ENTRY SEVEN: January 18, 2014

Week four was another great one. My first therapy session of the week I was officially allowed to no longer use my sling. It seemed as though by week 2-3 I didn’t really need it much, but week 4 really was the clincher. It’s funny, some people in the office don’t even remember I got it done. Either way, pretty awesome feeling to not have to struggle with putting that thing on before and after work over my heavy winter jacket, then walk around with it all day. Good riddance, sling. Week four has also been the start of active-assisted range of motion exercises. Now instead of my therapist moving my arm and shoulder herself, I do a number of different exercises myself to help regain my ranges again. On my first day of therapy I went through a series of 5 or 6 exercises, 1 set with 10 repetitions with 10 second holds. I was also instructed to perform these exercises twice per day on my own. I’d typically do a few movements in the morning before work, a couple movements at the office, then a full routine when I’m home at night. By the second day of therapy that week there was a huge difference in what I was able to do, and how much less painful it was when really pushing the limits a bit. After my second session at therapy I also was given two additional exercises to add to the routine, one is/was a towel stretch behind the back, which has been very challenging, and uncomfortable. The other is to stretch across the body which also has been tough.

All in all, week four has been another positive one. I’m still incredibly hungry and eager to get back to my normal training. I’m told I have three weeks of active-assisted, then when finally move into “strength”. So two more weeks remain of active-assisted. I’m hopeful to have full range of motion by January 31st while also be able to begin running again. And at that point my labrum should be fully reattached to the glenoid. January 21st is my second post-op follow up with my surgeon so we’ll have an update on that in week 5.