Life after shoulder replacement surgery

[earlmck]

After whimpering about it for years, last week I finally went under the knife (chisel, saw, drill, hammer, etc.) and the good doc put on a new right wing for me. This is what they call a "reverse replacement" because they put a socket where the ball was and a ball where the socket was (something that has been working out better for us dummies who waited so long they have a lot of deterioration in the rotator cuff area). Along with this reverse replacement deal comes instructions to do absolutely nothing with the shoulder for the next 6 weeks while tendons and ligaments heal back up. Then, and only then do we start to come back to normal function.

That might not be too hard to do (the do-nothing part) if the shoulder hurt like I expected it to. But no, the danged thing feels just fine, like it is ready to go to work. So remembering not to use it to reach, pull, push, etc. is HARD!

I've got her strapped down pretty good to remind me not to reach with it. Here I have recruited a grandkid to feed in shells and bullets while I work the lever on the Hornady progressive. Yeah, I'd have had him working the lever but he is having a hard time getting the primers seated on the upstroke. And if you don't get the primer seated properly in stage 1.5 it messes up the whole progression something awful...

DtnnErlLoad.jpg

[Blaine]

Not much pain = Great News.....
Take care, and do all the PT you're allowed.
God Bless

[ollogger]

Hope it heals well for you, have heard its a pain but yours sounds like a good deal for you!!
going to run the chain saw when you heal up?


Brad

[jeepnik]

Having learned the hard way, take all medications (even if you "think" you don't need them) and follow Dr's instructions to the letter. Screw things up by working it too early and you will still likely heal, but it hurts more and takes longer.

[Nath]

Child labour

Take care bud.

N.

[crs]

If you are told not to shoot shotguns or hard kicking rifles off that shoulder, you can learn to shoot left handed like I did after surgery on my right eye. Maybe not as fast as before, but just as accurate.

[plowboy 45]

Hope you get well soon Earl
That young lad will be glad for the training before you know it
Take care

Plowboy

[Paladin]

Hope it heals and works well for you. Getting Old is not for the timid.

[earlmck]

going to run the chain saw when you heal up?

Brad

Oh yeah! The doc says that won't be a problem (eventually). My big problem as that all my rancher buddies have retired or died and I don't know who'll give a cutting contract to an old phart, even if he is 3/4 bionic (2 knees and 1 shoulder this year). Will definitely be cutting my firewood by next fall, though.

Child labour

He takes his pay in chocolate. And doesn't work cheap!

If you are told not to shoot shotguns or hard kicking rifles off that shoulder, you can learn to shoot left handed like I did after surgery on my right eye. Maybe not as fast as before, but just as accurate.

I may have to shoot left-handed for a while but the doc says I should be good for normal shooting within a year and maybe somewhat sooner. I am most looking forward to shooting pistols again normally: I am just not very good with a pistol as a lefty.

[RIHMFIRE]

get well soon...

[M. M. Wright]

Praying that you heal well Earl.

I've had rotator cuff surgery on both shoulders and one knee scoped to take out those little grating (feel like rocks) things. You'll wonder why you waited so long.

[octagon]

Good luck Earl!

[jkbrea]

Good luck with the recovery. Had my right shoulder replaced a couple years ago. I was elk hunting in 5 months but used a 30-30 that year. Back to 30-06 and 45-70 now. My biggest regret was waiting too long to do it. I went from not being able to hold my arm out in front of me, pain all the time, and not sleeping good to to almost 100% movement and pain free.
Just make sure not to skip PT. It will determine how much movement you'll regain.

[Griff]

Praying that you heal well Earl.

+1.

[Old Savage]

I have a patient who had the same surgery about five months ago, I'll check the records .He has done very well and improved quickly. He is about 70. He does have some limitations in movement and strength but he is very pleased overall.

[milton]

It is great that the surgery worked out so well for you! Hope you heal soon.

[JReed]

Glad to hear it is bothering you less then expected. As the others said follow your MD's advice and you should do.

[Ysabel Kid]

It is great that the surgery worked out so well for you! Hope you heal soon.

+1

[1894c]

earlmck -- prayers sent for your recovery, and please take the time to allow for healing... :)

[stretch]

I hope ya heal quickly and well, Earl.

-Stretch

[J35]

Best of luck Earl, your a brave man.

---------J

[rjohns94]

I hope ya heal quickly and well, Earl.

-Stretch

+1

[Rusty]

It's great to see you're on the mend.

When you get back to shooting scatterguns you might consider a 28 Ga. While I consider a .410 a little too light, the 28 is a much better hitter, almost a 20 and doesn't have the recoil of the 20.

[earlmck]

Good luck with the recovery. Had my right shoulder replaced a couple years ago. I was elk hunting in 5 months but used a 30-30 that year. Back to 30-06 and 45-70 now. My biggest regret was waiting too long to do it. I went from not being able to hold my arm out in front of me, pain all the time, and not sleeping good to to almost 100% movement and pain free.
Just make sure not to skip PT. It will determine how much movement you'll regain.

Now that is very encouraging, jk. And that lines up with what the doc told me. Surely looking forward to getting my right arm back!

When you get back to shooting scatterguns you might consider a 28 Ga. While I consider a .410 a little too light, the 28 is a much better hitter, almost a 20 and doesn't have the recoil of the 20.

I'm not much of a scattergun shooter, Rusty. But that sounds like good advice for a fellow who no longer wants to get kicked very hard. I've been pretty much shooting 32/20 level loads out of all my 30's for several years now and am quite satisfied.

And thanks for the kind and encouraging words, all you levergunners! If I weren't such a big chicken I'd have done this shoulder three years ago when I first went to the surgeon for a consult. But better late than never. Also he got three more years of practice on the technique during my procrastination.

[Ji in Hawaii]

WOW, now you are the bionic man!

[Canuck Bob]

Glad to hear of your success. Both my new hips, 1998, are still working fine. Treat that joint carefully when new and use it trouble free for a long time.