Shoulder Surgery

[Sharon]

My surgeon told me that knee replacements usually are good for 20 years, told me this two weeks ago.

Service in Cambridge is quick, possibly due to the fact that they CMH received an additional $ 850,000.00 plus last Sept. this allows them to do more operations.
A friend of ours is an OR nurse at CMH she says operations are all geared to funding, if the money isn't there operations are cut back [ other than emergency ones ] and wait times are longer.

WEll, maybe we'll get 15 years.

[PaulR]

Interesting info . My rotor cuff tear has been 2 years now and I still can't put on the seatbelt or pull the covers up over my body, or................. I 'm going for the surgery.

Another thing to remember about a knee replacement is that the device only lasts about 10 years. I'm going for it at 70 now and hoping for 10 more active years - by 80 I won't care.

Paul: London is a year's wait. Why is service in Cambridge so quick?

Happen last June, the doctor sent me for physio and referred me to a surgeon at the same time. Now while I live in Cambridge, the doctors and the surgery is in Hamilton. Took a fairly long time to get into see the surgeon, and he wouldn't even see me until after I had an MRI, but once I had the initial appointment, he said it wouldn't take long if I decided to go with it. Called back, said I wanted it done, had to see him again, only took a couple of weeks, said I'd like to get it over and done with, he said if there was a cancellation he would put me in, otherwise, 1 to 3 months. Called a few days later, booked for the end of the month.

[PaulR]

So surgery is set for the end of the month, and from the looks of things I won't have a job to go back to. Some divisions of the company are up for sale, including the one I am in, expect it will move south of the boarder. I am getting close to the end of my career, but I was hoping to go on my time, not someone else's.
Went for "pre-op" the other day, now instead of in for the early morning, out in the afternoon, they say I have to stay over night. A little advice to all, never admit to having sleep apnea. That's why they say I have to stay.
Sucks getting old.

[BIG MAC]

PaulR, that is exactly why they kept my wife ovenight from her surgery, thought she ""might"" have it and she was in for the night, showed signs of having problems in the recovery room. GOOD LUCK on your surgery.

[Hawkman]

Good Luck PaulR.
I live with various pains as well, and have been waiting to be contacted by a knee surgeon since December of 2015. All you need to do is pretend to be a tough guy at all times!

[Snowwalker]

Just checked back to see how it was going. Where are they doing it at and where can we send cards.

[Sharon]

Saw the surgeon yesterday. He said stitching up a shoulder tear isn't effective. Has to be REALLY bad to warrant a new shoulder. Cortisone shots or physio is the only real option. He also said that the other muscles will learn to make up for the torn muscle - I have found this to be already happening.

[PaulR]

Sitting here typing one handed,,,,,, surgery yesterday, had to stay overnight, certainly didn't get any sleep. Out by 6 in the morning, next group coming in for same day surgery. Been doped up since then. don't know why but opioids have never had any effect on me for pain relief. All I can do now is wait to see if it worked.
So Monday was my last day of work, the doctor says about 3 months for recovery, and if it is 3 months, then Monday will have been my last day of work. The division of the company where I work has been sold, moving to the US, nothing to go back to. It wasn't a big surprise, knew it was coming, hoped it would have been later, but such is life. Tough to get something new at my age. Hoping to be able to at least get something part time, retirement was based on selling the house and downsizing. Didn't want to do that right yet.

[Sharon]

Glad to hear the surgery is over Paul ,and hope for a speedier recovery than predicted.