Thanks to all for well wishes. Very much appreciated! Been staying away from comp most of the month so I don't end up typing.This is being done left handed slowly since I'm not a lefty. Just started trying to chronical some of the month's experiences. Since I'm doing it one handed, it'll take time I'm sure but I'll start posting some later this week.

Main points, nerves are regenerating, hence the pain. Sucks for now but means I'm improving so very happy with that. Started PT. Getting hand strength & dex back (lost after surg). Have full assisted ROM with only arm overhead extension touching side of head biggest difficulty doing without other arm help. PT people amazed. 5 inch incision almost fully healed (looking forward to 1st soak in bath). Swelling good days & bad, mostly fairly good. Using sling last 2 days but no biggie, can snap fingers a few times so great step forward. Do have some scapula winging. Time, swelling decrease, nerve regen, & PT will tell. Not too concerned at this stage. Off most of Tylenol 4, yay! Starting to wean off heavier Neurontin dose. Still need Midrin, headaches an issue. At one pt. had 2 days of migraine w/vomiting. Not fun. Not as bad lately so hopefully on rd to improvement. Back of arm numbness mostly gone except after too much use. Started that 2 wks post surg, each wk more feeling. Into burning stage. Neurontin helps.

Closing 4 now. Left hand exhausted. Thinking of y'all & hope sunshine & good things grace your day.


Mary

It is so good to hear from you. Remember to use all those IOU's get all the rest you can and to do as your Dr and PT tells you. And you'll be doing the Happy Happy Joy Dance soon
Keep us posted when you can..
Many Hugs
Dawn

Great to hear from you Eastern, glad things (although painful) are on the mend! Rest, rest, rest!!!

Thanks for checking in - take care and don't overdo anything.
Best wishes for a smooth & continued recovery.

Hi EasternShoreLady, so glad to hear from you!! Take your time healing and keep us posted

Its so wonderful to hear you are doing so well hun!! I hope you have a great recovery process and that this will ease your pain! Please remember to not overdo it!!! Over doing just sets you back further and further...need I say more lol? Thank you God for bringing this great lady through her surgery!!!Amen

Hey all!

Hope everyone is doing well and enjoying the Spring flowers.

Been trying to type up how my recovery's been going but the arm flares way too much if I type 2 handed and typing 1 handed with my left hand ain't cutting it at all. Trying to find a cheap copy of iListen but so far no luck. Gotta figure something out soon. Need to get back to work.

I'm 5 1/2 weeks post surgery. Been doing PT 3x/week for the past 2 weeks. PT's going pretty well. ROM is excellent. Starting into strength part. Swelling is biggest prob. Still have that nasty band of pain along back of arm just above elbow which kicks in after too much arm use. Not figured out if that's from swelling or muscle damage from surgery. Anyone else had similar symptom after their surg? Into final nerve regen stage. Keeps this pace & hopefully will have full feeling back in couple of months, maybe less. Winged scapula's not gone yet. Hand function/strength much better. Finger snapping exercises helping a great deal.

Even tho no where near healed, have noticed some improvement from presurgery probs. While scapula weakness makes it difficult at this point, am now doing better at keeping arms at equal level in the 90 degree hands open close test. Right arm would always drop noticably before 1 min. Now can keep (with muscle effort) both at same height for 2 mins. Headaches have also dramatically decreased freq. Course I'm still taking a bunch of meds so that may be helping there but presurgery headaches would still kick in even when on pain meds. Have even had a handful of nights where slept pretty well (those were absolute bliss!). Overall,, so far, fairly pleased with surgery & progress. 1st 3 1/2 weeks were a bit rough but last 2 weeks have been showing marked improvement. Am still an impatient patient but considering how much was done during the surgery, the after effects weren't anywhere as bad as I'd imagined they'd be.

Once I get something set up where I can type faster, I'll see about posting more on what each week felt like & what helped my recovery.

Sending happy thoughts, big hugs, and prayers for pain free days to everyone!


Mary