Shoulder Replacement -- my story - SUCCESS

[Leinsg91]

Best of luck to you, you'll be back in the woods in no time

[South MS Bowhunter]

You can and will do this, i'm positive with the right attitude you will overcome this.  And in the days from now this will become a distance memory.

Good luck on your recovery and remember to pray and ask the Lord for strength in the days ahead.

[Terry Johnston]

Best of luck Joe, looks like your on the road to recovery. My prayers go with you, I assure you this is not to big for the Master!!

[Archie]

Best of luck!  We are all rooting for you!

I, for one, would be interested in hearing any details as to the cause of the problem, if archery-related.  It might help some of us to be more careful, and learn from your experience.  Was it an accident?  Too much weight?  Too much shooting?  Normal wear and tear?  

Again, best of luck in your recovery!

[wapiti]

It will take some time to heal PROPER so be patient about it.Listen CAREFULLY to what the Dr is saying and I hope you have agood one. The shoulder is the most complicated joint as it moves 360 degrees accompanied by a complicated structure of muscles and tendons for it to work. I had to have acromioplasty impingment relief surgery years back. Basically easy ones can be done orthoscopic but mine was so bad they had to pen up the shoulder. Bones were ground away for clearance, frayed tendons were detatched and holes drilled then reattached for even more clearance. The fraying was repaired. Things were quite extensive in order to obtain a usable shoulder again. I was out two months from work and only allowed light duty when I got back. It took two years before all pain stopped and full use came back but man was it worth it!I had it done after bow season and was shooting hunting bows by the next fall with ease (tho with slight pain from stickbows) I couldn't shoot compounds because the sudden motion of the letoff caused mucho pain so the journey to sticks full time began. (one of those blessings in disguise IMO). Go slow and steady. Plenty of ice in short periods and if you can take anti inflammatory OTC I would recommend them. I CANNOT STRESS ENOUGH THE IMPORTANCE OF REHAB! Pain will subside and the pain meds won't be needed. Road seems rocky at forst but it smooths out soon enough.Good luck and hope you get the relief I did.

[smokin joe]

 

Here is what my shoulder X-ray looks like now. You can see that the stem of the implant goes down into my upper arm bone. The socket side is polymer so it does not show up on the X-ray. You can also see the staples that were used to close the incision. The staples were removed after the X-ray was taken.

I have been told to try to go without the sling as much as possible, but to continue to wear it in public to avoid any accidental bumps that would cause injury.

Last night while eating my dinner I moved in a way that made a loud pop in my shoulder, and it hurt like the dickens. I think I may have broken an adhesion. The doctor has been adamant that it is important to keep from forming adhesions and scar tissue that would compromise the new joint.

I don't believe that my shoulder condition was caused by archery. When I was younger I boxed, played many years of football, and played  baseball until I was past 50. I have had several surgeries to repair sports damage. My fun playing sports has led to a long battle with arthritis in most of my major joints and in my spine. I have already had a hip replacement and a knee replacement.

When I recover I will be shooting bows in the low 40s and I will shoot the most souped-up bows I can get my hands on so I can squeeze every bit of energy out of the draw weight.

The pain level is still diminishing, and that is good. I will start new physical therapy protocols next week. I'll check in with info on my next level of rehab therapy.

[Caleb the bow breaker]

Rooting for you.  Looks like your on you way back.

C

[olddogrib]

Joe,
Didn't realize you were local!  Did Janeway do your surgery? I think he's still the shoulder specialist and did my 3 arthroscopies. He used to be a bit of a "bohemian" in his younger days, but I think he mellowed out when he got a few years on him and figured out what us old geezers weren't lying, lol! I've had a new knee and hip there in the last two years (compliments of sawbones Howe)I'm halfway to being the Bionic Man!  I wouldn't expect too much too soon....an actual shoulder replacement makes sober men weak at the knees! And lay off the oxycodone(I now know why the call it hillbilly heroin)..or you'll be halfway to a Prince concert.
Good luck, attitude's half the battle.

