The recovery for my shoulder went pretty well. It was incredibly sore, and the painkillers they gave were not enough by any stretch of the imagination, though we didn't know why. For some reason my elbow and wrist was flaring in pain as well as my shoulder, which didn't seem right, but I didn't want to complain much.
I was able to sleep a lot with the sling on, and it was actually quite comfortable. I sort of balanced on my left and right sides with the sling leaning against the bed holding me in place. It was cozy as heck. Josh was really great in helping us out, when he wasn't working he was at our house. I couldn't shower for a little while, and since you can't sponge bath hair, we put a garbage bag over my shoulders and he washed my hair in the sink.
It was very difficult for me to start taking my arm out of the sling. They had told me to once and a while take it out and move it around a bit, but every time I did it, I was positive I was going to hear the sound of glass shattering and the Super Mario "Game Over" noise would play. Eventually I managed to get it out of the sling though and move it a little, and was quite proud of myself. So proud of myself that I decided my surgeon was probably wrong and nothing happened during my surgery, and everything went right so I didn't have to worry about anything!
So the day came that we had to go back to the surgeon and see him to find out how it went. We loaded up in the car, went to the bar, had some shots, then went to the surgeons office (just kidding, we went straight to the office, it was 8 in the morning and we aren't alcoholics probably). He did all the checks and stuff, showed us the pictures, which were disgustingly awesome, and then told us what went wrong. Once they dug out all the dead bone in my shoulder, there was a divot left that was big enough and in such a position that when I lifted my arm in such a way, the ball of the joint would slide down and kind of dislocate. Fantastic. So there were a few options from here. First, I could take this magic pill that would cure everything! Oh no, wait, that was me dreaming, that didn't happen. First, we could put a metal cap on the joint that would cover it. That would work, but it would wear out the bone and cartilage and would need to be replaced after a little while. The second option is new technology, coming straight from the University of Calgary. It would be bone and cartilage from a live donor, which would mean from a person who had just passed away. They would take it from them, machine it to fit my hole perfectly, and attach it through dowels. The only catch with that is that I would have to wait for the donor to come. My surgeon hadn't done that surgery before because it was extremely new, but he was very excited about me doing it, and was quite adamant about me taking that option. After exchanging looks, we all decided that that would probably be the best option. He told me that once I finished physio I'd be going on the list for donors.
Shortly after I began physio. Though there was nothing wrong with the physiotherapist, this was terrible for me. It's extremely difficult to explain the nature of my dislocations to someone who doesn't understand and who assumes it's like normal dislocations, so most of the exercises ended up making it dislocate. I hated it!
Physio wasn't the only thing that caused it to dislocate. As I finished up my recovery and began to get back to regular life, I found myself dislocating my shoulder more and more. I could get it back in relatively easy, just by relaxing and shrugging (luckily I was quite accustomed to relaxing through pain from my history), so it wasn't a problem, but it hurt quite a bit. I began to get used to it however. It did begin to get problematic, unfortunately.
I went back to work, teaching lessons only because I didn't feel comfortable lifeguarding when my shoulder have a chance to dislocate during a save. We decided to stick to relatively low level classes so I could stay in the shallow water or hold the kids while swimming with just my legs, so I wouldn't have to worry about my arms. My first day teaching my first set of lessons, I had a private lesson, a little girl who was terrified of water. I love lessons like this because I usually have them super comfortable by the first day, and then we can spend the next seven classes playing. I walked around with her on my back until she could touch by standing on her toes, and then got her to hang on the wall (she was already doing quite well). I reached back to grab a noodle, which was a normal motion for me, and my shoulder dislocated. Still not used to the pain, I pulled a face. Unfortunately, she saw the face, immediately got more terrified, and scrambled out of the water, crying as hard as she could. I felt terrible. Once the lessons were done, I went into my boss's office and quit. There was lots of tears, but I didn't see another way. After six years, I was no longer employed as a lifeguard, shift leader, or swim instructor.
As always, given a choice, I wouldn't have changed anything in regards to getting this surgery, nor do I think my surgeon would have changed anything in regards to how he would have performed the surgery. This was just the first of a series of disappointments that my shoulder has given me. However, my shoulder has also brought some happy points as well.
Showing posts with label sling. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sling. Show all posts
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Friday, March 23, 2012
Surgery Went Well... And I Got Pictures!
A few weeks before the surgery, I was laying in bed after hitting snooze on my alarm clock and I went to pull my left arm from being under my pillow to at my side. In the process, I heard a very loud crack and my shoulder started hurting extremely bad. I eventually worked my arm down to be at my side and ran downstairs to tell my dad. We called the surgeon, who booked us in for an appointment at 1pm. I decided to try and nap while I waited (one thing I've learned through all this is to get all the sleep I possibly can) and laid down on the couch. I dozed for a while, and I noticed that the more comfortable I was, the less my shoulder hurt and the more I could move it. Finally, it was almost back to normal, except for some residual pain. I decided to go to the doctor anyway to see what happened.
