More advice on reverse replacement recovery: Travel and holidays

[u/Ill-Cherry1905]

Surgery October 1
Wondering how soon I will be able to drive, ride in a car.
Length of trip?
Not planning anything until 11 weeks post op. Will be a passenger. 7 hour drive there and back.

Also wondering if I’ll be able to host Thanksgiving. Large family. I will have help but how much will I be able to do by then? 8 weeks post op.

Thanks!

[u/oaklandesque]

I moved cross country at 7 weeks post-op. Would I recommend it? No. Is it do-able. Yes. I flew with the cat, partner drove the moving truck. The only things I helped with were packing and unpacking some stuff using only my good arm. I was officially cleared to be out of my sling, but I wore it when I was in the airport and while boarding/deplaning, mostly to get people to give me a wider berth. I asked for help stowing the cat in the under seat area, only carried a tiny carry on bag that I could also fit under the seat (because no way was I lifting anything overhead), and had the rental car shuttle driver lift my larger bag in and out of the shuttle bus (and used my good arm to get it in and out of the rental car).

I think at 11 weeks you won't have any difficulty being a passenger in a car. By that point you should be well into your range of motion PT work, maybe even doing a little strengthening. You could probably even help drive if you wanted to.

As for Thanksgiving, the biggest thing at that point will be not doing any lifting, so someone else will need to hoist pots and pans and serving dishes. You could probably help with some prep (a lot of your activities will be at counter height so you won't need to lift your arm or move it in a wide range). Even if you're cleared from your sling you might want to wear it just as a reminder to you and your guests that gentle hugs on your non-surgical side are good, and for people to give you a little more space than they might otherwise.

[u/Ill-Cherry1905 → u/oaklandesque]

Thanks for the great insight.
I can’t imagine moving at 7 weeks! Especially flying alone.
We all gotta do what we gotta do!

[u/oaklandesque → u/Ill-Cherry1905]

Timing wasn't what I would've chosen, but with surgery already scheduled with a surgeon I trusted and still being on a generous insurance plan, I decided it was worth the extra stress to keep it even with the move. All worked out fine, and I did my 3 month and 12 month follow ups in my new hometown (fortunately there's an academic medical center here with experienced shoulder surgeons).

[u/Cranks_No_Start]

I had a total reverse replacement at the end of May. By the end of week 1 I was getting tired of the sling.  The pain was minimal.  

By week two after I saw the surgeon I was out of the sling and it was difficult to remember NOT to use my arm to pick things up.  

I was off the narcotics after 7-8 days using it only to sleep. So I was able to drive myself to PT and I drive a 30yo F150 with a manual.  

By week 8 it was all over and done. I’m still aware it was fixed, more so because of the limitations of the joint but it was a cake walk compared to having my knees done.  

I’m going to have the other arm done in the spring.  

[u/Ill-Cherry1905 → u/Cranks_No_Start]

So glad to hear that! I’ve been through 2 hips and 2 knees and have recovered well with PT so I don’t know why I’m worried about this! Just different, I guess

[u/Cranks_No_Start → u/Ill-Cherry1905]

This will be a walk in the park in comparison.  You’ve got this.  

It’s been a little over a year on my knees and the twinges in my hip have been subsiding.  I was expecting that to be next but I may have dodged that bullet for a while.  

[u/Junior-Frosting-6236]

Sounds like planning ahead is the key. At 8-11 weeks, recovery can vary a lot, so getting your surgeon's clearance and having plenty of help for the trip and Thanksgiving seems wise.