Shoulder Surgery Progress ~ 3 Weeks

Hi there! What!? 2 posts in 2 days??? I know crazy, right? 😜 Haha! I'm just rolling with it... 

Well, I thought I'd give you an update on the progress I've made since my shoulder surgery.

It's been three weeks since I had my rotator repair, which also included removing calcium deposits and a bone spur.  Let me tell you, this has been quite the journey. There have been ups and downs, but I am moving right along. The hardest part for me has been being strapped to this sling for the last three weeks. 

I still have three more weeks of the whole contraption. Then I will be reduced to just a sling without the block.  Yeah, I'm smiling here...I was able to get a shirt on for the first time! 👍 Yet, there are many times I have felt very claustrophobic with this thing wrapped around my neck and strapped around my waist.  But thankfully,  I do therapy 3 to 4 times a day and can get out of it for a bit.

The first week was terrifying. I was afraid to take it off.  The fear of the unknown is very powerful. I didn't know what was going to happen. I didn't know what it would feel like. Would it hurt? Would I hurt myself?

Fear has been my biggest problem.  Fear can keep you from moving forward, in fact you can move backwards because of it. But God reminded me of His Word.

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.”
‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭1:7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This verse has become so real to me. There is no choice, I have to move forward. I am determined to regain full mobility and strength in my right arm. I need that self-discipline and power to overcome fear.

I have also felt the power of people's prayers, strengthening me mentally and physically. Thank you, those prayers mean so much to me!

In therapy, I was given these pulleys to use at home.  

The first time I used them.... fear crept in again.  I begin to quote scripture and pray. I'm supposed to use these pulleys 3 to 4 times a day at home!  😳  Fear of pain. I'm a huge baby, I hate pain. But pain is a reality in therapy.

A couple weeks ago a sweet man at church came over to encourage me. He broke his shoulder last year and understood exactly what I was going through. What a blessing! He told me that there is joy through the pain. 

Let me say that again... joy through the pain. 

To me that sounded like an oxymoron. But it's true, there will be joy at the end of the pain, because that pain is going to get me where I need to be, mobile and active. Maybe that was how Christ felt on the cross in pain. He knew the ultimate joy at the end. Salvation for mankind. Thank You, Lord!

Anyway, this gave me new insight. Instead of shying away from the pain, I purposefully focused in on it. I begin to force myself to breathe through it and embrace it. I am so excited to share with you the results of my therapy progress. God has been amazing! He has help me get through to this point.

Back to the pulleys...  I started having hubby take pictures of me so I could see the progress. When I started I could only pull a few inches. This is what that looked like.  It gives you a starting point.

There is tons of concentration going on here. I have to hang onto the pulley, yet relax my shoulder while it is being stretched and pulled up. If I accidentally tighten the muscle, the pain is double. So I must breathe and concentrate to relax. It is so hard!

Hubby making me laugh!

This one is from 6 days of doing the pulleys. Definitely some progress.

The next day....more progress.

I even started doing some bicep curls... So nice to be out of the sling and dressed... with make up on with my LEFT hand!! Thank you very much! 😊

10 days of pulleys.... crazy progress. 😃👍

I am proud to report, that my therapist says my progress is excellent! She also explained to me, that it's all about range of motion, once I have that everything else is a breeze. I'm getting there! Before you know it, I'll be back to the painting and building again!

Blessings!!