Comments for Scott Loftesness http://sjl.us More words and pictures from Silicon Valley... Sun, 19 Feb 2012 19:12:09 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Comment on My Life in a Sling! – Rotator Cuff Surgery by alice http://sjl.us/main/2009/11/my-life-in-a-sling.html#comment-3063 alice Sun, 19 Feb 2012 19:12:09 +0000 http://sjl.us.s61389.gridserver.com/main/2009/11/10/my-life-in-a-sling/#comment-3063 had rotator repair six weeks tomorrow and it has been a rough road. do not feel i was well prepared and have questioned my decision many times but also know i could not live with the limitations. my injury was a result of falling over my shepard while racing to get to a spinning class. it blew out my dailing lap swimming and made it difficult to lift my grandson. with my love and daily need for swimming/exercise and the anticipation of our second grandchild, i reluctantly took the plunge after trying therapy/massage/accupuncture for 6months before deciding. it has not been pleasant. the first few weeks were truly terrible-couldn't eat/sleep/get comfortable at all. started therapy at 5weeks and can't wait to have more range of motion in my arm. i get to stop using the sling tomorrow-yahoo!! i am still taking vicodan and really feel that i need it especially during/after therapy. sleeping is very unpleasant. can't wait to actually have a nite's sleep. would like to go back to work now but my work is too demanding and i realize i will only make the recovery longer. with all the negativity said, i keep telling myself that this too shall pass and i will be back lapping at 6am very soon. i am a 58yr old woman so age is not really on my side but the fact that i have always been very active is truly in my favor. i have gone for postop acupuncture and intend to begin massage and hopefully a one on one for xigong/tai chi. i know they all make me feel that i am in more control. anyone hear anything good about myofaschia therapists for postop treatment. my accupuncturist swears by them. well, good luck to all who are anticipating or recovering had rotator repair six weeks tomorrow and it has been a rough road. do not feel i was well prepared and have questioned my decision many times but also know i could not live with the limitations. my injury was a result of falling over my shepard while racing to get to a spinning class. it blew out my dailing lap swimming and made it difficult to lift my grandson. with my love and daily need for swimming/exercise and the anticipation of our second grandchild, i reluctantly took the plunge after trying therapy/massage/accupuncture for 6months before deciding.
it has not been pleasant. the first few weeks were truly terrible-couldn’t eat/sleep/get comfortable at all. started therapy at 5weeks and can’t wait to have more range of motion in my arm. i get to stop using the sling tomorrow-yahoo!!
i am still taking vicodan and really feel that i need it especially during/after therapy. sleeping is very unpleasant. can’t wait to actually have a nite’s sleep. would like to go back to work now but my work is too demanding and i realize i will only make the recovery longer.
with all the negativity said, i keep telling myself that this too shall pass and i will be back lapping at 6am very soon. i am a 58yr old woman so age is not really on my side but the fact that i have always been very active is truly in my favor. i have gone for postop acupuncture and intend to begin massage and hopefully a one on one for xigong/tai chi. i know they all make me feel that i am in more control.
anyone hear anything good about myofaschia therapists for postop treatment. my accupuncturist swears by them.
well, good luck to all who are anticipating or recovering

]]> Comment on Our Girl Lily! by Kirra http://sjl.us/main/2010/09/our-girl-lily.html#comment-3061 Kirra Fri, 17 Feb 2012 13:55:22 +0000 http://sjl.us.s61389.gridserver.com/main/2010/09/03/our-girl-lily/#comment-3061 she is a real stunner, I'm sure she will captivate the hearts of all she meets. she is a real stunner, I’m sure she will captivate the hearts of all she meets.

