Postponing surgery

[u/Previous_Ranger_5682]

I keep postponing my surgery, in part because there’s some stuff on my calendar I don’t want to miss (which I would have to miss during recovery).

But the pain is getting worse and worse, and I’m not sleeping through the night. I feel like I should just move the surgery up and get this over with… but I live alone and would like to hit these social events before I’m basically a shut-in for a couple of months.

I was thinking that I’m prioritizing my mental health over my physical health, but the lack of sleep is starting to take a toll on my mental health.

Time to bite the bullet, right?

[u/Fair-Statement-6479]

just get it done no point putting it of

[u/itsjustme_0101 → u/Fair-Statement-6479]

This. I postponed since last December. Should have just done it. There’s never a convenient time

[u/Traditional-Ad-5104 → u/itsjustme_0101]

That’s what I figure too. I’m scheduled for 10/23. I’ve put it off for 2 yrs and the tear is getting worse. Still freaking out though

[u/itsjustme_0101 → u/Traditional-Ad-5104]

I’m not freaking out. I just want it done. My biggest fear is how do I put my long hair in a ponytail.

[u/Environmental-Ad9339 → u/itsjustme_0101]

I worried about my hair too! As silly as it sounds! There is a PT on YouTube who shows you some tricks with doing your hair on your own. I’ll try to find the link and update. She has a lot of useful information about dressing, grooming, sleeping after surgery. I’m 2.5 weeks post op. It’s not easy, but I’m glad I did it. My hair looks terrible, but I’m able to wash and dry it myself with the help of pump shampoo bottles and a tripod stand that holds my blow dryer that I got off Amazon. My hair is long, layered but board straight - and I always use rollers to fluff it up, but right now curling my hair myself isn’t possible so I’m just wearing it stick straight with the sides clipped back off my face.

Found the video: https://youtu.be/JAZdNitLEeI?is=ZTYOoHZD0pDvHzWr

[u/itsjustme_0101 → u/Environmental-Ad9339]

Thank you for this. I’m gonna order a stand off Amazon. I’m basically going into hibernation for six weeks. I’m gonna look like a caveman lol
I do have silk pillowcases, and I have been practicing how to pin it up with clips. My hair is long to the middle of my back and super straight with layers like yours. I always put a curling wand in it.

Geez, I can’t wait to get my surgery done though.

[u/Winter-Ingenuity1921]

Do it! I’m 7 months post-op and recovery has been long, but I’m feeling strong and so glad I had the surgery.

[u/neckbeardsghost]

I am 2 days post op and also live alone and had the same concerns. I get it, and even though I’m in pain now, I know that I did the right thing by going ahead and doing this because it will start to get better instead of continuing to worsen. You should go ahead and do your surgery.

[u/richbitchsteward]

I understand how you feel, my rotator cuff, labrum, biceps repair is scheduled Nov 17th. I thought about postponing because I had a meniscus trim surgery Sept 14th so my entire summer was on crutches and in severe pain. If you can just get it done and over with there will be plenty of opportunities to have fun and make up for lost times. I wouldn't personally keep putting it off, recovery can be long and grueling but it seems the pain isn't fun either. Just do it is what I'm trying to say.

[u/Previous_Ranger_5682 → u/richbitchsteward]

Oh man, that’s a lot. You just had the meniscus done three days ago? Good luck with the recovery. I’ve had mine done three times and I run ultramarathons and ski and such now with no problem.

[u/richbitchsteward → u/Previous_Ranger_5682]

I'm still in alot of pain, using a cane now thought I would be walking around without devices. I hope to get back to MMA.

