[Magdalen] Shoulder-related question

[Ginga Wilder]

Grace,
The answer about the wardrobe is 'it depends on how you are
wrapped/bandaged'.  That would be worth asking your doctor's nurse.  With
one of my surgeries I was wrapped in so much bandage I looked like I had on
football pads.  You might also ask the nurse how painful this surgery will
be...will you need narcotics for a couple days.  I cannot remember what I
took but Percocet type meds were prescribed.  I cannot take codeine or
codone drugs or really any narcotics, so I didn't fill those scripts.  I
was told I have a high pain threshold, but who knows. I had 5 surgeries and
missed a week of work every time; I drove before I was cleared to drive,
using my right hand and my left knee.

I was able to wear clothes but tee shirt material was easier because it
needed to stretch. I could move the arm enough to get dressed.  My sling,
when I had one, was a substantial apparatus that crossed in the back and
velcroed to a center hung sling for my arm.  There was also a contraption
with this that wrapped around my body and closed with velcro - it kept my
arm from moving.  I didn't use that much.

Don't know if this is useful to you at all because I have no idea what sort
of surgery you are having.  Perhaps making a list of lots of questions you
may have and talk with the nurse.

Ginga


On Sun, Aug 9, 2015 at 5:14 PM, Grace Cangialosi <gracecan at gmail.com> wrote:

> It occurs to me that I will have some wardrobe challenges--above and
> beyond the difficulty of donning underwear!  What does one wear with a
> sling? I had envisioned putting on a shirt--button-front, probably--by
> putting my right arm in first, then the left, buttoning the shirt and then
> putting the sling on.
>
>  However, I've also been told that I won't be allowed to move my arm at
> all for awhile; how is that even possible??  And the doctor told me none of
> this, just that I'd be able to drive soon, would have my arm in a sling,
> might need some PT later on.......  When I went for my pre-op appt. on
> Friday, the nurse said I probably should expect to stay overnight. I told
> her the doc had said it was an outpatient procedure, and she said, looking
> over what was to be done, she'd be surprised if they let me go home. I
> protested, quoting the doctor, and she smiled and said, "I'm a
> nurse--nurses tell the truth!" I guess orthopedic surgeons are a lot like
> mechanics in that they do the nuts and bolts work and don't worry about
> what happens after you leave the shop.
>
> But now I'm wondering if maybe I should postpone this until November, when
> I've finished my long stretch of supply work. When I had my knee
> replacement 17 years ago, I only missed two Sundays, and I'm not planning
> to miss any this time around. So we'll see
>
> Started out as a wardrobe question...suggestions gratefully received!