More on Over the Hill

Well, I guess the post about surgery did not mention being over the hill, but I am and as such I am finding out things about aging and my body that are less than satisfactory. I walk like Fred Sanford because I need knee replacements. I passed on them because up until now, most recipients, male and female did not seem to be better off after the surgery and painful rehab. But lately, people (women in particular) have been getting replacements today and actually walking well within a week or two. Now I'm curious. So, I plan on discussing this with my Doctor and if it is a go, planning on doing something about my limp and drag this time next year - I am storing up on PTO (Paid Time Off).

Whaass New?

I had rotator cuff surgery in May. It was the first time I'd ever had surgery so it was a real experience. It is now something that I added and then crossed off my bucket list. I had to add it because my plan was to make it to at least 90 years old and no surgery. But, now that this has occurred, I added it and immediately crossed it off!

Apparently by trying to put a piece of paper behind me on a low file cabinet, I dislocated my shoulder and that process cut the tendons holding the rotator cuff in place. I tore it really well (if you're going to do something, do it right) to the point of having no pain. My shoulder just felt like it was annoyed by a sleeve being too tight on it. It made me move it around to get that odd feeling to go away. It didn't.

Anyway, after a few days of that and creeping numbness in my hand, and, yeah the inability to use my left hand, (and friends asking me to do my Bob Dole impression) I decided to see what my Doctor thought.

Long story short - I ripped it. So in order to get my arm (and life) back, I needed surgery. Now you (or at least I) have to wonder when the surgeon and her team continue to ask why I want the surgery since I was not in pain at the time and then they told me over and over that, "you know after you have the surgery you'll be in pain", was this really the right thing to do? Or rather was I in my on personal episode of Twilight Zone. Of course I figured there might be pain after surgery, but when they emphasized that it would be horrible, I began to wonder if that was with or without medication.

So I had the surgery. Arthroscopic - six tiny incisions. In at 8 am home by 1pm - done. Needless to say I was waiting for the pain. Well it did hurt, but nothing compared to natural childbirth - it was pretty easy compared to that. So after about 4 days, I was pretty much off the medication - until after Physical Therapy when I thought it was best to at least take half a dose.

I am now about 66% back to normal. Well, maybe 50%. I am just beginning to use the arm for driving, and I am now reaching up for things and not dropping them (light weight things like a box of cereal).

I will say something about this in a couple of months when I hope to be at least 70% better.