LEFT SHOULDER REPLACEMENT SURGERY + 11 Days
SUMMARY
Bottom line - it's a struggle but getting easier to cope with as the days go by. However immobilised on one side is no "walk in the park"!
- pain under control, so long as I remember/take meds on time! (plus logged on my medication record on Apple Health - to avoid not remembering what I've taken. Surgery was complicated. From "going under" to "waking up back in recovery" took five hours so my brain is not great on memory right now
- my large haematoma above elbow crease much improved - gone from dense black to pale crimson. Icing works!
- discovered that the whole of the back of arm plus half left under boob is yet another big bruise - which oddly does not hurt!
- doing my 7 exercises every day
- walking locally once a day.
- I am still getting/am VERY tired most of the time - and getting used to operating at about half normal speed
- took a week for me to get a decent night’s sleep - in my riser recliner so I’m immobilised (can’t roll on surgery arm) plus much much easier to get into sleep position and get up
- am managing - at a stretch - to get my hair up each day, but it involves neck contortions, head between my knees and one handed grip application. I now specialise in the slightly off centre bun!
- getting better at getting dressed and undressed - but it’s very, very, very slow (and tedious). no point in rushing.
- Tank tops with built in boob support are a godsend!
- Only very thin layers fit inside the immobilisation sling.
- Do NOT need/do shoulder surgery in winter - because you cannot get a coat on!
 |
| not the most flattering selfie I've ever taken! just finished getting dressed / doing hair - hence grumpy face after long struggle this is about as thick as the clothing layers can get note the hair! |
- No idea what I’m going to do if it rains (dump the stick so I can hold umbrella? Dump immobiliser so I can get in raincoat? Buy a waterproof poncho? Get very wet?). At the moment, any indication of rain means I cannot go out.
- getting better at cooking one handed - helped by fact left hand works (but doesn’t move so everything needs to be brought to it). Food has to be “eating with a fork or spoon” standard. Other than microwave (pasta / curries), my hot food is limited to frying two fried eggs with two buttermilk pancakes in film of butter - both of which I can cut up (sort of). When JR cooks for me, my plate arrives with all food cut up to fork sized pieces.
 |
| four minute lunch |
Next week I'll be back at art exhibitions - starting with the Royal Society of Portrait Painters Annual Exhibition 2026 at the Mall Galleries.
- I'll be at the PV on Wednesday
- although earlier in the day and will be avoiding crowds at speeches/awards ceremony.
I can just about use a computer one handed - so I'll be trying to do some posts. Probably short.
 |
| my first tube ride - one stop only! |
