Maricia, Had second follow up yesturday evening. Before the doc. came it his nurse talked to me, she told me some people take up to a year to fully get rid of the pain, I almost fell off the chair. That had me so shocked I forgot to ask about questions I had wanted to address.
The surgeon assured me that 6wks post op for this surgery is nothing. Just as I thought same as you, PT, the good news is he said he does not believe in going on & on with pt, four wks. & a good therapist should show me a good home program.
I swear everytime I get a surpise & forget to ask things. I go back in 6wks & I am going to ask these questions. He did say I came in with alot of pain so it will be a wait & see, but in no way should I get worried at this point, way to early to tell, he once again expressed how long this recovery can be. I did tell him my other shoulder is really bothering me & at this point it can't be addressed because anything done could leave me not being able to have the use of neither one. So I will have to wait. He did give me a new anti inflammatory Relafen to try, I put a post up on the PM board because I have never heard of it. Suppose to be more gentle on the stomach. I need something this other shoulder is really hurting. That is why he said not to over due it. I did explain it is hard to know my limitations because I do not feel it till after I over due it, he said he realizes it can be hard to tell.
Sounds like you have the same, the knots or lumps, mine is on the opposite side boy it can really hurt & it is huge, I did not even get a chance to bring that up.
Next visit I swear I am asking these quetions no matter what. I will look into the RSD & SNS. I have better movement in that arm then before surgery & am trying to take that as a good sign. I am just tired of pain, & the other shoulder has me worried, I don't want to go through this again. Heck between both shoulders & the neck no wonder I have a headache (ha). This is more then I ever bargained for, but it does not matter it could not have been avoided. I will also be calling for my first PT appointment to, well you know misery loves company (ha). Are you driving yet? I have got to start, I have little but honestly I can't wait for everyone, just a short distance that is all I can handle, I wonder why driving bothers me so much, it always has.
Don't think for a minute I am not taking you advice I could kick myself for not asking about the RSD & for that matter I really wanted to ask how much the arthritis is interferring. I think he would have just said the same, to early to tell. after Pt I should know abit more & I will be asking no matter what. Heck so much for relying on MRI's, based on mine there would have only had to be very little surgical work done, you just never know do you? I am glad we wwent through this together, I realize we did not have the exact surgery but it is nice to have someone who understands.

I honestly think people are alittle disbelieving when they hear how long this can take to heal. My husband is even surprised. I got so angry with him I told him if he had any doudts call the surgeon himself I was tired of being pushed & repeating myself. I never ever thought it would be like this. I am still taking 31/2 to 41/2 percs. aday. I guess if I slept in or did not do anything at all I could cut back but that is not realistic for me. The more hrs I am up in a day the more I need, makes sense, I hope this anti inflammatory helps, are you on anything for inflammation, I can't remember what you take. Looking forward to hearing from you, Sammy

well,at least you have been given a good reason by your ortho for the pain. yep,this particular surgery,as i am also finding out,even from my PM the other day IS just a very painful recovery/surgery. my orthos PA told me this IS the most painful surgical thing they do or one of the tops in the pain dept even more than compared to total hip and knee replacement.that one kind of shocked me since i watched my dad suffer thru two total knee replacements. he was a hurtin unit there for awhile.

i didn't get the chance to call for my first PT appt yesterday like i planned. our NEW puppy(hubbys great idea there) needed things and the stupid day went by too flippin fast. but i am going to today. i too am very glad that we have each other to at least compare notes with. i unfortunetly cannot take anything in the NSAID dept at all since the aspirin thing is an issue with it. i have heard good things about relafen tho.good anti inflammatory. just an FYI tho,if this stuff does bother your stomch in any way,this stuff just has that potential too like any other NSAID,there IS a particular med called cytotec? this med was actually made for people who have to be on some level of NSAID therepy. it helps reduce the stomach problems(my stomach just burns like heck with most NSAIDS) it also prevents the formation of ulcers. you just take the cytotec with every dose of the NSAID. this worked really well for me back when i was living on aleeve for two years with my herniated disc. it IS an Rx type med tho so you would have to speak with your doc. but it really helped me tons.

