shoulder pain

[feelbad]

well,at least you have been given a good reason by your ortho for the pain. yep,this particular surgery,as i am also finding out,even from my PM the other day IS just a very painful recovery/surgery. my orthos PA told me this IS the most painful surgical thing they do or one of the tops in the pain dept even more than compared to total hip and knee replacement.that one kind of shocked me since i watched my dad suffer thru two total knee replacements. he was a hurtin unit there for awhile.

i didn't get the chance to call for my first PT appt yesterday like i planned. our NEW puppy(hubbys great idea there) needed things and the stupid day went by too flippin fast. but i am going to today. i too am very glad that we have each other to at least compare notes with. i unfortunetly cannot take anything in the NSAID dept at all since the aspirin thing is an issue with it. i have heard good things about relafen tho.good anti inflammatory. just an FYI tho,if this stuff does bother your stomch in any way,this stuff just has that potential too like any other NSAID,there IS a particular med called cytotec? this med was actually made for people who have to be on some level of NSAID therepy. it helps reduce the stomach problems(my stomach just burns like heck with most NSAIDS) it also prevents the formation of ulcers. you just take the cytotec with every dose of the NSAID. this worked really well for me back when i was living on aleeve for two years with my herniated disc. it IS an Rx type med tho so you would have to speak with your doc. but it really helped me tons.

you know,you mentioned having a bad cough or cold happening too? this actually happened to me right,and i mean RIGHT after my c spine fusion surgery? it just exascerbated the living hell out of everything in my neck and upper back. given where alot of your pain is happening,in the rib cage area and the shoulder,coughing would most defintiely make things worse. just too much really 'hard" sudden jolting type of movements in those key areas,you know what i mean? when you have to cough,try holding a pillow up against your chest,it will help some. thats what i did. it seems to kind of absorb some of that movement in a wierd way? just a suggestion. i do hope that it is at least going away now for you.

i just wanted to pass along a really good suggestion to ya about the next ortho visit or any real doc visit where you really have some important questions that you don;t want to forget? i DO tend to also have that problem so i write everything down that i want to actually ask and keep it in this little medical info folder thingy that has all my latest medical crap and current or latest test type results and other crap in it that i just always bring with me to every doc/specialist appt. believe me,it has helped tons in just getting my needs met and all the right questions asked. i have so may different medical issues going on all the time that this folder just has to be with me. some docs want test results or some other thing from a different doc,so i always have that folder with me. it really does help sammy.

i had to start doing the folder thing when my son went into liver failure back in 99 and then the transplant in 2000. his labs were crucial to always have with us when we had to run to another ER or specialist visit. this really helped me to stay on top of everything he needed and all the different docs we had to take him too. so it was great practice when things hit the fan for me too. somebody always needs something that i cannot remember. or just all my MRIs/reports. all in there. keep a piece of paper and a pen in a handy spot like on the kitchen counter or something,and when you think of a really great question,just go immediately(if you dont and you are anything like me and you wait,the good question is gone in a heartbeat)and write it down. then just make sure to not forget(did that too) to bring it with you to whatever appt you are going to. it really helps tons. i seem to be getting much worse in the 'remebering' dept,lol. then you have all the good question right in front of you at that doc appt and ask away. you just do need to know whats up regarding the sweating thing and the possible sympathetic angle.

if you start your PT before me,let me know just what they are having you do,K? i was told and what is actually listed on my PT sheet is just 'pullys and 'cane'(don't have a clue there) therepy. what does yours say? i really am wondering just what the heck the 'cane" therepy actually is? just keep me posted hon. hope things start improving more for you very soon. just a hangin in there,again. take care sammy,marcia

[sammyo1]

Marcia, I will be calling today for my pt appointment. I have been squeezing a couple hrs. of work in on the side. The people I help really need me, I am just trying hard not to over do it. I will tell you my other shoulder is really increasing in the pain department. That scapula is hurting pretty bad. yours is bothering you to? Can't win huh!

