Navigating senior years.

[KARNUT]

4 minutes ago, Donstar said:

Yesterday I got the call with a date for my shoulder replacement.  In less than two weeks, I'll be convalescing!   My research tells me that recovery varies considerably and I am motivated to strive for a fast return to normal!  I am too busy to take time off from retirement!!   

My brother is a pretty tough cookie. He had knee replacement surgery ten years ago. It took awhile to recover. In contrast my minister had knee replacement surgery a month ago. He’s 20 years older than my brother was. He was preaching two weeks later. Advancements obviously shorten recovery time. As well as every person handles the process differently. Good luck.

[customboss]

19 hours ago, garagerog said:

Deinstitutionalization - Special Reports | The New Asylums | FRONTLINE | PBSCycles of reform in the history of psychosis treatment in the United States

 

A couple of deeper reads than Wikipedia, but if one takes the time to read them, a reasonable person would come to the conclusion that in the larger scheme of things that Reagan had very little to do with the problem.

Will check it out. Going by the laws instituted by who. Also my

mom lost her job in The mid eighties so saw it. 

[diyer2]

What is the problem with your shoulder?

[txab]

Not to concern you, but shoulder surgery, depending on what is done, can be more work to get over than hips or knees

[garagerog]

2 hours ago, Donstar said:

Yesterday I got the call with a date for my shoulder replacement.  In less than two weeks, I'll be convalescing!   My research tells me that recovery varies considerably and I am motivated to strive for a fast return to normal!  I am too busy to take time off from retirement!!   

Strange but true, recovery from total shoulder replacement is quicker than from a torn rotator cuff which can take up to a year with the usual proviso that individual results can vary. I could stand a knee replacement, but I'm tapped out on the amount of general anesthesia that I can have before likely developing dementia. I've been under general anesthesia 8 times for various orthopedic surgeries, 9 if you count the light one for a colonoscopy.  General anesthetic induced dementia is cumulative with 10 more or less being the threshold, also a large spike for those folks over 70 years of age. I won't be able to do anything if I need life-saving surgery e.g. heart or appendicitis, but as far as the knee I've chosen mind over mobility.

[customboss]

2 hours ago, garagerog said:

Strange but true, recovery from total shoulder replacement is quicker than from a torn rotator cuff which can take up to a year with the usual proviso that individual results can vary. I could stand a knee replacement, but I'm tapped out on the amount of general anesthesia that I can have before likely developing dementia. I've been under general anesthesia 8 times for various orthopedic surgeries, 9 if you count the light one for a colonoscopy.  General anesthetic induced dementia is cumulative with 10 more or less being the threshold, also a large spike for those folks over 70 years of age. I won't be able to do anything if I need life-saving surgery e.g. heart or appendicitis, but as far as the knee I've chosen mind over mobility.

I have dementia since age 52.  SCREW it I'm gonna get pain relief. 
 

You make great points. 

Edited June 6, 2025 by customboss

[Donstar]

19 hours ago, diyer2 said:

What is the problem with your shoulder?

Severe osteoarthritis.  The surgeon says he will likely do a reverse shoulder replacement.  

[Donstar]

18 hours ago, txab said:

Not to concern you, but shoulder surgery, depending on what is done, can be more work to get over than hips or knees

You aren't adding to my concern.  I'm already full!  Over the past year of waiting for a surgical date, my shoulder pain is rare.  Movement in my left shoulder is very limited but elbow to hand is fully functional.  This is my dominant arm so it took awhile to break years of habits.  Reaching for a plate out of the cupboard, for example, will generate sharp expletives out of my mouth!  Now that I've reassigned such tasks to my right, pain is manageable.   Joint replacement does eliminate osteoarthritis from the joint but will this joint get any worse if left untreated?  I have pre-op meetings on Monday and will be asking this question.  I know it is a case of short term pain for long term gain but I'm questioning if the gains will justify the journey I'm about to experience! 

[diyer2]

Repost....

I had shoulder surgery September 6th 2024 for 2 rotator cuff tears and bicep muscle torn from bone. Still have some pain and arm and hand don't function 100%. 

[customboss]

1 hour ago, diyer2 said:

Repost....

I had shoulder surgery September 6th 2024 for 2 rotator cuff tears and bicep muscle torn from bone. Still have some pain and arm and hand don't function 100%. 

Hang in there!!! That’s gonna be a slow go because of complexity. 

[Donstar]

21 hours ago, diyer2 said:

Repost....

I had shoulder surgery September 6th 2024 for 2 rotator cuff tears and bicep muscle torn from bone. Still have some pain and arm and hand don't function 100%. 

I read that recovery will plateau after 3 or 4 months and improvement with physiotherapy will continue for about a year.  

[Donstar]

I am in line for a knee replacement that will occur after I've recovered from my shoulder surgery.  My other shoulder, knee and both hips often feel like they're vying for candidacy to be replaced.  If I postpone or cancel my upcoming shoulder surgery, it will have consequences on more than just my short term comfort.  Just like our cars and trucks, once we stop maintaining ourselves, needed repairs will snowball to a point of no return.  In our senior senior years we may have to sacrifice some quantity of time in exchange for some quality of time.  My shoulder replacement isn't going to make a dramatic improvement in my lifestyle but it will help keep me enjoying the life I have longer! 

[KARNUT]

I worry some people mistake aging pain and discomfort for more than that. I if I push too hard I can make any joint and muscle unhappy. Sometimes it can feel chronic. My right shoulder and muscle have been hurting for weeks. Then it moves when I favor it to the left. My back is mad right now because my mower is down and I’m hitting the high spots with the weed eater. I don’t use pain meds often because I’m afraid I’ll make it worse. Doctors are glad to hand out new parts. I guess if over the counter medication doesn’t help then it’s time to consider other options. Over use over time can wear out body parts. Unless there’s a genetic problem. It seems multiple replacements in different regions could be concerning. 

[customboss]

1 hour ago, KARNUT said:

I worry some people mistake aging pain and discomfort for more than that. I if I push too hard I can make any joint and muscle unhappy. Sometimes it can feel chronic. My right shoulder and muscle have been hurting for weeks. Then it moves when I favor it to the left. My back is mad right now because my mower is down and I’m hitting the high spots with the weed eater. I don’t use pain meds often because I’m afraid I’ll make it worse. Doctors are glad to hand out new parts. I guess if over the counter medication doesn’t help then it’s time to consider other options. Over use over time can wear out body parts. Unless there’s a genetic problem. It seems multiple replacements in different regions could be concerning. 

Fantastic point. I’m in a pain management group at the VA. The VA has learned that a lot of pain is from memory in your brain and that if you can stop the brain recalling the pain you can diminish a lot of what the pain you just described above Stan. Now if you got a broken joint or damage, ligaments or tendons, etc. it’s gonna hurt or you’ve warned you got bone to bone. But I’m being treated in my demented brain for pain from combat and actually my overall pain dropped by about 30% with this treatment on my brain with drugs.

[KARNUT]

9 minutes ago, customboss said:

Fantastic point. I’m in a pain management group at the VA. The VA has learned that a lot of pain is from memory in your brain and that if you can stop the brain recalling the pain you can diminish a lot of what the pain you just described above Stan. Now if you got a broken joint or damage, ligaments or tendons, etc. it’s gonna hurt or you’ve warned you got bone to bone. But I’m being treated in my demented brain for pain from combat and actually my overall pain dropped by about 30% with this treatment on my brain with drugs.

Sometimes when it seems chronic. I take a Tylenol the pain goes away and stays away for days until I overuse that body part. I’m still not very good at limiting my activity’s. Or spreading out my chores. Got to get it done NOW!