I am having extensive shoulder and elbow surgery in two weeks. I sell real estate and this is my very busy season. I hear people saying that they barely left the house for a month or two. I don't have that option as I have clients to show houses too, lots of computer work and listings. And two closing I must attend the week after surgery. I do not have the luxury of rest. It is also on my right, dominant arm.
How quickly were you able to get out of the original fog and get out of bed? Use your phone and computer? Drive a car? Not feel so high on pain meds that you felt fully aware. :-)
I am so nervous and my pain is almost intolerable. I an hiring someone to assist me for the first two weeks but she isn't a real estate professional. Any advice? I really appreciate it!
What surgery are you having? As recovery times will vary for different procedures
HI Ann! Thanks for resonding. Technically they are doing Anthroscopy with rotator cuff debridement, Subacromial decompression and Biceps Tendodesis. I am also having an MRI next week on the right elbow because it also has had a ton of problems and I've decided to add it to the shoulder surgery if needed because I would rather only have to recover once! But right nowthe pain i getting so much worse, I don't understand how. I am almost immobile with that arm these last two weeks and it hurts so bad all day and night. Maybe I should ask the doctor tommorow?
Thanks for your help!
That sounds like quite a lot of surgery! I had R shoulder and elbow surgery 2 yrs ago - surgeon wouldnt do both together as he didnt want to do 2 adjacent joints- so physio was easier! The shoulder arthroscopy is v painful for a few days so you will need some strong painkillers . I was not allowed to drive for 2 weeks ( and probably wouldnt have been able to!) after that it is less painful but took quite a lot of patience to get the joint moving well,I had 5 weeks off in total but I could do some computer work etc after 2 weeks. sleeping is always a problem with shoulders- have you tried a tens machine? I found it helpful - i could drift off for a couple of hours with tingling from the tens but not when in pain. I found the elbow surgery less painful and went back to work after 2 weeks
Thats good to know! What would you say your timeframes were for generally being able to get out of bed, dress yourself, cook meals etc? I am hiring an assistant for 2 weeks but it will be such a busy time for me and I need to have my head on straight! No, I haven't considered a tens machine. Really, it helped?
Also, what do you do for a living? Sorry to be nosy. :-)
I was rather knocked out by painkillers for a few days so mostly slept / watched daytime TV ( new experience for me 😊) dressing ok because you are used to wearing easy clothes already- cooking - heavy pans/ oven are the worst- as it is now for you
Will still be painful but a different type of pain- and it does get better!
(I'm a GP- so definitely a wimp😊)
Even after weening yourself off the pain meds (say 1 week) you still may not be able to drive safely due to large splint on right arm. Practice using computer mouse with your left hand. Get small recorder and turn it on when someone gives you details on the phone, because you won't be able to write fast enough if at all. We don't know what kind of surgery so answers are limited. Best to discuss with your doctor.
Thank you! I am having bicep tendenosis, subacromial decompression and rotator cuff debridement and Lateral tendinosis. Lots of things! You were off meds in a week? I have just heard so many different stories of recovery - some were back to fairly normal activities in 2 weeks, some people not resuming work for 6 months. Like I said, I have a ton of work to do literally the days after surgery and want to know how much help I will need and when I will not be foggy and cranky from the pain. :-)
Your normal life will have to take a back seat. You will need to rest ... lots .... in order to heal.
Actually, I was completely off the meds in 4 days.
You will be sitting a lot. Make sure you don't develop a sore back. Like me. Right now. Bummer!
Hi Susanne
I agree with Wingman , your life is going to have to take a back seat for a while after your op. Are you sure you are ready for surgery? Or do you need to postpone it until you can give yourself time to recover? You will need to work on your shoulder to get it going afterwards .At the moment it is very painful but there is no urgency to have surgery?