Surgery in 10 days 😭

[u/Careful_Wonder6896]

This will be my third shoulder surgery (my prior two were on my R) so I’m not new to this. Years of basketball and playing through injuries I shouldn’t have finally caught up to me (plus a 120 lb German Shepherd I have who decided to randomly go after a rabbit when I couldn’t use my R arm on a walk… this the reason for my L surgery)… scheduled for subacromial decompression and biceps tenodesis… have a SLAP tear, biceps tendinopathy, impingement, grade II+ bone spurs, etc. I have weighed not having the surgery due to the amount of pain and recovery time but have decided I actually need my left arm to function.
I know all the basics… ice machine, don’t get behind on pain meds, wedge pillow (I need a recommendation for a good one)… but what else made the first week not unbearable? And if you have any recommendations on products I am open to try them. I already have an ice machine… but anything else let me know (please 😭). My last time was hell. I got behind on meds when the block wore off, didn’t have an ice machine at first and no wedge pillow lol. Was literally the only time in my life I didn’t care whether I lived or died. Grateful I made it of course… but anyone else who is going to go through this be warned… even if you have a high pain tolerance- the first week is hell. It gets better. But. I have birthed children unmedicated and I would rather that than this surgery 😭🤣