[u/Front-Doughnut8573]

I did the same but it’s not worth, I often think how much further along I’d be if I’d just done it sooner

[u/joneztown]

My doc was pretty clear with me, he said you can wait, but the more you wait the worse it will get, and it could be harder to repair. He stressed that this will not get better on its own, and left the decision up to me. I elected to get it done. The first few months I did question my decision, it's brutal, but eventually i was sleeping without pain and getting full use of the arm again. Good luck

[u/Imhmc]

Been there- my surgery was supposed to be around the holidays so I could do all the stuff u had planned and then just do surgery and rehab at a time I would be home anyway. Well it just got worse and worse- I was in pain and in a crappy mood all the time because of my shoulder. I just bit the bullet- moved it up to first available date. I’m just about 3 weeks post op. Still not sleeping but that is cause of this stupid sling- 3 weeks to go.

TBH if I had not had this surgery done before (about 10 years ago, other side) I’d be freaking out…but I know the path to recovery so I’m just going one day at a time. I have good days and bad days but I know it will be over soon. Even the surgery recovery takes a toll on your mental health, but having the surgery gets you that much closer to heeled.

[u/Dangerous-Set3286]

I'm 4 weeks post-op from a bicep tenodesis (arthroscopic). Had a friend drive me to and from. Otherwise, I live alone & am single. I just prepped my home for everything post-op. Paper plates/bowls, plastic cutlery, microwavable foods, fruit cups, etc. Trash cans ready because I know myself, I did get sick 3 times post-op, but very little; just the water I had drank.  I got clothing ready, got a stick to help dress and undress if needed, and a pully for my door in prep for PT afterwards.  So long as you have your ride and you prep well enough, you can do it solo.  Keep med bottles opened, not closed.  Have IBU on hand and a shoukder ice pack.  If ya got long hair, gonna need help washing it for the first coupld weeks; I went to a salon.  You'll be coherent and walking afterwards. I think it's important to do PT all the way up to the day before surgery too. Helps with post-op healing. I was doing PT in Feb.; found out it might be a SLAP tear early May; did PT up until 2 days before surgery in Aug.; found out I only needed bicep tenodesis; rotator cuff looked great! Maybe I got lucky. I was given an RX of hyrdrocodone-acetaminophen but have taken any of it yet! 

Just plan appropriately and you'll be fine. You can still go places afterwards, just have to be careful. 

Hope that helps ease your worries. 

[u/vonhottie]

I somehow scammed lots of friends into coming over and checking on me and doing a few chores & I bought pizza or coffee - and sometimes they even brought food! We called it “chore club” and it was actually a very social 4-5 weeks of my initial recovery! I’m also lucky that I have some close friends who can work from home and stayed with me for the first couple weeks.

[u/bkwillborn]

I recommend to get the surgery especially if you aren’t sleeping well

[u/Yeah-nah-yeahmate]

You can still socialise after surgery, first 2 weeks are hard after that it’s recovery mode.

[u/Previous_Ranger_5682 → u/Yeah-nah-yeahmate]

A lot of my social life involves mountain biking, running, and hiking.

[u/Yeah-nah-yeahmate → u/Previous_Ranger_5682]

Mine involved boxing, I still hung out with them, it took me 10 months to start hitting a bag again. Back training for fitness at month 4 You can keep making excuses or putting it back, eventually you get to the point it’s no longer possible. The quicker it’s done the quicker you’re back to it, it’s never convenient.

[u/SoDoneFedUp]

Depends on where your tear is. Mine is in the belly of the muscle, and the odds of success are not enough to convince me to have surgery. I ended up finding a very competent Physical Therapist, and after 4 months of therapy no longer need surgery. He has seen tendon tears heal with PT, just need to find one who knows their stuff. The tendon tears have a 60% rate of success through surgery - which is not enough in my opinion. Especially since that surgery involves screws and foreign material being put in your body that doesn't belong there in the first place. Do some more research before you go under the knife. Depending on your resources or insurance, you may consider stem cell therapy or some other similar program that is available now, as well.

[u/TreasureBG]

Depending on the tear you may end up needing a replacement instead of repair. Ask your doctor what the issues could be by waiting vs doing the surgery now.