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Nerve block

Posted , 4 users are following.

meryl21807
meryl21807

hi,

I'm scheduled for rotator cuff surgery on 7/13 but found out that my doctor does not use a nerve block. he feels patients don't take their pain on time with the block & cause themselves more pain. has anyone had the surgery without the nerve block?

if so, I'd love to hear your experience.

thanks

0 likes, 3 replies

3 Replies

  • Dooges_45m
    Dooges_45m meryl21807

    Posted

    Hi Meryl,

    How did your surgery go?

    I had a labrum repair and bicep tinodesis done 4 1/2 weeks ago. 2 days after you in fact. I had the nerve block and my surgeon said that he would recommend it even if I didn't ask for it.

    So for anyone else reading this I did it because another friend of mine had the same procedure done without the block and she described it as the worst pain she had ever felt. The aneathetist her doctor uses didn't know how to do it. Go figure..

    The nerve block for me was great. It lasted about 12 hrs and as it wore off the oral pain meds were administered to take over. I think this was what kept that bad pain away.

    I've been keeping a bit of a blog with pictures and video on my experience and recovery on Instagram if anyone is interested. just search for my forum name and look at my highlights. I hope it helps a few of you out there.

    Cheers

    Paul

    • meryl21807
      meryl21807 Dooges_45m

      Posted

      hi Paul

      surgery went well & not having the nerve block turned our to be no big deal. the worst part after surgery was how neauous the pain pills made me feel! i had to get off of them after like 3 days. now almost 5 weeks i'm still in alot of pain. in fact this last weekend the pain has been worse than previous weeks so i'm wondering if i tried to do too much or pushed myself with my at home PT. sleeping is still really hard too so i'm getting very depressed. almost wish i had never gotten this damn surgery!

    • Dooges_45m
      Dooges_45m meryl21807

      Posted

      Sleep for me has been the hardest part. I'm still sleeping on the couch propped up.

      I tried to sleep in my own bed about a week ago and I woke at 3.30am in a world of hurt.

      Yesterday wasn't a good day for me pain wise. Nothing severe but constant pain (4/10) all day. The previous day I tried to help out with a lot of the house chores including the laundry. Hanging up and taking down as well as my regular twice daily rehab program. So yes overdoing things on occasion can cause the shoulder to get a little angry from time to time. Today has been better though. I took one ibrofuren and two paracetamol early this morning which settled it down and its been good for the rest of the day even after two good rehab sessions.

      I had my session with the physio last Monday which went really well. He said that I'm about 2 weeks ahead of schedule with my current range of movement which I was obviously happy with. I have made a real effort not to slacken off on my program though.

      So keep the rehab going knowing that if you do there is light at the end of the tunnel.

      Paul

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