Week 1 - Unable to do anything on my own really, can't shower, can't dress, hard to get up and down out of the chair without help, on so many meds a little dizzy. I even need help pulling up the left side of my pants after using the restroom.
Week 2 - Much better than week 1, but still in a great amount of pain, still can't shower and dress myself, but am staying home alone much more.
Week 3 - Still in a lot of pain, weaning off the meds but still taking a lot. Finally feeling like socializing a bit, getting out of the house, going out to dinner. I usually only last a few hours before I want to go back home so I can rest. Am starting to really miss my life, my bike, etc.
Week 4 - Still in pain, still on meds, trying each week to take less and less. Started at home passive stretching exercises at direction from my surgeon.
Week 5 - Almost off my pain meds, only taking 2-3 oxycodone per day (a far cry from the 24 per day that I started with on day 1. I try to only take one before bed so I can sleep and then during the day take only if needed.
Week 6 - I am driving a little bit, started out around town, still wearing my sling, luckily I drive an automatic. I am back at work and can only handle half days, am in a great amount of pain but it's a catch 22, if I take meds I am unclear and loopy, off meds I am in pain. Either way, I am not the employee of the month. Started physical therapy - only passive movement, the physical therapist moves my arm around and I don't activate my muscles. VERY painful, but I know it needs to be done so I suck it up and do what I'm told. Home exercises are tough.
Week 7 - No more oxycodone (YAY!), Dr. prescribed me vicodin to transition off meds. Only taking 1 prior to physical therapy and 1 every night before bed. (read side effects of acetaminophin which is in vicodin, kills your liver if you take too much, so I am being super careful to stay at the very low end of dosage!)
Week 8 and 9 - still taking 1 vicodin to sleep - am in a lot of pain throughout the day but want so badly to be pill free that I just suffer through and go to bed at 7pm taking 1 pill so I can sleep.
Week 10 - off meds all together. Still pain, don't get me wrong, but I can get by.
Week 11 & 12 - Physical therapy is really helping. My range of motion is increasing and the PT got my arm to 116 degrees today. When I first started I was only at 80 or so. Making progress.
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