Phoenix: Live Love Laugh

Follow my 14-day journey after left shoulder replacement surgery while living with sickle cell disease. From nerve blocks to physical therapy, here’s how I’m navigating pain, recovery, and daily challenges with determination and faith.

Post-Op Reality: What You Don’t See Behind the Smile

The photo above was taken just after surgery.
I know—I’m smiling. But don’t be fooled.
That was the nerve block talking, not reality.
In that moment, I felt no pain. I was just grateful to be in my hospital room, safe, post-op, and stable.

I spent two nights in the hospital—one at my doctor’s recommendation, and one by my request.
When you live with sickle cell, you learn that what looks calm today can become chaos tomorrow.
I wasn’t taking any chances.

Days 1–3: Light Movement Begins

Day 1:

No pain—thank you, nerve block.

Day 2:

Physical Therapy (PT) began right in my hospital room.
We focused on minor AROM (Active Range of Motion):

• Wrist extension and flexion
• Palm down/palm up movement (with sling on)

Day 3:

Continued PT with basic elbow flexion and extension.
Still tolerable… for now.

Day 4: Pain Hits Like a Wrecking Ball

That morning, reality arrived.
The nerve block wore off and pain hit me like a freight train.
On a scale of 1 to 10? A solid 12.

The next 8–10 days were spent mostly sleeping and sedated on Oxycodone-Acetaminophen.
And while I don’t like narcotics—they dull my senses, and I like being aware—in this case, the pain left me no choice.

(Ask any sickle cell warrior—we know that sleep is sometimes the only weapon we have against relentless pain.)

Day 8: First Real PT Session Outside the Hospital

I had my first outpatient PT appointment at the Sports Medicine building.

Pain had slightly dropped to around an 8, but even basic movements took strength I didn’t think I had left.

The therapist explained how much muscle weakness I’d have to overcome.
Even holding a teacup was impossible.
Tasks like:

• Washing my hair
• Opening water bottles
• Getting dressed
• Fastening a bra

All felt like Olympic-level challenges.

It reminded me of 2017, when I had my right shoulder replaced.
Back then, even writing with a pen sent sharp, excruciating pain down my arm.
This time was no different.

Day 14: Recovery Is Not for the Weak

At my second PT session, I left with a 3-page home exercise plan.
Now I’m up to 6 pages, with 20+ exercises to do at home.

Pain hovers around a 4–5, but tightness and fatigue are constant.

Some of my daily PT exercises:

• Pendulum swings (all 4 directions)
• Shoulder shrugs
• Wand exercises (especially external rotation)

Easy enough, right?
Wrong. 😅

That wand exercise feels like I’m trying to lift 300-pound weights with jelly arms.
(And yes—I took myself to Home Depot to buy PVC pipe just to build that wand!)

Shrugging, something we all take for granted, now feels like a full-body workout.
But when I’m healed, I’ll remember this…
I’ll remember what it took just to lift, shrug, stretch—and fight.

My Recovery Story Continues

This is where I am today.
Still healing. Still hurting. But still here.
I’m trusting the process.
And I believe the day will come when I’ll style my hair again…
When I’ll raise both arms in joy…
And when I’ll look back at this chapter with gratitude for how far I came.

Until then—one movement, one prayer, and one small victory at a time. 💛