[Terry Green]

Hey Joe about that February hunt keep working that teeth tab and we'll have you fixed up to shoot across the ditch into the middle of the road at Wild Things..... I've already talked to Andrew about it...... two road sections four ways of the compass so you'll always have the wind right.

Now that would be something to tell your grandkids!

[smokin joe]

That's excellent, Terry. I can start experimenting with a mouth tab in another week or so. Plus, with the hunt being about 9 weeks after I am allowed to start strengthening exercises for my shoulder, well I just might be doing pretty good at that 9 week mark.

Snd, Olddogrib, my surgeon  is Eddie Pollock at Orthocarolina. He is an excellent surgeon and I trust him completely. As to the  oxycodone - I have no idea why anyone takes that stuff for recreational purposes. It is a good pain killer, but I see no fun in it. To each his own I guess.

[stujay]

Best wishes and praying all will continue to go well with your recovery.

[Rough Run]

Good to know your recovery is going well, Joe.
Best wishes for continued progress!

[dragon rider]

[dragon rider]

[dragon rider]

Smokin' Joe - Thanks.  I'll be joining your club tomorrow morning.  I appreciate the tips on what to expect.  Are you still needing the oxycodone?  That stuff is effective, but it's downright evil when it comes to getting back off of it.

Thanks again and good luck with your rehab.

[smokin joe]

Physical therapy took a big step forward on Tuesday. Now the exercises are focusing on stretching the shoulder in three different directions. I will be doing these exercises three times a day for 2-3 weeks, then I will get an assessment and perhaps more complex exercises. The purpose of the exercises are to prevent internal scar and adhesion formation and to start to increase range of motion. These are all passive stretches in which I am using an aid (like a cane or stick) to stretch, and during the stretch I am not supposed to activate my shoulder muscles.

Weight bearing exercise and active movement exercises involving that shoulder are still forbidden.

At this time, the three-week mark, I am getting through the day each day without the use of the sling and I am allowed limited movement with "nothing heavier than a cup of coffee" -- I am extending that rule to include a glass of bourbon.

Good luck Dragon Rider. If you are getting a full replacement, I will make sure I post a bit more often to keep you informed of what's in store. f you take your oxycodone because the pain is getting to you, when the pain diminishes you won't even think to take it. At least that's been my experience.

[Cyclic-Rivers]

Glad things are coming along Joe. I just saw your post surgery pic. The good news is I no longer need to cook dinner lol.

[elknutz]

Seems you are progressing as expected and thats a good thing. Agree on the oxy, for me the side effects eliminated any desire to continue using. Looking forward to hearing of more progress.

[dragon rider]

Smokin" Joe,

Thank you.  Had the surgery on Monday.  So far everything is going as you said it would.  PT is limited to sliding my arm straight out in front of me on a counter or table top 5 times a day.  

The oxycodone is great when you need it but like you I just don't get the recreational appeal.  On the other hand that ice water pump system is a truly wonderful thing.

I outsmarted myself a little yesterday.  i had reached the point that 2 oxycodone would hold me for 6 hours so I tried cutting it to 1 every 6 hours.  I've had better ideas  1 every 4 seems to work OK though.  If any of you guys have major surgery, while it's good to get off the heavy narcotics it's also good to stay ahead of the pain.  Playing "catch up" sucks.

[smokin joe]

Dragon Rider:
Now that you know, keep staying AHEAD of the pain. Take your meds on time and you will be fairly comfortable.

Did you get a conventional shoulder replacement or a reverse shoulder replacement? If yours is the conventional "total shoulder replacement" then it is like mine.

This weekend I am going to start fiddling around with making a mouth tab. If it works, I will be able to shoot without using my right arm at all. It will still be several months before I can test my new shoulder with any weight-bearing activity.

Joe