse is not.
I also got a cold therapy machine. I (Gisele) fill an ice chest with ice and water, and it pumps the cold water through a special pad strapped to my shoulder. I’m using it almost 24 hours a day — it feels good and should speed healing.
Gisele’s getting lots of practice waiting on me. I hope to start doing more for myself shortly.
I’ll publish updates as things change.
4 responses so far ↓
1 Donna // Mar 29, 2011 at 10:29 am
Glad the surgery is behind you and the healing can begin. Now take your doctor’s advice and don’t play any basketball for at least a couple of weeks!
I learned to mouse with my left hand. It can be done. Yes, it was awkward at first, but I’m probably better with my left now than my right.
Take care of yourself.
2 Dale // Mar 30, 2011 at 8:33 am
I’m also glad the surgery went well. Speedy recovery to you.
3 Mom // Mar 31, 2011 at 8:11 pm
Hope it’s better today than it was yesterday, although it seems that when you are recovering, it gets better one day, and slides back part way the next.
4 Daryl // Mar 31, 2011 at 8:45 pm
Better today. No pain pills today, but I will tonight to sleep.