]]> Comment on My Life in a Sling! – Rotator Cuff Surgery by George G http://sjl.us/main/2009/11/my-life-in-a-sling.html#comment-3044 George G Sat, 11 Feb 2012 07:00:43 +0000 http://sjl.us.s61389.gridserver.com/main/2009/11/10/my-life-in-a-sling/#comment-3044 5 Weeks out from repair of Labrum (SLAP repair) and rotator cuff as well as removal of calcium and a bone spur. The PT is great stuff, 3x per week (3 days after surgery start) to start and 2x per week now. I should do them at home more but I skip a day here and there. The hardest part is being dependent upon others for small chores like tying shoes or cinching sweat pants, etc. Bathing is also a challenge. Everything takes twice as long. I have a better respect and understanding of what disabled persons go through but for them it is permanent so I feel that I have just the smallest insight really. It has been humbling. I know that it will take 3 months to even be able to start lifting light objects, I must be careful, I DON'T want to go through this again. I had pain meds for 10 days then that was that. Advil and ice are great. I can type and probably have done more than I should with my right hand. Shoulder, triceps, bicep aches from time to time. Passive exercises for one more week then real easy beginning of "active" for a few weeks followed by strength. Have learned to sleep on back and left side only. A wash cloth under the waist strap helps at night. The one thing the PT and surgeon and staff did not do for me was prepare me for activities of daily living. They blew it there. Sit down to pull on your shirt, first over the weak arm. Buy a scrub brush for the shower. Buy a gell pack, large for icing, buy a few really comfy button up shirts and sweat pants. Buy slip on shoes. Share on blogs. It does get better and we had the surgery because we were miserable before and wanted the rest of our lives without that pain even if it does take a year to fully heal. Don't wait too long, it get worse in the joint, I waited too long. The older you are the slower the heal especiall past 50, I am 52. I am also pretty sure I will never do heavy weights again, not worth the risk. Don't do bar dips, or pull downs behind the head. Heavy stress on the joint is insane unless you are a trained athlete. Jui Jitsu and joint locks in martial arts cause these types of rips and tears as well. Using the bench press is risky, I prefer dumbells when I can get back to it in 10 months. Be patient with yourself and hang in there, it really does take time. Maybe 30 years from now there will be an easier way but at least we have arthroscopy and skilled surgeons and remarkable physical therapists. Thank you and wish me luck. George G. 5 Weeks out from repair of Labrum (SLAP repair) and rotator cuff as well as removal of calcium and a bone spur. The PT is great stuff, 3x per week (3 days after surgery start) to start and 2x per week now. I should do them at home more but I skip a day here and there. The hardest part is being dependent upon others for small chores like tying shoes or cinching sweat pants, etc. Bathing is also a challenge. Everything takes twice as long. I have a better respect and understanding of what disabled persons go through but for them it is permanent so I feel that I have just the smallest insight really. It has been humbling. I know that it will take 3 months to even be able to start lifting light objects, I must be careful, I DON’T want to go through this again. I had pain meds for 10 days then that was that. Advil and ice are great. I can type and probably have done more than I should with my right hand. Shoulder, triceps, bicep aches from time to time. Passive exercises for one more week then real easy beginning of “active” for a few weeks followed by strength. Have learned to sleep on back and left side only. A wash cloth under the waist strap helps at night. The one thing the PT and surgeon and staff did not do for me was prepare me for activities of daily living. They blew it there. Sit down to pull on your shirt, first over the weak arm. Buy a scrub brush for the shower. Buy a gell pack, large for icing, buy a few really comfy button up shirts and sweat pants. Buy slip on shoes. Share on blogs. It does get better and we had the surgery because we were miserable before and wanted the rest of our lives without that pain even if it does take a year to fully heal. Don’t wait too long, it get worse in the joint, I waited too long. The older you are the slower the heal especiall past 50, I am 52. I am also pretty sure I will never do heavy weights again, not worth the risk. Don’t do bar dips, or pull downs behind the head. Heavy stress on the joint is insane unless you are a trained athlete. Jui Jitsu and joint locks in martial arts cause these types of rips and tears as well. Using the bench press is risky, I prefer dumbells when I can get back to it in 10 months. Be patient with yourself and hang in there, it really does take time. Maybe 30 years from now there will be an easier way but at least we have arthroscopy and skilled surgeons and remarkable physical therapists. Thank you and wish me luck. George G.

]]> Comment on Coasting in 2012 – Pigeon Point Lighthouse by Michael Hellickson http://sjl.us/main/2012/01/coasting-in-2012-pigeon-point-lighthouse.html#comment-2897 Michael Hellickson Mon, 16 Jan 2012 23:32:30 +0000 http://sjl.us/?p=4603#comment-2897 Once per year at the Pigeon Point Lighthouse they shut down the weak insipid modern aerobeacon light and switch over to the 1kilowatt lamp (which replaced the older oil-burning lamps) and fresnel lens of the original, restoring its appearance to what it was 135 years ago. Once per year at the Pigeon Point Lighthouse they shut down the weak insipid modern aerobeacon light and switch over to the 1kilowatt lamp (which replaced the older oil-burning lamps) and fresnel lens of the original, restoring its appearance to what it was 135 years ago.

]]> Comment on The Tunnel View at Fitzgerald Marine Reserve by Michael Hellickson http://sjl.us/main/2012/01/the-tunnel-view-at-fitzgerald-marine-reserve.html#comment-2896 Michael Hellickson Mon, 16 Jan 2012 23:30:29 +0000 http://sjl.us/?p=4612#comment-2896 The reserve is located in Moss Beach, CA, about 40 minutes south of San Francisco on Highway 1, or 15 minutes north of the city of Half Moon Bay. Fitzgerald Marine Reserve is in a no-take Marine Protected Area. The reserve is located in Moss Beach, CA, about 40 minutes south of San Francisco on Highway 1, or 15 minutes north of the city of Half Moon Bay. Fitzgerald Marine Reserve is in a no-take Marine Protected Area.

