OT: S.L.A.P. Shoulder Update

I wish you successful surgery and a smooth recovery.

RRzVRR wrote:
| As I wrote before, I have a S.L.A.P. tear in my right shoulder.
| For more detail information the following is a fairly good site:
| http://www.shoulderdoc.co.uk/patient_info/article.asp?article=15
|
| Early Monday morning I'm going in to have arthroscopic surgery to
| repair the tear, likely removing the bursa sach under the
| acromion (which will grow back healthier), possibly shave down
| some of the acromion, inspect all of my rotator cuff connections
| and hopefully find my bicep tendon in good shape. If my bicep
| tendon is damaged than a more extensive surgery would have to
| occur -- but the chances are good that the tendon is all right,
| my rotator cuff as well, or more would have shown up on the MRI.
| I'm very confident in the surgeon working my shoulder. He
| chairs the NY Beth Israel Department of Orthopedic Surgery, has
| written a couple of books on sports injuries, and is a leading
| expert on shoulders. The surgery doesn't really worry me, its not
| being able to use my right arm/hand and the the rehab that will
| take a few month that's a real concern. I'll have to wait at
| least 2 weeks to even begin physical therapy.
|
| I've decided not to work at all until after the new year and
| luckily we're able to do that financially. Its all the other
| "stuff" that's been a concern. I'm right handed and therefore
| I've tried to make have everything possible taken into
| consideration so that that hand/arm won't be needed. On an
| enlighten note: I use to wonder what kind of idiot would need to
| wear training shoes with Velcro straps as fasteners? Now I know.
| I'll need to wear because its going to be difficult tying my
| shoes for a few weeks.
|
| Its been truly difficult not being able to train the way I enjoy
| since May. At first I just lowered the amount of weight used for
| most upper body work, still working legs and lower back as usual.
| But doing any upper body work that involved my bicep (i.e.
| rows, lat pull-downs) caused me major pain even with light loads.
| Since my preference is freeweights, I couldn't do all the lifts
| that are my base and especially those that I really enjoy. It was
| difficult to hold onto a bar while doing squats or even hold
| dumbbells with my right arm. Some lifts hurt during movement,
| some couldn't be done correctly because of the reflexes being
| off, but most of my pain would occur after training, and at night
| while sleeping. So lately it just just been some leg, lower back
| and ab training. The bulk of my fitness work over the last
| couple of years has been strength training, with only moderate
| amounts of cardio. Its been very hard to try and shift gears and
| put an emphasis back on cardio. After running the marathon in
| 2002, I just haven't wanted to spend much time on cardio,
| preferring instead to WT intensely and get the cardio and
| metabolism benefits there.
|
| Over the last six months I've put on between 10-15lbs.
| Interestingly from May to the beginning of August I was able to
| pretty much stay in a reasonable range of my eating and BF%
| levels. I had expected fat gain some since I wasn't working out
| as much. But it was like my metabolism stayed high for a few
| months (giving me false hope) and then around the beginning of
| August it seem to have dropped significantly. Then again my
| eating amounts and quality has be conversely related to the
| amount of exercise I've been able to get. Meaning the less I was
| able to workout, the worst and more I've eaten. Yet I do think
| there was a window of time when my metabolism continued to run as
| high it did while regularly WT.
|
| Now, most of my fitness work will have to be cardio. Luckily we
| have a recumbent bike here at home and the city has finally
| finished working on my local park's track. So I have some easy
| options. I just need to work on my mindset about cardio volume.
|
| One of the reasons I'm posting this message it that there were
| very few post over the years on the usenet from others who have
| S.L.A.P. tears. Hopefully my post might help someone else.
|
| --
| Rudy - Remove the Z from my address to respond.
|
| "It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees!"
| -Emiliano Zapata
|
| Check out the a.s.d.l-c FAQ at:
| http://www.grossweb.com/asdlc/faq.htm

Smooth surgery and quick rehab, Rudy. BTW: make sure you mention to somebody
that you want the little machine that circulates icy water over the
shoulder. They don't offer it to everybody and unless you mention it, they
may not even mention it. This is a small cooler filled with ice water
connected by a tube to a cuff that uses Velcro fasteners. It covers the
entire surgical area and the ice water flows around all sides of the
shoulder (has to be plugged in to an electrical outlet).

This is important because it replaces the awkward frozen blue ice bags and
other such bags which only cover the surface on which they are resting. The
cooler setup can speed the recovery immensely by reducing swelling.
Insurance paid for mine, but even if they had not paid for it, I would have
gladly bought it. I didn't mention a brand, because I have since found out
there are several different ones, and I don't know which your hospital uses.
But, the nursing staff will know.

Pat in TX

Best of luck Rudy! Let us know how you are doing, if you can.

Warmly,

suzi_cream_cheese

FOB said:

I wish you successful surgery and a smooth recovery.

