It's a shoulder washer but not what you think.
In the pic you see the screw that holds the washer or shim, and the concave joint part fixed to the shim. The shim itself is invisible in the X-ray.
The ball joint part on the arm part is invisible behind the concave part.
They first made a 3D CT scan here in my Belgium hospital and emailed that to a US firm who used it to make the part. They replaced my right shoulder Monday.
Jan
In the pic you see the screw that holds the washer or shim, and the concave joint part fixed to the shim. The shim itself is invisible in the X-ray.
The ball joint part on the arm part is invisible behind the concave part.
They first made a 3D CT scan here in my Belgium hospital and emailed that to a US firm who used it to make the part. They replaced my right shoulder Monday.
Jan
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All the best! Of course you do realize that you are no longer wholly human!
Sounds like a bit of swelling and pain for a bit. Hopefully you only need one repaired! I would say hang in there, but that probably would be too painful! So just rest in there!
Sounds like a bit of swelling and pain for a bit. Hopefully you only need one repaired! I would say hang in there, but that probably would be too painful! So just rest in there!
That's cool in a 'glad it didn't happen to me' sort of way. Hope recovery is rapid and supported by good painkillers.
Actually I am pain free, just have to wear a sling for several weeks which is a nuisance.
Then again, a nice young lady shows up in the morning to wash and dress me and put me to bed at night.
And yes Ed the left one is next in 6 months. Maybe I get quantity discount.
Jan
Then again, a nice young lady shows up in the morning to wash and dress me and put me to bed at night.
And yes Ed the left one is next in 6 months. Maybe I get quantity discount.
Jan
Make sure they are a matched pair Jan 😉 You know how important L/R matching is...
Hope you are soon to full fitness 🙂
Hope you are soon to full fitness 🙂
The other thing was how they did the special sedation. The arm and shoulder is served by a thick nerve in your neck.
They wheeled a PC next to me and used a special ultrasound probe to locate that nerve to put a syringe next to it.
The syringe was wired to a pulse generator and when activated starts your arm to shake for a double check. Then they shoot a strong sedative around that nerve. Afterwards it felt as if they had remove the arm and forgot to put it back on - nothing there to feel!
They also left a tube in the wound and connected it to the painkiller pump.
If I felt like it I could push a button and shoot myself up ;-)
All engineering. Out and back home in just over 48hrs. Amazing.
Jan
They wheeled a PC next to me and used a special ultrasound probe to locate that nerve to put a syringe next to it.
The syringe was wired to a pulse generator and when activated starts your arm to shake for a double check. Then they shoot a strong sedative around that nerve. Afterwards it felt as if they had remove the arm and forgot to put it back on - nothing there to feel!
They also left a tube in the wound and connected it to the painkiller pump.
If I felt like it I could push a button and shoot myself up ;-)
All engineering. Out and back home in just over 48hrs. Amazing.
Jan
Then the perception part for those interested:
Close your eyes, move your right hand while 'looking' at it. When you open your eyes you will be pretty close. So the brain tries to keep a mental map where your parts are even if you can't see them.
When I came out of sedation, I tried to move my fingers but could not feel them. My brain insisted they were near the right edge of my chest, probably where they were when I got under. I could actually see them but not feel them so the visual positioning was not accepted, I kept trying to move them at my right side chest! Weird.
When the sedation wore off the hand moved slowly to the actual position. The thumb wore off last and at one point was perceived at the hand position but about 3 inches laterally displaced! Until a few seconds later it snapped to its proper position.
Fascinating.
Close your eyes, move your right hand while 'looking' at it. When you open your eyes you will be pretty close. So the brain tries to keep a mental map where your parts are even if you can't see them.
When I came out of sedation, I tried to move my fingers but could not feel them. My brain insisted they were near the right edge of my chest, probably where they were when I got under. I could actually see them but not feel them so the visual positioning was not accepted, I kept trying to move them at my right side chest! Weird.
When the sedation wore off the hand moved slowly to the actual position. The thumb wore off last and at one point was perceived at the hand position but about 3 inches laterally displaced! Until a few seconds later it snapped to its proper position.
Fascinating.
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Very interesting, and very encouraging to me because my right shoulder is a complete mess. I can hardly sleep through the night now due to the pain.
Best of luck with the recovery and please update how things are going.
Best of luck with the recovery and please update how things are going.
Good to hear that all has gone well, Jan. I had that nerve block when I had biceps tendon/bone spur surgery on one of my shoulders a couple of years ago. It was a godsend, especially with my legendary intolerance regarding pain, at least my own.
That's what I had too. Or rather on both. Right now the operated side is pretty much painless, but the other one sometimes keeps me awake!
The challenge will be the next four weeks. The procedure involved cutting a single tendon (subscapularis tendon), connected to a part that is discarded, so that tendon has to regrow and strengthen. That is the only thing that can't be used almost right away!
Jan
The challenge will be the next four weeks. The procedure involved cutting a single tendon (subscapularis tendon), connected to a part that is discarded, so that tendon has to regrow and strengthen. That is the only thing that can't be used almost right away!
Jan
It looks like the broken-off part is the pop-up thermometer from a US "Butterball" turkey.
Good luck with physical therapy.
Good luck with physical therapy.
You should really get someone competent look at it. I had so much wear and tear that a few more months would have made it much more difficult. In fact I need to try to keep the left one intact until it can be done too, so limiting activities and loading.
Jan
Hey Jan,
Thanks for the good news
I'll give you a hand (not an arm, you just got a brand new one) to load your preamp in your car 😉
Thierry
Thanks for the good news
I'll give you a hand (not an arm, you just got a brand new one) to load your preamp in your car 😉Thierry
May i ask what they made the part from.
My mom got a titainium part in her shoulder.
Good luck on your recovery.
dave
My mom got a titainium part in her shoulder.
Good luck on your recovery.
dave
I think it is titanium, but I'm not sure what the 3D printed part is. I forgot to ask but will see the surgeon in a few weeks.
Jan
Jan
So far I have seen my family doctor and had some x-rays done. Have not heard from him. I really need to call and bug him...
My mother (in her mid-seventies) has a similar issue and she has been on the waiting list to see a shoulder specialist for 18 months.
That's what "free" healthcare gets us in Canada - but I can't even imagine what it would cost me somewhere else... so I will have to wait. No other choice.