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Post by Deleted on Apr 7, 2016 17:10:26 GMT
That sounds pretty bad, casimira. You definitely need to do the MRI to be sure how things stand. If you could manage without surgery like Kimby, that would be great, but it's usually better to assume the worst, which makes you happy when you find out that things are not all that bad.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 7, 2016 17:43:46 GMT
Oh I am definitely going with the MRI. I'm just waiting for them to call. If I don't hear from them by days end tomorrow I will call then on Monday.
The orthopod did say that if it is indeed a torn rotator cuff and I opt not to have surgery I will be limited in being able to do things like swimming, likely many garden tasks and it could flare up at any time I over exert that arm. I will do the physical therapy, hell or high water. I am not willing to give up having full mobility of that arm no matter how difficult it may present itself.
Heck, I could be out on the dance floor doing my thing and then whammo I re injure my arm. I went through that with my knee until I finally bit the bullet and had the surgery for the torn meniscus.
You guys are the ones who are going to suffer because I will likely be on here quite a bit, just like I was with the knee rehab. Although, the arm may be different....
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Post by htmb on Apr 7, 2016 20:46:30 GMT
This must be utterly frustrating for you, Casimira. A real exercise in patience, especially since it's your dominant arm.
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Post by chexbres on Apr 7, 2016 21:51:25 GMT
A good PT is priceless - no amount of drugs or anything else will help you as much as a PT who will FORCE YOU to do your exercises. Hurts like hell for a while, but it does get better, and soon you will be well. Drugs of any kind only mask the symptoms, and makes it more difficult for the PT to help you. Good luck, Casimira - been there, done that - several times...in France, the PT's are merciless, but it does work.
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Post by chexbres on Apr 7, 2016 21:54:45 GMT
As far as not sleeping much goes...my dog is attuned to light. When "morning has broken", she's up and demands that I should be, too. Lately, she's developed a habit of waking up and jumping out of bed around 3 or 4 AM. Don't know if she's having a nightmare or has heard a noise (not likely), but it's annoying the hell out of me. She can go right back to sleep, though that's not always possible for me.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 7, 2016 22:27:06 GMT
A good PT is priceless - no amount of drugs or anything else will help you as much as a PT who will FORCE YOU to do your exercises. Hurts like hell for a while, but it does get better, and soon you will be well. Drugs of any kind only mask the symptoms, and makes it more difficult for the PT to help you. Good luck, Casimira - been there, done that - several times...in France, the PT's are merciless, but it does work. My physiotherapist insists I use my anti-inflammatory pain medication, because without it I can't exercise, either on my own or with him. I don't think the combination of the two is necessarily a bad thing.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 7, 2016 23:21:57 GMT
Thanks ladies. Some very helpful, sage advice. I thank you.
I will have the same physical therapist as I did in 2009 when I had the knee surgery.( I inquired if she was still about).I still do the knee exercises she prescribed at least 3 times a week. She was a drill sargent with a sense of humor. By week three she could tell that I was following the regimen religiously at home. She measured the knee and determined I could be cut loose .
I used very little medication with the exception of when the injury first occurred, and, that was for swelling and pain. (Naproxyn Sodium 500 mg). I was prescribed Tramadol 50 mg. by the urgent care physician. It is an opiate and kept me me awake and wired, then nausea. I abandon that pronto. An herbal salve that a dear friend of mine made is incredibly helpful. It contains: arnica, comfrey, calendula, rosemary and lavender in a bees wax base ointment. I continue with the icing at the end of the day.
And so it goes. I know the drill...
F***K!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Try as I do to sleep beyond the sun rising, I cannot. My dog and cat see to that...(as in your case Chexbres, what a life, eh?) Y'all are just going to have to put up with me guys. Grazie. All I wanna do is dance!!!!!
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Post by Deleted on Apr 7, 2016 23:46:31 GMT
Naproxyn is made by angels. It's great for inflammation. Heal well, casi.
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Post by mich64 on Apr 7, 2016 23:59:26 GMT
Sorry to read the pain you are having to cope with Casi. I hope you get some answers quickly so you can get on with the treatment and healing so you can get back to your gardens, regular routine and some sleep! When my mom had her shoulder replacement surgery this past spring, she was back in her gardens after about a month of physio. I admire your determination.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 8, 2016 0:11:26 GMT
That's the most helpful news I've heard yet Mich. Thank you. And, my determination at just about everything is fierce, along with being stubborn...
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Post by Kimby on Apr 8, 2016 0:16:30 GMT
I should have specified that mine was not a complete tear, so surgery was optional. A complete tear will not heal and your arm will become pretty useless, if I understand the situation correctly.