When we got there, I got an x-ray done again and we found that there was a chunk of bone that had lifted up from the head of the joint and was catching, like a tab. He said more than likely it was going to catch a lot, but once I get the surgery he'd smooth it out and it would be fine. He also said there were some chunks that were floating around and were getting caught. The reason it worked itself out after I napped was that I relaxed and it was able to work itself out when the muscles calmed down. Dad and I were satisfied with the response, thanked him for seeing me so quickly (it was really nice of him), and went on our way. Between that day and the surgery, that happened quite a few more times, but I was able to relax enough to unlock it myself and didn't need to go back to the surgeon.
The day of the surgery I got very little sleep. This was the first surgery I had in an adult hospital, and I wasn't going to be able to stay overnight, so I was terrified. We had to get up very early to check in (we got there for 6:30am or something) and get my day surgery bed, so by the time we left I'd only slept a couple of hours. In the morning, Mom, Dad, and I rolled into the Peter Laugheed hospital and went to the check-in area. I remember we sat there and giggled about random things until we got called, which we usually do when we're nervous. Finally I got checked in and got to go upstairs to the waiting bed. I could only have one visitor at a time, which was stupid because the waiting period of the surgery could be forever, and no one wants to be healthy sitting in a hospital bed with one visitor standing awkwardly over you (we didn't have a chair for a while). Kyle and Josh got there pretty soon into my day, and they all rotated in seeing me, making it extremely hard for me to play pokemon on my DS. Not that I'm complaining.
I ended up laying in the bed waiting for surgery until 3:30pm. I guess he was late with another surgery. I actually ended up having a nap during my wait, which was nice. When it was finally time to go in, they took my glasses and wheeled me into the other waiting area (I got to stay in my bed the entire time, woot) where I got to wait for another half hour or more. This part had the added bonus of me only seeing blur for the whole time, causing me to sit there and stare into space (or at someone, with no glasses I couldn't tell the difference). Finally, my shoulder surgery came over and chatted with me a little, telling me how nice of a surgery it was going to be, and asking how my day is going and such. The he signed my shoulder (to make sure he didn't cut open the wrong one) and left me alone again. Then the anesthesiologist came by and asked me if I have anything he should know about, like a removable face or something like that, and then left again. Finally it was time!
You always get a nurse that's the one who takes care of you during the surgery, and calms your nerves and stuff. The nurse let me walk from this point, which was nice. I got to the operation room, which was cold as heck! I asked the nurse why it was so cold and she asked if I would prefer the surgeon sweating on me, which was a good point. She introduced me to the other nurse in there, and we all joked around for a bit before I got in the chair. Then I sat down on the "table" which was a chair about four centimeters wide (or six inches... close enough) and started getting strapped in. The blood pressure cuff went on, and I started getting the anesthetic drugs put through the IV. And then I was out!
Once again, if you're squeemish, don't read this part. They made two small incisions, one on the front of my left shoulder, and one on the back. They stuck a camera and a vacuum and a drill like thing in, and then got rid of all the bone that was floating around. Then they smoothed out the joint and sewed me up by putting a stitch inside the incision, leaving no thread on the outside.
When I woke up, I was in a sitting position on the bed with a massive sling around my neck and my left arm strapped tightly in. To be honest, it scared the crap out of me. I didn't expect it to be that big! But I guess I should have expected that from the Slingmaster 2000. There was a nurse beside me, and I asked her if it was okay if I had a nap. She chuckled and said of course and continued on her work. Then my shoulder surgeon walked up. I could barely see him because I didn't have my glasses on, but I recognized his hilarious doo-rag. He asked me how I was feeling, and then said those dreaded words: "It didn't go well." He wouldn't tell me why exactly, and just said to focus on recovery. Then he went running off.
They rolled me back to the day surgery area. I remember hearing "oh, there she is" and seeing Kyle leaning against the wall waving at me as I rolled by. Then they all crowded around me in the tiny room (which was very against the rules, those rebels) and chatted a bit until I got tired and wanted a nap. When I woke up, people were usually there, which was really nice. Then I got to go home! Getting ready to leave is one of the worst parts. If you disagree, try putting on a tight tank top with a completely immobile arm that's strapped to your side. It's not fun! The car ride is difficult too. Mom, Dad, Josh and I got in the Jeep, with me and Josh in the back. I was quiet most of the way home with a blanket cuddled around me, until I started feeling very sick. We got to the street that my house was on before I told them I needed to throw up when we got home (I was very good at controlling my stomach at that point), and Dad started pulling over until I was like 'no, at home!' So we got home and I hustled in.... and immediately felt better. At least I got in the house in record time.
We were all a little down about the surgery not going well (even though we didn't know why at that point), but we were pleased that I had gotten through it with my left arm still attached. It was time to start the process of healing... again.
