Two weeks ago, I underwent surgery for what proved to be an
extensive tear of my right rotator cuff.
I have never had a major operation
before. Here is how it went down.
Back in July, I felt a sharp pain in my right shoulder while
playing tennis. Of course, I continued to play that day and for two more weeks.
When the pain finally prevented me from playing, I saw an orthopedist who
agreed with my guess that it might be a rotator cuff injury. An MRI showed a
partial tear of one of the tendons. I was given the option to try conservative
treatment or have surgery. I chose the former.
I rested for three weeks and took ibuprofen. I started
playing again and was feeling only occasional sharp pain until I fell on my
outstretched arm. From that moment, I was unable to raise my right arm above my
waist. The pain was intense and unrelieved by medication.
After a week, surgery was inevitable.
The procedure was done arthroscopically through five small
incisions. Two completely disrupted tendons were repaired. The anesthesia
method was a brachial plexus block which took place after I was sedated.
I woke up with the recovery room feeling fine because the
block had not worn off. Even after it did, the pain was tolerable. I stopped
taking Percocet after three days. At my first follow-up visit, the surgeon was
pleased. That's the good news.
The bad news is I will be in a sling for six weeks and under
activity restrictions for 4 months in total.
You have no idea how important your right arm is until you
can't use it.
Here are just a few previously simple things that have
become much more complicated—typing, shaving, brushing teeth, getting dressed,
eating, opening a jar, and most of all, sleeping.
Because the sling must be worn at all times, I have to sleep
on my back, which I have never done in my entire life. I have discovered that I
am apparently resistant to Ambien. Words can't describe how tired I was those
first few days. It was like when I was a resident.
I understand that my situation could have been much worse. It's
not a fatal disease, and with physical therapy, I should be OK in a few months.
But my postoperative experience up to now is beginning to
affect my usually sunny disposition.
My wife, who is a nurse, has had to call upon all of her
skills to get me this far.
But the other day, she said to a friend that as part of the
postop care after rotator cuff surgery, the insurance company should include
coverage for marriage counseling.
