Looks like I’m gonna go under the knife. Seen the Doc 3 times, had two cortisone shots and went to PT. It’s not working.
I injured it playing volleyball back in May. I still have good use and strength, except for a few certain movements. Putting on a coat hurts quite a bit. I’m 48 and don’t want to live like that.
Anyway, I would have the bursa removed, a bone spur removed and the bicep tendon moved. I need to find out a little more about my insurance. It may make sense to wait till 2009.
MPSIMS to be sure. But it’s important to me. I’m not particularly worried or stressed out about this. Just something you have to do. I have my Wife for support.
Anywho, I wouldn’t mind some anecdotes or suggestions. I’m going to be ‘one’ armed for at least a week.
I had shoulder surgery a few years ago, removed a particularly thorny bone spur and shaved down all the knotty scar tissue the bone spur had formed (on the surrounding muscle and tendons.)
The nerve block was interesting, first time for me having anything like that. My kid thought it was great fun when I came home and took off my coat and my arm just dangled and swung about freely. When I woke from the anesthetic I was colder than I’ve ever been in my life. They were piling these heated blankets on top of me, as it’s a common side effect apparently, and I was still shivering so hard the bed was shaking. My dad was my hero, he came into recovery with a steaming cup of coffee and helped me get a few swallows down, immediately warmed me up.
I was told to begin PT exercises, just minor rotations of the arm without raising it, the next day. I could type, use cutlery, anything with the hand that didn’t involve raising my arm up toward my head, so it wasn’t as much of a PITA as I’d thought it might be. Got real annoyed at not being able to ponytail or wash my own hair after about 5 days, though.
Prior to the surgery, I was walking around like Napolean with my elbow never relaxed but at a 90 degree angle. Doc said that was the scar tissue pulling it up, I could forcibly put my arm straight down but it was very uncomfortable. There was a lot of soreness on the muscle after, from the removal of all the knotty scar tissue, but it was nice being able to relax my arm fully.
10 days to get stitches out, then 6 weeks of therapy before I could return to work. Managed to get full rotation and reach comfortably over my head about week 4 of PT, that felt absolutely great!
Thanks QTIt seems that the injury inflammed the bursa, and made it start rubbing on the spur. Now that it’s rubbing, the inflamation does not want to go down. Sort of a catch 22.
6 weeks before you could return to work? What do you do? I’m a programmer and expect to be back at work (one armed) in a few days.
If your insurance has a FSA (flexible spending account) or HSA (health savings account), definitely wait until 2009 so you can pump up the balance by about $3,000. If the costs are anything similar to what they were for my ACL reconstruction in May, that’s about what you’ll have to pay (my insurance covered about $12,000). You can even schedule it for January 1 if you want, and they’ll reimburse you the entire balance right away (while you pay it back over the course of the year).
I would definitely see a another surgeon for a second opinion. Almost all insurance will pay for this, and you might be surprised. Before any surgery, even a third opinion is not a bad idea.
Got both FSA and HSA. I need to get my ducks in a row a bit. I will probably wait until 2009. I did FSA for LASIC.
The Doc I am seeing is reputed to be one of the best shoulder surgeons in the country. I live in snow country. He is the surgeon/doctor for the US snowboard team and a number of other pro sports teams. He has great credentials, and specializes in shoulder injuries. I doubt I could find anyone better. I’ve had the MRI, and did the PT.
One thing about living in the Rocky Mountains and ski country, is that there are some very good orthopedic surgeons. Two of my friends have gone to him with excellent results.
I like him a lot. He talks to me (not down to me) and answers my questions. I understand your suggestion for a second or third opinion, but don’t think that it is warranted.
I work the assembly line in an auto factory, work-related repetitive stress caused the injury in the first place. I work in the body shop department, definitely can’t throw fenders and floorpans around one-handed.
I was typing the same day as the surgery, as soon as the nerveblock wore off, though. If you have the same type of recovery I did, you’ll be fine. Little things will tick you off, like putting on a seat belt one-handed, but over-all it’s not nearly as bad as abdominal surgery or a broken leg for inconveniencing you.