major rotator cuff surgery on the 5th and here I sit with orders not to raise my right arm, period, anything higher than my lap is off limits. Oh, and the pain, nobody said it would hurt this bad...

Hang in there and hope that you feel better really soon!!!

{{{{{{{{{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}}}}} and as hard as it is to just sit there and do nothing , it is better to listen now rather than slow down the recovery :wink:
What about looking thru magazines and patterns. Pet some fabric. Plan out quilts on paper

I had my shoulder done in November. Rotator cuff, torn Labrum etc. I was in a sling 6 weeks, until the 21st of December. I did a little sewing around week 5, very carefully, with the sling still on.
I am still in therapy.
Yes, it hurt like nobodys business!!!!!

Had my shoulder done in August of 2005 - I had to wear the awful shoulder brace for over 6 weeks! I have forgotten about the pain and am trying not to remember!! Take it easy - you don't want to do it again!!!

Good luck with fast healing.

sorry to hear you are in pain and cant sew...maybe you could read and watch movies so your shoulder can heal. Shop for fabric so then when you are better you will have lots of fabric!

I'd watch some quilting shows. And make plans for when I can quilt.

Sorry you're in pain. Try planning out future quilts while you can't sew, it should help with the qdt's (quilting detoxing) and also take your mind off the pain. Revisit your quilting books and magazines or read a humorous book. I would make a suggestion of the Miz Eudora Rumph series by Catherine Ritch Guess. They're uproariously funny.

Here......maybe this will help ;)

No sewing? OMG!! I think I would die!
I hope you mend fast!!!

I had rotater cuff done in Nov. BUT it tore out now next month they are going to replace the shoulder. Not looking forward to that I hurts. had both knees replaced last year. That is bad but shoulder is worse. Good luck on your surgery

HANG IN THERE IT DOES GET BETTER, I ALSO HAD SURGERY THERE WAS LOTS OF PAIN BEFORE SUREGERY ,YOU HAVE TO KEEP THINKING OF WHEN YOU ARE HEALED .I HOPE YOU ARE GOING TO REHAB ,AS IT REALLY DOES ALOT OF GOOD .IF YOU DON'T YOU COULD END UP WITH A FROZEN SHOULDER ,GOOD LUCK AND GOD BLESS

How are you doing? I know it's only been two days since you first posted, but do you notice little improvements each day?

Are you allowed to do any hand sewing (at lap level)?

You can always use the time to design future projects!

The first couple of weeks are the worst, but then the pain becomes more manageable :wink: hang in there, once you recover being pain free is awesome!!! I had this surgery 3 years ago and I am so glad I had it done :D:D:D

Not to make you feel worse, but at this point, even tho' you are hurting, this part isn't so bad as, I am guessing, you have pain meds...yes? I found the start of therapy was worse since nothing stronger than over the counter pain meds then. Hang in there....it really will be soooooooo much better once you get the use of your arm back. When I had mine done, my step-son was playing college football. My goal was to be able to raise my arm high enough again to make that "touchdown" arm raise. It took a lot of perseverance and hard work, but I made it...and you will too.

Sounds like there are a few on here that have had rotator surgery done, so we understand what you are going thru'....so if you get frustrated, feel free to vent. We know what you are dealing with.

Healing hugs

Patti

My heart goes out to you... I had the surgery done several years ago and NEVER have had such pain and discomfort...and my SIL just had it done in Oct. 09 and I told her it would hurt...everything is attached...your arm, your back, your neck, she didn't believe me as Dr. told her the "discomfort would be minimal"...she said....HE LIED!!!!! I pray for your comfort in the shadow of angels wings.

Just hang in there and follow the Doc's orders. Don't try to over do. Sending you a hug.:)

I had the opposite problem. Four weeks ago I broke my foot. I have been in a big black boot apperatise on my right foot. Can't drive, can't sew, but the worst part was that I was prepaid to take a quilting class at the quilt show in somerset N.J. So I packed up my stuff, had my DFIL drive me there, hobbled in on crutches dragging my rolling sewing machine cart. And being a stubborn pollack that I am I used my left foot, it was dicey for the first few minutes but now I can use the sewing machine with both feet. It's the standing to cut that gets tiring. But I can SEW!

I am so sorry for your pain, but please go easy, I had back surgery in feb, but we have cats so I decided that I would try to vaccume. I tripped and wrecked the back surgery. now pain is twice as bad and I don't have money for surgery again. so sit back and try to heal, and follow all Doctors orders. my prayers are with you. Penny

OUCH! sounds worse than a bad tooth. Had a friend have that issue from wrestling with one of her boys. He jumped from the couch on her. After she had surgery she said it was much better. So just hang in there, it will get better.

