Pam has already updated some friends and family about the status of my rotator cuff surgery, but I thought I would add a few notes. We did a few other things during the week as well.
First, a big shout-out to Becky who drove up to the Mayo Clinic, with Pam, through a snowstorm to pick me up. Becky’s car is quite a bit more comfortable than our old RAV-4 and gave a comfortable ride home. I appreciated the gesture!
My right arm is currently in a sling and will be for many weeks and months. I did get through the night with a few hours of sleep using only Ibuprofen and Tylenol for pain control. (I am trying to avoid using the oxycodone prescription I received.) I slept in the recliner in the Media Room. Pam and Becky added an extension to the recliner’s handle making it possible for me to recline using my left hand. That was thoughtful and is working well.
Getting used to doing tasks left-handed, or with only one hand, will continue to be a challenge. For example, my water bottles have screw on caps and I have had to come up with novel ways to hold them in order to unscrew the tops.
The therapist gave me only one exercise to do three times daily for the next six weeks, then physical therapy will begin. For the short term, I am to avoid putting any stress on the arm.
The procedure itself went pretty well. In addition to repairing two tears in the rotator cuff, the surgeon repaired a number of tendons. At least 5 of these were on the front side of the joint. As a result of this additional work, I am looking at a 6 – 8 month long period for a full recovery. That will certainly inhibit my summer activities!
I will have more on the entire event going forward, but let us turn to other events of the week.
Pam had previously mentioned a plan to replace our existing kitchen cabinet hardware – knobs – with handle pulls I had received from my brother Jon. This project was completed and it changed the appearance of the kitchen. For us, the new handles are easier to use than the old knobs and feel much more solid in use.
In the photo below, look at the new hardware at the top-left cabinets. The old pulls can be seen behind me on the lower cabinet doors.
We had light snow a couple of days which required shoveling and are expecting to get 4 – 6 inches later today. Pam will have to take over snow removal and plans to do the minimum required for us to get around to the garage, mail box, and dumpster pick up spot. I will miss this, as snow removal gave me the chance to play with my “big boy” toys and provided outside activity.
Work progressed in the guest bedroom. Pam continued to put spackle where needed to repair wall damage and got some detail work painted. I replaced a small crumbling section of sheetrock with some wood. It looks like the old window had leaked on one corner and caused the damage. With a light coat of spackle and paint the repair will not be obvious.
I managed to convert a few more LPs to digital files. Those of us “of a certain age” will remember Carole King (Wrap Around Joy,) Cat Stevens (Greatest Hits) and Air Supply (Greatest Hits.) While the $25.00 cleaning kit I ordered does a good job, it does not remove crud deep in the record grooves. I have ordered a slightly larger kit that consists of a tub with brushes mounted on both sides which is designed to do a more thorough cleaning job. I will have to see how that goes.
With my arm in a sling and restrictions on what I can do I suspect the next several weeks will be slow in the project work arena. I will try to put up a post or two, but there may not be a lot to report. As Rachel Maddow says, “Watch this space.”
Photo Archive
Just a few miscellaneous photos.
That’s it for now. Thanks for looking in!
Pam’s Penny
Murphy’s Law at work. Somehow I knew the week of Jer’s scheduled surgery there would be snow, blowing snow, white-out conditions, the works. Bingo. (Becky and I do NOT want to repeat another one of those journeys.)
Also Murphy’s Law. This is the third day in a row of snow. Himself is incapacitated and I’m on snow shovel duty. Predictable.
Blondie, in a new sweater that she absolutely hates, looks like I feel. This again?
Happy Trails.
Yay you for making the effort to update with, I assume, your left hand. Good attitude to just keep moving forward.
Sooooooooo glad the surgery is behind you now and you can heal at home. I hope every day is better than the previous one.
Very bad drive, yes it was. One for the history book on my end.