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Post by mich64 on Apr 8, 2016 0:27:40 GMT
My husband also sustained a tear Kimby, like yourself, not a complete tear and he was vigilant with the physio and all of those silly little exercises worked for him. Right now he is back with his physiotherapist because of a "golfer's elbow" that she thinks is from shoveling snow. The exercises are working, however, when he comes home tomorrow morning and has to spend a couple hours shoveling this recent snowfall, he may strain it again. I am very stubborn as well Casi, I think it is a beneficial trait for healing. I know you will stay strong!
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Post by Deleted on Apr 8, 2016 0:29:20 GMT
The MRI will determine that Kimby. If I can get off "scott free" and be reassured by the orthopod that this is the case then, I will be in the mode Kerouac posted at the top of the page.
I'll tell you though, those range of motion "exercises" he had me do yesterday told me that this was not just some torn muscles. It bordered on sadistic what he had me try to do.
You are one to talk about determination and fortitude Mich!!!! You have been such an inspiration with your ordeal, you have no idea!!! This is like a banged up scrape on the knee compared to what you had to go through.
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Post by chexbres on Apr 8, 2016 5:58:44 GMT
casimira - are you going to Touro or somewhere else?
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Post by Deleted on Apr 8, 2016 12:59:11 GMT
casimira - are you going to Touro or somewhere else? I am going to Touro for the MRI. They have a new building on S. Claiborne and Napoleon. It's strictly an imaging facility. The surgery I'm not quite sure about. The knee surgery performed by this orthopod was at the old Baptist on Napoleon. (now an Ochsner facilty). That was pre-Katrina so, there's no telling. So many things have changed since then. I suspect it will be at Touro because why else would he have me go to a Touro facility for the imaging when Ochsner/Baptist surely must have MRI services. Another "night from hell" last night. I simply cannot get comfortable no matter what position I attempt. It did not bother me all day yesterday until I lay down for the night. My poor husband, he wants so badly to comfort me and he feels so helpless because there is really not much he can do.
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Post by chexbres on Apr 8, 2016 13:11:21 GMT
I was wondering about the PT facilities - Touro used to have a great team working in the Gumble (?) building just out back. I'm a big fan of Dr Gregor Hoffman, if he's still practicing. He took care of me and was the official orthopedic surgeon for the Saints, as well.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 8, 2016 13:32:16 GMT
The PT I will be seeing is located in the building where the Dr.'s offices are. Southern Orthopedics on Napoleon. They inhabit the whole building. As I mentioned, it will be the same PT I had after my knee surgery. The tiny drill sargent with a great sense of humor. I have seen other patients try to get by her and she "busts" them every time. Which is pretty dumb when you think about it. They are only harming themselves. It's like little kids who wait until the teacher has his/her back turned to the blackboard and proceed to pass notes or whatever they are not supposed to be doing.
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Post by mich64 on Apr 8, 2016 23:45:36 GMT
My mom and husband slept in their Lazy-boy recliners when their shoulder pain was at the worst. They did not get a full night of sleep but more than in bed.
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Post by whatagain on Apr 9, 2016 11:31:44 GMT
My neighbor had something similar years ago and cannot lift his arm above a certain angle. It is not a major disaster but much better as you said to keep full mobility. As for sleep I have a conjunction of a cold nearly over some cats and s dog that makes it that I woke up 4 times last night. After making about 5 tons of concrete And bringing it to where the slab was done I need some sleep
But the slab is ok. At least.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 9, 2016 13:12:38 GMT
My neighbor had something similar years ago and cannot lift his arm above a certain angle. This is my greatest fear., well, one of them anyway. I hear so many horror stories. Actually, many of them make me more determined to follow to the letter any and all the PT prescribes. A friend of mine did not follow through with the exercises and her arm became frozen. Horrors!!!!!! Mich, we don't have a lazy boy but, I have found that piling up a bunch of pillows providing a degree of elevation helpful. Also, the right combination of medication and icing right before going to sleep. During the day I am fine as long as I don't attempt some bone headed maneuver. Also, having someone to assist me. I don't know if I could do this alone. I guess I could but it sure would be more difficult.
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Post by whatagain on Apr 9, 2016 14:00:43 GMT
It happened 40 years ago. ...
