Running... off the operating couch!

[Bluerockdragon]

Hi all, long time no see

I had surgery on my impinged and semi-frozen shoulder earlier this week and I just had to tell somebody how useful running was to the whole process of recovery. Not only am I fit, not overweight and have low blood pressure, when I woke up from the operation the first thing I remember was doing deep runners' breathing in for 4 and out for 3! I didn't even notice the oxygen mask.

The anaesthetic practitioner however, said that wasn't my first conscious movement - he told me that as I was waking up I made to get off the trolley and out the door! Thankfully he stopped me but he did get a shock. I've no recollection of this attempted escape but I did feel great and ready to run after they fed me toast and jam.

My point is, that by running, and I've only been running for just over a year, I feel great. I feel fit. I've recovered quickly, my shoulder moves almost as it did and surgery was only 5 days ago. I can follow the physiotherapist's programme and I want to get out for a run again. I'm going to take it easy however, and wait until the stitches dissolve (don't want them to snag my running bra) and the abdominal effects of the Dihydrocodeine wear off (I am never, ever taking codeine again).

Give it a week or so and I'll be back out there. Happy autumnal running everybody

[misswobble Graduate10]

Same to you 🙂

I hope your shoulder will soon be tickety-boo so you can get back to running 👍🙂

[Mummycav Administrator Graduate10]

Looking forward to hearing all about it 😉

[Bluerockdragon Graduate10 in reply to Mummycav]

I am so looking forward to getting out there again. I was feeling a bit demotivated in the gap between the Norwich 10k and the op. but now I just want to run in the autumn weather, before the winter starts... though I'm looking forward to running in the frost again too.

[Mummycav Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Bluerockdragon]

I know...the autumnal sunshine is beautiful...rest day today & maybe tomorrow if I can resist...never run in the frost...I’m not looking forward to the bad weather if I’m honest but I’ll see when it gets here

[Bluerockdragon Graduate10 in reply to Mummycav]

A sunny, frost morning is lovely to run in, but it does do strange things to my breathing. Slowly is definitely better in very cold weather.

[Anniemurph Graduate10]

Thank you for posting this. I'm struggling with the same thing and go for an ultrasound scan next week and the shoulder clinic very soon, with the dreaded words 'surgery' having been mentioned a couple of times. I wouldn't be as bothered, but it affects my running

I'm glad it went well and that you are recovering (I know what you mean about codeine - I just did a long run on a lot of codeine ) and I loved the bit where you tried to do your 5k but the anaesthetist stopped you

[Bluerockdragon Graduate10 in reply to Anniemurph]

Good luck with the scan and onward treatment. I was dreading the surgery but it was actually ok.. Now I'm just worried that I still won't be able to move my shoulder properly without sharp pain. I keep telling myself it's only been a week.

My advice on any procedure or scan you get is to ask for a copy of the report or letters that get sent to your GP or other specialists about you. Not all hospital systems (or healthcare professionals) communicate or try to communicate. I kept getting asked what my X-ray and ultrasound reports said but of course I didn't have a copy of them or the letters than went to my GP. Then the hospital tried to charge me £10 for copies! If you don't know what's in these reports and letters, you can't Google to find out more and you can't tell the range of healthcare professionals you'll meet what's wrong with you!

Hope it all goes ok and I'm sure you'll recover quickly. I was back at work after 5 days and went out for a run this morning (running bra didn't rub the stitches after all )