you know,you mentioned having a bad cough or cold happening too? this actually happened to me right,and i mean RIGHT after my c spine fusion surgery? it just exascerbated the living hell out of everything in my neck and upper back. given where alot of your pain is happening,in the rib cage area and the shoulder,coughing would most defintiely make things worse. just too much really 'hard" sudden jolting type of movements in those key areas,you know what i mean? when you have to cough,try holding a pillow up against your chest,it will help some. thats what i did. it seems to kind of absorb some of that movement in a wierd way? just a suggestion. i do hope that it is at least going away now for you.

i just wanted to pass along a really good suggestion to ya about the next ortho visit or any real doc visit where you really have some important questions that you don;t want to forget? i DO tend to also have that problem so i write everything down that i want to actually ask and keep it in this little medical info folder thingy that has all my latest medical crap and current or latest test type results and other crap in it that i just always bring with me to every doc/specialist appt. believe me,it has helped tons in just getting my needs met and all the right questions asked. i have so may different medical issues going on all the time that this folder just has to be with me. some docs want test results or some other thing from a different doc,so i always have that folder with me. it really does help sammy.

i had to start doing the folder thing when my son went into liver failure back in 99 and then the transplant in 2000. his labs were crucial to always have with us when we had to run to another ER or specialist visit. this really helped me to stay on top of everything he needed and all the different docs we had to take him too. so it was great practice when things hit the fan for me too. somebody always needs something that i cannot remember. or just all my MRIs/reports. all in there. keep a piece of paper and a pen in a handy spot like on the kitchen counter or something,and when you think of a really great question,just go immediately(if you dont and you are anything like me and you wait,the good question is gone in a heartbeat)and write it down. then just make sure to not forget(did that too) to bring it with you to whatever appt you are going to. it really helps tons. i seem to be getting much worse in the 'remebering' dept,lol. then you have all the good question right in front of you at that doc appt and ask away. you just do need to know whats up regarding the sweating thing and the possible sympathetic angle.

if you start your PT before me,let me know just what they are having you do,K? i was told and what is actually listed on my PT sheet is just 'pullys and 'cane'(don't have a clue there) therepy. what does yours say? i really am wondering just what the heck the 'cane" therepy actually is? just keep me posted hon. hope things start improving more for you very soon. just a hangin in there,again. take care sammy,marcia

Marcia, I will be calling today for my pt appointment. I have been squeezing a couple hrs. of work in on the side. The people I help really need me, I am just trying hard not to over do it. I will tell you my other shoulder is really increasing in the pain department. That scapula is hurting pretty bad. yours is bothering you to? Can't win huh!

I am really paying attention to the sweating thing, it will definantly be brought up. It is to strange, think about it how many things can cause that? Some days it ok others that hand will be soaked. Usaully it is more in the mornings but it can occur at anytime through out the day. I did tell the sugeon if I do to much of anything the arm will hurt all the way to the elbow, my elbow feels like I whacked it on something & the whole arm will just ache. It has been raining here & boy is that causing me to ache, I no longer doudt how the weather can play a role in how you feel.
As for the pt order there is a section marked onder Modalties with a list of procedures, I am glad it one of those listed is light therapy, light being the key word. There is a catagory for shoulder on the ortho order but he does not have that checked off.
I was thrilled to hear he does not believe in running PT in the ground, he has a good point for this type of surgery we already had the use of the chair, so 4wks. they should be able to show you a good pt program to use at home. I will not allow it to cause me added pain like before. I believe pt is needed after surgery but not to the point is causes a whole lot of additional pain.
I know the surgery has helped because I do have more range of motion that comes easier for me, it is painful but before there were days I just could not lift that arm without wanting to scream. The surgeon just said there was so much pain & problems coming in to this he does not know if I will be left with some of it at the end.
I have got to get around to asking how much the arthritis is going to interfer. That does have me concerned. I do keep a folder, I was just kind of thrown through a loop that last visit, between the nurse bringing up that it could be a year & the surgeon bringing up the cp that can be still there after recovery.
I am going to try the relafen, I looked it up abit & it is used alot for arthritis. I want to ask the pharmacy where it stands as far as safety compared to something like celebrex. I have taken celebrex I couple times & it did nothing at all. I really hope this works.
I am really sore between the two shoulders acting up. I am hoping if it works well I can cut back on the perc.
I am sick of not really driving. Girl I have not had my haircut in months. It all is getting to me. I will let you know about the PT. By the way the hospital kept my MRI's & I have to track them down, the doctors office did not know where they were, that has me seeing red, who do you think should be responsable for them?
Talk to you soon, Sammy

