My right shoulder had been bothering me for quite some time. I kept taking some over- the-counter (OTC) pain relievers, which didn’t alleviate all the pain. Consequently, it became more and more difficult for me to take care of my home and fix our meals.
I had just moved to Indiana from New Mexico, and found a recommended family doctor. I told him about the terrible pain in my shoulder. My shoulder was ex-rayed that day, and the doctor immediately told me that ‘my shoulder was one of the worst-looking he had ever seen.’ It was just one spot of osteoarthritis that I had throughout my body.
When my doctor sat down to talk to me, the first thing he said was, “I am going to see if I can get you some kind of surgery to make that shoulder better.” He then explained about a lady doctor who is an extremely good orthopedic surgeon. As I sit across from him, he called the surgeon’s office and set up an appointment for me to see her, and hopefully make an appointment for my surgery.
Getting that far into relieving the terrible pain I had lived with for several years, gave me a good feeling in spite of the hurting. I would actually shriek from the pain when I moved my arm a certain way. I did not worry about the surgery, as the fact that I could get better was the prominent issue.
When the day of my surgery finally arrived, I felt little apprehension because of all the good things I had heard about the doctor. When I awoke after the surgery, there was my family and the Pastor from our church. They were all standing around my bed. Pastor said a prayer, and then they left so I could get some needed rest. I felt little pain from the surgery, itself.
After about three days, I was able to go home. I was to have physical therapy with a licensed nurse/therapist in my home every day for one week. After that, I went to the local hospital’s therapy center three times each week. Therapy was somewhat painful at first, but the longer I carried out the instructions, the easier it became. After thirteen weeks, I was able to stop going to the therapy center. I was given instructions to keep doing the different therapeutic movements at home. The idea was to help my shoulder and arm become more mobile as it once was.
I am now unable to reach quite as high with my right arm as I can with my left, but the left is still in good shape without arthritic pain. I manage each day, and use both arms as much as possible. I lift weights almost every day with right and left arms. Often, if it is just a situation of the weight, I prefer the right, which seems to work well. If the heavier weight needs to be lifted higher, I go with the left arm. This regimen has become second nature for me.
My main point here is to not fear a surgery to alleviate pain from a painful joint. You will feel better the minute you awake from the anesthesia. Beginning therapy will be somewhat painful, but if you put your mind to it and keep in mind the benefits of the surgery, you can and will, keep going. One important point I want to make clear, is to find a good orthopedic surgeon who also has a good reputation, and hopefully is recommended by your family doctor, whom you trust explicitly.
My right shoulder had been bothering me for quite some time. I kept taking some over- the-counter (OTC) pain relievers, which didn’t alleviate all the pain. Consequently, it became more and more difficult for me to take care of my home and fix our meals.
I had just moved to Indiana from New Mexico, and found a recommended family doctor. I told him about the terrible pain in my shoulder. My shoulder was ex-rayed that day, and the doctor immediately told me that ‘my shoulder was one of the worst-looking he had ever seen.’ It was just one spot of osteoarthritis that I had throughout my body.
When my doctor sat down to talk to me, the first thing he said was, “I am going to see if I can get you some kind of surgery to make that shoulder better.” He then explained about a lady doctor who is an extremely good orthopedic surgeon. As I sit across from him, he called the surgeon’s office and set up an appointment for me to see her, and hopefully make an appointment for my surgery.
Getting that far into relieving the terrible pain I had lived with for several years, gave me a good feeling in spite of the hurting. I would actually shriek from the pain when I moved my arm a certain way. I did not worry about the surgery, as the fact that I could get better was the prominent issue.
When the day of my surgery finally arrived, I felt little apprehension because of all the good things I had heard about the doctor. When I awoke after the surgery, there was my family and the Pastor from our church. They were all standing around my bed. Pastor said a prayer, and then they left so I could get some needed rest. I felt little pain from the surgery, itself.
After about three days, I was able to go home. I was to have physical therapy with a licensed nurse/therapist in my home every day for one week. After that, I went to the local hospital’s therapy center three times each week. Therapy was somewhat painful at first, but the longer I carried out the instructions, the easier it became. After thirteen weeks, I was able to stop going to the therapy center. I was given instructions to keep doing the different therapeutic movements at home. The idea was to help my shoulder and arm become more mobile as it once was.
I am now unable to reach quite as high with my right arm as I can with my left, but the left is still in good shape without arthritic pain. I manage each day, and use both arms as much as possible. I lift weights almost every day with right and left arms. Often, if it is just a situation of the weight, I prefer the right, which seems to work well. If the heavier weight needs to be lifted higher, I go with the left arm. This regimen has become second nature for me.
My main point here is to not fear a surgery to alleviate pain from a painful joint. You will feel better the minute you awake from the anesthesia. Beginning therapy will be somewhat painful, but if you put your mind to it and keep in mind the benefits of the surgery, you can and will, keep going. One important point I want to make clear, is to find a good orthopedic surgeon who also has a good reputation, and hopefully is recommended by your family doctor, whom you trust explicitly.
My right shoulder had been bothering me for quite some time. I kept taking some over- the-counter (OTC) pain relievers, which didn’t alleviate all the pain. Consequently, it became more and more difficult for me to take care of my home and fix our meals.
I had just moved to Indiana from New Mexico, and found a recommended family doctor. I told him about the terrible pain in my shoulder. My shoulder was ex-rayed that day, and the doctor immediately told me that ‘my shoulder was one of the worst-looking he had ever seen.’ It was just one spot of osteoarthritis that I had throughout my body.
When my doctor sat down to talk to me, the first thing he said was, “I am going to see if I can get you some kind of surgery to make that shoulder better.” He then explained about a lady doctor who is an extremely good orthopedic surgeon. As I sit across from him, he called the surgeon’s office and set up an appointment for me to see her, and hopefully make an appointment for my surgery.
Getting that far into relieving the terrible pain I had lived with for several years, gave me a good feeling in spite of the hurting. I would actually shriek from the pain when I moved my arm a certain way. I did not worry about the surgery, as the fact that I could get better was the prominent issue.
When the day of my surgery finally arrived, I felt little apprehension because of all the good things I had heard about the doctor. When I awoke after the surgery, there was my family and the Pastor from our church. They were all standing around my bed. Pastor said a prayer, and then they left so I could get some needed rest. I felt little pain from the surgery, itself.
After about three days, I was able to go home. I was to have physical therapy with a licensed nurse/therapist in my home every day for one week. After that, I went to the local hospital’s therapy center three times each week. Therapy was somewhat painful at first, but the longer I carried out the instructions, the easier it became. After thirteen weeks, I was able to stop going to the therapy center. I was given instructions to keep doing the different therapeutic movements at home. The idea was to help my shoulder and arm become more mobile as it once was.
I am now unable to reach quite as high with my right arm as I can with my left, but the left is still in good shape without arthritic pain. I manage each day, and use both arms as much as possible. I lift weights almost every day with right and left arms. Often, if it is just a situation of the weight, I prefer the right, which seems to work well. If the heavier weight needs to be lifted higher, I go with the left arm. This regimen has become second nature for me.
My main point here is to not fear a surgery to alleviate pain from a painful joint. You will feel better the minute you awake from the anesthesia. Beginning therapy will be somewhat painful, but if you put your mind to it and keep in mind the benefits of the surgery, you can and will, keep going. One important point I want to make clear, is to find a good orthopedic surgeon who also has a good reputation, and hopefully is recommended by your family doctor, whom you trust explicitly.
