MrGum

They don't know why it happened - Horse riding? Carrying big fat babies in front slings? They said she was very young (34) for it just to be wear and tear. They went in (keyhole) through three different places on the shoulder, front back and side. The first week it was very sore but you have to get it moving pretty much immediately, so she only used the sling when going out so people would keep their distance and not bump into her. The recovery was longer than we thought - six weeks off work. Loads of physio. She was able to drive after about four weeks. It isn't better, same symptoms remain but to a lesser degree. It's ok some days, but on damp days she still has this dull ache. The little finger and one next to it are often very cold, in fact that whole hand seems colder generally. They wondered if there was a problem in the neck (as this is what usually affects the hand) but an MRI revealed nothing. Even with the physio and some light weights during the months after the op, that arm remains significantly weaker, and although you can't really tell, she is conscious that the muscle tone is different to that in the other arm.