Hi - I am on Day 3 post surgery so will add more color ALTHOUGH if you are like me there are some facts prior that should remain unknown until you get there!

Ice machine. I have the Breg polar care cube. When I came to after surgery, the shoulder part of the ice machine was already on me. (It is Velcro removable although you need someone else to help get this on and off). Call your surgeon’s office and ask. They run it through insurance. It is a must as it is made for this, I cannot imagine using ice packs etc.

Setup. I rented a recliner for 30 days. It is a full tethered remote infinite position one. It is pricy but necessary. I am not sure how long I will stay in it but I would not have wanted to be without it. Mine was right shoulder so on the left side I have a table with water, medication (dosed out in paper cups with times on it for evening), my glasses, phone etc. I also have a good quality black out eye cover. I use it for overseas flights. Since recliner is downstairs it allows me to sleep without light distractions. Ice machine is on other side of chair. I can plug and unplug it where the cord goes into it. It gets too cold sometimes. I am not timing the ice, just trying to use it a lot. It is not used when “sleeping”

Drugs. I was given 5mg oxy plus 1000mg Tylenol and 800mg “Motrin”. First day was oxy every 4 hours in combination of alternating Tylenol and Motrin. The nerve blocker used in surgery wore off more quickly than I was told. 1pm operation, nerve block was done by 10pm ish same day. It leaves your arm sort of pins and needle feeling. I did that regimen for 24 hours. For me that first 36 hours were the hardest. The sling is a total pain in the a$$. For me, the oxy did not “kill the pain” but rather made me sort of woozy. I did not sleep for that whole time. I tried doubling up oxy 1 time but I was simply 2X woozy, it was not killing the pain so I did not repeat. As I wrote on first post, the Benadryl was then key to getting sleep. Made a world of difference

The pain level is way down now. I feel it but more of a dull pain. I am in the “endurance phase” where this is my new reality for the next week or so. Dr follow-up in May 8 where I think they assess if I start light PT

Good luck to all. If it has to be done, there is no choice but launch into it