Question for the shoulder op. guys.

[2dumb2kwit]

Did any of you guys end up in a sling like this?
http://www.djoglobal.com/products/do...rasling-iii-er

[Old GI]

Exactly the same; all seven times. It was great.

[2dumb2kwit]

Exactly the same; all seven times. It was great.

Seven times? Ouch! You've spent a good portion of your life in one. LOL

[Rick]

I've never used that one. I've always used the aircast splint without the abduction pillow.

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[crashdive123]

Mine was not nearly as stylish. The angle was a bit different on mine as well - held it about 10" out from the body.

Similar to this, but white. There was actually more of a sling than in the pictures, but the abductor pillow and restraint straps are about the same.

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[hunter63]

Man, none of them look fun at all.......maybe I'll just put up with the shoulder for a while longer.....not too bad, unless it's gonna rain.

[Daniel Nighteyes]

'Tain't my shoulders that give me grief, but my lower back, both knees and one ankle. (And, of course, the broken cartilage resulting from that dramatic face-plant, back in '65, that attempted to turn my nose into some kind of plow...)

-- Nighteyes

[2dumb2kwit]

With the work that my doc did on me, he wanted my arm to stay at that angle, but the big thing was that he didn't want any internal rotation. For the first 6 weeks, he wouldn't even let the P.T. move my arm back, out to the side, or especially rotate it in. Up forward to 90 degrees, and rotate out 30-40 degrees is all he allowed. Now the next 6 weeks will be spent getting full range of motion back, in all directions, but no resistance. He said I can start weining myself off the sling, but I can't use my arm, to push, pull, or lift anything for the next 6 weeks.

The good news, is that he says by taking things this slow, he expects 100% recovery.

[Daniel Nighteyes]

2dumb2kwit,

I'm proud for ya, friend. Hang in there!

[Rick]

Follow the instructions from your PT folks to the letter. They really do work miracles if you do what they say. You can also ask your surgeon for his report. He should provide you with the pictures he took of the surgery. Since I keep my own medical records I have all of it in there.

[2dumb2kwit]

2dumb2kwit,

I'm proud for ya, friend. Hang in there!

Thanks. I'm doing fine. Sometimes I even try to have some fun with it. LOL

[2dumb2kwit]

Follow the instructions from your PT folks to the letter. They really do work miracles if you do what they say. You can also ask your surgeon for his report. He should provide you with the pictures he took of the surgery. Since I keep my own medical records I have all of it in there.

I've been a good boy. I've seen (and have copies of) the pictures. At my 6 week visit, they X-rayed my shoulder to be sure that all the anchors were still in the right spots. I told them that they better be, 'cuz I hadn't done a dang thing wrong, to be sure that we didn't have to start over!!!

He showed me the pic's and explained why were going so slow. Of coarse my damage was not typical. His assistant told me that out of the last 500 surgery's that the doc has done, I was of 2 that had that kind/amount of work.

[Rick]

The anchors he used to attach tendon to bone are probably bio-absorbable. After a couple of weeks they start to be absorbed by your body. Eventually, they won't even exist. So there is a window that the anchors aren't holding at tightly as they did and the reattachment to the bone is still fresh. Is science stuff cool or what?

[2dumb2kwit]

The anchors he used to attach tendon to bone are probably bio-absorbable. After a couple of weeks they start to be absorbed by your body. Eventually, they won't even exist. So there is a window that the anchors aren't holding at tightly as they did and the reattachment to the bone is still fresh. Is science stuff cool or what?

Well, I'll be danged...I didn't know that! The way they lit up in the x-ray's, I figured they were steel.

I have 4 of them in my shoulder. One of the problems in my shoulder was a torn labrum. (Torn in 2 places.) One tear on the front side took one anchor. The big tear on the back side took 3. I said something about how far apart the three anchors were, and the P.A. said it was because it wasn't a normal "slap" tear. I forget what word he used, but basically, he said it was a big friggin' tear. LOL

[Rick]

This last surgery was a labrum tear repair for me, too. It was torn from front to back. I also had a tear of the Supraspinatus, which is the rotator on top. It was torn the full length of the muscle, which is a better tear to have than across. He took part of the clavicle to create a larger space for the rotator. The incision for this one was the longest yet. About 5 inches from neck to over the edge of the shoulder plus two ortho ports, one front and one in back. I hope to get the stitches out of my hand tomorrow and all the sterri strips off my shoulder. Then I can get everything wet!!!! Yeah!!!! Right now I have to button everything up with Press and Seal when I take a shower.

[crashdive123]

Ah...the 2 liter soda bottle showers.

[Rick]

If you cover the incision with Press and Seal it won't get wet and you take a full shower. Of course if you can't get out of the sling at all that makes a difference. I've always been able to remove the sling as long as I kept the upper arm next to my body. I've never been locked into a single position. That would S.U.K. big time.

[crashdive123]

Yeah - the 2 liter soda bottle had to be slid in to replace the abductor pillow. My Doc scared the dog squeeze out of me when he said (after telling me to use the soda bottle) - If your arm drops all the way to your side, I get to go inside and we start all over again. Yep - I was convinced.

[Old Professor]

I recently had shoulder surgery and the surgeon puit me in that same sling. That lasted all of one day! I live alone and could not get in and out of the damn thing. I went to a different sling another surgeon used with a previous operation. Neither of my shoulder surgeries has been successful, probably because I am a poor patient, always pushing the limits of what I am allowed to do. Living alone makes it really hard to follow the surgeons instructions!

[Rick]

Your are probably correct on the lack of success. After the first week I can pretty much navigate with one wing. That first week would be very difficult if you are alone. I can certainly understand how you would be frustrated the first week. I don't think I'd care to try it alone.