Update after shoulder surgery

Don't have a photo showing misery

      I bragged too soon. I posted before Thanksgiving that the after effects of shoulder surgery were less than expected, which was true until I went back for my checkup and to have stitches removed. Oh, my, oh, me.

     The surgeon's Physician Assistant didn't impress me at my first appointment. He was condescending and patronizing. He didn't want to listen to me. When I tried to explain that going to physical therapy after surgery wouldn't be possible since I wouldn't be allowed to drive and my husband couldn't. In fact, he informed me that was my problem: I could refuse surgery, my choice. Ish. 

     On the Monday after my after-surgery-exam, the nurse removed the stitches before the PA came into the room and examined my shoulder. After a very brief conversation, he told me he wanted me to do the exercises he would give me. When he gave me the sheets with the exercises, he said I was to do them all. Therefore, when I got home, I began them. I still hadn't heard from the home health care therapy, so I was still on my own. 

     When the regular therapist came (the therapy people had not be notified by whomever that I was to have therapy) on Thursday, my shoulder hurt worse than before surgery. The therapist looked at the pages of exercises and asked if I had really been doing all of them. He was not happy when I told him I had all that I could, but I couldn't do a couple of them. He informed me that my arm was not ready for almost all the exercises. He had me rest until he returned Monday, only doing two every benign exercises once a day.

     Yesterday, Monday, the therapist manipulated my arm while I allowed it to go limp. I had sharp pains shoot down my bicep, and the shoulder joint popped and made grinding sounds, hurting each time. He had me do the "pendulum" exercises and some more popping, but not as loud and not as painful. When he left, he told me to rest the arm and to do only the pendulum exercise and only once a day. He'll be back Thursday.

     I went through surgery and the miserable after effects which included being in the hospital with sub-standard care, and I am not any better off than I was before -- maybe not as well off. 

     Now, I pray that the shoulder will heal and be better than it seems to be. I do not want any more surgery, and I do not want to see that PA again.  
  

Vivian's website