When we got there, I got an x-ray done again and we found that there was a chunk of bone that had lifted up from the head of the joint and was catching, like a tab. He said more than likely it was going to catch a lot, but once I get the surgery he'd smooth it out and it would be fine. He also said there were some chunks that were floating around and were getting caught. The reason it worked itself out after I napped was that I relaxed and it was able to work itself out when the muscles calmed down. Dad and I were satisfied with the response, thanked him for seeing me so quickly (it was really nice of him), and went on our way. Between that day and the surgery, that happened quite a few more times, but I was able to relax enough to unlock it myself and didn't need to go back to the surgeon.
The day of the surgery I got very little sleep. This was the first surgery I had in an adult hospital, and I wasn't going to be able to stay overnight, so I was terrified. We had to get up very early to check in (we got there for 6:30am or something) and get my day surgery bed, so by the time we left I'd only slept a couple of hours. In the morning, Mom, Dad, and I rolled into the Peter Laugheed hospital and went to the check-in area. I remember we sat there and giggled about random things until we got called, which we usually do when we're nervous. Finally I got checked in and got to go upstairs to the waiting bed. I could only have one visitor at a time, which was stupid because the waiting period of the surgery could be forever, and no one wants to be healthy sitting in a hospital bed with one visitor standing awkwardly over you (we didn't have a chair for a while). Kyle and Josh got there pretty soon into my day, and they all rotated in seeing me, making it extremely hard for me to play pokemon on my DS. Not that I'm complaining.
I ended up laying in the bed waiting for surgery until 3:30pm. I guess he was late with another surgery. I actually ended up having a nap during my wait, which was nice. When it was finally time to go in, they took my glasses and wheeled me into the other waiting area (I got to stay in my bed the entire time, woot) where I got to wait for another half hour or more. This part had the added bonus of me only seeing blur for the whole time, causing me to sit there and stare into space (or at someone, with no glasses I couldn't tell the difference). Finally, my shoulder surgery came over and chatted with me a little, telling me how nice of a surgery it was going to be, and asking how my day is going and such. The he signed my shoulder (to make sure he didn't cut open the wrong one) and left me alone again. Then the anesthesiologist came by and asked me if I have anything he should know about, like a removable face or something like that, and then left again. Finally it was time!
You always get a nurse that's the one who takes care of you during the surgery, and calms your nerves and stuff. The nurse let me walk from this point, which was nice. I got to the operation room, which was cold as heck! I asked the nurse why it was so cold and she asked if I would prefer the surgeon sweating on me, which was a good point. She introduced me to the other nurse in there, and we all joked around for a bit before I got in the chair. Then I sat down on the "table" which was a chair about four centimeters wide (or six inches... close enough) and started getting strapped in. The blood pressure cuff went on, and I started getting the anesthetic drugs put through the IV. And then I was out!
Once again, if you're squeemish, don't read this part. They made two small incisions, one on the front of my left shoulder, and one on the back. They stuck a camera and a vacuum and a drill like thing in, and then got rid of all the bone that was floating around. Then they smoothed out the joint and sewed me up by putting a stitch inside the incision, leaving no thread on the outside.
When I woke up, I was in a sitting position on the bed with a massive sling around my neck and my left arm strapped tightly in. To be honest, it scared the crap out of me. I didn't expect it to be that big! But I guess I should have expected that from the Slingmaster 2000. There was a nurse beside me, and I asked her if it was okay if I had a nap. She chuckled and said of course and continued on her work. Then my shoulder surgeon walked up. I could barely see him because I didn't have my glasses on, but I recognized his hilarious doo-rag. He asked me how I was feeling, and then said those dreaded words: "It didn't go well." He wouldn't tell me why exactly, and just said to focus on recovery. Then he went running off.
They rolled me back to the day surgery area. I remember hearing "oh, there she is" and seeing Kyle leaning against the wall waving at me as I rolled by. Then they all crowded around me in the tiny room (which was very against the rules, those rebels) and chatted a bit until I got tired and wanted a nap. When I woke up, people were usually there, which was really nice. Then I got to go home! Getting ready to leave is one of the worst parts. If you disagree, try putting on a tight tank top with a completely immobile arm that's strapped to your side. It's not fun! The car ride is difficult too. Mom, Dad, Josh and I got in the Jeep, with me and Josh in the back. I was quiet most of the way home with a blanket cuddled around me, until I started feeling very sick. We got to the street that my house was on before I told them I needed to throw up when we got home (I was very good at controlling my stomach at that point), and Dad started pulling over until I was like 'no, at home!' So we got home and I hustled in.... and immediately felt better. At least I got in the house in record time.
We were all a little down about the surgery not going well (even though we didn't know why at that point), but we were pleased that I had gotten through it with my left arm still attached. It was time to start the process of healing... again.
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