I can sympathize totally. I had this done back in 2001 and only had 2 months before I got sent back to work. :( :thumbdown: After my surgery, the Doc came in and said he had good news and bad news. :shock: Of course I asked for the bad first....he said that since I'm so thin and "small framed" that he hit the bicep tendon on the way in to fix the torn rotator cuff. (I now have a permanent disability of not lifting over 30 lbs or raising my arm above shoulder height). The good news was that he fixed both problems...???

Yes the pain was awful, but as stated before...physical therapy does wonders. Just take pain meds about 1/2 hour before you go...and don't let them "man-handle" you to force you into extreme pain. (had that done and made some other problems) As long as things were fixed properly, you will be better in no time as the pain meds should help you sleep and lots of books, magazines, and us will pass the time quickly. Healing hugs and p's coming your way. :D

I noticed many of you have re-injured your original injury or medical problem & have had repeated surgeries. Also, some have several joints/injuries & it makes it rough to do most anything. Prob the most missed part of our days is in our sewing rooms/areas & the time we're used to getting to plan & make quilts & lots of other things. Please add me & others to your prayer lists. I had back surgery in 98 & have re-injured it several times. The last time was not long before my bilateral total knee replacements in 09. I had a couple of pretty good weeks, then the back problems has thrown me way behind. If there are any of you who have worked yourself into a frenzy forever, you know what I'm talking about with pain & anxiety from trying to adjust to a slower pace of living. It is so frustrating to look at the stacks & boxes of fabric I have on a table, bookshelves & in stacked plastic containers. I'm determined though not to have another back surgery, unless it's absolutely necessary. I know people who have hardware in their backs & that has to be so devastating. I empathize with any & all of you here on the Board, who are in pain. Stay strong, we'll get through it together.

Hope you get better real soon. If it were me I be going crazy not quilting.

Dolly Rose.....I'd like to pass on a tip someone gave me as I was starting my rehab after my rotator surgery. Buy yourself a set of over-the-door- pulleys. (Not overly expensive) The therapist will likely have you use them when you go for your sessions, but that will likely be only a few times a week. If you have your own, you can use it every day...several times a day even. I am convinced that this is what helped me most in getting my range of motion back to 99%.

Hugs

Patti

Who said you cannot do another part of sewing, like looking, dreaming, planning, revising, taking time off (oh yea, you are already doing that). There are a lot of things sewing related to get into.

I used the over the door pulley but the tissue tore out again anyway. I now have a pill and a pain patch I HAVE TO WEAR 12 HOUR In a month I will have a shoulder replacement.most people don't have this problem

I used the over the door pulley but the tissue tore out again anyway. I now have a pill and a pain patch I HAVE TO WEAR 12 HOUR In a month I will have a shoulder replacement.most people don't have this problem

I am so sorry to hear you had that happen. It isn't fun to have to do a re-fix. :( I hope this fix works for you and you don't have anymore problems.

Patti

thanks for all of your good wishes! things are coming along, slow, but at least in the right direction. I ran the vacuum around yesterday with my left arm and had my right arm go along for the passive movement and I over did it. paying for it today... pain meds are no help and the lack of sleep is starting to wear away at my 'instant gratification' self. today I'm wandering in and out of my sewing room trying to find a small project to do that requires minimal right hand involvement ;) I may have to fall back to reading ACLS/PALS and trauma nurse books...

I read a ton of quilting books and patterns to get motivated for when I could start sewing again. I also picked up a bunch of the Elm Creek Quilters books from the Library and read those. I would come in here to my sewing room and run my fingers over some of my fabrics or just look at them. I pulled a few out to match up for a future project.
I got a ton of reading in. I still have to be careful when doing the actual quilting on my machine, I can do it for a little while, then need to take a break cause the shoulder starts to aching.
I have been told that I am a slow healer, both of my shoulders took longer to heal than they should have. I also ended up with an infection, which probably slowed down healing. I had them done 18 mos apart. I was not able to sew for nearly 4 mos when I had the left one done, with the right I have been able to do things sooner.
I think I also went 3 mos or more without a good nights sleep. It still hurts when I am sleeping!!!
I hope you heal up fast!!!

I found that if I slept in the recliner instead of the bed, I had a better time trying to get some rest. If you have some type of recliner, maybe that will help you get a little bit of sleep in now and again. (I just had to try to keep the cat from wanting to jump into the chair with me and onto my shoulder. :shock: ) Hope that you are better in no time. Take it easy and TRY not to over do things...it will come in time. (Been there done that....) Hugs and P's for healing :D

Thank you for your hugs and prayers, I have slept many nights in my lift chair. sometime I even nap there. I do pretty well if I keep my elbow near my side . I can knit, crochet and hand quilt that way. I know better days are coming.