No, not a shoulder to cry or lean on, but a real shoulder to do things with. I seem to have developed some sort of shoulder problem - the rotator cuff, I believe it's called. It happened on the other side about 6 or 7 years ago and I ended up having to have months of physical therapy. What a bore.
Don't know what I've done. I exercise a lot but not by playing anything that needs to be held and smashed around by my left hand. I haven't done any gardening recently - that's the culprit for the three months of tennis elbow I had all summer.
This is a bugger though, because I can move it forwards and still lift reasonably heavy things - as long as no diagonal motions are required. It's the cross-movements that are really painful, and lo and behold, there are a lot of cross-movements going on in our everyday life that I'm sure we all take for granted.
So here's a list of the things I can't do (without a lot of pain) because of the left shoulder being somewhat out of action -
- take anything off over my head. I can get them on, which is half the problem because it never occurs to you as you're putting a pajama t-shirt on that you won't be able to get it off if you're on your own the following morning. (I eventually did get it off but the result wasn't pretty. Sitting on the floor, wincing with pain and sweating profusely.)
- wash my hair. Think about it. Washing your hair with one hand? Almost impossible.
- dry my hair. Actually, that was a non-starter. We're going for the bed head look today.
- take a bra on or off. So it's saggy bed head look then is it?
- put a seatbelt on. I'm sitting on the left hand side of my car remember. Driving the little guy anywhere this week is going to be a challenge. It's not so much the safety element, or the possibility of getting caught by the police - it's the damn pinging noise that goes on and on and on until you get the seat belt fastened.
- walk the dog. Well, I can but if she does the walking behind me then criss-crossing in front of me thing I'll be in trouble as I usually have to pass the leash from one hand to the other. I will also have to figure out how to scoop the poop and tie the bag with one hand, while still restraining her from her squirrel patrol.
In short, I am having to pass all effort and responsibility on to my right arm and shoulder. I'm going to end up like Popeye down one side at this rate.
Just remember to love your shoulders before it's too late.
Ouch!
ReplyDeleteI had a couple of shoulder surgeries years ago, so I feel for you. What I remember is that the pain wasn't all that frequent, but it was excruciating when it happened. So I'd go through phases thinking "Gee, I don't really need surgery," to wanting it fixed immediately.
I do remember having problems typing, and having to take almost a month off of work.
Now I'm having problems with my ulnar nerve in my elbow that affects my right hand and am in the process of getting tests before surgery. I can't for the life of me remember what I did about wearing a bra when I had shoulder surgery. I definitely can't go without one.
This is horrible. I had an injury like that several years ago when I had my keyboard at the wrong height on the computer desk!! Honestly. It was THAT easily done. I sympathise for sure.
ReplyDeletePhysio's the answer.
:C
Hope you All (Toni and commenters) get back to pain-free living ASAP.
ReplyDeleteMy yoga teacher is always going on about shoulders. I guess we take them for granted until we don't.
ReplyDeleteA frozen shoulder by the sound of it.
ReplyDeleteHappens because of repeated tasks which irritate it and probably comes from the spine. Yes........ I had it on both sides during my forties! Not nice.
Bras can be put on round the waist and fastened in the front and then swivelled round into position.
Get a front opening for a pyjama top then you don't have to raise your arms.
Apart from hair drying and washing, many tasks can be done lower down.
Get Little Guy to do up your seat belt. Getting out will be easier.
Hope it goes soon. I found it took 2 months for each shoulder. (no, it didn't happen together!)
Maggie x
Nuts in May
I feel your pain. I had a frozen left shoulder in 2008 which took months to recover, with help from a physio. This was followed by a right frozen shoulder in 2011 which didn't last as long and I managed myself. I remember well the frustration of trying to do daily tasks and trying to get comfy in bed.
ReplyDeleteHope you get better soon x
So sorry to see this. I always find Acupuncture is brilliant for this sort of thing. That and rest (I can see you laughing) x
ReplyDelete