Thank you.

--
Rudy - Remove the Z from my address to respond.

"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees!"
-Emiliano Zapata

Check out the a.s.d.l-c FAQ at:
http://www.grossweb.com/asdlc/faq.htm

Pat said:

Smooth surgery and quick rehab, Rudy. BTW: make sure you mention to somebody
that you want the little machine that circulates icy water over the
shoulder. They don't offer it to everybody and unless you mention it, they
may not even mention it. This is a small cooler filled with ice water
connected by a tube to a cuff that uses Velcro fasteners. It covers the
entire surgical area and the ice water flows around all sides of the
shoulder (has to be plugged in to an electrical outlet).

This is important because it replaces the awkward frozen blue ice bags and
other such bags which only cover the surface on which they are resting. The
cooler setup can speed the recovery immensely by reducing swelling.
Insurance paid for mine, but even if they had not paid for it, I would have
gladly bought it. I didn't mention a brand, because I have since found out
there are several different ones, and I don't know which your hospital uses.
But, the nursing staff will know.

Wish I had read your message sooner.

The machine was suppose to have arrived at my place before
surgery, but didn't show up until the second night. I have been
using a large bag of frozen peas (my favorite therapeutic ice
system) and thought using it would be easier that than moving the
machine around from bed, to couch, to chair, etc. plus not having
to wear the extra device that the machine plugged into seemed
more comfortable. So when UPS finally came I declined delivery.

But I should have taken it. If noting more than to use it at
night while sleeping. Unfortunately the Vicodin they gave me for
pain control made me really nauseous. All I'm taking now is
Aleve, which is good enough during the day but not enough for
getting through the night.

--
Rudy - Remove the Z from my address to respond.

"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees!"
-Emiliano Zapata

Check out the a.s.d.l-c FAQ at:
http://www.grossweb.com/asdlc/faq.htm

suzi_cream_cheese said:

Best of luck Rudy! Let us know how you are doing, if you can.

Warmly,

suzi_cream_cheese

Thanks. Typing one handed is a frustrating right now -- but I'll
be 2 handed soon.

Its been awhile since your last update how are things going for you?

--
Rudy - Remove the Z from my address to respond.

"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees!"
-Emiliano Zapata

Check out the a.s.d.l-c FAQ at:
http://www.grossweb.com/asdlc/faq.htm

RRzVRR said:

But I should have taken it. If noting more than to use it at night while
sleeping. Unfortunately the Vicodin they gave me for pain control made me
really nauseous. All I'm taking now is Aleve, which is good enough during
the day but not enough for getting through the night.

Ask for percocet. I find vicodin makes me *really* queasy, but percocet
much less so - especially at night.

Also, if you do take the percocet, make sure you're getting plenty of
fiber. The pills can be very constipating and that will make you more
prone to nausea.

Best of luck.

Martha

--

Martha S. Gallagher said:

RRzVRR said:

But I should have taken it. If noting more than to use it at night
while sleeping. Unfortunately the Vicodin they gave me for pain
control made me really nauseous. All I'm taking now is Aleve, which
is good enough during the day but not enough for getting through the
night.

Ask for percocet. I find vicodin makes me *really* queasy, but percocet
much less so - especially at night.

Also, if you do take the percocet, make sure you're getting plenty of
fiber. The pills can be very constipating and that will make you more
prone to nausea.

Best of luck.

Ended up getting Codeine yesterday. During the day Aleve is
enough, and at night the Codeine seems to be enough to help me
sleep. So far, each day brings a drop in the amount of pain.

--
Rudy - Remove the Z from my address to respond.

"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees!"
-Emiliano Zapata

Check out the a.s.d.l-c FAQ at:
http://www.grossweb.com/asdlc/faq.htm

:
: Ended up getting Codeine yesterday. During the day Aleve is
: enough, and at night the Codeine seems to be enough to help me
: sleep. So far, each day brings a drop in the amount of pain.
: --
: Rudy - Remove the Z from my address to respond.

That's odd; they usually give you some form of codeine when you go home from
the hospital or surgery center. That is what Vicodin is, after all:
hydrocodone.

Geez, though, I hope you get stronger, fast. My doc told me to take off the
sling after 24 hours and had me bending over moving my arm in a circle the
next day. The physical therapist said, "Some doctors are more aggressive
that others and your doc is one of the aggressive ones." An older man I
know had a similar surgery and was in a sling for 3 months and then started
the P.T. I am surprised he could move his shoulder at all after all that
time.

Which arm was it? BTW: I am still having trouble if I turn over to sleep on
the surgical side. That is a standard complaint, I was told.

Swift recovery, guy!

