Week 2 (Days 13-14) Washing, Sleeping and Eating.

I discover through a process of trying every different pillow that I own that I need to have more pillows under my head. This keeps me more upright, helps to reduce pulling on my shoulder when lying down, and helps give my left hand a bit more room so it doesn't get stuck underneath me and go numb quite as often. The Tramadol and Diazepam are keeping a lot of the pain and spasms at bay, and I'm able to go out with my mother and get some more clothes that can work with the injury - soft pull-on bras, including a strapless one, and a few more vest style tops.

I'm also now able to get a washcloth under my left arm to wash better. It really does become the little things that feel like huge accomplishments with this type of injury. My right hand however is becoming more and more painful, and anything that requires clenching my fingers or twisting my hand can be agony.

I still have no appetite, and the spasms still break through, particularly when sitting down or getting up from a sitting position, but it does feel that things are at least not getting worse this week. Well, except for the bruise. Livid, I believe is the correct medical term for that thing.

There is also a lot of swelling in my forearm, the beginning of the deformity in my shoulder that will continue to get worse over the next weeks (and still isn't resolved now, 12 weeks later). Muscle wastage, everyone tells me.

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Week 2 (Day 9) - Bruises and restrictions

Over the next week the bruising really came out. Tramadol made the pain sort of bearable, and the diazepam kept the spasms under control for the most part. Standing up, getting in or out of bed, sitting down, all still caused spasms, but at least the random spasms had stopped. If I could keep moving the spasms didn't happen, but any time I sat for more than 15 minutes, they would build. I also had to sit in a dining chair, with cushions to keep my back upright. Sofas or armchairs weren't possible as they required me to lean back, which I couldn't do. I had given work the good news that I wasn't back for at least 2 weeks, and called the health fund, who confirmed that they covered my surgeon and his consultations. I also called the private hospital and they got me an appointment with him for Tuesday 19th June. My mother returned home, but my sister came to cook for me on Sunday, and I had Ocado deliver my groceries while she was there to unpack and carry things. I c...

Week 25 - Knee improvements

Up and out running this morning. 5.7 kms, with one split of 9.20 which for me is fast. I did the ITB exercises first, and then headed out. No knee pain today, just a bit of a niggle but this time slightly below my knee. Lovely morning for a run, and the ground was quite spongey so easy to run on. Had a slight run in with a chihuahua that was smaller than my foot, and had to resist the temptation to loft it skywards, but luckily its legs were too tiny to keep up with me for long. I did the NHS leg exercises, clam shells, fire hydrants and stretching when I got back. Legs are certainly feeling it now, but my knee feels ok, and I had no trouble keeping running to the end, so I didn't lose any running fitness after just doing bike during the week. I will attempt treadmill again this week, possibly just once though. Have physio tomorrow, and might ask for more shoulder / back / arm exercises. I feel the need to get them toned up and strong. I also realise I will be seeing Mr Shoul...

Week 14 (Day 99) - Let's throw another fall into the mix

Walking fast and London pavements are a bad mix, apparently. I caught my toe on a raised edge of concrete paving and at first thought I would just stagger a bit, and then momentum caught up and I realised I was going to fly. There was a moment when time stood still and I tried to decide which side to fall on - the broken left shoulder, or the broken right hand? Unfortunately, I wasn't quick enough, and landed on both palms, and my right knee. Some very kind people came rushing over to help, including one who said he was a physio. He helped me up, and asked me to move my hands around, and then lift my arms out to the side. Poor guy got quite panicked when I couldn't with my left, until I mentioned I was recovering from a broken shoulder. Then he got more panicked and said I needed to go to hospital and get x-rays. Nope, not quite ready to spend more time with the NHS just yet. My right knee was grazed and bleeding through my jeans. I proceeded (more cautiously) to work,...

Not at all Humerus

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