Recovery week 2

The picture above was after surgery, don’t let the smiles fool you I still had the nerve block in my system so I felt no pain. Laying in my room feeling pretty good. I spent 2 nights in the hospital one doctor’s recommendation and one my request just to be sure that nothing would go wrong. Sickle Cell always has a way of showing off it’s self.

Day one: No pain

Day Two: Physical Therapy in hospital room- minor movement AROM wrist/ext palm down and palm down (with sling on)

Day Three: Physical Therapy in hospital room- minor movement AROM elbow flex/ext

Day Four: MAJOR PAIN sets in, on a scale of 1-10 a whooping 12! to me at least. Spent the next 8-10 days medicated with Oxycondone- Acetaminiohen and constantly sleeping. I stated earlier I do not like taking narcotics because of the simple fact it makes me sleep and unaware of my surroundings. By nature I like to know and be aware at most times or as much as I can. Of course when you are in as much pain as I was in and for the most times the pain of a sickle crisis sleep is the only answer or choice weapon. (Ask any sickeler)

Day 8: My first Physical Therapy at the Sports Medicine PT building. The exercises were real and the pain was down to maybe a scale of 8 but I got through them with strength and determination. It was more of a consultation of showing me my next stages on exercises and how to do them. Explanation of how much muscle weakness I had and would have to build up. Something as simple of holding my cup of tea was an impossible task for me. Although I had the same surgery in 2017 with my right shoulder and holding a pen to write sent excruciating pain through my arms, my left was not different. I am unable to complete simple task like washing my hair, opening my water bottle, holding a cup, dressing my self, putting on a bra, things we take for granted daily seemed daunting and dreadful to me.

Day 14: Physical Therapy is no easy task. At the end of the session a 3 page length of exercises where to be done at home. now we are up to 6 pages of 20 exercises to do at home. Easy enough huh! maybe so but not for someone who just had surgery and muscle weakness. Pain level more or less at a scale of 4 – 5, lots of tightness in my shoulder.

Easy enough HUH! NOT! those Wand exercise -external rotation seems like lifting 300 pound weights. I went to Home Depot to buy PVC pipes to create a 3 feet wand to do this exercise. I never knew shrugging could be so painful, I will remember that once I am healed how much energy and effect it takes to shrug my shoulders.

My story of recovery continues … I am trusting the process and the journey that I will soon be able to style my hair again and use both of my shoulders to jump for joy.