**UPDATE** on this thread: Well, I'm having fun with my left shoulder...

[CaliforniaPeggy]

I DON'T NEED SURGERY!*


*not yet, anyway, and if I do, it would be outpatient.

Here's the scoop: The xray showed my new joint almost dislocating. This is because the muscles in the front are tight and the ones in the back of my shoulder are loose.

These two conditions are pushing the artificial head of the joint backwards, and that is what I am feeling. My doctor said it's not an emergency but we need to take care of it before it gets any worse, and I had been feeling it more often these last few weeks.

He just ordered a brace that will hold my arm out away from my body which will encourage the front muscles to loosen up and the back ones to tighten, all at the same time. I need to wear it a number of hours every day for the best results.

And I'll need to wear it for 4 to 6 weeks. OK. I can do that.

I'll see him again in about a month and we'll reassess things then.

Now, if I need surgery, it would be outpatient, and would consist of arthroscopic surgery where he would manually tighten the currently loose muscles. And the resulting scar tissue would be part of the cure.

I cannot tell you how relieved I am!

Thanks, everybody, for standing by me...

[Solly Mack]

1. That is good news!

I'm glad! I hope you won't need surgery and the brace does the trick.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. You and me both, my dear Solly Mack! You and me both!

*Whew*

[csziggy]

3. That's fantastic - that you don't need surgery, not that you're having problems

With your new shoulder. I hope the brace helps. Will you also need physical therapy? Or are you still doing PT since the shoulder allowed it?

[CaliforniaPeggy]

4. My dear csziggy...

I hope the brace helps too...time will tell!

I'll be doing PT at home now. The doctor looked over my paperwork that my physical therapist had drawn up for me, and basically said I can do all the exercises but one, since my shoulder would tend to go where he doesn't want it to.

So I'm good!

[csziggy]

7. I bet the PT and the brace do it

Just be sure to do all that the doctor asks you to - but you know that.

We need you here (yes I saw your other post) - you're one of the solid points on this shifting platform.

[NightWatcher]

5. is it one of these guys?

I was in one for 8 weeks after I had my shoulder rebuild. My muscles were completely gone after that.

I hope that the rest of your shoulder rehab goes smoothly, because if it doesn't go great you'll be dealing with it for years to come.

Good luck

[CaliforniaPeggy]

9. I think it's something like that, my dear NightWatcher...

I know there's a big bolster under the arm, but I think the upper arm may be at a slightly larger angle away from the body. I'm not sure, though.

I hear you about dealing with it for many years to come!

I should be OK. *fingers crossed*

[NightWatcher]

18. You'll be fine

I dislocated both my shoulders in a rock climbing/hopping thing and the one that required surgery to relocate is the one that's better off. The shoulder that went back in and didn't get surgery still has issues almost 4 years later. In fact it's popped out (and luckily back in) twice this month alone...and hurts like hell each time for days.

You'll be great. Give the brace time and rehab the way the doctor says.

Good luck

[CaliforniaPeggy]

19. I really appreciate your input...thank you! n/t

[elleng]

6. WHEW!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

10. AMEN!

[snacker]

8. Hooray!

I can feel your relief from here!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

11. I'll bet you can, my dear snacker! And thanks...n/t

[awoke_in_2003]

12. Good luck Peggy...

hope it gets better. My wife is looking at two knee replacements herself.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

13. I think it'll get better, my dear awoke_in_2003...

And good luck to your wife! Knees aren't as complicated as shoulders, since a knee is a hinge joint while a shoulder is a universal joint.

I wish her every success!

[awoke_in_2003]

14. Very true...

they say they will have her walking the same day. My 70 year old boss had both of his done, too. The rehab is going to be a killer, though= $50 copay a visit. I wanted her to get them done at the same time, but the doctor poo poo'ed that idea.

[MicaelS]

15. This thread is worthless without pics...

Of you wearing that brace.

I'm glad you don't need surgery.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

16. My dear MicaelS!

Well, first of all, I don't have it yet, silly!

Maybe I'll model it for ya once I get it...

I'm glad about not needing the surgery either...however, it IS an option, if the brace doesn't do the trick. We'll jump off that bridge when we get to it!

[MicaelS]

17. Best of luck to you. n/t

[mokawanis]

20. Glad to hear it!

Now take care of yourself, and bring us more good news when you see the doc in a month!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

21. I will certainly do just that, my dear mokawanis!

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

22. No more Marine push-ups for a while.

I recommend a little Tai Chi.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

23. My dear Prisoner_Number_Six!

WHAT Marine push-ups???



I have never done any push-ups in my entire life!

Thanks, sweetie...

My physical therapist gave me a schedule of exercises to do; they won't aggravate my loose left shoulder!

[GreenPartyVoter]

24. Phew! :^D

[CaliforniaPeggy]

26. Exactly! Thanks, sweetie!

[pinboy3niner]

25. That's great news!

I'm very happy for you, Peg. I once had to have a major surgery re-done--twice! And it was 7 years later, which made it all the harder to have to go back in (and it took another 12-hour surgery as a precursor to the other two). I understand the dread you felt when you were dealing with that prospect.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

27. My dear pinboy3niner!

How awful for you. That had to be so terrifying.

I'm so sorry you had to endure all of that.



And thank you for your great words! I was so sure I was facing the total shoulder replacement all over again, and all my hard work for nothing.

I can do this brace thing and be glad about it.

[pinboy3niner]

28. Long ago and far away now, Peg

That was all from my combat injuries in Vietnam, when I had to have my jaw rebuilt by the Army--and then rebuilt again and again by the Navy. It's a lot less traumatic loking back after all these years than it was going through it at the time.

I know you've seen my photo, so now you know how I got to be so handsome.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

29. I thought it had to be from back then...

I don't believe I've seen your photo...

How about letting me see it?

Glad the trauma has faded now...

[pinboy3niner]

30. Here's one of me in-country

I'm on the left, with two buddies, one of whom was KIA...


In this one taken at a display of a moving Wall in Simi Tuesday night I'm next to the guy on the right...


Photo by my wonderful friend, Michele Schottelkorb

[CaliforniaPeggy]

31. Thank you so much for posting these!

I think I have seen them......a while back, perhaps.

Good photos, both.

[pinboy3niner]

32. You probably saw the first one

The second was taken just a few days ago, on Tuesday night. What you see is what you get. What can I say--when you're hot you're hot!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

33. You got that right!

[pinboy3niner]

34. I'm too sexy for my jungle shirt

It's a curse.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

35. Oh I know...we just have to bear up the best we can!

[pinboy3niner]

36. I knew you'd sympathize. We've seen all the hot mama poetry photos of you you posted.

At least you have a spouse to help you fight off all your sex stalkers. I'm on my own, without a good woman to fight for me, and I fear I may not have the energy to resist any longer.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

37. Why resist???

I don't think I'm all that hot looking, anyway!

[pinboy3niner]

38. We don't, but our sex stalkers find us more irresistable than Tom Cruise and Salma Hayek

We are but innocent victims here. We can't help the way we look. After I gave up underwear supermodeling because it just seemed a bit shallow, they STILL stalked me. Like I said, it's a curse to be beautiful--and don't we know it!!! Of course, what I'm telling you is nothing the "Poetry Babe" doesn't already know.

[a la izquierda]

39. Yay for no surgery!

I hope you won't need it!

[In_The_Wind]

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