Pat in TX

Pat wrote:
::: Ended up getting Codeine yesterday. During the day Aleve is
::: enough, and at night the Codeine seems to be enough to help me
::: sleep. So far, each day brings a drop in the amount of pain.
::: --
::: Rudy - Remove the Z from my address to respond.
::
:: That's odd; they usually give you some form of codeine when you go
:: home from the hospital or surgery center. That is what Vicodin is,
:: after all: hydrocodone.
::
:: Geez, though, I hope you get stronger, fast. My doc told me to take
:: off the sling after 24 hours and had me bending over moving my arm
:: in a circle the next day. The physical therapist said, "Some
:: doctors are more aggressive that others and your doc is one of the
:: aggressive ones." An older man I know had a similar surgery and was
:: in a sling for 3 months and then started the P.T. I am surprised he
:: could move his shoulder at all after all that time.
::
:: Which arm was it? BTW: I am still having trouble if I turn over to
:: sleep on the surgical side. That is a standard complaint, I was told.
::
:: Swift recovery, guy!

Indeed. Swift recovery, Rudy (girl!)!

On Thu, 20 Oct 2005, Roger Zoul wrote:

;Pat wrote:

;:Rudy wrote:
;::: Ended up getting Codeine yesterday. During the day Aleve is
;::: enough, and at night the Codeine seems to be enough to help me
;::: sleep. So far, each day brings a drop in the amount of pain.
;::: --
;::: Rudy - Remove the Z from my address to respond.
;::
;:: That's odd; they usually give you some form of codeine when you go
;:: home from the hospital or surgery center. That is what Vicodin is,
;:: after all: hydrocodone.

Actually, from this site http://www.uth.tmc.edu/pain/pl-comrx.html
(which says it's based on the PDR) codeine /= hydrodcodone. My own
experience is that I tolerate oxycodone quite well, codeine moderately
well and hydrocodone is get the bucket time. Knowing one's individual
reactions to these drugs is important if you have oral surgery - you *so*
don't want to throw up when you have stitches in your mouth. <g>

But, the most important thing is doing what you need to do to be able to
sleep.

Martha

Pat said:

That's odd; they usually give you some form of codeine when you go home from
the hospital or surgery center. That is what Vicodin is, after all:
hydrocodone.

They gave me Vicodin (hydrocodone) at a 750 dose, and it
surprised me when I got ill because in the past I had take
hydrocodone at a 500 dose without a problem. Maybe it was the
dose or maybe it was the other painkillers still in my system
from the surgery that made me nauseous. But honestly the 2 Aleve
were enough for during the day and one codeine did enough for
night relief during the initial couple of days, now I don't
really need either.

Quoted message said:

Geez, though, I hope you get stronger, fast. My doc told me to take off the
sling after 24 hours and had me bending over moving my arm in a circle the
next day. The physical therapist said, "Some doctors are more aggressive
that others and your doc is one of the aggressive ones." An older man I
know had a similar surgery and was in a sling for 3 months and then started
the P.T. I am surprised he could move his shoulder at all after all that
time.

With me it was too painful and too stiff to take my arm out of
the sling very much the first couple of days -- just enough to
clean, dress, eat, etc. Now I have it out and can type and do
things where my elbow stays down my side and my hand stays in
front of my body. I can now type and eat somewhat easier.

Sorry but I forget what work you had done on you shoulder. Mine
was primarily to reattached the labrum to the glenoid with a
couple of sutures. So they want me make sure the cartilage has a
chance to start repairing and securing itself to the bone.
Cartilage and bone doesn't get much blood flow so they doesn't
repair the way tendon or ligament would. Generally, I don't want
to do anything where my upper arm moves around in my glenoid area
for now. During they surgery my acromion was shaved down, the
bursa there was removed and my rotator cuff inspected (luckily no
serious problems there just a good deal of wear) and my bicep
tendon checked out.

Quoted message said:

Which arm was it? BTW: I am still having trouble if I turn over to sleep on
the surgical side. That is a standard complaint, I was told.

My right shoulder. I was complaining yesterday to a friend that
you often don't value a good night sleep until you can't get at
good nights sleep. My father use to say the only two ~things~ in
life he really needed were a good pair of shoes and a good nights
sleep.

Quoted message said:

Swift recovery, guy!

Thanks, and just an FYI its gal.

Quoted message said:

Pat in TX

Rudy who now lives in NYC, but is a native Texan

--
Rudy - Remove the Z from my address to respond.

"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees!"
-Emiliano Zapata

Check out the a.s.d.l-c FAQ at:
http://www.grossweb.com/asdlc/faq.htm

Roger Zoul said:

Indeed. Swift recovery, Rudy (girl!)!

Thanks. So far, so good. Dude

--
Rudy - Remove the Z from my address to respond.

"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees!"
-Emiliano Zapata

Check out the a.s.d.l-c FAQ at:
http://www.grossweb.com/asdlc/faq.htm