I am really paying attention to the sweating thing, it will definantly be brought up. It is to strange, think about it how many things can cause that? Some days it ok others that hand will be soaked. Usaully it is more in the mornings but it can occur at anytime through out the day. I did tell the sugeon if I do to much of anything the arm will hurt all the way to the elbow, my elbow feels like I whacked it on something & the whole arm will just ache. It has been raining here & boy is that causing me to ache, I no longer doudt how the weather can play a role in how you feel.
As for the pt order there is a section marked onder Modalties with a list of procedures, I am glad it one of those listed is light therapy, light being the key word. There is a catagory for shoulder on the ortho order but he does not have that checked off.
I was thrilled to hear he does not believe in running PT in the ground, he has a good point for this type of surgery we already had the use of the chair, so 4wks. they should be able to show you a good pt program to use at home. I will not allow it to cause me added pain like before. I believe pt is needed after surgery but not to the point is causes a whole lot of additional pain.
I know the surgery has helped because I do have more range of motion that comes easier for me, it is painful but before there were days I just could not lift that arm without wanting to scream. The surgeon just said there was so much pain & problems coming in to this he does not know if I will be left with some of it at the end.
I have got to get around to asking how much the arthritis is going to interfer. That does have me concerned. I do keep a folder, I was just kind of thrown through a loop that last visit, between the nurse bringing up that it could be a year & the surgeon bringing up the cp that can be still there after recovery.
I am going to try the relafen, I looked it up abit & it is used alot for arthritis. I want to ask the pharmacy where it stands as far as safety compared to something like celebrex. I have taken celebrex I couple times & it did nothing at all. I really hope this works.
I am really sore between the two shoulders acting up. I am hoping if it works well I can cut back on the perc.
I am sick of not really driving. Girl I have not had my haircut in months. It all is getting to me. I will let you know about the PT. By the way the hospital kept my MRI's & I have to track them down, the doctors office did not know where they were, that has me seeing red, who do you think should be responsable for them?
Talk to you soon, Sammy

[feelbad]

the doc who actually ordered the MRI really should have the most info. this is just how it goes. if they don't actually have a copy of your MRI i would really wonder like what the he**? that WOULD be very odd. the ortho would have needed that copy in order to see what needed to be done during your suregry,you know what i mean? it would have been rather crucial to them? but specialists go more by what THEY see in your hard films rather than just relying on a rads impression,but he still should have a copy.

just call the place where you had the MRI done,or if this was originally ordered by your primary,go thru him. it wouldn't hurt sammy to obain ALL of your medical records from your primary and this ortho too just to have for YOUR own files. i do this with all my records a couple of times a year depending. also get all your hospital stay records including the orthos op notes. it really is interesting to read thru what took place during your surgery. i was actually like half awake during mine(this WAS intended),and i KNOW i remeber waking up during it and actually feeling at least some level of real pain in my upper arm at some point. i just woke up suddenly from my groggy state of deep sleep and said owe owe owe,and someone asked me,'wheres the 'owe' marcia?' i just remember saying,'my upper arm' and boom,i was back out like a light. very strange. so i am very interested in obtaining my op notes from this particular surgery.

i really just cannot believe the overall amount of heavy sweating you have been having in that hand sammy,really.it is not a "normal' thing to have,espescially in only one hand. that would indicate that something IS affecting your SNS on that side in some way,you know what i mean?