]]> Comment on My Life in a Sling! – Rotator Cuff Surgery by Mark Schaefer http://sjl.us/main/2009/11/my-life-in-a-sling.html#comment-2831 Mark Schaefer Sun, 08 Jan 2012 06:24:28 +0000 http://sjl.us.s61389.gridserver.com/main/2009/11/10/my-life-in-a-sling/#comment-2831 How long did your husband take before he was doing normal activity? . He's probably your best advocate because I keep hearing about nightmare experiences aside from Scott who had a positive experience . I am still on the fence about getting it myself. How long did your husband take before he was doing normal activity? . He’s probably your best advocate because I keep hearing about nightmare experiences aside from Scott who had a positive experience . I am still on the fence about getting it myself.

]]> Comment on My Life in a Sling! – Rotator Cuff Surgery by Mark Schaefer http://sjl.us/main/2009/11/my-life-in-a-sling.html#comment-2830 Mark Schaefer Sun, 08 Jan 2012 06:19:57 +0000 http://sjl.us.s61389.gridserver.com/main/2009/11/10/my-life-in-a-sling/#comment-2830 Your first surgeon sounds like he has no scrupples but glad you found someone better . I scheduled a follow up with my surgeon but he will probably feel the same way about me bailing on him . I have looked into getting a second opinion just in case . I was even reading about new technology that uses stem cells of your own and injects them back into your rotator cuff. We'll see. Your first surgeon sounds like he has no scrupples but glad you found someone better . I scheduled a follow up with my surgeon but he will probably feel the same way about me bailing on him . I have looked into getting a second opinion just in case .
I was even reading about new technology that uses stem cells of your own and injects them back into your rotator cuff. We’ll see.

]]> Comment on My Life in a Sling! – Rotator Cuff Surgery by K. Webb http://sjl.us/main/2009/11/my-life-in-a-sling.html#comment-2823 K. Webb Fri, 06 Jan 2012 13:09:25 +0000 http://sjl.us.s61389.gridserver.com/main/2009/11/10/my-life-in-a-sling/#comment-2823 At age 59, I am facing this surgery with a tear that is considered "severe" according to my MRI. I so dread this, but have suffered with this since last April. After going thru 2 rounds of PT for a diagnosis of frozen shoulder, my therapist said I was presenting more like it was a rotator tear....sure enough, the therapist was right. My husband went thru the same surgery 3 years ago and did great. Typical recovery, sling, etc. but according to everyone....a speedy recovery. My greatest fear is the after surgery pain. We read all the time about how doctors are reluctant to give pain meds now, but I have never abused drugs and I don't want to experience ungodly pain. Thoughts? Is it seriously that horrible? At age 59, I am facing this surgery with a tear that is considered “severe” according to my MRI. I so dread this, but have suffered with this since last April. After going thru 2 rounds of PT for a diagnosis of frozen shoulder, my therapist said I was presenting more like it was a rotator tear….sure enough, the therapist was right. My husband went thru the same surgery 3 years ago and did great. Typical recovery, sling, etc. but according to everyone….a speedy recovery. My greatest fear is the after surgery pain. We read all the time about how doctors are reluctant to give pain meds now, but I have never abused drugs and I don’t want to experience ungodly pain. Thoughts? Is it seriously that horrible?

]]> Comment on My Life in a Sling! – Rotator Cuff Surgery by Scott Loftesness http://sjl.us/main/2009/11/my-life-in-a-sling.html#comment-2813 Scott Loftesness Thu, 05 Jan 2012 04:32:21 +0000 http://sjl.us.s61389.gridserver.com/main/2009/11/10/my-life-in-a-sling/#comment-2813 Mark, as it turned out the first surgeon decided my case wasn't his cup of tea after this incident. Frankly, this worked out for the best because I ended up with the best surgeon possible for my second (and very successful) surgery! Mark, as it turned out the first surgeon decided my case wasn’t his cup of tea after this incident.

Frankly, this worked out for the best because I ended up with the best surgeon possible for my second (and very successful) surgery!

]]> Comment on My Life in a Sling! – Rotator Cuff Surgery by Mark Schaefer http://sjl.us/main/2009/11/my-life-in-a-sling.html#comment-2812 Mark Schaefer Thu, 05 Jan 2012 04:22:45 +0000 http://sjl.us.s61389.gridserver.com/main/2009/11/10/my-life-in-a-sling/#comment-2812 Was your rehab that long because of the severity of the tear? 4-6 months seems like an eternity . Was your rehab that long because of the severity of the tear?
4-6 months seems like an eternity .

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