Mar, funny you should mention the valium at bedtime, because that is exactly what I am going to try tonight. I am fed up, starting to feel exhausted. I slept in the bed with my husband over the weekend (my daughter was home for the weekend, so had to give her bed back) sure enough I woke him up & he pretty much was begging me to get back to my own side & try to lay still (ha). I am rolling on it to much I think, I know I move all over the place & of course it is waking me up because it becomes painful.
I know exactly what you mean, you do alittle bit to much & boom back in pain, in fact I have had to put the darn sling back on more the last couple days, I was pretty much able to go without it most of the time. I swear I have tried everything, I know I have over did it abit & I am postive that the fact that I can't seem be still in my sleep is aggravating it.
I am really having problems lately. I will have to keep trying these things & hope something works because this pain is just climbing back up. I am trying to learn how to do things alittle different. I swear I cannot believe how long & painful this whole thing is, I have been in a real nasty mood these last couple days.
I am starting PT the first week in april, trying a place recommended to me, the last therapist I just did not have any luck with & although I believe he tried & pointed out alot of things he noticed it took most of my time just to understand what he was saying. He also really kept lecturing me about the meds & I don't need that kind of pressure right know. I am struggling as it is.
All of this is starting to take its toll on me & I am forcing myself to take the next couple days & try to take it easy. I really am hoping PT will help me out here. On the second dose of percocet along with a relafen & still in pain, just a deep aching pain along with some a nice dose of muscle spasms. I would love to know just how much the weather effcts all this, it has been crazy here. I am grabbing a book & a hot pack & I don't care if my rearend grows roots, that is where I am staying for the day & maybe tommorrow to. Get that pt appointment made my friend. Talk to you soon. Sammy

Ok I am still on three doses of meds, sometimes motrin or something along with that in the morning. Both darn shoulders & upper back in between the shoulder is really bothering me, hurts in the mornings to move either shoulder. The surgery side I have heard some snapping noise at times, a couple times I have went to move it & it feels like it is trying to snap back in place, hard to explain but brief moment man does is hurt. I keep trying to go without a dose of perc. or cut in half but then it starts acting up or just really aching, deep ache, Like you almost know that right in the bone. Then again I swear at times I can't seem to relax, I am ADHD, the more I do the happier I am. I am back to work abit but it is hard, I always end up paying with the pain spiking, the spasms in the chest are the thing I can't stand, now if I over do it the spasms will start. If the PT brings up the muscle spasms I will be asking for something for that, I can't deal with that chest area.
I keep thinking about what the surgeon said for four months he will allow the percocet for every 4-6 hrs because some people take along time to get over this,after that he cuts back. So I don't know what to think. I know I should try to take it more easy & I am but it is hard. I can say my ribs are slowly (I hope ) getting better & I don't get the pain I was getting up to the coller bone. So I am trying to look at the positive side, but man it is hard when both shoulders are hurting. I am getting alot of tingling in the upper back on the surgical side, it is a really strange sensation.
I know you are right there are alot of mucsle things going on in there, I just wish I could cut back on the med. I really am beginning to think perhaps the arthritis is contributing to a slower healing process & adding abit more pain. Who knows, I know I feel about 80 yrs old in the mornings. No strength in my arms, can't lift them to even put the dishes away until I am up for awhile & the pain med kicks in, But I also have athritis in my hip, & in the mornings it aches so I am thinking why would the shoulder be any different? Next visit I am addressing that issue, I am tired of wondering. Next visit I will get some answers & I don't care how much of a hurry the surgeon is in. I can't sit here & worry who is going to treat this pain if it continues.
I am going to try the Relafen again but not much relief last attempt. I am actually looking forward to PT in away just hoping they can answer some questions for me.
Had migraines to, now that is pain. Have not had one in a few years & the thought of getting one scared the crap out of me. I get the Auras with them so I try ot pay attention. Seems like your healing up with the shoulder, I am glad to hear it. Now if I could only catch up to you. Sammy

