Sleeping after reverse shoulder replacement

All the best to you and your husband.

Chris,
So sorry to hear about your experience and that you needed 3 surgeries! One is bad enough! You were very lucky to come through with just a tilted shoulder. My shoulder ,the new one isn’t tilted so much as shorter than the other one. It sounds like this happened to you awhile ago but do you remember how long it took you to be able to raise your arm,even to touch the top of your head? And how long before you could sleep without worrying about your arm slipping behind you? My pt is going well,but they tell me to be patient and build up my strength.

Hi Chris. I had an experience similar to yours. I was planting strawberries in my raised garden bed and lost my balance. I fell backwards and threw my right (dominant) hand over my head, hitting my shoulder and back on the wooden wall of the raised bed. At the ER they saw it was a massive complete tear of my rotator cuff. So, within a couple weeks of misery I had rotator cuff surgery. I started pt after a while and after weeks of therapy and good progress, my pain returned and progress stopped. You guessed it, failure of the muscle and tissue to heal. So in February of this year I had a reverse replacement of my right shoulder. Recovery was slow and pt was not recommended. I found that sleeping in my recliner was very comfortable except for being cold at night. I also found out what a wonderful man I am married to! We planned very well for the second surgery, knowing some of the difficulties from the first surgery. We stocked up on microwaveable frozen dinners, which really made meal preparation easy. My husband also made a unique diy handle for raising the foot of the recliner with my left hand. Little things are important unless you’re ok with being totally dependent on a caregiver. I wasn’t. 😏
I know what you mean about your shoulder being a little tilted but if it works that’s ok. I have almost complete use of my right arm except for reaching behind my back. I’m working on that.
Hoping your recovery is complete and that you remain healthy and whole.

Being patient is the hardest thing about recovering from shoulder surgery. I had no pt after my replacement but it took probably 5 months to touch the top of my head and I still can’t reach behind my back to put on a bra. It’s been 10 months since my surgery. Everyone is different but it’s not easy being patient.

Good evening @nonnahelen, I am glad you are being reminded to be patient. I was not so patient. My surgery was in 2011 I believe. And it was right before the Holidays. At the time, I owned an Art Gallery and I remember having our Holiday event for customers. My friend came up to stay with me and help in the gallery. Another friend came to sing Holiday songs in the gallery. We had a major snow storm and customers were arriving from down in the valley where there was no snow. I didn't think they would show up but they did even when they had to take off their shoes and walk through the snow with bare feet.

I also remember seeking relief by going outside during the day and finding a bench to sit on to rest a bit every once in a while. However, pain was not such an issue. The struggle was with physical ability especially at the Christmas holidays because we had to wrap gifts. My other struggle was with washing and styling my hair. I think it was a mess for months.

Good luck to you......be safe and careful. I just remembered that I wore a lot of vests so that I could hold onto the edge with my surgery hand.

May you have happiness and the causes of happiness.
Chris

Good morning, thank you for your encouraging words. You had it much worse than me,you were running a business and probably did a lot more sooner than you should have. I don’t know what my hurry is,I’m a 76 year old Grandma,who retired from nursing 17 years ago to take care of grandkids so their parents could work. Luckily,the youngest started preschool last year! I know what you mean about hair! Got mine cut short and layered while I was waiting for surgery,thinking that would be easier. That turned out not to be true,but as my arm gets looser,hair is starting to improve.
Have a wonderful Christmas and you are an inspiration!
Helen

I am 74 yrs old. I will be having reverse shoulder surgery on Oct. 6th.

I am looking for recommendations on the best way to ice my shoulder from a device stand point. In searching the internet I have found a number of shoulder slings for icing the shoulder. However, reviews are "all over the board". UGH! 🙁

Thank you in advance for any help you can provide me!

I slept ina recliner ha

I was looking for input on how people iced their shoulder. As I indicated in my message, there are a number of shoulder devices for purchase in the market that are used to ice the shoulder. Thought maybe someone could recommend a specific brand/type.
I already have an electric recliner that I will be sleeping in.

@dsba1970 As a veteran of many orthopedic surgeries, I have tried a lot of ways to ice. AND I firmly believe icing a lot keeps pain under control and reduces swelling and inflammation which speeds healing. I was ready to buy a new version of the Cryo Cuff with a shoulder adapter when the surgeon's PA recommended a "NICE machine" after complex rotator cuff surgery. If you can afford it I highly recommend one.
https://www.medcomgroup.com/brands/NICE-Recovery-Systems.html
I found a local source through my surgeon. I have used Cryo Cuff (second best) and shoulder ice packs in the past. This was light years advanced from those - it chills and circulates water, is programmable, does mild compression as well. No getting up at night to change ice packs or add ice to a machine. I originally rented for 2 weeks, liked it so much I kept it for 6, even took it on a trip.