the elbow issue may be what i was also dealing with since your ulnar nerve actually runs thru that little crease in your elbow? the dang material from the sling was actually somehow pushing into that direct spot,i was having alot of pain from the elbow to the last two fingers,and some tingling off and on. when i went back a week post op and mentioned this to my orthos PA,she went and got this little cushioned type of covering thing with pads in it that just went over my arm and onto my elbow? it just went over the elbow area slightly above and below it too(very cushy)? it did help and things got a bit better. but i still am having some issues. it could be some level of impingement hon or compression that just has not "relieved itself"? this is something you need to note and ask about if it is still there when you see the ortho. use that piece of paper i told you to put out??? hmm? i do think my PT is actually written for about a month or so too. i would have to double check. i too do not want to have to keep asking someone to drive me to it,since this is way out of my driving range ability. i have about a ten to fifteen min window before my legs will start going a bit crazy becasue of the non stop motor signal that gets sent like every other second since 03? this is the major cause of my spasticity in my legs. my absolute driving range limit is no longer than fifteen min or things start disapating all on their own. it can get pretty ugly sometimes so i don't risk it. i have to just get up like every fifteen min all day long if i am not up,and walk off and massage that crap out of my legs. this really does make life suck sometimes but i am just used to it now.

haircut?? want to compare bangs??lol. i look like a shaggy monster here.and i DID get a haircut right before since i knew i was not going to be able to actually 'do' anything but hopefully get a wash. she didn't cut as much off as i wanted so its all in my eyes again.i just hate that,it makes me crazy. cannot pull it back either since i can't get my arm back up and the strength isn't there between the two hands either. i also had this particular problem right after my spinal cord surgery while in rehab mostly. no intrinsic muscles were left in my left hand,the fine motor was hit really bad,which has made this rotator surgery really really ugly for me. i just "can't" do certain movements with my lame left either. thats been a bit** to have to deal with.

well i gotta get moving hon. just keep track of any questions and WRITE them down right away. also,obtain all records from your ortho(these may reveal his thoughts about what may also be generating your ongoing pain so they are very important),your primary(if he or she was treating this at all pre op) and the hosp too. specifically ask for the op notes from the surgery too. this is what i am in the process of too. take care hon,til next time,Marcia

[Braveheart07]

Marcia--Hi--
Just checking in on my "board Dr."....I'm exhausted from reading this post !! (LOL)...I am sorry you are still going through so much---you and Sammy have had your share of pain that's for sure. I just wanted to say "HI", and that you are in my thoughts and prayers.....Please stay positive, and strong....there will be an end to this misery......and baseball season is right around the corner !!.......I haven't posted much lately, but do think of you, and wish you all the best..
Doug

[sammyo1]

Marcia, boy I have to say you have got to be one strong women, good for you! You have really been through alot & still going through it. I have alot to learn about having a better attitude, because latetly I am abit on the moody or cranky side. I really find myself almost jealous of the fact that my husband & family can just get up & go, you know enjoy & socialize. I am just tired of it all, I am paying for being super women, trying to still keep up with everything & had to go back & work a few hrs a week. I don't know what is wrong with me, I just feel angry you know. My family just does not understand how darn hard this recovery is. To them they think that it has been long enough, I threatened to drag my husband to the surgeon & let him explain it to him like a preschooler, I just think they want the old me back & in no way is that possable right now. I keep trying to do alittle more & there for I think they expect it. I am ready to explode at times. I just was the kind of person who did everything for everyone & when it goes the complete opposite people have a hard time with that. you know?

We took my MRI films with me for the surgery & they never gave them back to my husband or me. Really makes me mad, like I could think about that after surgery. My husband thinks it is his fault but that is the staffs job. I will contact the hospital soon & ask what happened to, if anything I will call the place I had the MRI done, I better not have to pay for another copy or I will raise you know what with the hospital.

you are on the ball with the medical records, & sounds like you have an excellant surgeon. My last visit my surgeon was rushed & I don't like that. I will indeed be asking some questions next visit, I feel after PT that would be the perfect time, Pt should reveal alot, I am hoping. Getting some muscle spasms lately & I really hate that, right in the chest wall.
Heres to hoping my mood improves, I think I am going to make an appointment get my hair done & try to pamper myself, get something done where I don't have to use my arms alot. Sorry my friend you got all my venting thrown at you.
Thanks, as always I sure would feel alittle lost with out you, Sammy