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Post by Deleted on Apr 9, 2016 15:02:31 GMT
It happened 40 years ago. ... While there have been many advances medically since then, the brunt of the rehab process relies solely on the patient and following through with the recommended post-op instructions which surely even 40 years ago were around. ( I think that 40 years ago the surgical procedure was likely more invasive and radical versus the present day laproscopic procedures) I was deterred from having my knee surgery because of my lack of knowledge about said advances. I cannot even see the scar where the surgery was. Years ago one could see a ghastly scar.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 17, 2016 14:18:40 GMT
One of the absolute worst nights imaginable last night/early a.m. I suspect that because I took a number of long "cat naps" during the day I could not possibly sleep through the night without some type of awakening. I even predicted to my husband with almost total accuracy when the wake up would occur. Sure enough, 2:10 a.m. there I lay, awake, in pain. I could only resort to ice,medication and a glass of wine to help induce slumber. Awake again at 6:15 a.m. at which point I resigned myself to stay awake as shitty as I felt/feel. I feel badly for my cat and dog, ever faithful at my feet,trying in their own way to comfort me. My husband wisely slept in the guest room at my insistence so as to not disturb his sleep.
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Post by chexbres on Apr 17, 2016 18:25:10 GMT
A tear in a muscle or other soft tissue will usually heal without leaving much pain behind - especially if PT exercises were done correctly. It might not ever function as it used to, though, for a variety of reasons. The idea behind pain relievers is to keep a certain level of them in your bloodstream until you are well. Many people wait until they just can't stand the pain, thinking that they don't want to be walking zombies - but by that time, it's too late. Take whatever you have on a regular basis, as prescribed, casimira - they will work better and you'll get some sleep. Nerve pain is quite another matter, and most of the time there is nothing that can be done except to keep the patient doped up when it becomes necessary - which is usually a lot of the time. I'll spare you all the details of my experiences...
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Post by bjd on Apr 17, 2016 19:44:45 GMT
Casimira, I'm not sure the cat naps were the problem. Your body needs rest. If you are waking because you are in pain, it's not because of the napping. As Chexbres said, you have to use the painkillers before it becomes unbearable.
I never took or take much medicine and when I started getting migraine headaches, I didn't take anything waiting for the pain to get worse but then a doctor told me to take the painkiller just when the pain starts, to cut it off, rather than waiting.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 21, 2016 6:49:40 GMT
With the recent preoccupation of my husband's "mystery" illness, I have not been sleeping well at all. I also have slacked off on my own PT schedule but, have been trying to get back on track.
My sleep pattern is super erratic. This is the longest period that my husband and I have not been together in this house (30 years). We've been apart with my being elsewhere and vice versa but this is different. I have been having sudden wake ups, insomnia, and keep thinking or think I think i hear him or he is here and then realize he isn't. It's very bizarre.
Some days I really feel like a zombie.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 22, 2016 16:14:48 GMT
I don't think that anybody with huge worries is able to sleep properly. That's what drives some people to drink, and then things get even worse.
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Post by bixaorellana on Jun 23, 2016 7:38:42 GMT
For what it's worth, Casimira, try these tricks to help you sleep through the night while T is in the hospital:
Before going to bed, do a tour through the house and check all the doors & windows and make sure all appliances are off. Set an alarm clock for the time you'd like to get up (the latest preferred, not the earliest), then put the clock in a place where you'll hear the alarm go off but will not hear the ticking nor see the clock during the night. Make sure you have everything you need right next to the bed -- books, glasses, water, etc. Take an aspirin (or whatever your stomach tolerates).
All of the above is to make sure you've done all that needs doing while you're on watch, as it were. If you don't think you feel sleepy, try reading a little so you won't have that consciousness of "trying to sleep".
Hope that helps & hope that T is home soon.
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Post by lagatta on Sept 11, 2018 8:23:58 GMT
I'm reading over this thread and of course remembering that some people have had far worse problems!
But I tend to wake up in the wee hours. I should take sleeping lessons from Livia. Going back to bed now for a bit.
I should get a little wheeled metal cart from IKEA (or better, second-hand) as there is no room to but a normal night table beside my bed. Some of these old Montréal flats have very strange configurations. Nice hardwood floors, though.
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Post by rikita on Sept 18, 2018 8:07:17 GMT
i just keep going to bed too late, but just because every evening htere's something to keep me up (usually i start reading something online and can't stop). am kind of surprised i still wake up at a normal time in the last days - i get the missing sleep when i bring a. to bed and instead of snuggling and talking, i doze off ... (also i sometimes fall asleep while reading, already, and then she makes little squeals to wake me up again). mr. r., on the other hand, always wakes up very early in the morning - he wakes up, has to go to the loo, and then can't fall asleep again ... so we kind of have oppositional rhythms ...
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