do you have a really good muscle relaxer to take? between the inflammation(the relafen should help alot with that) and the spasms,i really do think you could seriously benefit from one. i do have valium to take that i was already taking to just keep the spasticity down in my legs. this does help with the shoulder ick too. just a good suggestion for what you described. there is also vistral? this is also a type of muscle relaxer that actually works really well with narcotics. this was something i am pretty sure you were most likey given at the hospital or even sent home with? i would just call your surgeons office and tell them you really need something for the spasms. when i was still in the hosp post op, i was living on dilaudid,vistral and valium for my pain crap. my legs had decided it was time to do their "happy dance' along with the crap going on up in my shoulder. it was just nasty everywhere for me. i also actually pulled or really overstrained a muscle in my left arm the day after the dang surgery just trying to contort my really messed up left hand to just raise the leg thing from the bedrail button? went home already having major pain in that left. and of course it never really got the chance to rest becasue of the right being out of commission. this really has been a sucky recovery.

the one thing you have as a back up here if this pain dosen't get better and your surgeon wont Rx you anything more to help,is a good PM. they really do know the very best ways to manage even the worst of the worst types of pain,trust me on that one. its an option you always have ya know? and they would be able to do that stellate i mentioned to you before? this actually could help with your pain,or at least some of it if this is indeed some level of SNS involvement too. but this is just something you always have to fall back on if things don't get better soon for you. at some point here soon hon,i really do think you just need to have an MRI done again on that whole area. from what you are describing,there could be many different issues that could be contributing to your pain process. an MRI would either rule them in or out as possibilities ya know?

what you are describing could be so many different things all showing themselves in their very individual ways or it just could be the suregry or a sympathetic component too. its really hard to say just what is coming from what when you have alot of different things that can generate pain. this is my life. i never really know for certain just what particular part of my damage or c spine crap is actually causing what on any given day too. it does suck. about all you can do is just try using various meds and tools to try and reign it in and go with what has proven to work for you. i too have the tendonitis(along with just a touch of bursitis) and also arthitis both in that shoulder and my c spine too,very heavy within my c spine,DDD,ya know?

trying to manage all this crap and not being able to really take any NSAIDs at all really does suck since i do know they would help,alot in some ways. at least you can use those and believe me, if you were not able to,your pain would probably be much higher than it already is. they do help in just reducing the overall inflammation. they hit the "base' of the pain much more directly and actually act on 'it' vs trying to just mask the pain with narcotics.
just when is your next visit with your surgeon? i think i see mine again on like the 15th of april or something around there? i would call them tho and see about a good muslce relaxer. it really does sound like you need one. i know my valium really does help and i only take one half of the 5mg thruout my day all day long. this also helps ALOT with being able to just sleep too.

i really do hope you start feeling better soon sammy. like i said before, my pain is by no means gone at this point,but yours just really sounds pretty in depth in alot more places. using the right types of meds can really make alot of difference. i wish you had some biofreeze hon. this REALLY has helped tons with bringing down my intensity level when it flares. really helps. ya know,you could call around to any local chiros just to see if they sell it and if you could possibly just buy some from one of them. considering your post op state they certainly wouldn;t want you to have any types of adjustments ya know? or you can track it down online too. i know kissa,on the pain board mentioned there is something aviliable now only at a CVS pharmacy ,that i cannot remeber the name of but she said it actually contains that illex? this is considered to be an 'inactive' ingredient,bit it IS the part of the stuff that really does the magic. the only difference between the bio and this stuff is this stuff lists camphor instead of menthol as its 'active' ingerdient. pretty much the same thing but slightly different. it could be worth a try if you have a CVS around you. i know we don;t have one close by here. just a thought for ya hon.just using my base meds and the bio and lido patches REALLY have helped tons and i don't have to fall back onto the percs again. i just didn't want to get used to them as part of my PM.

just keep hangin sammy,hopefully you will turn a corner here soon. let me know how your PT goes too.marcia