About Omaha Steve's short hiatus

[Omaha Steve]

Most of you know I haven't posted the last few days. Thanks to several great DU members talking sense to me, I'm back. Just on a little lessactive basis. Why I've been so upset will not be discussed. Ever.


On January 25th, I'm having rotator cuff shoulder surgery. I won't be online for at least 6 weeks after that. But I will be reading every day I can during that time.

Omaha Steve

[Ptah]

1. I hope you have a speedy recovery.

[malaise]

2. Glad to see you back

Keep posting until it's time for your surgery. :grouphug:

And hey unreckers - you won't win on this thread.

[The Straight Story]

3. Don't sweat it man

We all have those 'moments' - DU is more than just a political site, it is a place where I and others have many we call friends.

[hlthe2b]

4. Wishing you a speedy recovery, Steve...

Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, and, oh, heck, just have a nice relaxing few weeks.

[HopeHoops]

5. They're still trying to tell me my rotor cuff isn't fucked up and I don't believe it.

I haven't been able to lift my right arm over my shoulder height since June. It hurts constantly and one of the tendons feels like a steel rod. Something's fucked and if that isn't it, they've had plenty of time to figure out what it is. I'll have another MRI sometime in February or March. Maybe that will pick up something they missed before.

[csziggy]

28. MRIs aren't worth crap

With my first rotator cuff injury, the MRI showed little or no serious damage. The surgeon scheduled and prepared me for laproscopic surgery -" a couple of little holes, a sling for a few weeks, a couple of months of therapy, no problem." He got inside and went out to talk to hubby. According to hubby, the surgeon said, "It looks like a bomb went off inside her shoulder!"

Three of the tendons were still attached, two of the major muscles were no longer attached. The cartilage in the joint was shredded. The ninety minute operation turned into a six hour marathon. They had to totally reconstruct the joint. I have a scar across the top of the shoulder that goes from one side of my armpit to the other. Two months of having the arm immobilized. Six months of therapy three times a week. The shoulder is good - it works - but the doctor told me I can't take chances with it since there is nothing but scar tissue and he would not be able to repair it again.

Same deal for the MRIs on both knees - they showed little damage but when the surgeon got inside the joints were trashed. When it came time for the other shoulder, I refused to get an MRI. For one thing, it was a three week wait to schedule one. The wait for surgery was six weeks whether or not I got the MRI. The surgeon went to bat for me with the insurance company that wanted the MRI before they would authorize surgery. Since he was the same one who had worked on the other shoulder, he knew I would not be in the office unless the pain was major.

Insist on getting the surgery. If you can't lift the arm, something major is screwed up and I would bet that no amount of MRI scanning will show the real story. Get the doctor to stick a camera in there to see what is going on!

[Donnachaidh]

6. enjoy the time off and REST Steve!

Listen to some good music. Play with your pets if you have them.

[liberal N proud]

7. Mere mention of that makes my shoulder hurt.

[hughee99]

8. Good luck with the surgery, and best wishes

for a speedy recovery.

[IDemo]

9. I've been putting off the surgery

Tried several months of physical therapy, which did absolutely nothing but make my wallet more flexible.

Rotator cuff injuries suck.

[kgnu_fan]

10. Will be waiting for your post, be well Steve!

[Arctic Dave]

11. Solidarity my brother.

[onehandle]

12. That will cut my number of recs down. I rec everything you post up.

You post some of the most important stuff on DU.

Take care of your posting arm.

[trotsky]

13. Glad to have you with us, OS. n/t

[PetrusMonsFormicarum]

14. My torn rotator cuff

is throbbing in sympathy pain. Please let us know how the surgery went, and here's to a speedy recovery! You're my link to what's news in labor!

[myrna minx]

15. I'm glad you're back. All of my best healing vibes to you.

:hi:

[skorpo]

16. Wishing you successful surgery....

and a speedy and complete recovery.

[Brickbat]

17. Solidarity, brother. I'll miss your posts and will be thinking about you.

[obxhead]

18. Do all the exercises the doc gives you.

They really speed recovery. You'll be missed.

[TomClash]

19. Godspeed Brother

Good luck with the surgery and may you have a swift and painless recovery.

[Old Codger]

20. Good Luck

Had that done a few years back, was not that bad really... Best wishes and good luck on it...

[pitohui]

21. get well soon!

a lucky friend of mine was able to handle his rotator cuff w. physical therapy only, i've never understood how it worked but for him it did and he hasn't had a recurrence in several years now

i've also heard very good things abt the surgery for those who need it/get it

don't let the turkeys get ya down, you'll soon be flying high on your repaired wing!

[lonestarnot]

22. Ouchie.

Con quidado amigo.

[Liberal_in_LA]

23. mysterious!

[DoBotherMe]

24. Best wishes for a speedy recovery

Please keep posting for all us Union brethren. I appreciate it! Dana ; )

[JohnnyLib2]

25. Many good wishes, O.S.

Your input is valued on this computer!

[Scruffy1]

26. Get well soon

Love your posts. Once had my whole shoulder lock up and it took six months of pain to get it working, but the rotator cuff was too far gone to do much for it. It still hurts a little but I've learned to deal with it and be careful with it. Physical therapist was great and and got me going again.

[donheld]

27. You are a very valuable member of DU in my opinion

Do get well soon.

[TwilightGardener]

29. Get well soon, Steve.

[csziggy]

30. Good luck with the surgery - BTDT twice!

If possible, get a recliner to sleep in. With both my shoulders, recovery was spent in recliners since I could not get flat with any comfort at all.

Cold packs will help reduce the need for pain meds. I used frozen black eyed peas - they stay cold a long time, conform to the area well, don't drip like ice packs and can be refrozen and reused a lot of times. And they are MUCH cheaper than fancy gel packs! Do put them in a zip lock since the bags they come in will tend to split. Use the pain meds when you need them, but the cold packs will help to not need as much.

Get some oversized clothes, even underwear. They are easier to put on one handed than normal sizes.

I hope to see you back real soon!

[Omaha Steve]

31. This will be my second shoulder surgery for those that don't know

It hurts like hell now. I keep hearing it hurts like hell for awhile after it is over too.

Thank you for all the kind words and get wells.

OS

[unhappycamper]

32. Be well, OS

I had rotator cuff problems a number of years ago but was able to fix it with some very painful physical therapy.

[mmonk]

33. Best of luck.

My wife has a rotator cuff problem now as well.

[Fumesucker]

34. I figured you got hit by a runaway Toyota..

;)

:hide:

:hi:

Best wishes for a speedy recovery and a quick return to posting on DU..

:hug:

[Omaha Steve]

35. Made my day (THANK YOU)

:-)

[deaniac21]

36. Get ready for that first 2 weeks. It hurts like HELL.